Gansbaai - Diving Holiday Destination

Gansbaai (South Africa)

South Africa is at the southern tip of the continent of Africa vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain. On the Western Cape, you will find Gansbaai on the Danger Point Peninsula, South Africa's only town boasting the “Big 2”, due to the numerous Great white sharks that cruise in the waters east of Danger Point Peninsula and the many Southern Right Whales that hang out around the shores on the western side of the Danger Point Peninsula between July and December.

Gansbaai is an area of contrast. It is situated in the centre of a number of small bays with miles of unspoiled beaches, nature reserves with over 1500 species of Fynbos, ancient Milkwood forests, rocky inlets, caves and spectacular views across Walker Bay. This quaint traditional fishing village is situated on not one, but two harbours where many fishing trawlers and boats come and go daily, supplying fresh catches to fishmongers and local restaurants. Gansbaai (Goose Bay) is renowned for good fishing, fine boat-based and land based whale watching, but over recent years it has really established itself as the great white shark capital of the world. Gansbaai is one of the few places left in the world where one can still shark cage dive with these magnificent creatures.

Gansbaai also has the remains of old shipwrecks, having sailed their last along this treacherous stretch of coast, have found their way to rest along this coast. It was off the point, today known as Danger Point, where the British troopship Birkenhead came to grief in 1852.

Climate

Gansbaai enjoys a temperate and pleasant climate, with warm sunny days most of the year.

The South Africa Summer runs from November to February, when most of the country is characterised by warm to hot weather. December and January are the main summer holiday months when people flock to the beaches. In March and April, Autumn brings warm days and cool nights. The climate is at its best at this time in most parts of the country. Beginning of June to the end of September, you can expect cold conditions in most of the country and rain in the Western Cape. Air Temp 40-70’F.

Dive Facts

The water temperature ranges from 12C - 16C.

Visibility is usually 6-8 meters, but can go up to 12 -15 meters on a good day and down to 2-3 meters on a bad day.

Dive Attractions

About four nautical miles from Gansbaai harbour, you'll find the pristine Dyer Island, primarily a bird sanctuary with penguins, cormorants and many other marine birds. Next to Dyer Island lies Geyser Island / Rock that hosts a colony of more than 30 000 Cape fur seals. Between these islands lies 'Shark Alley', where the mysterious and graceful Great White Sharks have drawn visitors from across the globe.

Off Danger Point thers is the shipwreck of the British troopship Birkenhead which sankin 1852.

See more about these sites in our Dive site Directory, & for South Africa scuba diving clubs see our dive Club Directory....both in the dive Guide.

Other

Languages: IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%; English widely understood in tourist locations.

Currency : rand (ZAR)

Electricity: 220/230 volts AC . Three round pronged plugs are universal and most hotel rooms have 110-volt outlets for small appliances

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