Ovaj regionalni vodič za ronjenje namijenjen je pružanju već kvalificiranih osoba Ronilac s informacijama koje će vam pomoći planirati ronjenje u vodama poluotoka Cape i False Bay, bilo kao lokalni stanovnik ili posjetitelj. Informacije se daju bez predrasuda i nisu zajamčene točne ili potpune. Koristite ga na vlastiti rizik. Proširite ili ispravite kad možete.
Opisana regija nalazi se na jednodnevnom putovanju cestom iz bilo kojeg dijela većeg dijela Cape Town, u Zapadni rt provincija Južna Afrika i uključuje preko 280 imenovanih ronilačkih mjesta za koja se bilježe položaji, što je puno za bilo koje pojedinačno odredište.
Detaljne informacije o pojedinim ronilačkim mjestima nalaze se u podčlancima na koje vodi link Mjesta za ronjenje odjeljak. Informacije u opisima web mjesta kreću se od površnih do vrlo detaljnih, ovisno o tome što je poznato o web mjestu. Možda postoji karta. Batimetrijske karte tvrtke SURGMAP ažuriraju se kad i kada se prikupljaju novi podaci o anketi, a mapiraju se plivanjem kontura vučući GPS plutaču. Prilično su točni - obično u roku od nekoliko metara - i pouzdani u ono što je prikazano, ali rijetko kad su potpuni. Sasvim je moguće da su promašeni neki visoki vrhovi. Ne postoji jamstvo da ga nećete otkriti udaranjem brodom. Ako to učinite, javite nam.
U nekim slučajevima pod-članak ronilačkog mjesta sadržavat će nekoliko mjesta koja su u neposrednoj blizini, jer će velik dio informacija biti svima njima zajednički. U drugim slučajevima, obično koja uključuju olupine, dvije susjedne stranice imat će svaki svoj podčlanak, ali ako dvije ili više olupina leže u istom položaju ili se znatno preklapaju, one će biti opisane u istom podčlanku.
Shvati
Opća topografija
Grad Cape Town osnovan je na sjevernom kraju grada Rt poluotok, uski planinski pojas kopna širine najviše 11 km i duljine nešto više od 50 km. Sjeverna granica je obala zaljeva Table, velikog otvorenog zaljeva s jednim otokom, Otok Robben, u ustima.
Raščupana obala označava zapadnu granicu duž Atlantskog oceana. Uz obalu se nalazi niz malih uvala s jednom velikom, Zaljev Hout, otprilike na pola puta. Južnije se poluotok sužava sve dok ne završi na Cape Pointu. Niz planina sa Stolnom planinom na 1.085 m na sjevernom kraju čini okosnicu poluotoka. Najviša točka južnog poluotoka je Swartkop, na 678 m, u blizini Simonovog grada. Poluotok ima prilično strme padine duž većeg dijela obale, s vrlo uskim područjima relativno ravnog zemljišta, osim zapadne strane južnog vrha.
Strma istočna strana omeđena je False Bayom, a ovaj dio obale uključuje manji zaljev Smitswinkel, Simonov zaljev i zaljev Fish Hoek, gdje se između obala s obje strane proteže pojas niskog tla. U Muizenbergu obalna linija postaje relativno niska i pjeskovita i zavija istočno preko južne granice Rtovi stanovi do Gordonovog zaljeva čineći sjevernu granicu False Baya. Iz Gordonov zaljev obala se ljulja otprilike prema jugu i cik-cak prolazi podnožjem planinskog lanca Hottentot's Holland do rta Hangklip koji je na gotovo istoj geografskoj širini kao i Cape Point. Najviši vrh s ove strane je Kogelberg na 1.269 m.
U tlocrtu je zaljev približno četvrtast s prilično klimavim rubovima, otprilike u istoj mjeri od sjevera prema jugu kao i od istoka prema zapadu (30 km), a cijela južna strana otvorena je za ocean. Površina False Baya izmjerena je na oko 1.090 km², a zapremina je približno 45 km³ (prosječna dubina oko 40 m). Obim kopna izmjeren je na 116 km s karte u mjerilu 1: 50 000.
Dno morfologije False Baya uglavnom je glatko i prilično plitko, blago nagnuto prema dolje od sjevera prema jugu, tako da je dubina u središtu ušća oko 80 m. Dno je prekriveno sedimentom koji se kreće od vrlo grubog do vrlo sitnog, s većinom sitnog sedimenta i blata u središtu zaljeva. Glavna iznimka je dugačak greben sedimentnih stijena koji se proteže u smjeru juga od Stranda, do približno razine ušća rijeke Steenbras. Južni vrh ovog grebena poznat je pod imenom Steenbras Deep.
U zaljevu postoji jedan pravi otok, otok Seal, neplodni i kameniti izdanak granita dugačak oko 200 m i površine oko 2 ha. Udaljeno je oko 6 km južno od Strandfonteina i na najvišoj je točki manje od 10 m nadmorske visine. Postoji i niz malih stjenovitih otočića koji se protežu iznad oznake visoke vode i drugih stijena i plićaka koji se približavaju površini. Većina ih je granit Poluotok pluton, ali istočno od otoka Seal uglavnom su pješčenjak, vjerojatno od Tygerberg formacije unutar zaljeva, iako je moguće da su neke od Stolna planina niz. Najveće od ovih područja grebena je Whittle Rock, podvodno brdo granita koje se uzdiže od pjeskovitog dna na oko 40 m do 5 m od površine i promjera oko 1 km.
Izvan zaljeva, ali koji utječe na valove u njemu, nalazi se Rocky Bank, opsežni greben Stolna planina greben pješčenjaka između 20 i 30 m dubine na vrhu i nagnut prema dubini od 100 m prema jugu.
Strogo govoreći, False Bay je dio Atlantskog oceana, koji se prostire sve do rta Agulhas, ali kada se nalazi u Cape Townu, Atlantic se obično odnosi na zapadnu obalu poluotoka Cape, a na istočnu stranu naziva False Bay, ili strana Simonovog grada. Ova konvencija koristit će se u ovom vodiču.
Lokalna topografija
Najjači utjecaj na lokalnu topografiju ima lokalna geologija. Nekonsolidirane naslage mulja, pijeska ili šljunka obično su prilično ravne. Gromade i male gromade mogu se strmije spuštati, a podloga i velika gromada mogu biti bilo što, od malo podignutih iznad okolnog nekonsolidiranog dna, do nadvijenih litica i torta. Vrsta stijene, kao i sedimentni slojevi, pad i udar imaju veliki utjecaj na raspon mogućih oblika grebena.
Današnje grebenske strukture razvile su se kao reljefi tijekom ledenog doba, kada su bile iznad razine mora, a granitni su grebeni uglavnom oblikovani podzemnim procesom vremenskih utjecaja tijekom još duljih razdoblja. Graniti su prilično stari i znatno su spojeni tektonskim silama, a rubovi pukotina dugo su bili podvrgnuti kemijskoj eroziji podzemnom vodom da bi zaokružili uglove i stvorili duboke pukotine i slivove koji su kasnije bili izloženi erozijom saprolita i dalje modificiran vremenskim utjecajima i erozijom izloženih površina na građevine poznate kao temeljni kamen i tor. Slično tome, izložena sedimentna stijena erodirala je dok je bila izložena iznad zemlje. Kad je razina mora porasla tijekom otapanja ledenjaka, ti su oblici jednostavno poplavili i zadržali veći dio svog prethodnog oblika i karaktera. Obalna erozija od tada je izmijenila grebene u područjima izloženim djelovanju dovoljno visokog energetskog vala, a zbog valova i strujanja dolazi do određenog kretanja sedimenta.
Klima, vremenski i morski uvjeti
Klima zapadnog rta
Klima na jugozapadnom rtu znatno se razlikuje od ostatka Južne Afrike, koja je ljetna kišna regija, koja prima veći dio kiše tijekom ljetnih mjeseci od prosinca do veljače. Jugozapadni rt ima klimu mediteranskog tipa, s većinom kiše tijekom zimskih mjeseci od lipnja do rujna.
Tijekom ljeta dominantan faktor koji određuje vrijeme u regiji je zona visokog tlaka, poznata kao Atlantska visina, smještena iznad južnog Atlantskog oceana zapadno od obale Rta. Vjetrovi koji iz takvog sustava cirkuliraju u smjeru suprotnom od kazaljke na satu dopiru do Rta s jugoistoka, proizvodeći razdoblja do nekoliko dana jakog vjetra i vedra neba. Ti su jugoistočni vjetrovi lokalno poznati kao Cape Doctor. Oni održavaju regiju relativno hladnom i pomažu u ispuštanju zagađenog zraka iz industrijskih područja i Cape Flatsa u more. Zbog svog južnog aspekta False Bay je izložen tim vjetrovima, osobito na zapadnoj strani, dok Table Bay i zapadna obala poluotoka osjećaju pučinski vjetar. Na ovaj obrazac vjetra lokalno utječe topografija u mjeri u kojoj mogu puhati olujni vjetrovi Gordonov zaljev , dok su dijelovi oko 10 km udaljeni Somerset West može imati užaren i bez vjetra dan.
Zimu na jugozapadnom rtu karakteriziraju poremećaji u cirkumpolarnim zapadnim vjetrovima, što rezultira nizom frontalnih udubljenja u smjeru istoka. Oni donose prohladno oblačno vrijeme, vjetar i kišu sa sjeverozapada, praćeni padom temperature i pomicanjem na jugozapadnjak tijekom prolaska fronte. Jugozapadni vjetrovi nad južnim Atlantikom proizvode prevladavajući jugozapadnjak koji je tipičan za zimske mjesece, a koji udara na izloženoj obali Atlantika i istočnoj strani False Baya. Planine poluotoka Cape pružaju zaštitu na zapadnoj strani False Baya od ovog vjetra i od jugozapadnih valova - činjenica koja je utjecala na guvernera Simona van der Stela u njegovom odabiru Simonovog zaljeva kao zimskog sidrišta holandske istočnoindijske tvrtke brodovi za Cape Town. Zimske oluje na sjeverozapadu razorile su mnoge brodove usidrene u zaljevu Table tijekom stoljeća. Čak se i danas, usprkos tehničkom napretku i poboljšanom prognoziranju vremena, to još uvijek događa, iako rjeđe nego u prošlosti, a danas su akcije spašavanja češće uspješne.
Vrijeme
Opći je trend da vrijeme dolazi sa zapada i pomiče se prema istoku s frontalnim sustavima, ali može biti i više lokalnih vremenskih pojava poput grmljavine (rijetke) i 'berg' vjetrova, koji su topli vjetrovi koji se spuštaju preko planine iz unutrašnjosti. Bilo koji dan mogu postojati znatne razlike u vremenskim uvjetima između različitih mjesta na području koje pokriva ovaj vodič, iako opća tendencija može biti slična. Na primjer, kiša može padati na Cape Peninsula ujutro, a do poslijepodneva su se ti uvjeti možda premjestili na istočnu stranu False Baya, a poluotok se može razvedriti uz značajan pomak smjera vjetra sa sjeverozapadnog na jugozapadni. Lokalne varijacije u snazi vjetra mogu biti ekstremne, a ponekad je i teško za povjerovati, jer na jednom mjestu može biti mrtvačka tišina, a vjetar koji zavija nekoliko kilometara. Postoje mjesta poznata po izloženosti i jugoistočnim i sjeverozapadnim vjetrovima, a neka su zaštićena od jednog ili drugog, dok jugozapadnjaci pušu na većinu mjesta, ali obično ne na posve iste krajnosti. To u praksi iznosi, da se vremenski uvjeti u kojima se nalazite u određeno vrijeme mogu značajno razlikovati od onih na mjestu ronjenja nešto kasnije tijekom dana.
Berg vjetar uzrokovan je visokom nadmorskom visinom u unutrašnjosti visokog tlaka, obično zimi, na hladnim, suhim središnjim područjima visoravni iznad velike strmine, zajedno s nižim pritiscima na obali. Vjetar teče niz ispupčenje i zagrijava se kompresijom. Porast temperature može biti znatan i tijekom kratkog razdoblja. Ovaj vrući, suhi vjetar je s mora i ne utječe jako na uvjete ronjenja, ali obično ga prate hladni vjetrovi na kopnu s malim oblakom, maglom i kišom, a često je povezan s približavanjem hladne fronte sa zapada zimi, koja može donijeti jak zapadni vjetar i znatnu frontalnu kišu.
Uvjeti mora
Valovi i bubre
Valovi koji dopiru do obala False Baya i poluotoka Cape mogu se smatrati kombinacijom lokalnih valova vjetra i bubre iz udaljenih izvora. Otekline stvaraju vremenski sustavi općenito južno od kontinenta, ponekad i znatno udaljeni, od kojih su najvažniji frontalni sustavi u južnom Atlantiku, koji generiraju valove vjetra koji se zatim šire od svog izvora i vremenom razdvajaju u zone različitih razdoblje. Valovi dugog razdoblja brži su i imaju više energije, a pomiču se ispred komponenata kraćeg razdoblja, tako da imaju tendenciju prvo doći do obale. To je surferima poznato kao puls, a općenito je praćeno postupnim skraćivanjem razdoblja manje snage.
Lokalni vjetrovi također će stvarati valove koji će kombinirati svoje učinke s naticanjem. Obalni vjetrovi obično će spljoštiti more jer je zahvat (udaljenost koju je vjetar odnio preko vode) obično premalen da bi mogao razviti valove velike visine ili duljine. S druge strane, kopneni vjetrovi, ako su dovoljno jaki, proizvest će kratko i gadno usitnjavanje koje ulasku i izlasku može učiniti neugodnim, a plivanje na površini ili vožnja brodom neugodnim.
Pri planiranju ronjenja mora se uzeti u obzir kombinacija valova oteklina i vjetra. To zahtijeva poznavanje ovih uvjeta, koje brojne organizacije predviđaju s promjenjivom točnošću, u nekim slučajevima za sedam ili više dana unaprijed. Točnost je uglavnom obrnuto proporcionalna intervalu prognoze. Obično je prilično pouzdan i gleda dva ili tri dana unaprijed, ali može biti malo klimav tijekom više od tjedan dana. Vrijeme je takvo.
Upwellings
Jugoistočni vjetrovi koji pušu u moru i uz obalu na zapadnoj strani poluotoka Cape i istočnoj strani False Baya uzrokuju kretanje površinskih voda u priobalju prema zapadu obale uslijed prijevoza Ekmanom. Ovakvo odmicanje vode od obale nadoknađuje se nadimanjem dublje vode.
Ti su stanovi ronioca od velikog interesa, jer je voda na zapadnoj obali hladna i relativno bistra. Međutim, s obzirom da voda s bujicama ima visoki udio hranjivih sastojaka, stanovi su često prethodnica cvjetanju planktona poznatog kao "crvena plima", što će drastično smanjiti vidljivost. Temperatura vode obično pada ispod 12 ° C tijekom uspona zapadne obale, a povremeno može doseći i prohladnih 7 ° C.
Na istočnoj strani False Baya, uzvišenja često uzrokuju lošu vidljivost, jer mogu poremetiti vrlo sitni sediment i niske gustoće koji je uobičajen na toj strani zaljeva, posebno u plićem dijelu u blizini Gordon's Baya. Voda je također relativno hladna, ali obično ne tako hladna kao na zapadnoj strani poluotoka, a temperature mogu pasti s oko 19 ° C na 12 ° C tijekom dana ili dva.
Plima i oseka
Lokalne plime i oseke dominiraju Mjesecom, poludnevne su i relativno su slabe, a na Atlantskoj obali ili u False Bayu nema jakih plimnih struja. Rezultirajući plimni tokovi nemaju malu posljedicu za ronioca, glavni učinak su male promjene dubine na mjestu ronjenja i varijacije prepreke koju predstavljaju listovi algi u blizini površine, što može utjecati na napor potreban za prolazak kroz algu na površina. S tim u vezi, općenito je lakše tijekom oseke.
Iskrcavanje čamca na nekim navozima može biti otežano za vrijeme oseke, što povremeno može utjecati na raspored ronjenja brodova, a proljetno malo je otprilike u vrijeme prvog porinuća (otprilike od 09:00 do 09:30).
Maksimalni domet oseke u Cape Townu je približno 1,86 m (proljetne plima i oseka), a Simon's Town 1,91 m, s minimalnim dometima na oba mjesta od oko 0,26 m (neplima).
Temperatura vode
Prosječna ljetna temperatura površine Atlantika uz poluotok Cape kreće se u rasponu od 10 ° do 13 ° C. Donja temperatura može biti nekoliko stupnjeva hladnija. Minimalna temperatura je oko 8 ° C, iako se tvrdi da je temperatura niža od 6 °, a maksimalna oko 17 ° C.
Prosječna zimska temperatura površine Atlantika uz poluotok Cape kreće se u rasponu od 13 ° do 15 ° C. Donja temperatura na kopnu je približno ista.
Prosječna zimska temperatura površine False Baya iznosi približno 15 ° C, a temperatura dna približno ista ili nešto niža. Prosječna ljetna temperatura False Baya iznosi približno 19 ° C. Donja temperatura je obično 1 ° do 3 ° C niža nego zimi, ali 10 ° do 12 ° C nije nepoznanica.
Struje
Struje se obično ne smatraju problemom na većini ronilačkih mjesta u ovoj regiji. Snažni vjetrovi mogu stvarati plitku površinsku struju tijekom kratkog razdoblja, što može biti neugodnost ako se kreće prema moru. Dubina struje ovisi o tome koliko dugo puše vjetar, a kad se naglo pojača vjetar dok roni, struja je plitka i ronilac se može vratiti na obalu na dubini od 3 do 6 m ispod većine struje. Plimne struje su zanemarive i imaju se samo na nekoliko izoliranih mjesta za ronjenje, kao što je Plaža vjetrenjača, za vrijeme proljetnih plima i oseka kad trči malo. Imajte na umu da će površinska struja koju pokreće vjetar teći lijevo od smjera vjetra zbog Coriolisovih efekata, a kut će se povećavati i snaga će se smanjivati s dubinom.
Dva mjesta koja mogu osjetiti značajne struje nalaze se na ušću False Baya, na Stjenovita banka i Stijena Bellows, gdje vrtlozi iz struje Agulhas često proizvode laganu do srednje jaku struju, koja može biti dovoljno jaka da roniocima stvara neugodnosti u plićaku oko Stijene Bellows. Povremeno su na podvodnim mjestima ronjenja False iskusne struje do otprilike čvora. Zaljev južno od Simonovog grada i na atlantskoj obali u blizini Duiker Pointa i otoka Robben. Te su struje obično znatno slabije na dnu i roniocima obično ne predstavljaju puno poteškoća, iako im je upotreba DSMB-a važnija jer se može čak i pri normalnom usponu sa sigurnosnim zaustavljanjem prevaliti prilično dug put . Te površinske struje mogu predstavljati veću neugodnost na početku zarona, jer će vas odvesti pored linije pucanja ako vam se ne zatraži spuštanje, što bi trebalo učiniti čim se linija vidi. Također, ovisno o opuštenosti linije sačme, plutača će biti niz vjetar i donji tok marke za nekoliko metara. Nadležni skiper će dopustiti i ronioce spustiti iznad uzvodne plutače.
Podaci o vremenu
Podaci o vremenu u stvarnom vremenu dostupni su za False Bay od vremenska plutača kojim upravlja Centar za promatračku oceanografiju. Prikazuju se trenutni i sedmodnevni povijesni podaci za temperaturu površine zraka i mora, jačinu i smjer vjetra i barometarski tlak. Položaj plutače može se razlikovati, ali u listopadu 2012. bio je na 34 ° 11'19 "J, 18 ° 27'03" E. (oko 700 m istočno od luke Simonov grad)
Predviđanje vremenskih i morskih uvjeta
Predviđanje ronilačkih uvjeta u ovoj regiji prilično je složeno. Postoje web stranice poput Buoyweather, Surf-prognoza i Windguru koji pružaju razumno pouzdane prognoze za vjetar i nabujalost. To će u kombinaciji s informacijama o nedavnim uvjetima temperature vode i vidljivosti omogućiti prilično pouzdano predviđanje stanja nekoliko dana unaprijed. Lokalni Wavescape Izvješće o internetskim stranicama i surfanju također je vrijedna referenca s prepoznatljivim južnoafričkim ambijentom, iako je poput ostalih prvenstveno namijenjeno surferima, a ronioci moraju malo interpolirati.
Vidljivost se može prilično brzo (preko noći) razbistriti na obali Atlantika zbog strujanja i relativno grubih sedimenata. Na zapadnoj strani False Baya malo je sporije, a može potrajati i nekoliko dana, pa i tjedana, na istočnoj strani zaljeva, gdje su sedimenti fini i lagani.
Podaci o satelitskoj površini mora i klorofilu također su dostupni s Interneta i mogu pomoći u predviđanju površinskih stanja, ali koliko oni predviđaju stanje dna nije poznato.
Dok ne razvijete osjećaj za ovaj postupak, korisno je dobiti druga mišljenja od ljudi ili organizacija s iskustvom.
Neki od lokalnih ronilačkih chartera imaju bolju reputaciju za predviđanje vremena od drugih, a postoje neki koji će gotovo uvijek tvrditi da su uvjeti dobri ili jesu. The Plavi bljesak tjedni bilten dobar je kao i bilo koji drugi i bolji od mnogih. To će se odnositi na preferirana područja s poluotoka Cape, uključujući zapadnu stranu False Baya. Za informacije na istočnoj strani False Baya možete pokušati nazvati Indigo Divers.
Morska ekologija
Bioregije
Cape Point na vrhu poluotoka Cape smatra se granicom između dvije od pet obalnih morskih bioregija Južne Afrike. Na zapadu od Cape Pointa nalazi se hladna do hladna umjerena jugozapadna obalna biološka regija Cape, a na istoku je toplija umjerena bioregija Agulhas. Prekid Cape Pointa smatra se relativno izrazitom promjenom u bioregijama, a to se jasno može vidjeti iz razlike u morskom životu između atlantske obale poluotoka i False Baya.
Staništa
U ovom području u moru postoje četiri glavna staništa koja se razlikuju po prirodi supstrata. Supstrat ili osnovni materijal važan je po tome što pruža bazu na koju se organizam može usidriti, što je vitalno važno za one organizme koji trebaju boraviti na određenoj vrsti mjesta. Stjenovite obale i grebeni pružaju čvrst fiksni supstrat za vezivanje biljaka i životinja. Neke od njih mogu imati šume alpa, koje smanjuju učinak valova i pružaju hranu i sklonište širem rasponu organizama. Pješčane plaže i dna relativno su nestabilna podloga i ne mogu usidriti alge ili mnoge druge bentoske organizme. Napokon postoji otvorena voda, iznad supstrata i čista od šume algi, gdje organizmi moraju zanositi ili plivati. Često se mogu naći i mješovita staništa koja su kombinacija gore spomenutih. Staništa su detaljnije opisana u sljedećim odjeljcima.
Stjenovite obale i grebeni
Velika većina popularnih mjesta za ronjenje u lokalnim vodama nalazi se na stjenovitim grebenima ili mješovitim stjenovitim i pjeskovitim dnima, sa značajnim brojem olupina, što je ekvivalentno stjenovitim grebenima za klasifikaciju staništa, jer općenito morski organizmi nisu posebni materijal podloge ako su tekstura i čvrstoća prikladni i ako nije toksičan. Za mnoge morske organizme supstrat je druga vrsta morskog organizma i uobičajeno je da nekoliko slojeva istovremeno postoji. Primjeri za to su mahune crvenih mamaca, koje su obično obložene spužvama, ascidijanima, bryozoansima, anemonama i gastropodima i uhanama, koje su obično prekrivene sličnim morskim algama onima koje se nalaze na okolnim stijenama, obično s nizom drugih organizama koji žive na morskim travama.
Vrsta stijene grebena od određene je važnosti jer utječe na raspon mogućnosti lokalne topografije, što pak utječe na raspon ponuđenih staništa, a time i na raznolikost stanovnika.
Granitni grebeni općenito imaju relativno glatku površinu u mjerilu od centimetra do decimetra, ali su često visokog profila u mjerilu, tako da pružaju makro-varijacije u staništu od relativno vodoravne gornje površine, blizu okomitih stranica, do prevjesa, rupa i tunela, u sličnim razmjerima kao i sami kamenjari i izbočine. U usporedbi s ukupnom površinom malih je pukotina relativno malo.
Pješčenjak i druge sedimentne stijene vrlo se različito nagrizaju i vremenski uvjetuju, a ovisno o smjeru propadanja i udara i strmini zarona mogu stvoriti grebene koji su relativno ravni do vrlo visokog profila i puni malih pukotina. Te značajke mogu biti pod različitim kutovima u odnosu na obalu i fronte valova. U grebenima pješčenjaka ima mnogo manje malih špilja i kupališta, ali često mnogo dubokih, ali niskih gotovo vodoravnih pukotina. U nekim područjima greben je pretežno valovito zaobljene srednje do male gromade. U ovom je slučaju vrsta stijene malo važna.
Obala u ovoj regiji bila je znatno niža tijekom najnovijeg ledenog doba, a detaljna topografija ronilačkih mjesta uglavnom je formirana tijekom razdoblja izlaganja nadmorskoj visini. Kao rezultat, mjesta ronjenja po svom su karakteru uglavnom vrlo slična najbližem krajoliku iznad razine mora.
Postoje značajne iznimke kada je stijena iznad i ispod vode različitog tipa. To su uglavnom u False Bayu južno od zaljeva Smitswinkel, gdje se nalazi obala pješčenjaka s granitnim grebenima.
Šume alga
Šume alpa su varijacija stjenovitih grebena, jer algama je potrebna prilično jaka i stabilna podloga koja može izdržati opterećenje ponavljanih valova koji se vuku na biljkama algi. Morski bambus Ecklonia maxima raste u vodi koja je dovoljno plitka da omogući svojim površinama ispunjenim plinom da dosegnu površinu, tako da listovi tvore gusti sloj neposredno ispod površine. Kraća alga splitskog navijača Laminaria pallida raste uglavnom na dubljim grebenima, gdje nema toliko konkurencije morskog bambusa. Obje ove vrste algi pružaju hranu i sklonište raznim drugim organizmima, posebno morskom bambusu, koji je osnova za širok raspon epifita, koji zauzvrat pružaju hranu i sklonište većem broju organizama.
Alga u mjehuru Macrocysta angustifolia može se naći i na nekoliko mjesta, uglavnom u blizini otoka Robben. Ovo je jedno od rijetkih mjesta na svijetu gdje se na istom mjestu mogu naći tri roda algi.
Pješčane plaže i dna (uključujući dno ljuske, šljunka i šljunka)
Na prvi se pogled čini da su pjeskovita dna prilično neplodna područja, jer im nedostaje stabilnosti za podupiranje mnogih spektakularnih vrsta zasnovanih na grebenima, a raznolikost velikih organizama relativno je mala. Pijesak se neprestano kreće valovitim djelovanjem, u većem ili manjem stupnju, ovisno o vremenskim uvjetima i izloženosti područja. To znači da sjedeći organizmi moraju biti posebno prilagođeni područjima relativno rastresitog supstrata da bi u njima uspijevali, a raznolikost vrsta pronađenih na pjeskovitom ili šljunčanom dnu ovisit će o svim tim čimbenicima.
Iz tih razloga pješčana i šljunčana dna obično nisu popularna među novacima i posjetiteljima, koje obično privlače spektakularnija mjesta, ali roniocu kojeg zanima puna raznolikost morskog okoliša mogu pružiti osvježavajuću i fascinantnu varijaciju, jer postoji mnogo organizama koji će se naći samo na ovim dnim vrstama. Uglavnom se mogu naći u blizini područja grebena, ali postoji nekoliko mjesta koja su pretežno pješčana.
Pješčana dna imaju jednu važnu nadoknadu za svoju nestabilnost, životinje se mogu zakopati u pijesak i kretati se gore-dolje unutar njegovih slojeva, što može pružiti mogućnosti hranjenja i zaštitu od grabežljivosti. Druge vrste mogu same iskopati rupe u kojima se mogu skloniti ili se mogu hraniti filtriranjem vode koja se uvlači kroz tunel ili proširivanjem dijelova tijela prilagođenih ovoj funkciji u vodu iznad pijeska.
Crvene plime i oseke
Na zapadnoj obali poluotoka i u manjoj mjeri na istočnoj strani False Baya, jugoistočni vjetrovi mogu prouzročiti nadimak dubokih, hladnih, hranjivih voda bogatih voda. To se općenito događa ljeti kada su ti vjetrovi najjači, a to u kombinaciji s intenzivnom ljetnom sunčevom svjetlošću osigurava uvjete koji pogoduju brzom rastu fitoplanktona. Ako zatim uzdizanje slijedi razdoblje laganog vjetra ili kopnenih vjetrova, neke vrste fitoplanktona mogu cvjetati tako gusto da oboje vodu, najočitije crvenkastu ili smećkastu boju, koja je poznata kao crvena plima.
Ovisno o uključenim vrstama, ove crvene plime mogu uzrokovati masovnu smrtnost morskih životinja iz različitih razloga. U nekim slučajevima organizmi mogu potrošiti sve dostupne hranjive sastojke, a zatim umrijeti, ostavljajući raspadajuće ostatke koji iscrpljuju vodu kisikom, gušeći životinjski život, dok drugi mogu jednostavno postati toliko gusti da začepe škrge morskih životinja, sa sličnim učinkom. Treća skupina je sama po sebi otrovna, a to može biti posebno problematično jer su neke vrste koje se hrane filtrom imune na toksine, ali ih akumuliraju u svojim tkivima, a zatim će biti toksične za ljude koji ih mogu jesti.
Crvene plime također imaju izravniji učinak na ronjenje i smanjuju vidljivost. Smanjenje vidljivosti može se kretati od blagog utjecaja na površinske slojeve, do ozbiljno smanjene vidljivosti do znatne dubine.
Crvene plime i oseke mogu biti male i lokalizirane i obično traju nekoliko dana, ali u ekstremnim slučajevima poznato je da se protežu od Doringbaaija do rta Agulhas, nekoliko stotina kilometara s obje strane Cape Towna, i treba tjednima da se raziđu (ožujak 2005.).
Oprema
Standardna oprema
Većina mjesta za ronjenje u ovoj regiji relativno su plitka i mogu se izvoditi na zraku s uobičajenom rekreacijskom ronilačkom opremom koja bi uključivala:
- Potpuno mokro odijelo debljine najmanje 5 mm, kapuljača, čizme i rukavice.
- Cilindar s uprtačem, regulatorom i podvodnim manometrom.
- Uređaj za kompenzaciju uzgona (BCD).
- Maska i disalica.
- Peraje.
- Sustav utega koji se može iskopati ispravno je kalibriran za ostatak opreme.
- Ronilačko računalo ili dubinomjer i mjerač vremena s tablicama za dekompresiju i planom zarona.
Tome možete dodati:
- Bilo koja daljnja oprema koju vi ili vaša agencija za ovjeravanje smatrate obveznom, poput sekundarnog regulatora, BCD pumpe za niski tlak, noža itd.
- Bilo koja oprema koju nosite ili koristite u svrhu osobnih želja, poput kamere, signalnog uređaja, škriljevca, suhog odijela, koluta i plutače za površinsku oznaku, alternativne opskrbe plinom, kompasa itd.
Preporuke
- Ako vaše peraje imaju pune džepove na stopalima (zatvorena peta), a čizme s mokrim odijelom imaju mekani potplat, možda će biti potrebno obuti cipele kako biste došli do točke ulaska na kopnu. Otvorene pete i čizme s tvrdom potplatom preporučuju se za većinu ronjenja na kopnu u ovoj regiji, jer je zemlja uglavnom gruba, a cipele možda još uvijek neće biti tamo gdje ste ih ostavili kad se vratite s ronjenja.
- Standardna plutača za površinsku oznaku ne preporučuje se tamo gdje postoji jak rast algi, jer će često zastati i pružiti beskrajne smetnje. Površinski biljeg koji se može rasporediti ili odgoditi bolji je na takvim mjestima i uvijek je dobra stvar za nošenje na brodu.
- Izostavljanje bilo kojeg od gore navedenih predmeta na vlastiti ste rizik. Postoje ronioci koji neće nositi kapuljače, rukavice ili čizme, ili smatrati da dihalica ili BC nisu potrebni ili da mogu roniti u odijelu od 3 mm. Prvo probajte ovo na laganom zaronu, odakle možete brzo izaći. It may work for you – there are divers who manage in each of these cases, but you have been warned.
Additional equipment
For each dive site there may be additional or alternative equipment required or recommended, which may improve the dive experience or improve safety at that site. The most commonly recommended items are:
- Kompas
- Dry suit
- Svjetlo
- Nitrox
- Reel with DSMB
Use of a compass is recommended wherever it may be desirable to swim back to shore below the surface to avoid wind or boat traffic, or to keep below the kelp fronds. It is required for the compass navigation routes.
A dry suit is recommended for most dives on the Atlantic seaboard, or in general if the dive is deeper than about 20 m and the water is colder than 13°C. An appropriate undergarment is required for the dry suit, at this is what provides the insulation. With a suitable combination it is possible to enjoy an hour's dive in comfort at a water temperature of 8°C, when most of the divers in 7-mm wetsuits are cold after 30 minutes. If your face and head are particularly sensitive to cold, a full-face mask will keep your face warm.
Recommendations for a light are for daytime dives, as lights are considered standard equipment on night dives. Backup lights should be carried on night dives from a boat. Underwater flashers may not be well received by the other divers as they are extremely annoying. If you feel you must use one, warn the others and stay away from those divers who do not wish to have a light continually flashing in their peripheral vision and distracting them. A strobe which may be switched on in an emergency is another matter entirely, and is accepted as a valuable safety aid.
The equipment recommendations are for divers who are competent to use those items, and if you are not, you should consider whether your competence is sufficient to dive the site without this equipment.
No recommendations are made regarding equipment for wreck penetration dives and deep dives. If you do not know exactly what equipment is required and have it with you, or are not competent in its use, you should not do the penetration. Depth, wrecks and caves are nature’s tools for culling reckless divers.
Recommendations for gas mixtures are generic. You must choose the appropriate mixture based on your qualifications, competence and the dive plan. Nitrox mixtures are generally recommended to increase dive time without obligatory decompression stops, and Trimix to reduce narcotic effects. Nitrox is available from many of the dive shops, and charter operators will usually provide cylinders filled with the blend of your choice if given sufficient notice. Trimix is more difficult to arrange, as not many filling stations keep Helium in stock, so it may require a bit of shopping around.
Decompression dives should generally only be planned by divers who are familiar with the site, and are competent and properly equipped for the planned dive. Recommendations in this regard are outside the scope of this article, and it will be necessary to discuss any planned decompression dives well in advance with the dive operator, as only a few of them are competent and willing to support planned decompression dives, and those will usually require strong evidence of your competence to do the dive, and advance notice of your dive plan.
Exotic equipment
Diving equipment other than open circuit back mounted scuba with half mask and mouth-grip demand valve is considered to be exotic for this section.This would include surface supplied breathing apparatus and full face masks, used as standard equipment by commercial divers, and rebreathers, seldom used by commercial divers, but frequently used by military divers and gaining popularity with Technical recreational divers.
Also considered as exotic equipment is side-mount scuba and diver propulsion vehicles (scooters), as they are not used by many recreational divers.
Generally speaking, any use of surface supplied diving equipment will require special preparation and logistics, which are not available from the listed service providers, but are perfectly legal for use and technical support is available from the suppliers to the commercial diving industry in Cape Town.
Rebreathers are relatively uncommon, but are used by a few local aficionados, and sorb is available over the counter at a few suppliers. There is even one charter boat which regularly runs dives for mainly rebreather divers. Expect to be checked out for skills and certification before being allowed to join these dives, so it would be advisable to make prior arrangements. Technical support is available for a limited range and parts will usually only be available from overseas agencies. Most of the local dive sites do not really justify the expense and relative risk of rebreathers, and they are mostly used by divers who also use them in other places where they are more of an advantage, and by those who just enjoy the technology. They are not available for rental, except in some cases as part of a training package.
Full-face masks will not be a problem, provided you can show your ability to provide buddy support if diving with a partner (some charters will insist that you dive with a buddy). Technical support and parts are available from local agencies for most of the more popular models used for commercial and technical diving, but you may have to wait some time if parts are not in stock. The use of a full-face mask can be a particular advantage when the water is cold, and if you have one and prefer to use it, by all means bring it to Cape Town.
Side mount scuba is relatively uncommon in Cape Town, but there should be no problems if you chose to use it. Do not expect boat crews to know how to help you kit up, but they will probably respond well to explanations. There is a growing number of local side-mount aficionados, including several instructors for side-mount.
Diver propulsion vehicles (scooters) are rare but not unknown. Check with the charter boat whether will be space on board for your unit, and don't expect to find one for rental.
Decompression and bailout sets are not considered exotic, but are not easily available for rental. Bring your own, or ask around. Some of the service providers carry a small range of cylinders suitable for sling mount, but may not have the gas mixture you want in stock. Almost all the local divers that carry decompression or bailout cylinders routinely have their own equipment
Mjesta za ronjenje
The dive sites described in these articles include some which are well known favourites and have been dived frequently and by many divers for decades, and also newly described sites, which may only have been dived a few times, and by a few divers. There are also sites which have been known for years, but seldom dived due to their relative inaccessibility, and a few which are basically not particularly interesting, but have been included in the interests of completeness, as the information is available, and occasionally people want to know what they are like. With a few exceptions, the information provided is based on personal observation at the sites by Wikivoyagers. All photos of marine life and features of interest were taken at the listed site.
Geographical information is provided in as much detail as is available. Sites are geolinked, which allows them to be identified on various internet map systems. Positional accuracy is usually good. The maps provided should be usable, to scale, and accurate, but are not guaranteed either to be correct in all details or complete. Clicking on the thumbnail will open a link to a higher resolution image.
Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula
Introduction and some tips on diving the Atlantic coast.
This coastline from Table Bay to Cape Point is exposed to the south westerly swells generated by the cold fronts of the Southern Ocean. The continental shelf is narrow in this part of the coast and swells are not greatly influenced by the narrow band of shallow water, so they retain most of their deep-water energy. These swells pound this coast most of the winter, and to a lesser extent in summer, so diving in this region is mostly a summer activity, and the frontal weather patterns far to the south are more important than local weather for swell prediction.
North westerly winds are a feature of the approach of a cold front, and in winter they can be very strong for a few days before swinging to southwesterly as the front passes. These north westerly winter storms were responsible for many shipwrecks in Table Bay and other parts of the west coast, and the associated wind waves can be severe. However the fetch is short and these onshore wind waves do not last long after the storm. They do mess up the visibility though, and this effect lasts for some time after the waves have dissipated.
The south easterly winds are longshore to offshore in this area and tend to knock the swell down a bit. They also cause an offshore displacement of the surface water, which results in deeper water rising to take its place. This upwelling brings colder, initially cleaner water to the inshore areas, and can produce conditions of 20 m visibility and temperatures down to 8°C, though more usually 10° to 12°C. The diving is wonderful if you are sufficiently insulated. Out of the water, however, it is commonly fine and hot, with blazing sunshine high ultraviolet levels and air temperatures in the high 20 and 30° Celsius. This means you will be overheating until you get in the water, hence the comment that summer diving in Cape Town is one easy step from hyperthermia to hypothermia.
There is no escaping the need for a well-fitting, thick (preferably 7 mm), wet suit or a dry suit with an adequate undergarment for these conditions if you intend to stay for more than a few minutes. Carrying a bottle of water with your equipment to wet the outside of your suit before or after putting it on will help keep the temperature down due to evaporative cooling, specially on a windy day. Overheating after leaving the water is seldom a problem. The alternative option of kitting up at the water’s edge requires a shore party to look after your clothes, etc., while you dive, so it has become less common. Do not leave equipment unattended if you wish to see it again.
An upwelling is frequently followed by a plankton bloom, often called a red tide. This will reduce visibility considerably, particularly near the surface. Often the water will be much clearer below the surface layer, though the light levels may be a bit dim and the colour relatively green, or even brownish. The phytoplankton will bloom while the sun shines, so it is much more developed in summer.
The south-easter is an offshore wind at some sites, and besides its influence on temperature and visibility, it also affects the swim back to shore after the dive. The south-easter can appear seemingly out of nowhere on a previously cloudless and windless day, and build up to near gale force in the time you are underwater on a dive, though it is usually predictable, so take note of weather forecasts, and in any case, allow sufficient reserve air to swim back a few metres below the surface. A compass is extremely useful if you do this as it allows you to swim shallower, which is good for air consumption, decompression and warmth. A depth of 3 to 5 m is recommended for a long swim home. The strong south-easter in these cases produces a short, steep wind chop with white-caps which does not penetrate to any significant depth, but the constant slapping of waves and the spray in the air can make snorkelling unpleasant and difficult. There may also be a shallow offshore wind drift (surface current), but this takes some time to develop and gets rapidly weaker with depth and is not usually a problem below about a metre depth inshore. Further offshore the wind induced current can take you several hundred metres during a decompression stop, at a rate of about 0.5 to 1 kph.
When boat diving a deployable surface marker buoy (DSMB) is useful to both facilitate controlled ascent and accurate decompression or safety stop depth, and as a signal to the boat that you are on your way up. In strong wind conditions it will also improve your visibility on the surface, specially if your equipment is all black, so it is worth carrying even if only as a signalling device. Bright yellow has been shown to be best for all round visibility at sea, but orange and red are fairly good too.
Robben Island
These sites are all boat dives. There is no other practical way to get to them, as they are all several kilometres from the mainland across major shipping lanes.The waters around Robben Island were proclaimed a Marine Protected Area in 2019, so a permit is required to dive there. The boat operator will have to have a permit for the restricted area. Details of how this will be done are not yet known.
Local geography:Robben Island is a low, rocky shored island in the mouth of Table Bay. The island and surrounding reefs are rock of the Tygerberg series of the late Precambrian Malmesbury group. These are folded sedimentary rocks, frequently with very steep dip, which often weather to form rather jagged outcrops.
The sites include:
- 1 MV Blago: S33°40.45' E018°19.95' (approximate)
- Wreck dive. Boat access only. Depth: 30 to 50 m
- On 23 June 2000 the damaged Panamanian registered bulk ore carrier sank off the coast of South Africa approximately 7 nautical miles north of Robben Island.
- The vessel lies upright on a fairly level bottom at about 50 m depth. The superstructure was removed shortly after the sinking by sawing it off at about 30 m depth with a cable towed by tugs as it was a hazard to shipping.
- 2 Robben Island steamer wreck: S33°49.886', E018°21.524' (approximate centre of wreckage)
- Wreck dive. Boat access only. Depth: 30 to 36 m
- Unidentified wreck of a steel steamship about 48 m long in reasonable structural condition.
- 3 MV Afrikaner: S33°50.012' E018°20.686'
- Boat access only. Deep wreck dive. Depth 43 to 50 m
- The 61 m fishing vessel struck Whale Rock in 1993 and sank while being towed away from the rock.
- 4 Whale Rock: S33°50.112' E018°22.858'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: Mostly less than 10 m
- A large shoal area of rocky reef, usually with a break over the pinnacle, which is the last resting place of a few ships.
- 5 SS Hipatija: S33°50.10’ E018°22.90’ (Turner 1988)
- Wreck and reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: Shallow, maximum probably about 15 m
- British Houston Line steamer of 5 728 tons, built in 1902. Wrecked on Whale Rock in Table Bay on 29 October 1929 in fog while on a voyage from Beira to New York with a cargo of blister copper and chrome ore.
- 6 MV Daeyang Family: S33°50.388' E18°23.133
- Wreck and reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth about 15 m
- A large Korean ore carrier which was wrecked on Whale Rock on 1 March 1986 when anchors dragged in heavy weather. The wreckage lies at a depth of about 15:nbsp;m
Table Bay
- 7 MV Winton: S33°52.1514' E18°29.1828 (Engine block)
- Wreck dive. Boat access, though shore access is feasible. Close to surf line. Maximum depth about 6 m.
- Wreck of a small steel freighter on a flat sand bottom.
- 8 MV Gemsbok: S33°53.0' E018°20.5'
- Boat access only. Deep wreck dive. Depth about 57 m on the sand.
- The 50 m 313 tonne buoy tender MV Gemsbok capsized and sank about 4 km from Green Point Lighthouse on 2 Seprember 1975 while transferring an anchor chain of a cargo vessel. The chain snagged and the weight of the chain caused the vessel to capsize and sink within minutes. The wreck lies on its starboard side.
- 9 Highfields: S33°53.13’ E018°25.83’ (Bow)
- Wreck dive. Boat access only. Close to major shipping lane at harbour mouth. Maximum depth 24 m.
- Wreck of a steel barque which sank after a collision in 1902.
- 10 SS Cape Matapan: S33°53.233' E018°24.533' About a kilometer north of Granger Bay harbour
- Wreck and reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth 25 m. The wreck is close to the shipping lane and there are no landmarks nearby.
- Wreck of a steel fishing boat which was sunk in a collision in 1960 in heavy fog.
- 11 RMS Atena: S33°53.85’ E018°24.57’
- Wreck and reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maximum depth about 7 m
- Union Company iron steam screw barque of 739 tons, built in 1856. Wrecked between Mouille Point and Green Point on 17 May 1865 during a north-west gale while trying to steam out of Table Bay. The site can be identified by the remains of the engine-block, which is visible above the water.
- 12 SS SA Seafarer: S33°53.80’ E018°23.80’
- Wreck and reef dive. Boat access recommended. Depth: Fairly shallow. Mostly between 5 and 9 m.
- The 8000-ton Safmarine freighter SS South African Seafarer was wrecked in a north westerly gale on 1 July 1966, and lies in front of the Green Point lighthouse.
- 13 Two Oceans Aquarium: S33°54.476’ E018°25.074’
- Shore access only. Confined water. Maximum depth 6 m
- Visitors may dive in the Predator tank, which is a large oval tank, or the Kelp Forest tank, which is roughly square. There are large windows, almost full height on one side, through which you can observe the other visitors watching you if you get bored with the fish.
Sea Point
Local Geography:There is a narrow coastal plain at the base of Signal Hill and Lion’s Head. The contact zone between the intrusive granites of the Poluotok pluton and the sedimentary greywackes and shales of the Tygerberg formation of the Malmesbury series is in this area.The northern sites are on the Tygerberg rocks, which are steeply dipped and form parallel ridges and gullies, while Bantry Bay is on the granite, and has the characteristic corestone topography of rounded boulders and outcrops with sand bottom in deeper areas.
The sites include:
- 14 Zaljev Tri sidra: S33°54.36’ E018°23.85’
- Reef dive. Shore access. Depth: Shallow
- A small sand bottomed bay with reef to both sides. Easy access.
- 15 Vrhovi grebena Sea Point: S33°54.905' E018°21.421'
- Reef dive. Boat access. Depth: 17 to 27 m
- An isolated pair of corestone pinnacles on a low granite ridge.
- 16 Zaljev Bantry: S33°55.56’ E018°22.65’
- Reef dive. Shore or boat access Depth: Less than 10 m
- This little bay is at the southern end of Sea Point, towards Clifton.
Clifton
Clifton Rocks is generally considered a shore dive, but the Paws are quite a distance offshore and are only dived from boats. Parking in Clifton is often a problem, particularly in the kind of weather in which you may wish to go diving. Weekdays will be better and early morning will help. The offshore dives avoid this problem by using boats from Oceana Power Boat Club slipway, which has its own parking problems, though not quite as serious.
Local geography:The suburb of Clifton is built on the rather steep slopes of the base of Lion’s Head above Clifton Bay. There are four beaches in the bay which are famous for white sand, shelter from the south easter and cold water. North Paw is offshore of the headland to the north, and South Paw is offshore from Clifton Rocks, on the south headland. Access to the area by road is from Sea Point to the north and Camps Bay to the south.
The reefs of Clifton are granite corestones of the Poluotok pluton. In this area the granite base of the mountain extends to approximately the height of Signal Hill, and is capped by sandstones of the Graafwater and Table Mountain formations. Occasional rounded granite outcrops can be seen on the mountainside, which is mostly deeply weathered granitic saprolite, with some sandstone scree.
The sites include:
- North Lion’s Paw: S33°55.854’ E018°21.849’ (Exposed Rock)
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: 15 to 23 m.
- A spectacular site in good conditions. A popular part of the site is the cave rock, which is slightly offshore from the exposed rocks.
- 17 Sjeverni lavovski šap Sjeverni vrhovi
- 18 Sjeverna lavova šapa Monty's Pinnacles
- 19 Sjeverna lavova šapa Istočni vrh
- 20 Vrhovi sjeverne lavlje šape Barry
- 21 Špiljska stijena sjeverne lavlje šape
- 22 Glavni greben sjeverne lavlje šape
- 23 Južna lavova šapa: S33°56.308’ E018°21.890’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth about 20 m.
- An extensive reef of granite corestones marked by the large outcrop which extends above the water.
- 24 Clifton Rocks: S33 ° 56.346 ’E018 ° 22.222’
- Reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maximum depth about 14 m.
- A large area of granite corestones, bounded to the north by sand bottom. The reef extends to seaward from the shoreline at the point.
- 25 Cleeveov tunel: S33°56.540' E018°21.894'
- Reef dive. Boat access. Maximum depth about 20 m.
- A large corestone pinnacle with a long low tunnel
Camps Bay
Local geography:Camps Bay is in the corner made by Lion’s Head and Table Mountain. Access is over Kloof Nek from the city bowl, and round the coast from Sea Point via Clifton to the north, and from Hout Bay via Oudekraal to the south
The reefs of this area are like those of Clifton.
The sites include:
- 26 Stijena Bakoven: S33°57.555’ E018°22.204’
- Reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maximum depth 17 m.
- This site is generally considered a shore dive. Parking is limited so it is most conveniently dived during the working week when there is less competition for space, otherwise get there early.
Oudekraal
This area includes some of the best and most popular shore dive sites on the Atlantic seaboard. Most can also be dived from a boat, and this is of particular importance to divers with restricted mobility on shore, as there is generally a rugged bit of coast to negotiate and in some cases a long climb. There is also a moderate to long swim at some of the sites, and at some states of the tide, heavy kelp inshore.
Local geography:The coastline at the base of the Twelve Apostles range just south of Table Mountain is steep, and south of Camps Bay, virtually undeveloped. Fortunately for divers, the coastal road is not far above sea level in the north of this area, and though there are not many off-road parking areas, the road is wide enough to park along the side.
This is an area of pale grey Poluotok Granite corestone outcrops and boulders with some Table Mountain Sandstone boulders which have rolled down the mountainside to the water’s edge. The mountainside below the sandstone cliffs is deeply weathered granite saprolite with occasional corestone outcrops. The cuttings at the roadside display the granular yellow-brown saprolite with a thin soil covering. The underwater topography is almost entirely corestones exposed by erosion, surrounded by samd, and is a continuation of the granite boulders and outcrops at the water’s edge.
North Oudekraal
The sites include:
- 27 Dredlocks Greben: S33°58'22.05" S18°21'42.59"
- Reef dive. Boat access. Depth: 1.5 to 20 m.
- A relatively new site. First survey 30th January 2010. This granite ridge peaks about 1.5m from the surface at low tide, but the tip is small and seldom breaks. Bottom on low granite at about 20m. Colourful and diverse invertebrate cover, and notable for the relatively large colonies of Dreadlock hydroids.
- 28 Geldkis Blinder: S33°58.67’ E018°21.62’
- Reef dive. Boat or shore access. Maximum depth about 20 m.
- A relatively infrequently dived site. The highest rock on the reef is a blinder beyond Geldkis rock which occasionally breaks the surface at low tide. Huge boulders and outcrops, and a few swimthroughs.
- 29 Stijene jagoda: S33°58.725’ E018°21.658’ (approximate)
- Reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maximum depth about 15 m.
- The two smaller rocks to the north of Geldkis rock. Several small caverns and swimthroughs.
- 30 Geldkis: S33°58.73’ E018°21.61’
- Reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maximum depth about 15 m.
- A large group of rocks with lots of overhangs, swimthroughs and chimneys. The Dutch East Indiaman Het huys te Craijestein was wrecked on the rocks in the bay at Oudekraal on 27 May 1698 in thick mist. Three chests of treasure disappeared and the name "Geldkis" (money-chest) appears on maps of the area and is now applied to the offshore rocks.
- 31 Sala za sastanke: S33°58.761’ E018°21.151’
- Reef dive. Boat access, though possible from shore. Maximum depth about 21 m near the pinnacle, but deeper water nearby. about 10 m on top.
- A very large boulder with a large swimthrough cave and a large overhang in an area of high profile boulder reef.
- 32 Het Huis te Kraaiestein: S33°58.85’ E018°21.65’
- Wreck and reef dive. Shore access. Maximum depth 10 m.
- Remnants of the Dutch East Indiaman Het Huis te Kraaiestein of 1,154 tons, which was wrecked in the bay at Oudekraal on 27 May 1698 in thick mist while trying to find the way into Table Bay. Some cannon, anchors and a few baulks of timber are all that are usually visible above the sand.
- 33 Vrh gljiva: S33°58.781’ E018°21.521’
- Reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maximum depth 17 m.
- A submerged granite tor (stacked group of large corestones) between Geldkis and Justin’s Caves. The pinnacle is surrounded by lower outcrops separated by sandy gullies.
- 34 Pješčana uvala: S33°58.90’ E018°21.65’
- Reef dive. Confined waters. Shore access. Maximum depth 4 m
- A shallow sheltered cove at Oudekraal, suitable for open water training exercises, refresher courses and testing equipment when you don’t need depth. Entry area for several other sites.
- 35 Justinove špilje: S33°58.85’ E018°21.50’
- Reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maximum depth about 13 m.
- A group of big granite corestone outcrops and boulders with several swimthroughs, overhangs, caves and deep narrow gaps between the rocks. Spectacular in good visibility, colourful reef life.
Central Oudekraal
The sites include:
- 36 Antipolis: S33°59.06’ E018°21.37’ (Bow section)
- Wreck and reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maximum depth about 10 m.
- The tankers "Romelia" and "Antipolis" were under tow on 28 July 1977 during a north westerly gale when the tow cable to the "Antipolis" snagged on the sea bed. In the ensuing confusion the cables broke and the two ships were driven aground by the wind. The "Antipolis" ran aground at Oudekraal and was later cut down to water level.
- 37 Klein Pannekoek: S33°58.91’ E018°21.09’
- Reef dive. Boat or shore access. Maximum depth about 15 m.
- A group of large fairly low and flat rocks visible offshore to the west of the "Antipolis" and north of Coral Gardens.
South Oudekraal
The sites include:
- 38 Groot Pannekoek: S33°59.13’ E018°20.75’
- Reef dive. Boat or shore access. Maximum depth about 15 m
- A large flattish outcrop of granite, which extends a short way above the sea level at all tides. Some overhangs, crevices and small caves.
- Koraljni vrtovi (Oudekraal): S33°59.270' E018°20.782' (The pinnacles)
- Reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maximum depth 17 m
- A spectacular dive in good conditions. Huge granite boulders in groups with open patches between them. There are overhangs, small caverns, a few swimthroughs, and many deep gaps and crevices. Extensively covered in colourful reef life. Possibly the best shore dive on the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula on a good day.
- 39 Koraljni vrtovi
- 40 Coral Gardens Offshore Pinnacle
Llandudno
These sites can be accessed from the shore or by boat. Parking is limited, but the area is reasonably secure. Some walking is required, but no serious climbing as the parking is near the sea level.
Local geography:The small residential suburb of Llandudno is built on the moderately steep slopes of the Cape Peninsula below the peak of Klein-Leeukop, where the coast road (M6 – Victoria Drive) from Camps Bay crosses over the neck to Hout Bay. There is only one way into Llandudno by road, which is from the M6 near the top of the pass.This is an area of granite corestone reefs with sand bottom.
The sites include:
- 41 13. apostol: S33°59.486' E18°19.922'
- Reef dive. Boat access. Depth: 10 to 24 m.
- A large granite pinnacle on an area of low granite reef with occasional sand patches.
- 42 Llandudno Reef: S34°00.037' E18°19.897'
- Reef dive. Boat access. Depth: 10 to about 30 m, on sand
- An unsurveyed granite reef, with several pinnacles, outcrops and gullies.
- 43 Logies Bay: S34°00.25’ E018°20.53’
- Reef dive. Shore access. Maximum depth probably about 10 m.
- A small rocky cove to the north of Llandudno beach.
- 44 MV Romelia: S34°00.700’ E018°19.860’ approximately
- Wreck and reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maksimalna dubina oko 24 m.
- The tankers Romelija i Antipolis were under tow on 28 July 1977 during a north westerly gale when the tow cable to the Antipolis snagged on the sea bed. In the ensuing confusion the cables broke and the two ships were driven aground by the wind. The Romelija ran aground at Sunset Rocks, Llandudno, where its back was broken by the heavy surf and the ship split in two. Later the bow section sank, leaving the stern mostly above sea level on the rocks. Over the years the stern section has also broken up and is no longer visible above the water.
Oude Schip headland
Local geography:Oude Schip headland lies at the foot of the Karbonkelberg between Sandy Bay to the north and Leeugat to the south, It is a low rocky headland of Peninsula granite, with several reef dives and one known wreck. It is a fairly exposed section of coast but protected from the south easterly winds by the mountain. The sites are only accessible by boat as there is no road access to this part of the shore, and most are too far offshore to safely swim.
This is an area of granite bedrock of the Poluotok pluton, The reefs are exposed corestone outcrops and boulders, with sand patches in the deeper areas
The sites include:
- 45 Koraci: S34°01.330’ E018°18.600’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth about 20 m.
- An area of high granite reef with deep gullies. Not actually in Leeugat, but just north of Oude Schip headland.
- 46 MV Harvest Capella: S34°01.600’ E018°18.750’
- Wreck dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth about 15 m.
- An area of mostly flattish granite reef with a few ridges and some wreckage of a steel motor fishing vessel, some of which has washed up onto the point and is visible from a distance. Not actually in Leeugat, but on the north shore of Oude Schip headland.
The Blue Flash Reefs
- 47 Rachel's Reef: S34°01.431' E018°18.151'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth between about 3 and 21 m.
- Rachel's Reef is a compact granite pinnacle with surrounding high profile reef.
- 48 Humpback Ridge: S34°01.548' E018°18.142'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth between about 4 and 21 m.
- A fairly massive granite pinnacle in the middle of a more extensive north-south ridge rising to about 12 m. Humpback whales have been seen near these reefs on several occasions.
- 49 Wilhelm's Wall: S34°01.502’ E018°17.931’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth between about 12 and 31 m.
- A granite ridge somewhat more than 50 m long with sheer faces to the north and south, a flattish bottomed gully to the south, and another, more broken ridge south of the gully. Colourful sessile invertebrates on the sides and seaweeds on top.
The Middelmas reefs:
- Hakka Reef (Middelmas): S34°01.747’ E018°18.328’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth about 21 m.
- 50 Die Middelmas is a rock that projects several metres above the water at all tides, to the west of the Oude Schip peninsula.
- 51 Hakka Reef Southeast pinnacles is off this rock.
- 52 Hakka Reef Sven's Caves pinnacles is nearby at a set of pinnacles near a sand patch.
- 53 Kule blizance: S34°01.920’ E018°18.330’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth about 20 m at the tops of the pinnacles to 34 m on the sand.
- A small but tall double-peaked granite pinnacle on a narrow base reef and surrounded by sand.
Leeugat (Maori Bay)
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Although several of the sites are quite close inshore, this area is in practice only accessible by boat, as the distance to the nearest parking is too far to carry dive gear (about 3 km as the crow flies, more on foot).
Local geography:Leeugat, also known to divers as Maori Bay, lies at the foot of the Karbonkelberg, between the northern headland of Oude Schip, and Duikerpunt to the south. It is a small bay, but fairly deep close inshore, which in combination with the partial barrier afforded by the reefs at the headlands, has provided the wrecks in Leeugat bay with better protection from wave action than those on more exposed parts of the coastline. This means that not only have they lasted well for their ages, but conditions are suitable for diving more often than for many other wrecks on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula.
This is an area of granite bedrock of the Poluotok pluton, The reefs are exposed corestone outcrops and boulders, with sand patches in the deeper areas
The sites include:
- 54 MV Keryavor and the Jo May: S34°02.037’ E018°18.636’
- Wreck and reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: Not available, probably between 25 and 30 m.
- These two wrecks lie next to each other approximately between the Maori and the Gelderland. The Jo May sank first and not much of her wooden structure remains. The Ker Yar Vor was a steel lobster fishing vessel and several chunks of hull structure and twisted sections of plating remain.
- 55 SS Maori: S34°02.062’ E018°18.793’ (Machinery)
- Wreck and reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: 6 to 21 m
- SS Maori was a typical British steam cargo vessel of the early 1890s. The ship was wrecked in the bay between Oude Schip and Duikerpunt on 5 August 1909 in thick fog and drizzle while on a voyage from London to New Zealand.
- 56 SAS Gelderland: S34°02.070’ E018°18.180’
- Wreck and reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: 30 to 35 m
- The Ford class Seaward Defense Boat SAS Gelderland was scuttled on 21s ecember 1988, north west of Duiker Point, as demolition trials.
- The vessel was about 40 m long but the main part of the wreckage is now only about 20 m long as the bow and stern sections were blown right off.
- Plan B pinnacle is just to the south of the southernmost wreckage.
- 57 SS Oakburn / MV Bos 400: S34°02.216’ E018°18.573’
- Wreck and reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: Maximum 22 m
- The "Oakburn", a British cargo steamer of 3865 tons, was wrecked on the north side of Duikerpunt in fog on 21 May 1906, on a voyage from New York to Sydney. The Oakburn has pretty much fallen apart, and on 27 June 1994, the French pipe-laying crane barge Bos 400, broke its towline and stranded virtually on top of the older wreck. The Bos has started to break up, and two large sections have collapsed into the sea, though the main crane section is still firmly stuck on top of the rocks.
Outer Hout Bay
This area includes the dive sites between Duiker Point and Duiker Island and the extensive reefs to the south as far as Vulcan Rock and Tafelberg Reef. All of these are only accessible by boat. There are a number of sites being explored in this area: the reefs between Kanobi’s wall and Stonehenge, and a wreck of a lifeboat which was used to salvage materials from the Boss 400 and which lies between Stonehenge and Duiker Island are among these. There are several unexplored pinnacles in the region identified on the SAN charts as bakleiplaas, where the sea is often very lumpy due to the influence of the underwater topography on the swell.
Local geography:The suburb of Hout Bay lies in the valley between the Constantiaberg to the east and the peninsula formed by Karbonkelberg and its lesser peaks to the west. One of these peaks, the Sentinel, gives its name to a dive site at its foot. At the mouth of the valley is the business area of Hout Bay, with its small commercial fishing harbour and marina, and a public slipway used by dive charters and private dive boats for access to most of the southern peninsula dive sites on the Atlantic coast. The slipway is in good condition, wide and accessible, and has a large parking area, which on occasions can be crowded due to heavy use by commercial fishing skiboats.
The bedrock of this area is granite of the Poluotok pluton, and most of the sites are on corestone reefs of this rock.
The sites include:
Duiker Point sites:
- 58 Die Perd: S34°02.282’ E18°18.324’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: Not available, maximum probably about 20 m
- This rock off Duiker Point extends above the water and is surrounded by rugged reefs of high outcrops and deep gullies.
- 59 Kanobi’s Wall: S34°02.365’ E018°18.138’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth about 25 m.
- This blinder off Duiker Point is a good site with rugged topography, good biodiversity and large depth variation. Huge boulders are stacked, with tunnels, overhangs and caves of various sizes, and lots of vertical walls, some probably 10 m or more in height.
- 60 SURG Pinnacles: S34°02.375' E018°18.015'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 9 to over 30 m.
- A group of steep granite corestone pinnacles, probably mostly huge boulders, with walls, overhangs and a swimthrough. Deep narrow cracks divide the pinnacles. Spectacular topography, covered with lots of sea urchins and vast numbers of hairy brittlestars, a moderate variety of sponges, noble corals, gorgonians, and patches of cauliflower soft coral. Red bait and Laminaria on the tops of the pinnacles. Surge can be strong when a long swell is running.
- Star Wall: S34°02.466' E18°18.087' (pinnacle)
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: 6 to 32 m.
- This site has the tallest and longest wall known in the Cape Town area and is a dive site well worth visiting. A massive and continuous granite wall of about 25m almost vertical height, extending for a length of 100 m on the south face and 50 m on the south-east face. Very diverse and colourful invertebrate cover on the wall face. The sites are:
- 61 Star Wall
- 62 Star Wall - M&M Cave
- 63 Star Wall - Lollipop Pinnacle
- 64 Sunfish Pinnacle: S34°02.475' E18°18.290' (pinnacle)
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: 7 to 26 m.
- A fairly large pinnacle on a rocky bottom on the way to Duiker Point from Hout Bay harbour, which has been picked up quite frequently on the echo sounders of dive boats passing over it. It has now been dived, and to some extent mapped. The site is quite pretty and should make a pleasant alternative site. Topography is rugged, with high vertical walls on two sides of the pinnacle.
Stonehenge sites:
- 65 Kanjon: S34°02.595’ E018°18.073’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth about 35 m.
- The area is named for a gully between rows of pinnacles. Big boulders and rock outcrops cover an extensive area.
- Stonehenge: S34°02.838’ E018°18.316’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth about 22 m.
- The area is named for a group of tall rocks which break the surface. Big boulders and rock outcrops cover an extensive area. High profile in the deeper areas, with swimthroughs, holes and overhangs. Heavy kelp in some areas. Included in this area, Stonehenge Blinder, a pinnacle that approaches the surface and breaks in a large swell or at low tide.
- 66 Stonehenge Dusky Pinnacles - Coral Pinnacle
- 67 Stonehenge North
- 68 A-340 Pinnacle
- 69 Stonehenge Central
- 70 Stonehenge South
- 71 Stonehenge Blinder
- 72 Stonehenge Wreck
Seal Island sites:
- 73 Otok tuljana (Duiker island): S34°03.458’ E018°19.562’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Dubina: plitka, uglavnom manja od 6 m.
- Mali stjenoviti otočić označen na kartama i kartama kao Duikereiland postao je poznat kao Otok tuljana zbog rezidencijalne kolonije tuljana koja je postala turistička atrakcija. Ne treba je miješati sa Otok tuljana u False Bayu.
Nalazišta Vulkan Rock:
- 74 Di’s Cracks: S34 ° 03.855 ’E018 ° 18.400’ - Veliki 14m vrh - gromada na vrhu grebena. Otprilike 300 m sjeverozapadno (328 ° magnetskog) od stijene Vulcan
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: 10 do 30 m.
- Spektakularni zaron ako je vidljivost dobra. Mnogo zidova i prevjesa, plivanja i dubokih, širokih pukotina. Bogati pokrov beskičmenjaka. Dobro mjesto za dramatične širokokutne scenske fotografije.
- 75 Vulkanska stijena: S34 ° 03,967 ’E018 ° 18,582’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Maksimalna dubina je preko 25 m u blizini stijene.
- Vulkanska stijena najviša je točka velikog granitnog grebena i razbija površinu u nekim stanjima plime i oseke. Niska je i ravna na vrhu. Spektakularni zaron ako je vidljivost dobra.
Nalazišta grebena Tafelberg:
- 76 Greben Tafelberg: S34 ° 04,22 ’E018 ° 18,93’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: 8 do 30 m.
- Prostrano područje hrapavih izbojaka granita s visokim reljefom i pješčanim dnom na oko 29 m zapadno. Duboke pukotine i jaruge. Nema puno prevjesa, ali puno okomitih lica. Vrlo robusna i spektakularna topografija u dobroj vidljivosti.
- 77 Greben Klein Tafelberg (Zdjela za salatu, olupina jahte): S34 ° 04.442 ’E018 ° 19.191’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: 14 do 36 m.
- Ogroman izdanak granita s velikim gromadama. Dno pijeska u dubljim područjima. Robusna i spektakularna topografija. Olupine GRP jahte leže u udubljenju na boku vrha. Moguće je zaroniti od 40 do 45 m s početkom na pijesku istočno od grebena i plivati uz greben u smjeru sjeverozapada, ali vjerojatno će biti potrebna dekompresija ako stignete sve do plitki vrh.
- Tafelberg duboko:
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 40 m na pijesku.
- Izlazi granita niskog i srednjeg profila, nagnuti prema Tafelberg duboki vrhunac južno od vrhunca na grebenu Klein Tafelberg. Moguće je zaroniti na 50 m i plivati uz greben, ali bit će potrebna neka dekompresija.
- 78 Tafelberg duboko
- 79 Tafelberg duboki vrhunac
Zaljev Hout
Ovo područje uključuje mjesta između Sentinela i vrha Chapmans. Većina su to ronjenja brodom. Jedinoj iznimci, Sentinelu, bez velikih poteškoća može se pristupiti kopnom, ali ima sigurnosnih problema.
Sentinel je tipično područje granitne obale, s velikim brojem gromada duž obale i jezgra kamenih grebena s uobičajenim zaobljenim profilima. Olupine Astera i Katsu Marua nalaze se na ravnom pješčanom dnu, a nalazište Die Josie nalazi se na razmjerno nevremenit granit u podnožju litica vrha Lower Chapman's Peak
Web stranice uključuju:
- 80 Sentinel:
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Dubina: uglavnom manje od 10 m.
- Ovo je mjesto na obali Atlantika gdje je kontura od 30 m najbliža obali.
- Neki smatraju da je Sentinel područje ispod okomitih litica, a to je područje ravnog grebena s puno algi i bokserskih meduza i nekih velikih gromada.
- Pinnacles su skupina stijena u blizini obale, odmah izvan luke Hout Bay, u blizini kanalizacijskih radova.
- 81 SN Aster: S34 ° 03,891 ’E018 ° 20,955’
- Zaron u olupinu. Samo pristup brodu. Maksimalna dubina 28 m.
- Motorno ribarsko plovilo "Aster" od 340 tona i 27 metara bilo je ribarsko plovilo za jastoge registrirano u Južnoj Africi, koje je pripremljeno kao umjetni greben prilagođen roniocima čišćenjem i urezivanjem otvora u konstrukciji te je srušeno u zaljevu Hout u blizini olupine broda. "MV Katzu Maru" 9. kolovoza 1997. Služio je kao mjesto za obuku za prodiranje olupine. Posuda je uspravna na dnu i počinje se raspadati.
- 82 MV Katsu Maru: S34 ° 03.910 ’E018 ° 20.942’ (sredina olupine)
- Zaron u olupinu. Samo pristup brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 30 m.
- Japansko koćarsko plovilo "Katsu Maru # 25" pogodilo je neidentificirani objekt na moru i izdubljeno na lučkoj strani. Dok se vukao u zaljev Hout, brod je poplavio i potonuo u zaljevu 7. kolovoza 1978. Olupina leži s desne strane na pjeskovitom dnu.
- 83 Umri Josie: S34 ° 04.497 ’E018 ° 21.256’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: 7 do 17 m.
- Plitki greben ispod Chapman's Peaka, koji je u blizini luke Hout Bay i pogodan je za noćna ronjenja. Jedno od rijetkih područja gdje granit nije zaobljen vremenskim utjecajima, kao što se može vidjeti sa litica iznad mjesta.
Atlantski južni poluotok
Ovo područje uključuje cijelu obalu poluotoka južno od Noordhoeka. Često se ne roni u rekreacijske svrhe jer je daleko od dobrih mjesta za lansiranje i nije poznato mnogo dobrih mjesta za ronjenje. Na ovom je području nekoliko olupina, posebno na stijenama Albatross Rocks / Olifantsbospunt. Samo je nekoliko olupina pozitivno identificirano.
Web stranice uključuju
- 84 SS klan Monroe: S34 ° 08.817 'E18 ° 18.949'
- Zaron i olupina. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: 4 do 8 m.
- Olupina malo sjevernije od svjetionika Slangkop na Kommetjieu. Vrlo rijetko ronio. Plitki ravni greben pješčenjaka, s olupinama optočenim koralinskim algama.
- SS Thomas T. Tucker:
- Zaron i olupina. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: plitka
- Ovaj je brod razbijen visoko na stijenama, a dijelovi olupine vidljivi su na obali. Većina olupina nalazi se u prilično plitkoj vodi.
- 85 Zvijezda Afrike:
- Zaron i olupina. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: maksimalno oko 27 m.
- 86 SS Bia: Pramčani dio: S34 ° 16.140 'E018 ° 22.812' Glavni odjeljak: S34 ° 16.217 'E018 ° 22.638'
- Zaron i olupina. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: 3 do 8 m.
- 87 SS Umhlali: S34 ° 16.435 'E18 ° 22.487'
- Zaron i olupina. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: 5 do 8 m.
- 88 Stijena Albatros: S34 ° 16.495 'E18 ° 22.197'
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: Vjerovatno manje od 15 m u blizini stijene.
- Jugozapadni grebeni:
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: nesigurno.
- Masivno područje plitkih grebena i korita algi zapadno od vrha poluotoka. Progon je lovaca podvodnih ribolovaca i rakova i nije istražen na dahu.
Obala False Baya na poluotoku Cape
Uvod i nekoliko savjeta za ronjenje na obali False Baya na poluotoku Cape (strana Simonovog grada)
Za razliku od ostatka regije, zapadna strana False Baya zaštićena je od zimskih zapadnjaka, ali zauzvrat zahtijeva Jugo-Uskrs. Kao rezultat toga, regija se obično roni zimi, kada Jugoistok rijetko puše dugo ili velikom snagom.
Zimske frontalne oluje iznad Južnog oceana proizvode nabrekanja koja usporava kontinentalni šelf i prelamaju se i šire se oko poluotoka Rt, tako da se šire uglavnom paralelno s obalnom linijom i većim dijelom energije gube do trenutka kad se okrenu prema obala. Nepravilan oblik obale ovdje također štiti neka područja više od drugih. Općenito govoreći, oni dijelovi obale koji se kreću u smjeru sjeverozapada prema jugoistoku bolje su zaštićeni od napuhavanja jugozapada nego dijelovi sjevera prema jugu, pa je odabir mjesta ronjenja ovisan o nedavnim vremenskim obrascima.
Tijekom ljetnih mjeseci kada Jugoistok puše češće, dulje i općenito jače, ovo područje nije često za ronjenje, a vidljivost je općenito slabija nego zimi, čak i kad su uvjeti u suprotnom prikladni.
Temperatura vode tijekom zimskih mjeseci u ovom je području općenito toplija od atlantske obale ljeti, što je neka kompenzacija za kraće dnevno svjetlo i često hladno i kišovito vrijeme.
Temperatura vode može varirati s dubinom. Ljeti obično postoji termoklin, a vidljivost se može znatno promijeniti ispod termoklina. Površina može biti 18 ili 19 ° C s 10 ili 11 ° C na dnu, ali vjerojatnije je da će razlika biti 5 ° C ili manje. Uvjete na dubini nije lako predvidjeti, a mogu biti bolji ili gori nego u blizini površine. Može doći do cvjetanja planktona u površinskim slojevima i naglog poboljšanja vidljivosti s 3 m ili manje na preko 10 m u hladnom dnu vode. Dubina termoklina također nije previše predvidljiva, ali poznato je da je krajem ljeta bila između 12 i 20 m.
Zimi voda može biti iste temperature od vrha do dna, a kako ima manje sunčeve svjetlosti koja napaja fitoplanktone, vidljivost i prirodno osvjetljenje mogu biti bolji iako ima manje svjetlosti.
Između hladne i kišovite fronte često su dani s malo ili nimalo vjetra i blagim do toplim sunčanim zrakama, kada je voda ravna i bistra, a ronjenje je divno, a velik broj mjesta otežava odlučivanje kamo ići, toliko je izbora. Težak je život ovdje na kraju Afrike, ali netko to mora učiniti.
Temperatura vode tijekom zime obično je između 13 ° C i 17 ° C, iako je poznato da pada i do 11 ° C, pa je ovdje također potrebno dobro odijelo. Ljeti temperatura može porasti i iznad 20 ° C, ali vjerojatnije je da će biti oko 17 ° C do 19 ° C.
Većina obala zarona su relativno plitki, veličine od 8 m do 15 m maksimalne dubine, iako je moguće obaviti 30-m zaron na kopnu ako vam ne smeta 700 m plivanja do tamo. Plitke vode suho odijelo čine manje povoljnim, ali izlazak iz mokrog odijela na vjetru i kiši noću gura suho odijelo opet kao poželjnu mogućnost. Lijepo je imati izbor, a mnogi lokalni ronioci izmjenjuju mokra i suha odijela ovisno o planiranom zaronu.
Muizenberg do zaljeva Kalk
Ta su mjesta najsjevernija mjesta na zapadnoj strani False Baya. Plitke su i izložene su jugoistočnim vjetrovima i valovima, pa se općenito smatraju zimskim zaronima.
Lokalna geografija:Između planine i mora nalazi se uski pojas kopna koji zauzimaju predgrađa St James i zaljev Kalk, a na južnom kraju ovoga nalazi se malo brdo zvano Trappieskop. U ovom trenutku obala zavija u False Bay prije nego što se okrene natrag i formira Fish Hoek Bay. U ovoj uvali izgrađena je mala trgovačka ribarska luka u zaljevu Kalk.
Ovo je područje gdje je obala pješčenjak serije Table Mountain, a pad je gotovo vodoravan na oko 7 ° prema jugu. Dobivena obala je općenito stjenovita, s nekim pješčanim područjima i iznenađujuće plitka s obzirom na strminu planine. Dno pijeska započinje s oko 5 m dubine kod Dale Brooka i bliže 9 m od luke.
Web stranice uključuju:
- 1 Olupine koćarskih brodova Muizenberg
- Olupina, pristup brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 18 m.
- Dvije čelične koćarice koje su 1970-ih ili oko toga pronađene za bombardiranje. Prilično su potrošeni, ali strukture trupa su umjereno netaknute i jako obrasle beskičmenjacima.
- 2 Dale Brook: S34 ° 07.436 ’E018 ° 27.154’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina oko 6 m.
- Ovo je mjesto u znanstvenoj literaturi dobro poznato po velikoj raznolikosti morskog života i već je dugo vrijeme utočište, ali ga sportski ronioci rijetko rone. Idealno je mjesto za ronjenje s vodom zbog male dubine i velike raznolikosti života grebena te je vrlo ugodno ronjenje u mirnim uvjetima. To je najbliže mjesto za cestovni pristup iz većeg dijela grada na istočnoj strani poluotoka.
- 3 Zid luke Kalk Bay: S34: 07.787 ’E018: 26.967’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina oko 10 m.
- Betonski lučki zid s pijeskom i niskim grebenom u podnožju. Donje olakšanje nije jako visoko. Niski greben pješčenjaka, mrlje šljunka i pijeska na oko 8 do 9 m.
Fish Hoek i Glencairn
Ta su relativno plitka mjesta izložena jugoistočnom vjetru i nabujalu i općenito se smatraju zimskim zaronima. Sve se može obaviti kao ronjenje na kopnu, mada se greben Fish Hoek i kamenolom Barge obično rade kao ronjenje brodom jer se s obale može dugo plivati. Veliki bijeli morski psi viđeni su kako krstare ovim područjem.
Lokalna geografija:Nizinska i relativno ravna dolina Fish Hoeka omeđena je s južne strane strmim padinama Brakkloofrant i Else Peak, koji se također strmo spušta prema moru na istoku.
Greben Fish Hoek udaljen je od plaže, a ostala mjesta za ronjenje na ovom području nalaze se duž ovog kratkog dijela stjenovite obale. Glavna cesta za Simonov grad, M4 i željeznička pruga dijele uski obalni pojas. U Sunčanoj uvali ima mjesta za nekoliko kuća, a neposredno pored kamenoloma Else rijeka je presjekla manju dolinu s plažom Glencairn. Kamenolom o kojem se govori govori o zapuštenom kamenolomu pješčenjaka na planini iznad ceste sjeverno od mjesta za ronjenje s tim imenom.
Ovo je područje u kojem su kvarovi uzrokovali Stolna planina Pješčenjaci se protežu ispod razine mora. Udar je uglavnom istok-zapad, a pad je plitko, od oko 7 ° (jug) u Sunčanoj uvali do oko 10 ° (jug) u Kamenolomu. No spajanje je približno sjeverozapad / jugoistok.
Web stranice uključuju:
- 4 Greben ribljeg hoeka:
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup brodu ili obali. Maksimalna dubina oko 15 m.
- 5 Sunčana uvala: S34 ° 08,68 ’E018 ° 26,30’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina oko 11 m.
- Ime je dobio po željezničkoj stanici na tom mjestu. Umjereno reljefne stijene pješčenjaka, grebeni i slivovi koji se spuštaju u pijesak na oko 10 m.
- 6 Kamenolom: S34 ° 09.390 ’E018 ° 26.157’ (ulazna / izlazna izbočina)
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina oko 10 m.
- Ime je dobio po starom kamenolomu pješčenjaka na obronku iznad ceste malo sjevernije. Kosi grebeni nalik na rampe pješčenjaka Stoline, približno okomiti na obalu, s povremenim pješčanim džepovima. Profil nije jako visok.
- 7 Kamenolom Barge: S34 ° 09.395 ’E018 ° 26.474’ (približno)
- Zaron i olupina. Pristup brodu ili obali. Dubina 12 do 14 m.
- Mala olupina čelične teglenice. Trup je prilično netaknut i leži uspravno na pješčanom dijelu između grebena. Dva ograde su otvorena za pristup odozgo, a gornji dio oko bočnih strana je trivijalan.
- 8 Vrt navijača Glencairn: S34 ° 09.418 'E018 ° 26.412' (približno)
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup brodu. Dubina 12 do 14 m.
- Prilično opsežno područje grebena pješčenjaka niskog i srednjeg profila s pješčanim mrljama i velikim brojem ljubitelja gorgonskog mora, uglavnom ljubitelja mora Palmate, ali i umjeren broj ljubitelja vijugavog mora i nekoliko ljubitelja biča.
- 9 P87 olupina: S34 ° 09.570 ’E018 ° 26.420’
- Olupina, pristup brodu. Dubina: oko 15 m.
- Olupina malog drvenog brodskog ophodnog broda. Njegov je položaj naznačen na SAN1017 kao ¼ nm jugo-jugozapadno od tegleničke lože za 15 m.
Simonov grad
Mali zaljev na istočnoj strani Cape Poluotoka poznat kao Šimonov zaljev najsigurniji je dio obale False Baya od jugozapadnih nabujalosti, a ujedno je i zaštićeniji od jugoistočnih nabujalosti od bilo kojeg drugog mjesta na ovom dijelu obale .
Kako je glavno sidrište Rta u zaljevu Table loše izloženo sjeverozapadnim zimskim olujama, a zaljev Hout otvoren je na jugozapadne nabujale, Simonov zaljev bio je jedino razumno sigurno alternativno sidrište na razumnoj udaljenosti od Cape Towna, i iz tih razloga prvi je nizozemski guverner na rtu Simon van der Stel odabrao zimsko sidrište nizozemske istočnoindijske tvrtke na rtu.
Grad koji se razvio na ovom sidrištu postao je poznat kao Simonov grad, a sidrište se razvilo u sjedište i brodogradilište za južnu hemisferu Kraljevske mornarice, a kasnije i za Južnoafričku mornaricu, što je ostalo do danas.
Kopneni pristup gradu relativno je loš, sastoji se od vijugave i uske glavne ceste uz obalu False Baya, s paralelnim Boyes Driveom i željezničkom prugom, još zavojitijim Chapman's Peak pogonom na obali Atlantika i Old Cape Roadom ( Ou Kaapseweg), prilično strm i zavojit prijevoj preko planina usred poluotoka. Sve su slikovite rute, ali nijedna nije prikladna za velik promet i može biti dosadno zakrčena tijekom špice. Svi se konvergiraju na obalnoj cesti False Bay neposredno prije dolaska do Simonovog grada.
Mjesta za ronjenje prilično su zaštićena od jugoistočnog vjetra i nabreknuća, još više prema jugu na Long Beachu i mogu se roniti veći dio zime, a ponegdje i ljeti.
Lokalna geografija:Grad se nalazi u podnožju obalnih planina, koje su prilično strme i imaju vrlo malo razumno ravnog tla u podnožju padina, međutim zaljev je plitko i uglavnom pjeskovitog dna, s dugom pješčanom plažom na zapadnoj strani. Istočno od brodogradilišta, obalna linija ponovno postaje stjenovita, s otkrivenim granitnim jezgrom na Seaforthu.
Ovo područje vjerojatno ima obalu pješčenjaka Graafwater serije, ali nije puno grebena izloženo na mjestima ronjenja koja su uglavnom na pijesku.
Web stranice uključuju:
- 10 SS klan Stuart: S34 ° 10,303 ’E018 ° 25,842’
- Zaron u olupinu. Pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina 9 m.
- "Clan Stuart", britanski brodski parobrod snage 3500 tona, nasukao se nakon povlačenja sidra u jugoistočnoj oluji 21. studenog 1914. Blok motora broda i dalje lomi površinu.
- 11 Brunswick: S34 ° 10.880 ’E018 ° 25.607’
- Zaron u olupinu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Dubina: 4 do 6 m.
- Engleski istočni indijanac od 1.200 tona, zarobio ga je francuski admiral Linois u Indijskom oceanu i doveo u Simonov grad. Nasukao se kod Simonovog grada 19. rujna 1805. nakon što je izgubio tri sidra tijekom jugoistočne oluje. Od olupina nije ostalo puno.
- 12 HNMS Bato: S34 ° 10,998 ’E018 ° 25,560’
- Zaron u olupinu. Pristup obali. Dubina: 3 do 4 m
- Nizozemski ratni brod od 800 tona i 74 topa. Brod se nekoliko godina koristio kao plutajuća baterija u Simonovom zaljevu. Zapaljen i potopljen kod Long Beacha, Simonovog grada, 8. siječnja 1806., istog dana kada je započela bitka kod Blaauwberga. Nije ostalo puno olupine.
- 13 Duga plaža: S34 ° 11,239 'E18 ° 25,559'
- Zaron u olupinu. Ruta podvodne plovidbe. Pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina oko 9 m.
- Nazvan po dugom dijelu pješčane plaže. Na prvi pogled nepristojna, ali pažljiva istraga otkrit će zanimljiv i raznolik život. Ovo je mjesto na koje treba ići kad su drugdje loši uvjeti. Vrlo popularno mjesto za vježbanje i izvrsno za sređivanje novih konfiguracija opreme.
- Postoji nekoliko malih olupina koje se mogu posjetiti na navigacijskoj ruti kompasa.
- 14 Simonov gradski pomol
- Ronjenje s umjetnim grebenom. Pristup obali. Dubina oko 2 m.
- Mali mol na betonskim pilingima. Vrlo jednostavan pristup i vrlo zaštićen.
- 15 Privezi za False Bay Yacht Club
- Ronjenje s umjetnim grebenom. Pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina oko 8 m.
- Marina jahtaškog kluba s malo grebena i nešto olupina. Prostire se sve do lučkog zida Simonovog grada gdje neke olupine još uvijek plutaju.
Grebeni rimske stijene
Podvodni zaroni u blizini Rimske stijene relativno su izloženi jugoistočnim napuhavanjima, ali su dublji, pa je učinak manje jak kad ste na dubini. Jak jugoistočni vjetar i usitnjavanje mogu učiniti neugodno putovanje brodom, pa se ova mjesta često ne rone ljeti, kada je vidljivost često loša.
Lokalna geografija:Podmorje je na ovom području uglavnom vrlo postepeno nakošen pijesak, s masivnim izraslinama granita, koji su mjesta za ronjenje. Pijesak je prilično sitan daleko od grebena, s grubljim ljuskavim pijeskom u blizini dna stijena.
Podmorska nalazišta Roman Rock, Rambler Rock i Castor Rock ogromni su granitni kamen temeljac Poluotok pluton.
Web stranice uključuju:
- 16 Ciljani greben S34 ° 10,619 ’E018 ° 27,226’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina 6 do 22 m
- Mali greben od granita i ruševina s neiskorištenom betonskom bazom meta za naoružanje.
- 17 Greben Livingstone: S34 ° 10,605 'E018 ° 27,571'
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina 14 do 23 m
- Granitni jezgra kamena umjerene veličine s dobrim reljefom i raznolikim beskičmenjacima.
- Grebeni Castor Rock: S34 ° 10,74 ’E018 ° 27,61’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: 4 do 20 m
- Opsežni greben granita. U osnovi vrlo velik izdanak s povremenim visokim površinama, malim slivovima, gromadama, malim pukotinama i prevjesima. Vrh grebena je umjerenog reljefa, s relativno plitkim pješčanim vododerinama, malim nadvisima i gromadama, a na rubovima ima nekoliko strmih područja.
- 18 Rock ricinusa - sjeverni vrh nalazi se preko uskog jaza s pjeskovitim dnom sjeverno od glavnog grebena.
- 19 Rock Castor - središnji vrh je na glavnom grebenu.
- 20 Čudi se Pinnacle nalazi se na zapadnoj strani južnog režnja Castor Rocka.
- 21 Romanov odmor nalazi se na istočnom kraju južnog režnja grebena Castor
- Grebeni rimskih stijena: S34 ° 10,87 ’E018 ° 27,60’
- Ronjenje na grebenima. Samo pristup brodu. Maksimalna dubina 21 m.
- Ovo područje obuhvaća nakupinu granitnih izbojaka odvojenih pjeskovitim dnom, na čijem je najvećem svjetionik.
- 22 Rimska stijena Sjever: Prilično veliko, ali relativno nisko prostranstvo grebena otprilike sjeverozapadno od svjetionika, za koje nije poznato da je posebno zanimljivo. Najplića točka na oko 11 m, a na pijesku na sjeverozapadu oko 18 m.
- 23 Rimska stijena: Jednostavno mjesto za ronjenje koje je obilježeno istoimenim svjetionikom pored gradske luke Simon's Town. Veliki granitni greben s dubinom od 20 m na istočnom kraju do površine oko svjetioničkih stijena.
- 24 Grebeni paukove rakove: Dva mala paralelna grebena zapadno od Rimske stijene, koja se uzdižu iz pijeska na oko 21 m do 16 m na najplićoj točki. Odvojeni su uskim razmakom od pijeska i mogu se vidjeti pri razumnoj vidljivosti.
- 25 Rimska stijena Jug: Mali dio grebena paralelan glavnom grebenu oko 100 m jugozapadno od svjetionika koji se uzdiže od pijeska na oko 21 m do vjerojatno oko 18 m na vrhu.
- 26 Vrhovi Tivoli. S34 ° 10,892 ’E018 ° 27,765’: Oko 250 m noseći 301 ° magnetskog svjetla do svjetionika Roman Rock.
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina 10 do 22 m.
- Kompaktan greben visokog profila na maloj udaljenosti istočno od Rimske stijene.
- Friskies Pinnacles
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina 12 do 22 m
- Dva mala grebena s visokim vrhom na maloj udaljenosti istočno od grebena Castor Rock.
- 27 Friskies Pinnacle: S34 ° 10,778 ’E018 ° 27,822’, veće i pliće, prema jugu i
- 28 Sjevernofriški vrh manja i dublja, prema sjeveru.
- Grebeni Rambler Rock
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina 10 do 22 m.
- Visoki granitni greben istočno od svjetionika Roman Rock kraj gradske luke Simon's. Na ovom mjestu postoje četiri glavne skupine stijena.
- 29 Rambler Rock sjeverozapadni vrh: S34 ° 10,924 ’E018 ° 27,899’
- 30 Rambler Rock sjeveroistočni grebeni: S34 ° 10,916 'E018 ° 27,996'
- 31 Rambler Rock južni vrhovi: S34 ° 11,011 ’E018 ° 27,918’
- 32 Hotlips Pinnacle: S34 ° 11.145 'E018 ° 28.091' (Hotlips Pinnacle)
- 33 Dome Rock: S34 ° 11.119 'E018 ° 27.776' (vrh kupolaste stijene)
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina 16 do 25 m.
- Kompaktni granitni greben južno od svjetionika Rimska stijena i zapadno od južnog dijela grebena Rambler Rock.
- Slučajni grebeni stijena
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Mala skupina grebena južno od stijena Rambler.
- 34 Rudyjeve slučajne stijene: S34 ° 11.329 'E018 ° 28.037' (Pinnacle na južnom kraju) Dubina od 21 do 26 m. Kompaktni granitni greben.
- 35 Greben bez imena (mali vrhunci): S34 ° 11.365 'E018 ° 28.055' (Pinnacle) Djelomično istraženi greben nepoznate razmjere, vjerojatno prilično malen.
Seaforth do Froggy Pond
Ta su nalazišta istočno i južno od brodogradilišta u Simonovom gradu. Umjereno su plitki i izloženi su jugoistočnom vjetru i bubre, pa se općenito smatraju zimskim zaronima.
Lokalna geografija:Sve su to područja granitnog grebena, iako povremeno mogu postojati kamene gromade od pješčenjaka.
Nalazišta Seaforth uključuju:
- 36 Teglenice za streljivo: S34 ° 11,408 ’E018 ° 26,985’
- Zaron u olupinu. Pristup brodu ili obali. Dubina: 8 do 10 m.
- Dvije male čelične teglenice zapadno od plićaka Phoenix. Jako su obrasli i prilično slomljeni.
- 37 Plićak Phoenix: S34 ° 11.388 'E018 ° 26.898'
- Ronjenje na grebenima i olupinama. Pristup brodu ili obali. Maksimalna dubina 10 m.
- "Phoenix" je bio britanski brod od 500 tona, sagrađen 1810. godine. Malo je srušen do mora Phoenix Shoal u Simonovom zaljevu 19. srpnja 1829. Na grebenu se mogu vidjeti neki željezni balasti, a stablo leži zakopan u pijesak.
- Noina barka i olupine Rock Ark: S34 ° 11,533 ’E018 ° 27,232’
- Ronjenje u olupini i grebenu. Pristup brodu ili obali. Maksimalna dubina 14 m.
- Nazvan po istoimenoj velikoj stijeni na ljestvicama SAN-a. Južno od stijene nalazi se olupina teglenice, olupina malog broda na parni pogon na zapadu i veća posuda od željeza ili čelika, vjerojatno "Parana", olupina 1862. godine, na sjeverozapadu. Olupine u obliku izoliranih kotlova nepoznatog parnog broda ili parnih čamaca mogu se naći južno i istočno od olupine teglenice. Tu su i nizovi betonskih stupova koji su preostali od neiskorištenog pomorskog područja za razmagistriranje na jugu i još jedna mala olupina od čelika na istoku stijene.
- 38 Stijena Noine arke
- 39 Olupina Barke Rock Barge
- 40 Olupina kotla Ark Rock # 1
- 41 Olupina kotla Ark Rock # 2
- Olupina kotla Ark Rock # 3a
- 42 Olupina kotla Ark Rock # 3b
- 43 Olupina Parana, glavni odjeljak
- 44 Olupina Parana, mali odjeljak
- 45 Noina arka - Dvored betonskih stupova
- 46 Noina arka - Jedan red betonskih stupova
- 47 Noina arka - istočna olupina
- 48 Noina arka - izmjenjivač topline
- 49 Noina arka - Blizanke teglenice
- 50 Penguin Point (Kamenje): S34 ° 11,889 ’E018 ° 27,254’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina 8 m.
- Nazvano po utočištu pingvina. Ovo je točka i obalni greben na jugoistočnom kraju plaže Boulders u Seaforthu.
- Grebeni Maidstone Rock: S34 ° 11,581 'E018 ° 27,466'
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup brodu Dubina: 8 do 27 m.
- Imenovan po grebenu prikazanom na kartama SA mornarice. Nalazišta su Maidstone Rock, Anchor Reef i Ammo Reef
- 51 Stijena Maidstone
- 52 Sidreni greben
- 53 Morski morski greben
- 54 Fotografski greben (Greben JJM): S34 ° 11,839 ’E18 ° 27,434’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup brodu ili obali. Dubina 3 do 14 m.
- Ovaj greben je na SAN ljestvicama označen kao greben fotografa. Također je poznat roniocima koji su ga ronili 1980-ih kao JJM Reef. Donji greben na jugu je JJM junior. Na tom području postoji nekoliko drugih izoliranih grebena, uglavnom malih, prilično niskih i neimenovanih.
- 55 Greben baklje: S34 ° 11.700 ’E018 ° 27.960’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Dubina: 20 do 30 m.
- Ovo je mali greben istočno od grebena Photographer's. Na jednom od prvih zabilježenih ronjenja na ovom mjestu ronilac je izgubio baklju i ime je zapelo.
- 56 Greben vanjskog fotografa: S34 ° 11,778 'E018 ° 27,898'
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu Raspon dubine 20 do 30 m.
- Veliki izolirani izdanak granita istočno od Fotografskog grebena oko 140 m jugozapadno od grebena Torch. Ravan vrh i prozirni zid.
- Podmorski grebeni vjetrenjača
- Ronjenje na grebenima. Samo pristup brodu Raspon dubine 12 do 30 m.
- Veliki broj raspršenih skupina granitnih izdanaka. Rijetko je ronio, malo poznat. Uglavnom još nije anketiran. Oni koji su djelomično anketirani su:
- 57 Opasni greben Doug
- 58 Čipkasti greben
- 59 Vjetrenjača u moru
- 60 Vanjska vjetrenjača
Mjesta Windmill Beach i Froggy Pond uključuju:
- 61 Plaža vjetrenjača: S34 ° 12,06 ’E018 ° 27,40’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina oko 8 m.
- Ronjenje na obali s vrlo zaštićenim ulaznim i izlaznim područjima na plaži. Dno pijeska s velikim granitnim ispupčenjima i gromadama, od kojih su neki s vrlo visokim reljefom, protežu se od ravnog pijeska do blizu ili iznad površine. Polako se regaliraju plaže. Popularno mjesto za trening.
- 62 Žabarski ribnjak: S34 ° 12,22 ’E018 ° 27,40’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali Dubina: Plića od 10 m.
- Taj se mali zaljev na službenim kartama i kartama područja zapravo zove Froggy Pond. Usprkos svom imenu, ovo je morski zaron i žaba neće biti. Pješčana plaža s gromadama u plićaku. Prilično strme police uz obalu. Stjenoviti grebeni s obje strane.
- 63 Ribarska plaža: S34 ° 12,357 ’E018 ° 27,497’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali. Dubina: Plića od 10 m.
- Sljedeća uvala južno od jezera Froggy. Ima puno dužu plažu.
Oatlands Point
Oatlands Point prva je točka južno od područja Froggy Pond. Mala je skupina kuća s morske strane glavne ceste, a više kuća uz planinu. Lako ga je prepoznati po velikoj plosnatoj granitnoj gromadi neposredno uz more.
Lokalna geografija:Oatlands Point nalazi se u podnožju vrha Swartkop, na 678 m, najvišoj točki južnog poluotoka. Obronci planine prilično su strmi, a kuće su u prilično uskom pojasu uz obalu. Ovo je dio False Baya gdje je izobata od 30 m najbliža točki obale i gdje je pristup dobar za ronjenje na obali.
Sve su to područja granitnog grebena jezgre, iako povremeno mogu biti gromade od pješčenjaka. Manje gromade uz obalu često su pješčenjaci koji su se godinama spuštali niz planine i zaobljeni u surfu.
Web stranice uključuju:
- 64 Okvir (Oatlands Point): S34 ° 12,484 ’E018 ° 27,662’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina oko 10 m
- Imenovan po stativu koji je sada zamijenjen jednostavnim postoljem. Svjetionik je jedan od graničnih oznaka za morsko svetište. Nalazište je također obilježeno ogromnim granitnim ispustom koji se proteže nekoliko metara iznad vode. Na sjeveru je pjeskovito dno s niskim grebenom i velikim gromadama, neki lome površinu i nekoliko kupališta. Grebeni srednje visine protežu se izvan velike stijene s vrhuncem na morskom kraju. Na jugu ima više izbočina i veliko područje raštrkanih malih kamenih gromada i izbočina s pjeskovitim dnom između kojih je stjenovitije prema obali.
- 65 D-okvir (Oatlands Reef, Wave Rock): S34 ° 12,378 ’E018 ° 27,996’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali. Dubina: 15 do 30 m.
- To je točka na zapadnoj strani False Baya gdje je kontura od 30 m najbliža obali. Ovdje mogu to učiniti ronioci koji žele zaroniti na 30 m od obale.
- Greben se sastoji od nekoliko velikih izbočina granita s pjeskovitim dnom između. Postoji jedna točka koja se uzdiže na oko 4 m od površine s gotovo okomitim padom na 14 m s obje strane. Većina dijelova nije ni približno toliko visoka. Južni greben ima nadvisivane izbočine stijena poznate kao "Valovita stijena".
Rocklands Point
Južno od Oatlands Pointa obala postaje strmija i nema puno kuća. Cesta vijuga duž obale, lagano dobivajući visinu prema Millerovoj točki. Rocklands Point prepoznatljiv je s ceste španjolskog Rocka. umjereno velike granitne stijene udaljene oko 100 m od mora i najveća vidljiva stijena na tom području.
Obala je na Rocklands Pointu prilično strma, a u neposrednoj blizini nema kuća. Prostrano je područje plitkog stjenovitog grebena na obali slijepila Rocklands i španjolske stijene. Južno od španjolske stijene, a proteže se do slijepe na jugu poznatog pod nazivom Stern Reef, područje je raštrkanog granitnog grebena, uglavnom niskog, ali s nekoliko prilično visokih izbočina. Ovo je područje složeno i još nije mapirano.
Poput nalazišta na sjeveru i jugu, ovo je područje granitnih jezgra na pješčanom dnu, premda se kamene gromade od pješčenjaka često nalaze na rubu vode.
Web stranice uključuju:
- 66 Greben ludila: S34 ° 12,817 ’E018 ° 28,044’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup brodu. Dubina: 2 do 14 m.
- Veliki granitni izrasli jezgra i gromade na prilično ravnom pjeskovitom dnu. Greben je prilično malen i razbijen, ali zbijen i sve su stijene blizu. Na sjevernom kraju nalazi se ogromna gromada koja je oslonjena na izbočine i formira malo kupalište s pješčanim dnom s oko 4 ulaza.
- 67 Sljepilo Rocklands (Brtvena kolonija): S34 ° 12,9 ’E018 ° 28,0’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Dubina: 3 do 13 m.
- Glavni greben su veliki izlazi granita koji se uzdižu s oko 13 m na pijesku prema sjeveroistoku, do oko 3 do 4 m dubine na vrhu. Obalna se strana postupno spušta prema puno malih gromada i niskih izbočina. Manji drugi greben visok je i na pjeskovitom dnu.
- 68 Španjolski Rock: S34 ° 13,03 ’E018 ° 28,03’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina 13 m.
- Španjolska stijena visoki je vrh na pješčanom dnu koji se proteže nekoliko metara iznad vode. Susjedni niski greben leži na sjeveru. Na zapadu je još jedan vrh koji se sastoji od skupine velikih izbočina i kamenih gromada, od kojih jedna povremeno prelama površinu.
- 69 Alfa greben (Vanjski Španjolac): S34 ° 12,987 ’E018 ° 28,184’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup brodu. Dubina 2 do 15 m.
- Stranica je prije bila poznata kao vanjski Španjolac, ali čini se da je greben Alpha sada češća upotreba. Greben je izdanak granitnih temeljnih kamena u dva glavna dijela podijeljena jarugom istok-zapad.
- 70 Greben Omega: S34.21426 E018.47412
- Ronjenje na grebenu, pristup brodu. Dubina 15 do 25 m.
- Granitni jezgreni kamen dubok oko 220 m od SZ do JI i širok oko 80 m. Nije često ronio.
- 71 Krmeni greben: S34°13.164’ E018°28.032’
- Reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maximum depth about 14 m.
- An extensive area of high to low relief granite corestone outcrops on a sand bottom, marked by a rock which breaks the surface at some states of the tide.
Millerova točka
Local geography:This part of the peninsula coastline is a steep mountainside below the Swartkopberge. The mountainside is quite steep close to the shore, but on reaching the sea, the slope flattens out dramatically. The small rocky peninsula of Miller’s Point juts out rather abruptly into the bay and provides a sheltered site for the slipway from which most of the boat launches in this area are made. There is sufficient reasonably level ground for extensive parking areas off the main road, including boat trailer parking.
This area is characterised by large areas of granite corestone reef interspersed with sandy patches, and relatively flat sand bottom further out. There are also sandstone boulders along the shoreline. Many of the reefs are fairly large areas of massive outcrops with ridges, gullies and boulders on top, some of which are very large.
The sites include:
- 1 SAS Pietermaritzburg: S34°13.303’ E018°28.465’
- Wreck dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth 22 m.
- This 1330 tonne minesweeper was launched in 1943 as HMS Pelorus, and was sold in 1947 to the South African Navy and renamed HMSAS Pietermaritzburg. It was scuttled by explosive charges on 12 November 1994 to form an artificial reef. The wreck lies upright on the sand and is slowly collapsing.
- Karavan greben including PMB Pinnacles, North Caravan, Central Caravan, South Caavan, Inner Caravan.
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: 3 to 22 m
- This site is offshore of the caravan park at Miller’s Point, which may be the origin of its name. Extensive granite reefs on sand bottom. The reef may extend continuously to Miller's Point.
- 2 Karavanski greben - PMB Pinnacles
- 3 Karavanski greben - Sjeverni karavan
- Karavanski greben - karavan Central
- 4 Karavanski greben - Južni karavan
- 5 Karavanski greben - Unutarnja karavana
- Millerova točka: S34°13.822’ E018°28.411’ (Slipway)
- Reef dive. Shore access. Depth: Shallow inshore.
- Fairly shallow rocky reef of granite outcrops and boulders, some smallish swimthroughs and quite a few overhangs and holes under boulders.
- 6 Navoz Miller's Pointa
- 7 Plimni bazen Miller's Point
- 8 Millerova točka - Rumbly Bay
- 9 Murphyjeva: S34°13.958' E018°28.988'
- Reef dive. Boat access. Depth: 14 to about 20 m.
- Small pinnacle with medium profile adjacent reef of boulders and outcrops over a fairly large area.
- 10 Brodska stijena (Bakoven Rock): S34°14.05’ E18°29.05’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth 22 m.
- Coarse shelly sand bottom at about 14 m with big granite boulders and reef. The rock that gives the site its name extends a few metres above sea level. High relief and a lot of small holes under rocks, mostly too small to swim through.
Castle Rocks
This has been a marine sanctuary area for many years and as a result is one of the best sites for fish. There are several excellent dive sites accessible from a very limited amount of roadside parking, or by a short boat ride from Miller's Point.
Local geography:This part of the peninsula coastline is a steep mountainside below the Swartkopberge. There is very little ground along this strip which is not steep, but on reaching the sea, the slope flattens out and the small rocky peninsula of Castle Rocks juts out into the bay. There is sufficient reasonably sloped ground for a few houses above and below the main road.
This area is characterised by granite corestone reefs with sandy patches between them, and almost flat sand bottom further out. There will occasionally be the odd sandstone boulder which has made its way a short distance offshore with the assistance of wave action and gravity, and a lot of the smaller shoreline boulders are sandstone. Many of the reefs are fairly large areas of massive ridges, gullies with occasional loose boulders on top, and some of these boulders are huge.
The sites include:
- 11 Fan Greben: S34°14.165 E18°29.260
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: 25 to 30 m.
- A low granite outcrop at about 30 m maximum depth, with a large number of sea fans.
- 12 Aleja morskih pasa: S34°14.21’ E018°28.60’ Estimated
- Reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maximum depth about 12 m.
- Named for the Cowsharks often seen at the site. Big granite boulders and outcrops with sand patches. Shark Alley is between the kelp forests on near-shore reef and the reef surrounding Pyramid rock.
- Pyramid reef
- Reef dive. Shore or boat access. Maximum depth about 12 m.
- Named for the pointed rock that marks the site. It projects above the water at all tides and is easily identified. Large granite boulders and outcrops with sand around them in deep areas and at the bottom of some gullies. Several small tunnels, caves and overhangs. Lots of fish.
- 13 Stijena piramida: S34°14.225’ E018°28.698’
- 14 Castle Pinnacles: S34°14.356’ E018°28.826’ — A group of fairly tall pinnacles along the edge of the sand. One of them has a large swimthrough under it.
- Sansui Reef An area of picturesque small ridges and boulders on a rippled white sand bottom near the Castle Pinnacles.
- Castle Rocks and Parson’s Nose:
- Reef dive. Shore access. Maximum depth about 18 m.
- Castle Rocks applies to the point as a whole and the offshore rocks to the south east. The point is a small rocky peninsula that can be an island at high tide.
- The small headland just to the south of Castle Rocks is known as Parson’s Nose. Castle Pinnacles is actually part of the Pyramid Rock reef, though if dived from the shore, the Castle Rocks north entry is likely to be used,
- 15 Castle Rocks Sjeverna stranaS34°14.322’ E018°28.65’
- 16 Castle Rocks Point Reefs (Outside Castle) S34°14.4’ E018°28.8’
- 17 Unutarnji dvorac (South Castle) S34°14.46’ E018°28.674’
- 18 Telefonski greben: S34°14.225’ E018°29.202’
- Reef dive. Boat access. Depth 15 to about 24 m.
- A small patch of granite reef east of Outer Castle and north of Giant's Castle. There is a compact group of tall outcrops to the east of the reef, with the top of the pinnacle at about 15 m depth, The reef is surrounded by sand bottom. There is some unsurveyed reef to the south.
- 19 Dvorovski dvorac: S34°14.362’ E018°29.225’
- Reef dive. Boat access. Depth 17 to about 30 m.
- A small patch of granite reef east of Outer Castle. The main feature is a compact group of tall outcrops with the top of the pinnacle at about 17 m depth, Below 24 m and the reef extends mainly to the east, and it is surrounded by sand bottom. There is a small low outlier to the north and Zigzag Reef reef is a short distance to the east.
- 20 Zigzag Reef: S34°14.362’ E018°29.275’
- Reef dive. Boat access. Depth 20 to about 33 m.
- A small patch of granite reef east of Giant's Castle. The main feature is a tall and massive but compact outcrop with the top of the pinnacle at about 20 m depth, Below 24 m the low reef extends mainly to the north-east, and it is surrounded by sand bottom.
- Pie Rock reefs:
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: 5 to 25 m.
- Large granite corestone outcrops and boulders. There is a pinnacle to the east of the site, where it is generally deepest. Spectacular site in good visibility, and there are usually lots of fish.
- 21 Vanjski dvorac (Blindevals): S34°14.320’ E018°29.002’ — Depth: about 3 to 33 m. A blinder off Castle Rocks, which breaks if there is much swell. It is marked on the SAN charts as “blindevals”. The main feature of the site is a huge granite boulder on a rock base standing on four points with a swimthrough gap underneath and a small air trap overhang. Part of the Pie Reef area.
- 22 Sjeverni pita Rock Greben: S34°14.375' E018°29.090' — Two adjacent groups of pointy pinnacles rising to about 9 m
- 23 Južni pita Rock Pinnacles: S34°14.445' E018°28.985' — A group of pinnacles on a lobe of reef extending southwards between two sand tongues.
- 24 Zapadni greben pita: S34°14.396' E018°28.943' — A lobe of reef extending in a southwesterly direction.
Finlay-ova točka do točke Partridge
The stretch of coastline south of Castle Rocks to Smitswinkel Bay is not really accessible from the road, partly due to the higher altitude of the road in this area and partly due to the rather steep mountainside, so these dive sites, though mostly close to the shore, are almost always dived from a boat.
The stretch of coastline south of Castle Rocks to Smitswinkel Bay is not really accessible from the road, partly due to the higher altitude of the road in this area and partly due to the rather steep mountainside, so these dive sites, though mostly close to the shore, are almost always dived from a boat.
Local geography:There are two small points along this relatively straight coastline at Finlay’s Point and Partridge Point, where some very large granite corestones form reefs which extend some distance into the bay. A few of these project quite high above the water and are easy landmarks for the dive sites.
The shoreline is consistently rocky in this section, and is made up of granite corestones with sandstone boulders which have found their way down the mountainside over the years. Above the waterline, the lower mountainside is granitic saprolith with dense vegetation cover.
The Finlay's Point area sites include:
- 25 Finlay’s Point (Jenga Reef): S34°14.959' E018°28.611'
- Reef dive. Boat access. Shore access is possible but rather athletic. Maximum depth about 15 m.
- The last big boulders north of Partridge Point. Bottom is mostly low to moderate rocky reef of outcrops and boulders of assorted sizes, some pretty big, in chaotic arrangement. Directly off the big corestones of the point is an area of big boulders and rugged reef, with small patches of sand.
- Graeme's Spot and The Jambles
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 9 to 24 m.
- Large granite outcrop and huge boulders on an extensive area of granite corestone reef bordered by sandy areas to the west, north and east, and Carnaby Street Pinnacle tom the south. Good biodiversity and reef cover and spectacular topography.
- 26 The Jambles: S34°14.885' E018°28.890' —
- 27 Graeme's Spot: S34°14.9029' E018°28.9170' —
- 28 Finlay's Pinnacle: S34°14.970' E018°28.780'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 9 to 18 m.
- Large granite outcrop and boulders on an extensive area of granite corestone reef bordered by a sandy strip to the south. Contiguous reef extends to The Jambles to the north and Carnaby Street Pinnacle to the east.
- 29 Carnaby Street Pinnacle: S34°14.980' E018°28.920'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 9 to 24 m.
- Large granite outcrop and large boulders on an extensive area of granite corestone reef bordered by sandy areas to the south and east, Graeme's Spot to the north, and Finlay's Pinnacle to the west.
- 30 Finlay's Deep (Mont Blanc): S34°15.005' E018°29.194'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth: 20 to 30 m.
- This is a small granite outcrop reef on a sand bottom directly offshore from Finlay's Point on the 30 m depth contour. Rich in Gorgonian sea fans.
- 31 Atlantis Reef: S34°15' E018°29'
- Reef dive. Boat access only Depth 4 to 27 m.
- A pair of huge granite pinnacles (The Pillars of Hercules), on an extensive area of high and low profile reef. Excellent diversity of reef cover, shoals of fish and some exceptionally dense groups of gorgonian sea fans.
The Partridge Point area sites include
- 32 Sherwood Forest: S34°15.190' E18°29.010' (Pinnacle) between Atlantis and Partridge Point.
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth about 30 m.
- Reported on Underwater Cape Town as newly discovered site on 3 May 2012. Lots of sea fans.
- 33 Akvarij: S34°15.229’ E018°28.930’ (Pinnacle)
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth about 21 m.
- Compact granite reef, Lots of sea fans.
- Partridge Point
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth 26 m.
- The site known as Partridge Point includes the Big Rock group of rocks to the south, while Seal Rock (or Deep Partridge) is the reef offshore of the low rock to the east of the point. Peter's Pinnacle is the reef inshore and slightly south of the Big Rock. Very large granite boulders and outcrops, some extending above the surface by several metres.
- 34 Seal Rock: S34°15.3370' E018°28.8920' — A fairly large flattish rock used as a haulout rock by seals with fairly shallow reef around it.
- 35 Deep Partridge: S34°15.3500' E018°29.0000' — A lobe of high profile reef sloping down to a sandy bottom at about 27 m.
- 36 Dave's Caves: S34°15.3780' E018°28.7040' — An exposed rock with a little cave under it in a kelp forest
- 37 Partridge Point - Big Rock: S34°15.4650' E018°28.7880' — A large exposed rock marking a moderate depth area of high profile reef with a large swimthrough and a small air-trap overhang. Maximum depth about 21 m on the sand to the south and east.
- 38 Peter's Pinnacles: S34°15.5150' E018°28.6870' — A group of shallow pinnacles with a swimthrough cave. Sand depth about 15 m
Zaljev Smitswinkel
The wrecks of Smitswinkel bay are among the best known and most popular boat dives of the Cape Town area. The water is deep enough to reduce surge significantly and shallow enough for recreational divers. The wrecks are easy to find, large and sufficiently intact to be recognisable, and have also developed a thriving ecology which includes a few relatively rare organisms.
Local geography:Smitswinkel Bay is a moderately large bay on the east side of the Cape Peninsula. The coast road gains altitude as it winds along the mountainside south of Simon’s Town and turns inland at Smitswinkel Bay.
To the north of the bay, the exposed rock at sea level is Poluotok granite, but on the south side the Graafwater sandstone extends below sea level. The bottom of the bay is flat sand.
The sites include:
- 39 SAS Transvaal: S34°15.956’ E018°28.778’ (Bow)
- Wreck dive. Boat access only. Depth 27 to 34 m.
- Loch class frigate "HMSAS Transvaal" F602 was launched at Belfast on 2 August 1944. The ship was sold for scrap and scuttled by explosive charges in Smitswinkel Bay to form an artificial reef on 3 August 1978. The wreck lies upright on a sand bottom and has partly collapsed.
- 40 MFV Orotava: S34°16.023’ E018°28.796’ (bow)
- Wreck dive. Boat access only. Depth 23 to 34 m.
- The "MFV Orotava" was built in 1958. The trawler was donated to the False Bay Conservation Society along with the Princess Elizabeth by Irvin and Johnson. In August 1983 the vessels were towed out to Smitswinkel Bay and scuttled. The Orotava is the larger of the two trawlers and lies on the sand heeled to port about 20°.
- 41 Greben dobre nade: S34°16.049’ E018°28.899’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 30 to 35 m.
- A small granite reef with lots of gorgonian sea fans.
- 42 MFV princeza Elizabeth:S34°16.060’ E018°28.816’(bow) S34°16.068’ E018°28.839’ (stern)
- Wreck dive. Boat access only. Depth 22 to 36 m. The Princess Elizabeth was built in 1961. The trawler was badly damaged by a fire and was donated to the False Bay Conservation Society along with the Orotava by Irvin and Johnson. In August 1983 the vessels were towed out to Smitswinkel Bay and scuttled. The Princess Elizabeth is the smaller of the two trawlers and lies on the sand with a slight list to starboard.
- 43 SAS Dobra nada: S34°16.80’ E018°28.851’ (midships)
- Wreck dive. Boat access only. Depth 27 to 36 m.
- The Loch class frigate "HMSAS Dobra nada" was launched in 1944. The vessel saw service as a convoy escort during the closing stages of World War II and was for many years the flagship of the SA Navy. The ship was sold for scrap and scuttled by explosive charges in Smitswinkel Bay to form an artificial reef on 18 June 1978.
- 44 SN raketar: S34°16.135’ E018°28.855’ (Bow)
- Wreck dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth 34 m
- The 65 m "MV Rockeater" was built in New Orleans in 1945 as a coastal freighter for the United States Navy. The ship was bought by Ocean Science and Engineering (South Africa) in 1964 to be used for marine prospecting. The Rockeater was towed to Smitswinkel Bay on 15 December 1972 and scuttled.
- Smits Swim
- Wreck dive. Boat access only. Depth 22 m to maximum of 36 m
- It is possible to visit all five wrecks on a single no-decompression dive. This is occasionally organised for people who want to have been there and done that.
Područje Batsata
A small group of dive sites just to the south of Smitswinkel Bay. They are inaccessible by land due to the steep cliffs along the shore and lack of nearby roads.
Local geography:These sites are at the foot of Judas Peak, the mountain peak on the south headland of Smitswinkel Bay. Their position at the base of the steep cliffs gives them protection from south westerly winds and swell, but they will catch some of the north westerly wind which comes through the gap above Smitswinkel Bay. They are exposed to south easterly winds and waves.
The shoreline and shallow reef at Smits Cliff is Stolna planina Sandstone, probably Graafwater series, while the offshore reefs at Smits Reef and Batsata Rock are Poluotok Granite. The unconformity is near sea level in this area.
The sites include:
- Smits Greben
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 6 to 27 m.
- This is a very large area of granite reef extending north from near the Batsata Rock into the mouth of Smitswinkel Bay. It is a huge outcrop rising from coarse shelly sand bottom at about 27 m at the east side to 5 m on top. The reef has gradually sloping low areas and vertical walls, narrow deep gullies and ledges along jointing lines. Kreef Reef is a fairly large, relatively low profile outlying reef to the north.
- 45 Kreef Reef: S34°16.360’ E018°28.780’ — A fairly large, relatively low profile outlying reef to the north.
- 46 Horseshoe Reef: S34°16.410’ E018°28.940’ — The pinnacle on the northeastern ridge.
- 47 Smits Greben: S34°16.4860’ E018°28.9290’ — The top of the main reef at about 5 m depth.
- 48 Greben Smits - Batsata Maze: S34°16.5170’ E018°29.0170’ — A group of huge boulders clustered together on the bedrock forming several small caves, gullies and swimthroughs.
- 49 Greben Smits - zapadni vrh: S34°16.495’ E018°28.863’ — A group of pinnacles rising to about 6 m at the south end of a large but relatively low outcrop to the west of the main reefs.
- 50 Smits Cliff (Hell’s Gate): S34°16.48’ E018°28.41’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Maximum depth about 16 m.
- The cliffs at the south side of Smitswinkel Bay are marked on the charts as Hell’s Gate. The site is not dived very often as there are more popular sites which are more accessible. As a result it is mostly unexplored and has not been mapped. The reef appears to be mostly sandstone.
- Batsata Rock Reefs
- Reef dives. Boat access only. A large area of mostly granite reef.
- 51 Blisa Batsata: S34°16.553' E018°28.840' — The half-tide rock north of the exposed rock.
- 52 Stijena Batsata: S34°16.602’ E018°28.830’ — Sandstone reef with granite substrate at greater depth. Fairly shallow around the exposed rocks, maximum depth not known.
- 53 Lupanje stijena grebenom: S34°16.775’ E018°28.830’ — Granite corestone reef, depth 6 m on top of the pinnacle, 19 m on sand patch a few metres to the east. Maksimalna dubina oko 24 m.
Zaljev Buffels
This site is inside the Cape Point National Park area. Access is controlled by the Parks Board and various fees are charged. A slipway at Buffels Bay is also controlled by Parks Board, and the facilities are usually in good condition, It would probably be more popular if access was allowed after 6 pm.
Local geography:Buffels Bay is the closest place to Cape Point where there is road access to a place sufficiently sheltered for a slipway to be viable.
The shoreline is sandstone in this area.
The sites include:
- 54 Bordjiesrif: S34°18.99’ E018°27.83’
- Reef dive. Shore access. Depth: Fairly shallow.
- Shallow sandstone reef in the Cape Point National Park area.
- 55 Zaljev Buffels: S34°19.217' E018°27.73'
- Reef dive. Shore access. Depth: Fairly shallow, less than 10 m.
- Shallow sandstone reef in the Cape Point National Park area.
False Bay Offshore
Introduction and some tips on diving the Central False Bay sites.
All the sites in this area are fairly far offshore, and can only be done as boat dives. They are also relatively deep and because of the long boat trip and exposed positions, generally only dived when conditions are expected to be good.
This area is exposed to the same south westerly swells as the Atlantic coast, but they must travel over a much wider continental shelf, much of which is less than 100 m deep, so there is a significant dissipation of wave energy before it reaches the shoreline.
During summer the strong south easterly winds have sufficient fetch to produce sea states which are unpleasant and though the wave action may not produce a great deal of surge at the bottom, the surface conditions may be unsuitable for diving, and in winter the north-wester can have a similar effect.
As the area is affected by the winds and wave systems of both winter and summer, there is less seasonal correlation to suitable conditions, and it is simply dived when conditions are good, which is not very often, but may be more often than previously thought, and at some reefs the visibility may be better than inshore.
It is quite common for the surface visibility offshore to be poor, with better visibility at depth, but the reverse effect can also occur. These effects are often associated with a thermocline, which is associated with midsummer to autumn.
Water temperature can differ with depth in summer from 20°C on the surface to 9°C at the bottom at 28 m, sometimes with a distinct thermocline, though usually there is less of a change, and in winter the temperature may be nearly constant at all depths. A dry suit is recommended for any of these dives, but they are also often done in wetsuits.
There is often a surface current associated with wind at the offshore sites, which generally sets to the right of the wind direction.
Grebeni
These sites are not dived as frequently as the inshore reefs, as they are further from the launch sites and therefore take considerably longer to get to. They are also more exposed to the weather from all directions, so the trip is often bumpy. However, as they are relatively deep, and far offshore, the visibility can be very good, and may well be better than inshore areas at any given time, particularly with an onshore wind and swell. Unfortunately this is not reliably predictable.
Local geography:The topography of the reefs differs according to the geology of the area. As a result the character varies enormously.
Seal Island, Whittle Rock, Anvil Rock and Bellows Rock are granite outcrops, probably all part of the Rt poluotok pluton. Steenbras Reef is sedimentary rock, thought to be Tygerberg formiranje Malmesbury series, but looks more like sandstone than shale, and Rocky Bank is sandstone, probably of the Stolna planina skupina.
The sites include:
- 1 Choirboys Reef: S34°08.005' E18°45.270'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 20 to about 26 m
- Hard sedimentary rock reef, in moderate to low profile ridges and gullies.
- 2 Otok tuljana: S34°08.25’ E018°34.95’
- Cage dive. Boat access only. Depth shallow — the cages are only about 2 m deep.
- These dives are for one purpose only: to see sharks. Other fish may be attracted to the bait, but that is not what you do this dive to see. Cage dives must be done through a licensed Shark Cage Diving charter.
- 3 East Shoal: S34°08'54" E18°38'47"
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth probably about 2 to 25 m.
- The reef is said to be Stolna planina sandstone. A seldom dived site due to distance from launch sites, with an astonishing density of echinoderms.
- 4 Pad zona: S34°08.561' E18°45.829'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth probably from about 12 to 25 m.
- The moderate profile but extensive reef is sedimentary rock, either Malmesbury series or Stolna planina sandstone. It was only dived by charter boats beginning in 2014. Colourful invertebrates, including large numbers of gorgonian sea fans.
- 5 Moddergat: S34°09.150' E18°49.650'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth probably from about 13 to 16 m.
- The moderate to low profile but extensive reef is sedimentary rock, either Malmesbury series or Stolna planina sandstone. It was only dived by charter boats beginning in 2014. Colourful invertebrates, including quite large numbers of nudibranchs. Also known as a fishing spot, but not many fish seen of a size worth catching.
- 6 Sterretjies Reef: S34°09.364' E18°45.039'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 16 to about 30 m
- Hard sedimentary rock reef, in moderate to low profile ridges and gullies.
- 7 York Shoal: S34°09.367', E018°35.583'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth is between 4 and about 28 m.
- The reef is a hard sedimentary rock. It is near Seal Island where Great White sharks are a tourist attraction.
- Steenbras Deep Reef
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 17 to 30 m.
- This site is at the southern end of a long ridge towards the east side of False Bay. The southern pinnacle is irregular in shape, with a large number of cracks, grooves and indentations, mostly not very deep. Sand is coarse and shelly with lots of bryozoan detritus at the edge of the reef. There is also a northern pinnacle, though both are relatively flat.
- 8 Steenbras Deep - North Pinnacles: S34°12.15’ E018°45.57’
- 9 Steenbras Deep - South Pinnacles: S34°12.642’ E018°45.498’
- 10 Off-Whittle Ridge: S34°14.364' E18°34.847'
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 19 m to more than 30 m.
- An area of granite corestone reef nearly 2 km to the west-northwest of Whittle Rock. The pinnacle is in the form of a ridge running roughly north-south with a cluster of large boulders to the northeast, and is quite small. The topography is rugged in the ridge area, with a wall down to about 25 m on the west side.
- Whittle Rock
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 4 m to more than 36 m.
- This is a large area of granite corestone reefs surrounded by sand. The topography varies considerably as it is such a large area. The top of the shallowest pinnacle is at about 4 m depth, and the surrounding sand is around 30 to 40 m.
- 11 Kelly's Anchor: S34°14.668' E18°33.646'
- 12 Riaan and Sven's anchor: S34°14.735' E18°33.590'
- 13 North-west corner pinnacles: S34°14.750' E18°33.482'
- 14 JJ's anchor: S34°14.756' E18°33.720'
- 15 September anchor: S34°14.762' E18°33.575'
- 16 Whittle Rock North-west Pinnacle: S34°14.765’ E018°33.622’
- 17 Eufrat sidra: S34°14.776' E18°33.801' and S34°14.783' E18°33.795'
- 18 Little anchor: S34°14.785' E18°33.666'
- 19 Whittle Rock West Pinnacle: S34°14.844’ E018°33.682’
- 20 Whittle Rock: S34°14.846’ E018°33.714’ — (Shallowest pinnacle)
- 21 Whaleback Pinnacles: S34°14.850' E18°33.508'
- 22 Whittle Rock Western Reef Pinnacle: S34°14.856' E18°33.269' (inside the MPA)
- 23 Whittle Rock South-east Pinnacle: S34°14.887’ E018°33.775’
- 24 Whaleback Rock: S34°14.900' E18°33.635'
- 25 South-east pinnacle chain (Neptune's bath plug): S34°14.917’ E018°33.753’
- 26 Flash pinnacle: S34°14.931' E18°33.718'
- 27 Georgina's anchor: S34°14.935' E18°33.784'
- 28 M&M Tower (the Spark plug): S34°14.043’ E018°33.549’
- 29 Whittle Cave Complex: S34°14.943’ E018°33.616’
- 30 Bus Stop (the Gnarly wall): S34°14.945' E18°33.573'
- 31 Wreckless Rock and the Little Labyrinth: S34°14.949' E18°33.707'
- 32 Table Top pinnacle: S34°14.968' E18°33.668'
- 33 Grant's Spike: S34°14.991' E18°33.450' (South-western pinnacles)
- 34 Labirint: S34°15.004’ E018°33.580’
- Anvil Rock
- 35 Anvil Rock 3 m pinnacle: S34°22.218' E18°31.090'
- 36 Anvil Rock caves: S36°22.244' E18°31.068' — Approx 20 m deep, area of nice caves/swim-throughs:
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 3 m to more than 20 m.
- The reef is Peninsula granite corestone.
- Stjenovita banka
- 37 36 m Pablo's steps drop: S34°25.160’ E018°35.571’
- 38 32 m drop: S34°24.994’ E018°35.463’
- 39 30 m drop: S34°24.957’ E018°35.473’
- 40 25 m drop: S34°24.906’ E018°35.478’
- 41 22 m drop: S34°24.820’ E018°35.473’
- Reef dive. Boat access only. Depth 22 m to more than 50 m on the south side.
- The reef is said to be Stolna planina sandstone. It is a beautiful site with bright colourful reef invertebrates, but is seldom dived due to the distance from the nearest launch site. Visibility is often better than inside the bay.
Olupine
There are a number of wrecks in central False Bay. Only the ones that are identified and dived are listed here. Exploration of previously undived wrecks occurs sporadically and the list is sure to increase over time. Most of these wrecks are relatively deep, and are all too far offshore to dive from the shore. Some of them are considered among the best dive sites of the Cape Town area, at least partly because of the difficult access and rarity value.
Local geography:The "Lusitania" is on a site where the granite reef is ruggedly spectacular and the boat trip provides a magnificent view of Cape Point. The General Botha, Bloemfontein i Fleur are on the flat sand bottom of the bay and in these cases, only the wreck is of much interest. The Godetia is relatively shallow and on a mixed sand and sedimentary rock reef bottom.
The sites include:
- 42 SV Godetia: S34°6’ E018°44’
- Wreck dive. Boat access only. Depth: 15 to 17 m.
- SS Godetia was a steam trawler operated by Irvin and Johnson that was sunk for target practice by the SA Air Force. The wreck is very broken up and lies on a bottom of small patches of rocky reef and sand at a maximum depth of about 17 to 18 m. The single scotch boiler and engine block are the most prominent artifacts, and stand on top of a small section of reef, surrounded by fragments of various sizes. The propeller shaft and propeller extend slightly to the west.
- 43 SAS Fleur: S34°10.832’ E018°33.895’
- Wreck dive. Deep dive. Boat access only. Depth: 35 to 41 m.
- The SAS Fleur was a 'Bar' class boom defence vessel, formerly HMS Barbrake. The wreck lies almost level embedded in the bottom as if floating in sand with the weather deck at about 35 m. Hull structure is collapsing.
- 44 SATS General Botha: S34°13.679’ E018°38.290’
- Wreck dive. Deep dive. Boat access only. Depth: 47 to 54 m.
- The River-Class cruiser HMS Temze was built in 1886 and later purchased from the Royal Navy and donated to the South African Government as a training ship for seafarers. The vessel was renamed the "South African Training Ship (SATS)General Botha".
- The General Botha was scuttled by gunfire from the Scala Battery in Simon’s Town on 13th May 1947. The hull is substantially intact from the ram bow to some metres abaft amidships, approximately level with the aft gun sponsons.
- 45 SAS Bloemfontein: near S34°14.655’ E018°39.952’
- Wreck dive. Deep dive. Boat access only. Depth: 47 to 55 m.
- The SAS Bloemfontein M439 was a sister ship to the SAS Pietermaritzburg and has similar dimensions and layout. This Algerine class Minesweeper was built as HMS Rosamund, and was scuttled on 5 June 1967.
- The ship lies upright on a flat sand bottom and is substantially intact.
- 46 SS Luzitanija: S34°23.40’ E018°29.65’
- Wreck dive. Deep dive. Boat access only. Depth: 35 to 40 m.
- Portuguese twin-screw liner of 5557 tons, built in 1906. Wrecked on Bellows Rock off Cape Point on 18 April 1911 in fog while on a voyage from Lourenco Marques (Maputo). The granite reef slopes down from Bellows Rock to the east, and drops off almost vertically from about 15 m to about 33 m, where the broken wreckage lies between the wall and some boulders further east. The wreck is very easy to find, and spread over a fairly large area down to 40 m.
- 47 Stijena Bellows
Istočna obala False Baya
Introduction and some tips on diving the Eastern False Bay coast from Gordon’s Bay to Hangklip.
This coast is exposed to the same south westerly swells as the Atlantic coast, but they must travel over a much wider continental shelf, much of which is less than 100 m deep, so there is a significant dissipation of wave energy before it reaches the shoreline. There are other influences, as some of the swells must pass over the shoal area known as Rocky Bank in the mouth of False Bay, and this tends to refract and focus the wave fronts on certain parts of the shore, depending on the exact direction of the wave fronts. As a result there is a tendency for some parts of the coast to be subjected to a type of “freak wave” which appears to be a combination of focused wave front, superposition sets and the effects of the local coastal topography. There are a number of memorial crosses along the coast to attest to the danger of these waves, though the victims are generally anglers, as divers would not attempt to dive in the conditions that produce these waves.
This area, like the Atlantic coast, is a summer diving area, though there will occasionally be conditions suitable for a winter dive.Even in milder conditions there tend to be more noticeable sets than on the Atlantic coast, and it is prudent to study the conditions for several minutes when deciding on an entry or exit point, as the cycle can change significantly over that time. Timing is important at most of these sites, and often when returning to the shore it may seem that the conditions have deteriorated dangerously during the dive. If this happens, do not be in a rush to exit, hang back for at least one cycle of sets, and time your exit to coincide with the low energy part of the cycle, when the waves are lowest and the surge least. When you exit in these conditions, do not linger in the surge zone, get out fast, even if it requires crawling up the rocks on hands and knees, and generally avoid narrow tapering gullies, as they concentrate the wave energy.
The local geology has produced a coastline with much fewer sheltered exit points on this side of the bay, adding to the difficulty, but there are a few deep gullies sufficiently angled to the wave fronts to provide good entry and exit points in moderate conditions. The most notable of these is at Percy’s Hole, where an unusual combination of very sudden decrease in depth from about 14 m to about 4 m, a long, narrow gully with a rocky beach at the end, and a side gully near to the mouth which is shallow, wide, parallel to the shoreline, and full of kelp, results in one of the best protected exits on the local coastline. As a contrast, Coral Garden at Rooi-els, which is about 1.7 km away, has a gully that shelves moderately, with a wide mouth and very small side gullies, which are very tricky unless the swell is quite low.
There is no significant current in False Bay, and this results in relatively warmer water than the Atlantic coast, but also there is less removal of dirty water, so the visibility tends to be poorer. The South-Easter is an offshore wind here too, and will cause upwelling in the same way as on the Atlantic coast, but the bottom water is usually not as clean or as cold, and the upwelled water may carry the fine light silt which tends to deposit in this area when conditions are quiet, so the effects are usually less noticeable. These upwellings are more prevalent in the Rooi-els area, which is deeper than Gordon’s Bay.
As in the Atlantic, a plankton bloom frequently follows an upwelling. This will reduce the visibility, particularly near the surface. It is quite common for the surface visibility offshore to be poor, with better visibility at depth, but the reverse effect can also occur, particularly inshore. These effects are often associated with a thermocline.
Surface water temperature on this side of the bay can range from as high as 22°C to as low as 10°C, and the temperature can differ with depth, sometimes with a distinct thermocline.
Gordonov zaljev
This area includes some of the best and most popular shore dive sites in the east side of False Bay. All can also be dived from a boat, and this is of particular importance to divers with restricted mobility on shore, as there is generally a rugged bit of coast to negotiate and in some cases a long climb. There are also sites which are only dived from boats as the shore access is too difficult or dangerous. The dive sites are all close inshore, as sand bottom is quite close to the shore in most cases, There is little or no kelp at these sites.
Local geography:The coastline from Gordon’s Bay to just north of Steenbras River mouth lies approximately north east to south west along the foot of the Hottentot’s Holland mountain range. This is a steeply sloping area with low cliffs along the shoreline and no level ground. The southern part of the Gordon’s Bay urban area is perched along the northern end of this strip above the Faure Marine Drive (R44), which is the access road for all shore dives in this area except Bikini Beach.
The dive sites from Bikini Beach to Lorry Bay are along this part of the coast, and are more sheltered from south westerly swell than sites further to the south as a result of the orientation of the coastline approximately parallel to the swell direction.
Further south the coastline curves to the south east, so the sites are more exposed to the swell. By Rocky Bay the swell approaches the coastline almost perpendicularly, which makes it relatively rough in any south westerly swell.
The shoreline topography of this area is generally low rocky cliffs with occasional wave-cut caves, gullies and overhangs. The underwater profile is usually quite steep with the flat sand bottom quite close to the shoreline. Maximum depth increases from north to south, reaching just over 20 m at Rocky Bay, where the rocky bottom extends much further out than at the more northerly sites.
The coastal formation in this area is mostly light grey to yellow brown quartzitic sandstones of the Graafwater formacija. This directly overlays the greywackes of the Malmesbury group which form the coastline further north from Gordon’s Bay to the Strand. Higher up the mountainside are the rocks of the Poluotok formation, which are light grey quartzitic sandstone, with thin siltstone, shale and conglomerate beds. The strike is roughly parallel to the coastline, approximately ENE, and the dip is steep SSW, nearly vertical in places.
The sites include:
- 1 Bikini plaža: S34°09.923 E18°51.492
- Reef dive. Shore access. Maximum depth about 3 m.
- Popularno kupalište u zaljevu Gordon's, koje se obično ne smatra mjestom ronjenja, ali je pogodno za vježbe ako valovi nisu preveliki. Plaža se prilično strmo spušta u zonu za surfanje, zatim ravno pješčano dno s grebenom malih raspršenih zaobljenih gromada.
- 2 Izboci: S34 ° 10,193 ’E018 ° 50,726’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 9 m.
- Nazvan po izbočini na obali neposredno iznad visoke vode, koja je orijentir s morske strane. Na sjeveroistočnom kraju izbočine nalazi se i visoki izbojak stijene gdje entuzijasti skaču u vodu s nekoliko metara gore. Prilično ravno dno sa sitnim gromadama i povremeno pijeskom između njih.
- 3 Vogelsteen: S34 ° 10,302 ’E018 ° 50,355’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 12 m.
- Nazvan po velikoj stijeni koju preferiraju morske ptice i lagano presvučen gvanom. Umjereni reljef blizu obale, ali prilično ravan s tek malim gromadama i izbočinama. Značajan po ležištima šljunka, mulja i školjaka između stjenovite priobalne zone i ravnog pjeskovitog dna dalje u moru, gdje se može naći velik broj Anemone (Falun Bay Burrowing Anemone) (Cerianthid).
- 4 Krava i tele: S34 ° 10.310 ’E018 ° 50.263’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 13 m.
- Nazvan po blizanačkim grebenima koji se nalaze na samoj obali i koji se približavaju površini, a koji ponekad podsjećaju na kravu i tele. Robusni grebeni pješčenjaka s kvarcitnim žilama. Grebeni su otprilike paralelni s obalnom linijom. Dno je stijena i srednje do male gromade s kamenčićima, pijeskom i školjkom u pukotinama. Također:
- 5 Kameni pas
- 6 Vrhunac: S34 ° 10,468 ’E018 ° 49,981’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 14 m.
- Nazvan po vrhu stijene koji razbija površinu tik uz more u većini stanja plima i oseka.
- Područje grebena od pješčenjaka, uključujući visoki vrh, malu špilju, brojne jaruge i grebene i puno kamenja. Velika raznolikost beskičmenjaka za malo područje.
- 7 Tonijev greben: S34 ° 10,565 ’E018 ° 49,745’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 14 m.
- Prilično hrapav greben sa srednjim do velikim grebenima i ispupčenjima koja se prilično strmo spuštaju do zone ljušturastog šljunka i na kraju pješčanog dna.
- 8 Uvala Troglodita (Špilja Gully): S34 ° 10,828 ’E018 ° 49,509’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 14 m.
- Nalazište je dobilo ime po špilji na čelu ulaza koja pokazuje znakove nedavnog obitavanja u obliku smeća i odbačenog posuđa. Grebeni pješčenjaka otprilike su paralelni s obalnim formacijama i dosežu 9 m vrlo blizu vanjskog ruba obale, a zatim se postupno spuštaju na 14 m, a tada je to sitni pijesak. Postoje neke prilično velike izbočine i gromade do oko 3 m visine, a neki prevjesi u blizini obale, posebno na ulazu.
- 9 Zaljev kamiona: S34 ° 10,955 ’E018 ° 49,312’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 10 m.
- Nazvan po dijelovima motornog vozila koji se još uvijek mogu naći u uvali. Nekoliko je vozila tijekom godina sišlo s ceste iznad zaljeva i završilo u vodi. Dno ravna, pijesak na oko 10 m. Dno valovitih zaobljenih gromada u zaljevu. Robutastije i strmije u blizini.
- 10 Phil's Bay: S34 ° 11.199 ’E018 ° 49.133’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 14 m.
- Dno pijeska na oko 14 m, zatim umjereni reljefni greben pješčenjaka i grebena s pješčanim procjepima koji teku više ili manje paralelno s obalom. Približava se neravnina bliže obali i nalazi se duboko na kopnu.
- Rocky Bay i Plemeniti greben: S34 ° 11,585 ’E018 ° 49,035’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina veća od 20 m.
- Ovo zapravo uopće nije zaljev. Obala ima ispupčenu krivulju duž ovog mjesta ronjenja. Odmaralište na obali zove se Rocky Bay, a naziv mjesta slijedi iz toga. Plemeniti greben je greben na sjeverozapadu područja Rocky Bay.
- Obala je vrlo strma i odražava, a ne lomi valove, tako da je sidrište u nevolji vrlo kvrgavo. Dno je dno postupno nagnuto, s umjerenim grebenima i ispupčenjima. Dalje na moru postaje uglavnom ravnije s niskim stjenovitim grebenom i šljunkom te malim gromadama i povremenim višim grebenom.
- 11 Rocky Bay: S34 ° 11,585 ’E018 ° 49,035’
- 12 Plemeniti greben Rocky Bay: S34 ° 11,332 ’E018 ° 49,123’
Rooi-els
Ovo područje uključuje neka od najboljih i najpopularnijih mjesta za ronjenje na obali na istočnoj strani False Baya. Svi se također mogu roniti s broda, iako je pristup za lansiranje ograničen, a duga je vožnja od Gordonovog zaljeva. Na mnogim od ovih mjesta postoji neravni dio obale za pregovore, a u nekim slučajevima i dugačak uspon. Mjesta za ronjenje uglavnom su blizu obale, ali u nekim se slučajevima protežu na znatnu udaljenost. Na ovim mjestima u plićim područjima obično ima algi. Babuni mogu smetati Rooi-elsima, iako ovdje nisu toliko problematični kao južno od Simonovog grada. Ne ostavljajte hranu bez nadzora otvorenu i ne hranite babune jer to onda potiče da postanu još veća smetnja.
Lokalna geografija:Nalazišta sjeverno od zaljeva Rooi-els nalaze se u podnožju Rooielsberga (636 m), koji se prilično strmo spušta na sjeverozapadnoj strani, ali ima postupniji nagib samo sjeverno od ušća rijeke Rooi-els, gdje postoji je pješčana plaža dobro zaštićena od jugozapada. Međutim, podvodna topografija očito je u suprotnosti s tim, jer je nalazište na Bloukransu pliće i postepenije se odvaja od Percy's Holea, gdje dubina opada na oko 12 m na vrlo kratkoj udaljenosti od obale.
Izrasline tamne stijene rijeke Gornje Tygerberg formacija na Bloukransu, s pješčenjacima s Stolna planina serija južnije. Udar je otprilike sjeveroistočno kod Rooi-elsa, s padom od oko 25 ° jugoistočno.
Web stranice uključuju:
- 13 Blouklip (Bloukrans): S34 ° 16,439 ’E018 ° 50,163’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina 17 m.
- Nazvan po mračnom kamenom grebenu Tygerberg formacija na ulaznom mjestu. Planinski lanac iza nalazišta poznat je pod nazivom Blousteenberge, a vrh neposredno iznad njega je Rooielsberg.
- Obalni greben je gromada i izbočina umjerene veličine. Dalje se spuštaju sve dok na 10 m nema prilično ravna šljunčana korita. Dalje je više izbočina, nekoliko ravnih grebena škriljevca, više šljunčanih korita i još više izbočina. Među stijenama i šljunkom ima i malo mrlja pijeska.
- 14 Blousteen Ridge: S34 ° 16.497 'E018 ° 49.924'
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Samo pristup brodu. Nije zabilježena maksimalna dubina, vjerojatno oko 18 m.
- Ovo nalazište nalazi se nekoliko stotina metara jugozapadno od Blouklipa. Prostire se do obale, ali prilaz s ceste je strm i otežan i u blizini nema parkirališta.
- 15 Whirlpool Cove: S34 ° 16,97 ’E018 ° 49,55’ (približno)
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 24 m.
- Nazvano po turbulentnom razmaku između skupine stijena i južnog kraja uvale koja stvara snažne vrtloge u jakom naletu. Donji trendovi postupno se spuštaju u nizu paralelnih grebena i jaruga od pješčenjaka, različitih veličina, ali ujednačenih padova i udara.
- 16 Percyjeva rupa: S34 ° 17.350 ’E018 ° 49.377’E.
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 23 m.
- Ovo je jedno od najpoznatijih i najzanimljivijih mjesta na području Rooi-elsa. Ulazni sliv se spušta na 14 m između glava, na jugu je stepenasti zid, a na sjeveru opsežni kameni grebeni visokog profila s kupalištem na obali izložene stijene (Seal Rocks). Prema moru od ovih visokih grebena dna se spuštaju do 23 m s pješčanim dnom, a na sjeveru je mala špilja. Ovo je mjesto različitih topografskih obilježja i bogate ekološke raznolikosti.
- 17 Kruis (Križevi): S34 ° 17.431 ’E018 ° 49.304
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 22 m.
- Nazvan po križu podignutom u spomen na J.F.Maraisa, rektora gimnazije Stellenbosch, koji se utopio u blizini. Ulaz se spušta postupno prema sjeverozapadu preko opsežnog područja dubljeg grebena niskog profila s nekoliko pješčanih mrlja dok ne dosegne pjeskovito dno. Prema moru od ulazne jare nalazi se prilično velik, prilično plitki greben koji se strmo spušta na niski duboki greben.
- 18 Rooi-els Point: S34 ° 17,8 ’E018 ° 48,8’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 20 m.
- Točka na Rooi-elsu čini se očitim mjestom za mjesto ronjenja. Postoji prelom koji se proteže sjeverno od točke ukazujući na prošireni greben. Ti su grebeni nastavak grebena u Coral Gardens na sjeveru i vrlo su slični u mnogo čemu. Neravni hrptovi i jaruge od pješčenjaka, uglavnom prilično lomljeni i promjenjive visine na relativno dosljednoj dubini dna.
- 19 Koraljni vrtovi (Rooi-els): S34 ° 18,144 ’E018 ° 48,795’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina veća od 25 m.
- Nazvano po obilnim gorgonijama, morskim obožavateljima i mekim koraljima pronađenim na tom području. Stjenoviti grebeni vode otprilike od sjeveroistoka do jugozapada. Veliki izdanci i gromade čine hrapav reljef i pružaju stanište velikom broju beskičmenjaka. Postoje tri velika vrhunca uz najudaljenije obale visokih grebena. Najjužniji od ovih grebena ima svojstvo luka samo južno od visoke točke. Sjeverni greben ima špilju / kupalište ispod velike stijene.
- 20 Andre se Gat: S34 ° 18,25 ’E018 ° 48,76’ (procijenjeno)
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Najveća dubina prijavljena kao 25 m.
- Ovo je mjesto korišteno za trening i kao opće rekreacijsko ronilačko mjesto prije nekoliko godina.
- 21 Balkon: S34 ° 18.454 ’E018 ° 48.911’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina oko 10 m.
- Ovo se mjesto uglavnom koristi kao mjesto za trening ili kad su uvjeti marginalni. Nije jako dubok i greben nije baš spektakularan, ali je bolje zaštićen od nabujalosti od većine nalazišta u tom području. Niski do umjereni greben pješčenjaka koji se prilično strmo spušta na pjeskovito dno.
- 22 Ankeri: S34 ° 17.350 ’E018 ° 49.377’
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina oko 20 m.
- Nazvano po originalnoj kući koja je stajala u usponu iznad uvale, a koja je srušena i obnovljena 2003. godine. Ovo je mjesto s relativno zaštićenim ulaznim i izlaznim područjem.
- 23 Mike's Point: S34 ° 18,75 ’E018 ° 48,72’ (procijenjeno)
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 20 m.
- Ovo je nastavak grebena koji vode južno od Ankersa, na sjevernom rtu Container Baya. Stranica se rijetko roni i nije mapirana.
- 24 Kontejnerski zaljev (Mike’s Bay): S34 ° 18,75 ’E018 ° 49,05’ (približno)
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu. Maksimalna dubina oko 14 m.
- Ovo je mjesto dobilo ime po spremniku koji je prije nekoliko godina ispran na obalu i koji je gotovo u potpunosti zahrđao. Na ronjenju se često ne roni. Pristup je relativno dobar.
Zaljev Pringle i Hangklip
Ta područja uglavnom rone podvodnici, ali poznato je da su ronjena na dahu. Nažalost, u ovoj fazi nisu dostupne informacije.
Web stranice uključuju:
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali.
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup obali ili brodu.
- Hangklip Ridge:
- Ronjenje na grebenu. Pristup brodu.
Mjesta za ronjenje sa slatkom vodom
U regiji postoji samo jedno zapaženo slatkovodno mjesto koje je otvoreno za javnost. Ovo je kamenolom Blue Rock na dnu prijevoja Sir Lowry, blizu Gordon's Baya,
Web stranice uključuju:
- Kamenolom Blue Rock: S34 ° 07,536 ’E18 ° 54,066’
- Ronjenje u kamenolomu. Samo pristup obali. Maksimalna dubina najmanje 47 m, moguće i više. Uglavnom plići od 30 m.
- Imenovan po građevinskom agregatu koji se ovdje ovdje vadio, a bio je tamnoplavo-sive boje. Kamenolom je zatvoren, a sada je poplavljen i koristi se za vodene sportove, uključujući ronjenje i skijanje na vodi, koristeći nadzemni kabelski sustav.
- 1 Kamenolom Blue Rock Deep End
- 2 Plutajući morski kamenolom Blue Rock
- 3 Kamenolom Blue Rock West End
- 4 Blue Rock Quarry Dive and Adventure Corner
Poštovanje
Ronjenje na stjenovitim grebenima
Općenito je izbjegavajte kontakt s živim organizmima. To je očito nemoguće u šumama alga, pa je sreća što su morski bambus i alge podijeljeni obožavatelji brzo rastući i žilavi. Zapravo se preporučuje da, ako se trebate ustrajati u navalu, koristite donji dio algi algi kao rukohvate u odnosu na druge organizme ako nema jasnog supstrata za hvatanje. Općenito su čvrsto vezani za podlogu jer moraju podnijeti ozbiljno udaranje u oluji, pa povremeno držanje ronioca djeluje lagano. U nekim slučajevima male biljke algi mogu biti otkinute u jakom naletu. Naučit ćete prepoznati kada će se to vjerojatno dogoditi, a zatim morate napraviti drugi plan.
Čini se da su oštećenja ronioca u našoj lokalnoj morskoj ekologiji uglavnom na sporo rastućim relativno krhkim organizmima ispod zone surfa. Čini se da su lažni koralji (Bryozoa) među najkrhkijim, a treba izbjegavati svaki kontakt s pomicanim, porama i staghorn lažnim koraljima. Tvrde koralje, meke koralje, anemone i morske obožavatelje također treba tretirati kao vrlo osjetljive. Spužve su vjerojatno manje osjetljive na dodir, ali uglavnom nisu jako čvrste i mogu se prilično lako pocepati te su neprikladne za držanje.
Crveni mamac (vrlo česta i plodna velika morska šprica Pyura stolonifera) Čini se da je čvrst i izdržljiv, a može se koristiti i kao držač za ruke, jer čini se da ne donosi uočljivu štetu. To se ne odnosi na sve asciđane, većina je puno osjetljivija. Crveni mamac također je često supstrat za druge, osjetljivije organizme, u kojem slučaju postupajte pažljivo s osjetljivijim vrstama.
Udaranje nogama po grebenu i uzburkavanjem peščanih dna smatra se lošim oblikom i oznakom nekvalificiranog ronioca. Izbjegavajte to održavajući neutralnu plovnost i svjesni svog položaja u odnosu na okolinu, držite umjerene pokrete nogu i ruku, podrežite se kako biste omogućili odgovarajuću orijentaciju tijela i izbjegavajte viseću opremu koja može udariti u greben ili se zakačiti za stvari i uzrokovati izravnu ili neizravnu štetu. Općenito je pravilo da je prikladna vodoravna orijentacija s perajama podignutim iznad trupa i omogućuje manevriranje korištenjem peraja bez udaranja grebena ili uzburkavanja oblaka pijeska.
Čini se da su neki fotografi razvili gadnu naviku mijenjati stvari kako bi odgovarale željenoj kompoziciji slike. To je krajnje neodgovorno i ne bi se smjelo raditi, jer postupanje može biti kobno za neke organizme. Također je nezakonito u zaštićenim morskim područjima, iako je u praksi gotovo nemoguće provesti.
Sakupljanje morskih organizama nezakonito je bez odgovarajuće dozvole. Ako vam organizme trebaju u neke legitimne svrhe, potražite dozvolu. U suprotnom ih nemojte ometati i nemojte nepotrebno uznemiravati druge susjedne organizme ako ih sakupljate.
Postoje zabrinutosti u vezi s utjecajem sportskog ronjenja na ekologiju grebena. Neke od njih mogu biti legitimne, a potrebno je više studija kako bi se ispitalo je li to pravi problem. Broj ronjenja u regiji znatno se povećao tijekom godina, ali ne postoje brojčani podaci. Povećao se i broj mjesta, pa se učestalost zarona na većini mjesta neće proporcionalno povećavati. Nažalost, vladin odjel prije poznat kao Upravljanje morskim i obalnim područjima, koji je danas dio Odjela za poljoprivredu, šumarstvo i ribarstvo, vidio je priliku da se miješa u sportske aktivnosti i upotrijebio je istraživanja na tropskim koraljnim grebenima kao potporu nastojanju da preuzme kontrolu sportskog ronjenja na umjerenim grebenima oko Cape Peninsula. Ne mogu se izvoditi istraživanja umjerenih grebena kako bi se opravdale njihove tvrdnje i čini se malo vjerojatnim da će njihovo miješanje imati koristi ili za ekologiju ili za ronilačku industriju.
Morska zaštićena područja
Većina mjesta za ronjenje u Cape Townu nalazi se u morskom zaštićenom području Nacionalnog parka Table Mountain ili morskom zaštićenom području na otoku Robben.
Za ronjenje u bilo kojem MPA potrebna je dozvola. Dozvole vrijede godinu dana i dostupne su u nekim poslovnicama pošte. Privremene dozvole, koje vrijede mjesec dana, mogu se dobiti u ronilačkim trgovinama ili kod operatera ronilačkih brodova. Dozvole vrijede za sve južnoafričke MPA.
Granice tablice Morsko zaštićeno područje Planinski nacionalni park prikazane su na slici, koja također prikazuje zabranjene zone, gdje u teoriji nisu dopuštene nikakve aktivnosti ribolova ili sječe. To ne zaustavlja krivolovce, a ako imate političkih poteškoća, čini se da možete dobiti dozvole za komercijalni ribolov za neke od zabranjenih zona.
Morsko zaštićeno područje na otoku Robben također ima nekoliko umjereno popularnih ronjenja u olupinama, a morsko zaštićeno područje Helderberg nalazi se u False Bayu, ali s tog područja nisu poznata mjesta za rekreacijski ronjenje.
Ronjenje oko ostrva Cape Peninsula i False Bay
Ronjenje na olupinama u Južnoj Africi je popularna aktivnost, a povijesne olupine zakonski su zaštićene od vandalizma i neovlaštenog spašavanja i ekstrakcije arheologije. Zanimljiva, iako ne osobito logična posljedica zakona, jest da svaka olupina automatski postaje povijesnom olupinom 60 godina nakon datuma olupine, s učinkom da hrpa zahrđalog smeća, koju svatko može ukloniti po svojoj volji, preko noći može postati vrijedan i nezamjenjiv povijesni artefakt i dio Nacionalne baštine. Čini se da postoji sličan učinak na ronioce koji će marljivo škrabati okolo u olupini, u nadi da će pronaći artefakt za koji se ne bi savili da ga pokupe ako leži na ulici.
Ipak, ronjenje olupina ima svoje atrakcije, a vode na poluotoku Cape i False Bayu imaju velik broj olupina. Razlozi za to su prvo što jedna od glavnih svjetskih brodskih ruta prolazi oko Cape Pointa, a drugo što vremenski i morski uvjeti u ovoj regiji mogu biti vrlo teški. Sidrište u zaljevu Table pruža malo zaklona ako je vjetar sjevernog zapada, što je uobičajeno zimi, a mnogi su brodovi istjerani na obalu u i blizu zaljeva Table tijekom zimskih oluja kada su sidra vukla ili kabeli otkazali, a brod je bio nesposoban odbiti od zavjetrine. To se događa rjeđe otkad su brodovi motorizirani, ali svakih nekoliko godina drugi brod izbaci se na obalu u Table Bay zbog kvarova ili nesposobnosti.
Popis olupina je dugačak, ali je popis olupina u područjima pogodnim za ronjenje znatno kraći, a značajan broj olupina koje se vjerojatno nalaze u prikladnim područjima nije pronađen. - Snimanje točnog položaja dok se brod spuštao nije često bio prioritet posadama, čak i kad bi to bilo moguće. Kao rezultat toga, kontinuirano se istražuju i traže ljubitelji ronjenja u potrazi za olupinama za koje su poznati približni položaji, a nekoliko je operatera koji ljubomorno čuvaju svoje znanje o mjestima olupina kako bi mogli imati ekskluzivan pristup.
Mnogi su brodovi potonuli značajnu udaljenost izvan točke na kojoj su oštećeni, a mnogi u vodi ili preduboko da bi se ronilo ili pravo na obalu, gdje su potom valom izbijeni na komade. Drugi su se pogoršali do te mjere da ih prosječni rekreativni ronilac teško prepoznaje kao ostatke broda. Kao rezultat ovih čimbenika, broj olupina koje su popularna ronilačka mjesta mali je podskup od ukupnog broja poznatih, a mnogi od njih prvotno su iskopani, bilo kao pomorska ciljna praksa, bilo kao umjetni grebeni. Te olupine se rone prilično često, kako to uvjeti dopuštaju.
Dobiti pomoć
U hitnim slučajevima
 | Bilješka: National Hyperbarics zatvoren je na neodređeno vrijeme od siječnja 2011. Na području Cape Towna ne postoji komora za dekompresiju za nezgode rekreativnog ronjenja. Do daljnjeg kontaktirajte DAN ili Metro Rescue. |
U slučajevima kada postoji potreba za životnom podrškom tijekom evakuacije, kontaktirajte jednu od bolničkih službi kao što je Netcare 911. Ako je ronilac član DAN-a, barem pokušajte kontaktirati DAN (Diver Alert Network) tijekom evakuacije, jer će oni dogovoriti daljnje dogovore. Za članove koji nisu DAN kontaktirajte službu medicinske pomoći ili izravno Metro Rescue.
Ako trebate sami prevesti unesrećenog, idite na Jedinica hitne medicinske pomoći u bolnici Claremont prvo, kad osoblje zna za ronilačke nesreće i može pružiti životnu podršku i odgovarajuće liječenje.
Preporučuje se da netko iz ronilačke skupine unesrećenog prati u vozilu hitne pomoći, po mogućnosti mobitelom kako bi mogao odgovoriti na pitanja o incidentu. Računalo za ronjenje unesrećenog treba prevoziti s unesrećenim, a korisno je ako osoba koja prati unesrećenog zna kako izvući povijest ronjenja s računala.
- DAN Južna Afrika 24-satna vruća linija, ☏ 27 82 810-6010, 27 10 209-8112, besplatni: 0800 020 111.
- Netcare 911, ☏082 911 (domaći). Morsko spašavanje, helikopter, hitna pomoć, hiperbarična komora, otrovi i hitna medicinska pomoć.
- Spašavanje metroa, ☏10177 (domaći).
- 1 Hitna jedinica bolnice Claremont (pristup s glavne ceste), ☏ 27 21 670-4333.
- Nacionalni institut za spašavanje na moru, ☏ 27 21 449-3500.
- Gorsko spašavanje, ☏ 27 21 937-1211.
- Vatra, ☏107 (domaće).
- S. A. Policijska služba, ☏10111 (domaći).
- U slučaju poteškoća s hitnim pozivom, ☏1022 (domaće).
Saznati
- Južna podvodna istraživačka skupina (SURG), ✉[email protected]. Za identifikaciju morskog života i vodiča na terenu. Pošaljite fotografiju SURG-u i oni će pokušati identificirati organizam.
- iNaturalistički južna Afrika. Za identifikaciju biljaka i životinja. Pošaljite fotografiju promatranja i mjesto na iNaturalist i jedan od suradnika može identificirati organizam. Svoje znanje možete podijeliti i identificiranjem predmeta svojih i tuđih fotografija.
- Podvodna Afrika. “CPR ronjenja”: Očuvanje, promocija i predstavljanje. Podvodna Afrika pokušava služiti svojim članovima utvrđivanjem ključnih problema koji utječu na rast i uspjeh rekreacijskog ronjenja. Udruženi glas govori u ime sporta, a njegova operativna funkcija je stvaranje usmjerenih programa koji pozitivno utječu i na rekreativno ronjenje i na podvodni okoliš. Točnije, ako imate poteškoća s dobivanjem ronilačke dozvole iz pošte s inozemnom putovnicom ili za osobe mlađe od 16 godina, Podvodna Afrika pokušat će riješiti vaš problem jer neko osoblje pošte nije na odgovarajući način upoznato s pravilima .
- Pomorski arheolog u SAHRA-i, P O Box 4637, Cape Town, ☏ 27 21 462-4502, faks: 27 21 462-4509, ✉[email protected].
Nabavite uslugu
Naučiti
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Ronilačke škole:
- Alpha Dive Center
- Ronilački centar u Cape Townu
- Dive akcija
- Zaron i avantura
- Dive Inn Cape Town
- Pleme roniti
- Ronilački centar Indigo
- U plavetnilo
- Samo Afričko podmorje
- Naučite roniti danas
- Podvodni klub Maties
- Oceanska iskustva
- Oceanus Scuba
- Orca industrije
- Ronioci Riba
- Škola ronjenja
- Podvodni istraživači (samo za tehnologiju)
Kupiti
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Dive trgovine:
Navedeni su maloprodaji specijalizirani za ronilačku opremu. Ostale prodavaonice sportske opreme također mogu isporučiti ograničenu paletu ronilačke opreme.
- Ronilački centar u Cape Townu
- Dive akcija
- Ronilački centar Indigo
- U plavetnilo
- Orca industrije
- Ronioci Riba
Punjenje cilindara za ronjenje:
Navedeni trgovci napunit će cilindre za širu javnost. Neki drugi pružatelji usluga ispunjavat će samo članove ili vlastite studente ili kupce chartera. Pogledajte direktorij za više detalja.
- Alpha Dive Center: Zrak.
- Ronilački centar u Cape Townu: Zrak, Nitrox
- Akcija zarona: Zrak, kisik
- Izvršni sigurnosni pribor (ESS): Zrak.
- Orca Industries: Zrak, zrak kompatibilan s kisikom, Nitrox (kontinuirani i parcijalni tlak svi postoci), kisik.
- Ronilački centar Indigo: Zrak.
- U plavetnilo: Zrak.
- Ronioci Riba: Zrak, zrak kompatibilan s kisikom, Nitrox (parcijalni tlak u svim postocima), kisik
- Istraživačka ronilačka jedinica: Zrak, zrak kompatibilan s kisikom, Nitrox (kontinuirani i parcijalni tlak).
- Škola ronjenja: Zrak do 300 bara, Nitrox
Najam
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Neki operateri ronjenja iznajmit će vam opremu kad ronite s njima. Provjerite prilikom rezervacije. Navedeni operatori unajmljuju kompletnu opremu za ronjenje. Većina čarter plovila na zahtjev će imati pune cilindre.
- Ronilački centar u Cape Townu
- Dive akcija
- Zaron i avantura
- Dive Inn Cape Town
- U plavetnilo
- Ronjenje Riba
- Škola ronjenja
Čini
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Najam brodova:
Brod roni sa specijalnog ronilačkog broda. Obično jedno ronjenje po putovanju, ponekad i dva. Rezervacija bitna. Neki operateri osiguravaju ronioca, neki će unajmiti opremu, drugi samo prijevoz. Ronjenja se mogu otkazati do posljednjeg trenutka ako se uvjeti pokvare. Ako je putovanje otkazano, možete očekivati povrat novca. Neki će operateri otkazati ako misle da zaron neće biti dobar, drugi će se pokrenuti ako to ne izgleda previše opasno. Provjerite uvjete prije rezervacije.
Ovaj je popis operatora koji posjeduju i upravljaju brodom. Većina ronilačkih trgovina i škola koje ne vode svoj brod rezervirat će zaron na brodu za klijente na tim brodovima. To je obično pravi put ako trebate unajmiti opremu ili trebate prijevoz. Izravna rezervacija prikladna je ako imate vlastitu opremu. Većina ronilačkih čartera iznajmit će cilindre.
- Životinjski ocean
- Plavi bljeskalica (tehnološki prihvatljiv)
- Dive Action (prikladno za tehnologiju i opremu za odzračivanje)
- Zaron i avantura
- Ronilački centar Indigo
- Naučite roniti danas
- Oceanska iskustva
- Ronioci Riba
- Podvodni istraživači (tehnički prihvatljivo)
Vođeni obalom:
Shore zaroni pod vodstvom Divemastera. Obično jedno ronjenje po putovanju. Obično je potrebna rezervacija. Većina operatera unajmljuje opremu, neki osiguravaju prijevoz do mjesta iz određenog mjesta za montažu, obično ronilačke trgovine. Provjerite uvjete prije rezervacije
- Alpha Dive Center
- Rt RADD
- Ronilački centar u Cape Townu
- Dive akcija
- Dive Inn Cape Town
- Ronilački centar Indigo
- U plavetnilo
- Samo Afričko podmorje
- Naučite roniti danas
- Oceanska iskustva
- Ronioci Riba
- Škola ronjenja
Ronilački klubovi:
Mjesta na kojima se ronioci okupljaju kako bi napunili cilindre, popili piće i razgovarali o ronjenju. Klubovi također općenito nude obuku i iznajmljivanje opreme za članove, a povremeno ispunjavaju i zrakom i Nitroxom i Trimixom. Ovdje su navedeni samo ronilački klubovi koji nisu isključivo povezani sa školom ronjenja ili ronilačkom trgovinom. Neki klubovi posjetitelje dočekuju na ronilačkim izletima, ali nečlanovi će obično morati osigurati vlastitu opremu.
- Klub vodenih alkoholičara
- Podvodni klub Bellville
- Rt Scuba Club
- Podvodni klub False Bay
- Podvodni klub Maties (Stellenbosch podvodni klub)
- Old Mutual Sub Aqua Club
- Podvodni klub Sveučilišta u Cape Townu
Ronjenje u kavezu (morski psi)
Mali broj licenciranih operatera nudi ronjenje u kavezima s otvorenom vodom kako bi se približili velikim bijelcima u njihovom vlastitom okruženju. Travanj do rujna vrhunac je vremena za gledanje velikih bijelaca u Južnoj Africi. Postoje jutarnja i popodnevna putovanja na otok Seal, gdje možete vidjeti čuvene velike bijele morske pse False Baya, kao i ronjenje u kavezu, ponekad sve u jednom putovanju. Nisu sva ronjenja u kavezima na ronjenju - zapravo većina se radi na dahu. Provjerite prilikom rezervacije.
- Eko-povelje afričkih morskih pasa
- Ekspedicije morskih pasa Apex
- Avanture morskih pasa
- Istraživači morskih pasa
Popraviti
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Servis i popravak opreme za ronjenje:
- Alpha Dive Center
- Ronilački centar u Cape Townu
- Dive akcija
- Ronilački centar Indigo
- Orca industrije.
- Ronioci Riba.
Pregled i ispitivanje boca s ronjenjem:Većina ronilačkih trgovina uzet će cilindre na servis za testiranje, a oni koji su ovdje navedeni rade stvarna ispitivanja.
- Izvršni sigurnosni sustavi. Hidrostatička ispitivanja i vizualni pregledi
- Orca industrije. Ispitivanje aluminijumskih cilindara i čišćenje kisikom na zahtjev "Visual plus" vrtložnim strujama.
Servis i popravak suhog odijela:
- Plavi bljesak.
- Stingray.
Popravci mokrih odijela i prilagođavanje:
- Koraljne odijela.
- Reef Wetsuits.
Imenik usluga
- 2 Eko-povelje afričkih morskih pasa, Trgovina WC13, Simon's Town Boardwalk Center, St Georges St, Simon's Town, ☏ 27 21 785-1941, 27 82 674 9454 (mobilni), ✉[email protected]. Ured: 9:00 - 18:00. Kavez s bijelim morskim psima roni. Kavez za velike bijele morske pse R1450-1750.
- Morske pustolovine životinjskog oceana, Mobilni rad - nema ureda, ☏ 27 79 488-5053, ✉[email protected]. Dostupno bilo kada na e-poštu ili mobitel. Ronjenje s tuljanom, oceanski safari, čarteri brodova, trčanje sardinama i specijalne fotografske ekspedicije. Lokalni zaron R200 bez opreme, najmanje 2 osobe.
- 3 Alpha Dive Center, 96 Main Rd, Strand (nasuprot željezničke stanice), ☏ 27 21 854-3150, faks: 27 86 551 0702, ✉[email protected]. M-Ž 7:30 - 18:00, subota 7:30 - 20:00. NAUI, PADI i DAN trening; prodaja i najam opreme; zračni ispuni; servis regulatora i BC-a; ronjenje brodom i obalom (Gordonov zaljev).
- 4 Ekspedicije morskih pasa Apex, Quayside Building, Trgovina br. 3, Main Rd, Simon's Town, ☏ 27 21 786-5717, 27 79 051-8558 (mobilni), ✉[email protected]. Ronjenje u kavezu s bijelim morskim psima.
- 5 Podvodni klub Bellville, Jack Muller Park, Frans Conradie Drive, nasuprot srednje škole DF Malan, ✉[email protected]. Noć kluba u srijedu, od 19 do 23 sata. CMAS-ISA i IANTD obuka; klub roni većinu nedjelja; ispune za zrak i nitroks za članove; društveni klub za rekreativne i tehničke ronioce.
- 6 Plavi bljesak, 5 Glenbrae Ave, Tokai, ☏ 27 73 167-6677, ✉[email protected]. Servis suhih odijela, popravci i prilagodbe; novi (Rt Gear) i prodaja rabljenih suhih odijela; rekreacijski i tehnički ronilački čarteri; izleti brzim brodom i obilazak mora; istraživanje novih olupina i grebena (poluotok Cape). Na web stranici možete se pretplatiti na tjedni bilten e-pošte. Lokalni brodski zaron R400 bez opreme.
- 7 Ronilački centar u Cape Townu, 122 Main Road, grad Glencairn Simon, 7975 Western Cape, ☏ 27 84 290 1157, ✉[email protected]. 9:00 - 16:30 (jednog dana duže). PADI trening i otkrijte iskustva ronjenja. Za one koji su već certificirani, spuštanja brodova i obale. Prodaja i najam opreme za ronjenje, kao i servis i popravak opreme.
- Rt Scuba Club, ✉[email protected]. Tjedna društvena okupljanja. Cape Scuba Club zabavan je obiteljski klub ronjenja. Članovi dobivaju: popust u zraku, popust za najam brodova, potporu iskusnih ronilaca, vikend ronjenje u Cape Townu predvođeno iskusnim roniocima, uključujući noćna ronjenja, ronjenja u olupini, ronjenja brodom i ulaske na obalu te vikend ronjenje.
- 8 Koraljne odijela, 60 Hopkins Street, Salt River, ☏ 27 21 447-1985, faks: 27 21 448-8249, ✉[email protected]. Stock i prilagođena mokra odijela. Krojenje i popravljanje vlažnih odijela.
- 9 Dive akcija, 22 Carlisle St, Paarden Eiland., ☏ 27 21 511-0800, ✉[email protected]. M-Ž 8:30 - 17:30, subota od 8:30 - 13:00. PADI i IANTD trening (NAUI na zahtjev); rekreacijski i tehnički čamci ronjenja (poluotok Cape); prodaja i najam opreme; ispune zraka, nitroksa, kisika i trimiksa; servis regulatora i BC; ponovno puhati punila i sorbirati. Izleti i ture velikim brzinama. Ronjenje lokalnog broda R350 bez opreme.
- Zaron i avantura, Gordonov zaljev, ☏ 27 83 962-8276, ✉[email protected]. CMAS-ISA trening; najam opreme; čarteri ronjenja brodom (Gordon's Bay); zračni ispuni; trening skipera na malom čamcu.
- 10 DiveInn Cape Town (Carel van der Colff), ☏ 27 84 448-1601, ✉[email protected]. Privatni PADI & RAID trening ronjenja, stručnjak za lovce na Nudibranch, Odjel za rad odobrio je tečaj prve pomoći putem DAN-a, najam opreme, privatne ture do Cape Winelands, grada Cape Towna, poluotoka Cape, ronjenje brodom, privatno ronjenje s obale, Zaron na kopnu s utezima i zrakom R380.
- 11 Izvršne sigurnosne službe (E.S.S.), 4 Dorsetshire St, Paarden Eiland, ☏ 27 21 510-4726, faks: 27 21 510-8758, ✉[email protected]. M-Th 8:00 - 16:00, F 08:00 - 15:00. Vizualni pregled podvodnog cilindra i hidrostatička ispitivanja; Usluga ventila stupova; Zrak puni do 300 bara.
- 12 Podvodni klub False Bay, Ispod mosta Wetton, Wynberg (Ulaz je putem Belper, s ceste Kildare), ✉[email protected]. Noć kluba u srijedu od 19 do 23 sata. CMAS-ISA, SSI i IANTD obuka; klub roni većinu nedjelja; ispune za zrak, nitrox i trimix za članove; društveni klub za rekreativne, tehničke i znanstvene ronioce, Spearos i podvodni hokej.
- 13 Ronilački centar Indigo, Avenue Bluegum 16, Gordon's Bay, ☏ 27 83 268-1851 (Mobilni), ✉[email protected]. M-Ž 9:00 - 17:00, subota 8:30 - 20:00. SSI trening; prodaja i najam opreme; zračne ispune, servisiranje opreme. ronjenje brodom i obalom. Diveri i morski safari
- 14 U plavetnilo, Glavna cesta 88b, Sea Point (Točno preko puta Pick 'n Paya na glavnoj cesti Sea Point), ☏ 27 21 434-3358, 27 71 875-9284 (mobilni), ✉[email protected]. M-Sa 9:00 - 18:00. PADI trening. Iznajmljivanje opreme. Shore roni 7 dana u tjednu, ako to dopuštaju uvjeti. Brodski zaroni W, Sa i Su. Rezervacije ronilačkog psa i prijevoz. Prijevoz osiguran iz centra grada. Ronjenja brodom R280, puni najam opreme R360 / dan.
- 15 Samo Afričko podmorje, Jedinica 17, tržni centar Old Cape, 33 Beach Rd, Gordon's Bay (Ugao Sir Lowry Road. Trgovina je sa stražnje strane tržnog centra.), ☏ 27 82 598 1884, ✉[email protected]. M-Ž 8:00 - 18:00, Sa-Su 8:00 - 13:00. PADI trening, ronjenje na obali i brodom, izleti brodom po otoku Obalni zaroni s R300 uključujući cilindar, brodski zaroni s R450 isključujući cilindar.
- 16 Naučite roniti danas, 5 Corsair Way, Sun Valley, Cape Town, ☏ 27 76 817-1099, ✉[email protected]. SDI i PADI trening ronjenja, čarteri brodova i vođeni čamci s obale. Iznajmljivanje opreme za studente. DAN član tvrtke.
- 17 Podvodni klub Maties (Podvodni klub Stellenbosch), Sportski tereni Sveučilišta Stellenbosch, Coetzenburg, Stellenbosch. Rekreativni ronilački klub s otvorenim članstvom. Scuba, podvodni ribolov, podvodni hokej; Najam opreme i ispune zraka za članove.
- 18 Oceanska iskustva (OceanX), V&A Waterfront, Trgovina 8, Quay 5, Cape Town, ☏ 27 21-418-2870, ✉[email protected]. Svakog dana od 9:30 do 18:00. PADI 5 * centar za ronjenje i freedive: Tečajevi ronjenja od probnih ronjenja i početnih tečajeva do profesionalnih razina, tečajevi ronjenja od početnih do naprednih nivoa. Uron za brod i obalu. Boat dive charter trips out of the Cape Town V&A Waterfront on 8.5-m RIB or 40-ft catamaran. Snorkeling and scuba diving with Cape fur seals, scuba diving on shipwrecks, reefs and kelp forests. Adventure boat rides, Adventure combo packages with partner Cape Town Helicopters. Stand up paddle boarding lessons and trips in the V&A Waterfront Canals, Granger Bay & Windmill Beach. Surfing and Kitesurfing lessons.
- Oceanus Scuba, Mobile Operation (based in Tokai), ☏ 27795225903, ✉[email protected]. PADI training, guided dives (shore and boat), equipment rental & sales.
- Old Mutual Sub Aqua Club (OMSAC), Old Mutual head office in Pinelands. Thursday nights from 7PM. Air fills and equipment hire for members. Open membership recreational diving club.
- 19 Ollava, 122 Main Road, Glencairn, Simon's Town, 7975, ☏ 27 217861261, ✉[email protected]. PADI recreational and technical diver training, PADI emergency first response training, equipment sales and rental, Air and nitrox fills, equipment service See website.
- 20 Orca Industries, 3 Bowwood Road, Claremont, ☏ 27 21 671-9673, ✉[email protected]. M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM, Sa 8:30AM-1PM. Naui & CMAS-ISA training; equipment sales; air, nitrox and oxygen fills; regulator and BC servicing; scuba cylinder inspection and testing (Visual Plus); oxygen cleaning.
- 21 Pisces Divers, Goods Shed, Main Road Simon's Town, Cape Town, ☏ 27 21 7863799, 27 83 231-0240 (Mobile), faks: 27 21 7862765, ✉[email protected]. Tu-F 8AM-4:30PM, Sa Su 8AM-4PM, M closed. PADI training; dive charters (Cape Peninsula); equipment sales and rental; air and nitrox fills, regulator and BC servicing. Local boat dive R400 excluding equipment.
- 22 Reef Wetsuits, Royal Park, Percy Road, Ottery, ☏ 27 21 703-6662, faks: 27 21 703-6678, ✉[email protected]. M-Th 8AM-4:30PM, F 8AM-2:30PM. Stock and custom wetsuits, Wetsuit tailoring and repairs
- Shark Adventures, 11 Faure Street, Gordons Bay, 7150, ☏ 27 21 856-4055, 27 83 225-7227 (mobilni), faks: 27 86 627-0374, ✉[email protected]. White shark cage dives.
- Shark Explorers, ☏ 27 82 564-1904, ✉[email protected]. Shark, seal and kelp forest diving packages. Cage dives with Great Whites R1300 per person.
- The Scuba School, Western Cape, Independant, faks: 27 86 662-3989, ✉[email protected]. PADI recreational & technical diver training, EFR & DAN First Aid training, Sharklife training, air and nitrox fills, equipment rental, boat and shore dives.
- Underwater Explorers, PO Box 60604, Flamingo Square, 7439, Cape Town, ☏ 27 82 648-7261, ✉[email protected]. Rebreather diving and rebreather courses; Technical diver training; recreational and technical dive charters. DAN Diving Safety Partner. Local boat dive from R330 excluding equipment.
- 23 University of Cape Town Underwater Club (UCTUC), Lower Campus Sports Complex, off Woolsack Road, Rondebosch. Training, equipment rental and air fills to members.
Zaobiđi se
Transportation to shore dive sites or boat launching sites is best done by road. In most cases there is no other option. The public transport in the region is not diver-friendly. Trains do not stop near most of the sites, Buses are infrequent, and also usually do not pass near the sites, and Mini-bus taxis are geared to maximising the number of passengers. If you are visiting for a short period and do not wish to rent a vehicle, it may be possible to arrange transport through a local divemaster or charter organisation. Ask if they have facilities for fetching you from your accommodation when you arrange a dive. Not all will offer this service, but it can be a great convenience if available. Some will even fetch you from the airport.
If travelling in your own or a rented vehicle, bear in mind that many dive sites, particularly on the Cape Peninsula, are notorious for theft from parked vehicles. Do not leave any items that may attract unwanted interest in the front of the vehicle, and ensure that the luggage compartment is secure. Dive clubs will sometimes arrange for an attendant to watch over parked vehicles during club dives.
The Street Guide to Cape Town, published by MapStudio and available at most book shops in Cape Town, is recommended for finding your way around to any of the sites north of Miller’s Point on the peninsula, and north of Steenbras river mouth on the east side of False Bay. This is adequate for most divers.
The map shows the most useful main road routes for getting around the dive sites. Road signs for these routes are as good as any in the region. The National roads are indicated with white numbers on blue signs and the prefix N. Regional routes are white on green signs prefixed with R. Main routes in the greater metropolitan area are prefixed with an M and are usually black on white signs.
Map links to Geocoded sites — Most of the dive sites, harbours and slipways featured in this guide are Geocoded . Look in the left hand sidebar 'toolbox' for a "Map" link. If you click on this a choice of on-line zoomable street maps will become available. The Google maps have the advantage that a photo-overlay is available as an option.
Ronjenja brodom
Jednodnevni izleti
Most of the dive charter boats of Cape Town are large rigid hulled inflatable boats powered by twin outboard engines. These boats are usually launched from a slipway for the day’s dives and are transported to the slipway on trailers. The boats are usually from 6 to 7.5 m in length and are licenced to carry from 8 to 12 divers.
Bookings are made by phone, e-mail or in the shop. If you are not known to the operator you will be asked to present certification, and usually to sign a disclaimer.
Many of the dive charter boats in this area are purely transport facilities, leaving the responsibility for safety during the dive to the divers. If you want a guided tour, or need a buddy, check whether this is provided before booking.
Equipment is usually loaded onto the boats before launching or at a jetty near the slip. Diving suits are generally put on before boarding and worn during the ride, though occasionally jackets may be carried and put on at the site if the weather and sea conditions are suitable. Ask your skipper.
If you dive with unusual or specialised equipment such as large twin cylinders, side mounts, rebreather or bulky video equipment it is recommended that you clear this with the operator before booking. Similarly if you wish to dive solo or do scheduled decompression this should be cleared before booking, as some charter boats do not cater for these procedures.
Liveaboardi
There are no liveaboard dive boats based in Cape Town. However there are a number of large motor and sailing yachts that may be chartered, and there is no fundamental reason why they could not be chartered for a dive trip. Enquire about diving equipment and compressor rental when booking, as these will generally not be included.
Luke i navozi
Atlantic seaboard:
There is a beach launching area behind the point reefs at Melkbosstrand which is sometimes used for dives to the Blago. Adequate parking, Restaurants nearby, Security dubious but probably better than on the southern Peninsula.
- 1 Melkbosstrand launch site: S33°43.705' E018°26.330'
Most launches for the Table Bay and north Peninsula sites are from the Navoz Oceana Power Boat Club at Granger Bay, just west of the V&A Waterfront.
- 2 Navoz Oceana Power Boat Club: S33° 54.074' E018° 24.926'
The V&A Marina slipway near the Cape Grace hotel in the V&A Waterfront has also been used, but access is limited and parking can be a problem.
- 3 V&A Marina slipway: S33°54.570' E18°25.244'
The southern part of the Atlantic seaboard is served by the Hout Bay harbour and slipway
- 4 Navoz luke Hout Bay: S34°03'01.76" E018°20'42.97"
The launching area at Kommetjie is only for vessels less than 5.8 m long. This is a beach launch into a protected gully. Parking is usually adequate except in Rock lobster season. Security unknown. There is a public toilet about 200 m back along the road you come in on.
- 5 Kommetjie launch gully: S34°8.406' E018°19.314'
- 6 Kommetjie parking: S34°8.496' E018°19.455'
The Peninsula south of Noordhoek is also served by the Witsand slipway at the Crayfish factory near Scarborough.
- 7 Witsand slipway: S34°10.692' E018°20.684'
False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula:
Western False Bay launches are from the slipway at Millerova točka ili slipway at the False Bay Yacht Club in Simon's Town.
- 8 False Bay Yacht Club slipway: S34°11'32.54" E018°26'0.22"
- 9 Navoz Miller's Pointa: S34°13'49.63" E018°28'25.12"
The municipal jetty of Simon's Town is also used for diver pickups, but it has no launching facilities and parking is limited. Long Beach is also sometimes used for diver pickup and drop-off, as it has fairly extensive parking, but no slipway. Boats can be launched at the False Bay Yacht Club by members or prior arrangement, or at Miller's Point slipway.
- 10 Municipal jetty parking: S34°11'33.56" E018°25'56.49"
- 11 Municipal jetty: S34°11'31.49" E018°25'58.06"
There is a slipway at Zaljev Buffels, but that is seldom used by divers.
- 12 Buffels Bay slipway S34°19'15.24" E018°27'40.29"
Gordon's Bay:
On the east side of False Bay, there are two good slipways in Gordon's Bay: at the Stara luka i na Otok Harbor.
- 13 Old Harbour slipway: S34°09'53.48" E018°51'33.90"
- 14 Harbour Island slipway: S34°09.132' E018°51.470'
Rooi-els:
There is a small and very shallow slipway at Rooi-els which can only be used by local residents who have permits, and is too small for the charter boats.
- 15 Rooi-els slipway: S34°17'56.27" E18°49'2.67"
Hangklip:
Lastly there is a slipway at Masbaai just east of Hangklip, which is open to the public, but is very shallow at low tide.
- 16 Masbaai slipway: S34°22'49.62" E18°49'51.70"
Ostati siguran
The regional and local hazards are of the following main types:
Topografske značajke
Many of the local dive sites require some level of fitness and agility to access as shore dives. Research the site, ask the locals, but the final responsibility is with the diver to assess each site personally. Beware of loose rocks and slippery slopes.
Sea and weather conditions
These are variable, and even the experts get them wrong occasionally from forecasts and reports. You just have to estimate which area looks most promising, and go there to take a look. Be aware that a strong offshore wind can develop in a relatively short time, and plan accordingly. This is particularly prevalent in summer, when a strong South-easter can spring up from a quiet morning, and make a long surface return swim hard work.
Many of the shore dive sites have limited access areas, which may vary in suitability with changes in tide or weather conditions.
The air and water temperatures can also be considered as hazards, particularly in summer on the Atlantic coast, where on an extreme day it is possible for the air temperature to be over 30°C and the water below 10°C. Both hyperthermia and hypothermia are possible on the same dive outing.
Boats and shipping
Some areas are more heavily used by seaborne traffic than others. In this respect, shore dives are not generally a problem, except for a few of the deeper shore dives on the west side of False Bay, in the vicinity of Miller’s Point. It is recommended to tow a brightly coloured SMB with an Alpha flag if you dive Boat Rock, Outer Castle, Oatlands outer reefs, or Photographer’s Reef as a shore dive.
Bakoven is a launching site for the National Sea Rescue Institute, and divers are required to tow a SMB when diving there.
The Law requires all powerboats to be in the charge of a licensed skipper who is theoretically aware of the international regulations regarding divers in the water and keeping clear, but in reality there are a number of skippers who are either ignorant or don’t care. Look out for yourself and do not fasten the SMB to your equipment in an area of boat traffic, in case it gets hooked up on a boat and you get dragged up. Report incidences of dangerous boat-handling to Table Mountain National Park offices if in their jurisdiction, or to the nearest harbour master.
Incidences of dangerous or illegal boat handling can be reported to the SA Police Services Water Wing in Simon's Town, but it appears that they only work alternating weekends, so there is a 50% chance there will be no-one there, and the regular police charge office does not know how to deal with this class of offense. More action is likely if you report the problem to SAMSA, (South African Marine Safety Authority). Try to provide as much information as possible to identify the offenders. Ideally the registration number of the vessel should be included, and a photograph can be helpful.
Marine life forms
The Great White Shark is found in False Bay and is considered by some to be a danger to divers. This may be true, and it would be prudent to avoid them when possible. There are areas and seasons when they are more common. The west side of False Bay from Muizenberg to Simon’s Town seems to be the most popular inshore cruising ground, particularly in spring and summer, and Whittle Rock has also been reported to be a popular site for the sharks. Seal island is known as their main feeding area, and there are known cases of attacks on divers and close encounters of the terrifying kind from that area. If you want to see the sharks, do a cage dive with a licensed operator. If you do encounter one during a dive, try to avoid looking like a seal. Some divers suggest keeping close to the bottom, most recommend getting out quickly. Hanging around in mid-water or on the surface is not recommended by anyone. If there are Great Whites around, a safety stop may not be safe. On the other hand, if you do a cage dive, some cage operators will tell you that the noise of open circuit scuba keeps the sharks away, but this may be to save them money by not providing air and space on the boat for scuba equipment. Cow sharks are not kept away by scuba noise.
An analysis of sightings by shark spotter personnel has shown that some conditions are correlated to shark sightings:
- More sharks are seen in summer than in winter. This trend has been known for a long time, and is confirmed by the data.
- Sea surface temperatures of 16-20 °C increase the probability of a sighting — the probability of a shark sighting at Muizenberg is significantly higher when the water is warmer. This is thought to relate to the preferred temperature range of many of the shark’s prey species.
- There is a greater probability of shark sightings from 3 quarter (waning) to new moon than at full moon.
Bluebottles ili Portuguese Man o’ War are often seen in the bay, and can give an unpleasant sting, which may be dangerous to sensitive people. A wet suit is good protection. Avoid contact with your face; hands can be used to cover the exposed parts, or dive below the trailing tentacles, which can be quite long. Box jellyfish are also reputed to sting. The stinging cells of bluebottles and jellyfish may become attached to your gloves or other equipment by contact during a dive, and may later sting you if they come into contact with unprotected skin. The triangular shaped leafed succulent beach groundcover creeper the 'Sour Fig' provides excellent treatment. Rub some of the leaf`s juice on the sting. Ammonia also works well as does Meat Tenderiser.
Cape Fur Seals are not considered a hazard, though they make some people nervous. If they are relaxed, there are probably no Great Whites hunting nearby. If you ignore them they will typically get bored eventually and go away. They are big, strong, fast and have large teeth with strong jaws, so don't molest them.
Stingrays are theoretically a hazard. If you walk on one it may swipe you with its tail barb. This does not happen here, as we don’t walk on them. If you don’t try to grab hold or harass them they will not sting you.
Električni or Torpedo rays may shock you if you touch them. This is unlikely to happen as they are shy and usually avoid divers, but it could happen that you might touch one inadvertently when it is buried under the sand. This is highly unlikely, and will probably not do any lasting harm. Don’t worry about it, and don’t touch any yellowish brown disc-shaped ray that your buddy suggests you handle.
Sea urchin spines are a real but minor hazard. Surge or inattention may result in you getting spiked by these. If they bother you, get medical attention, but usually they will dissolve or if large may work their way out in time. A few spines is not usually considered a reason to abort a dive. There are so many sea urchins that it is only a matter of time before you get spiked by one. It is no big deal, the local urchins have fairly short and non-venomous spines, but they will go right through most suits and gloves.
There are various polychaete worms with bristles that may be an irritant. Avoid touching them. Gloves which are recommended as thermal protection will also protect against these bristles.
Crvene plime i oseke have occasionally produced irritant aerosols which can affect the respiratory passages. More often they do not and merely cause poor visibility, but bear this in mind. If by some chance you find yourself diving in waters where the air on the surface seems to be an irritant, breathe off your scuba gear until clear of the water. Associated toxins in the water may also produce a skin rash in these conditions, so get out as soon as possible.
Terrestrial life forms
Most of the terrestrial life forms in the Western Cape are not ordinarily considered a hazard to divers, though theft from parked vehicles at dive sites puts people at the top of the list.
Baboons in the southern peninsula and Rooi-els areas have become an occasional nuisance as they have learned to steal food from tourists, and as they are quick and strong and are armed with large teeth, they should be taken seriously. Some have learned how to open car doors and break into houses. Do not feed them, do not let them see that you are carrying food, and do not leave food where they can get to it. If you do you may be prosecuted, and will certainly be contributing to a problem that may result in serious injury to people and the necessity to kill the offending baboons.
There are a few species of venomous snake in the area, but mostly they are shy and keep away from people.
At some sites it is necessary to walk through bush with overgrown paths. Some of the bushes may have thorns. They will not usually penetrate a wet-suit, but be careful.
Microbiological hazards
These are not generally considered a problem in the region. There are no endemic parasite-transmitted diseases. The area is free of Malaria, Bilharzia, Sleeping sickness and other tropical diseases. Aids can be avoided by the usual precautions, and municipal water supplies are safe to drink. Sewage is treated before discharge to the sea, and the greatest hazard is probably storm water runoff from the Cape Flats after heavy rains. Most of the dive sites are in areas well clear of major storm drainage, and if the water looks clear it should be fine.
Marine filter feeders should not be eaten after Red tides, but anything served in a restaurant should be safe.
Artificial hazards
Unfortunately some of our citizens and visitors are complete slobs and dispose of their garbage illegally, and broken bottles and similar hazards may be encountered. This can happen almost anywhere, but is most common at the roadside within throwing distance and along the paths where you need to walk. Some places are worse than others, and you will just have to be careful. Wet-suit boots are not always sufficient protection. Areas controlled by SAN Parks Board are usually better than those theoretically maintained by the City Council. Areas outside the municipal and Table Mountain National Park area appear not to be maintained at all.
Snaći se
Most divers will drive to the meeting point by car. Public transport is very limited and does not usually get you where you need to go. Uber and other taxi services will get you there, but at a price. It may be cheaper to rent a car. Minibus taxis are cheaper, but crowded, and are restricted to a route. Some dive operators will collect visitors from their accommodation by arrangement, but this should be negotiated as early as possible during the booking process. Make sure you know exactly where the meeting point is when making a booking. For shore dives, it is sometimes possible to just drive along the coast until you find a suitable parking place and find yourself a path to the shore and a suitable entry and exit point, but a lot of effort can be avoided by consulting local knowledge through a dive shop, a local diver, or a website. There are several websites provided by local dive shops, but they tend to tell you almost nothing about doing your own thing, as they would prefer you to pay them to take you diving, which is fair enough - that is their business. The sites that are more likely to provide practical information are those of dive clubs and Wikivoyage, which is particularly detailed for the sites around Cape Town.
Hazards of the parking lot
Security at parking areas in South Africa is unfortunately a big problem, and some of the worst places are harbours nominally under the control of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, who pay no apparent attention to security, since the local fishermen and poachers are too much for them to handle. If they do show themselves, it is usually to be officious and harass someone unlikely to fight back, like tourists and divers. Sad, but that’s how it goes.
Parking attendants may improve security. They are a mild equivalent to a protection racket, but not organised. They are usually unemployed and what they get in way of tips is their income. However if a couple of Rand can reduce the risk of having your car broken into and the contents stolen it is a bargain. Car guards who have some form of a uniform are usually semi-official at least, and are less likely to turn a blind eye on vandals and thieves as their income depends on satisfied customers, and they could lose their spot. Don’t leave your car unlocked unless you are watching it. Some dive charters employ a person specifically to guard the customers' cars.
Parks Board controlled parking areas are usually acceptably secure, and most areas where you pay to get through the gate are not too bad (Hout Bay harbour excepted).Some south peninsula parking areas have an added hazard: Baboons are intelligent and have learned how to open unlocked car doors, and will do so on the chance there may be food inside. They will not intentionally steal anything else, but may damage and befoul anything that happens to be in the wrong place at the time. They are very strong, and have large teeth. Do not attempt to get between them and the only escape route. They will go right over you.
Shore roni
Getting to the water for shore dives
Most Cape Town shore dives are from rocky shores, or from beaches with some surf. These entries can be more physically challenging than the actual dive. In some places the parking area is about 50 m above sea level, with a scramble over boulders to get to the water, and occasionally a further scramble over boulders in the water. In other places there may be a surf line to cross.
Entry and exit
When you plan a shore dive there are a few complications that must be considered.
One is that you need to find your way back to a suitable exit point. Often this is the same place as the entry point, but not always. There are places where it is easy and convenient to get in, but not to get out. Be sure you can recognise the exit point from the sea, and find your way to it after the dive.Ideally you should be able to find the exit point while underwater, but at an unfamiliar site this is seldom possible, so make sure you know the landmarks which will be visible from where you are likely to surface. They will look different from the sea. Check them out before you descend, and take a bearing. Keep track of your movements underwater if you swim a long way, and try to keep a picture in your mind of where you are in relation to where you will need to be later.Another complication is that the conditions may change at the exit point while you are underwater, and it may not be so suitable when you get there. Have an alternative planned where this can happen.
Obavijest
When you do a shore dive it is a good idea to let someone on shore know your dive plan, so that they can start things happening if you are not back on schedule. This can be a hassle, but if you end up drifting out to sea in the wind at the end of a dive, you will have some idea of when the search party is likely to be notified.The other side of this is that if you don’t report in at the expected time, you may be sitting in the pub looking out to sea and wondering what all the fuss is about. This will not be appreciated by the rescue teams.
Ronjenja brodom
The joys of rubber ducks (not the bath-time version)
In South Africa, the standard dive boat is a large (6 to nearly 9 m) Rigid Inflatable Boat These are known as rubber ducks. Power is generally twin outboard motors, which may be two-stroke and smoky, but are increasingly often either four stroke, or the improved two-strokes which are cleaner and quieter.
These boats are generally powerful and fast, but speed is usually limited by sea state. They have a wet ride in a bumpy sea or if there is a crosswind. You travel in your dive suit, quite often with your hood on, and sometimes with your mask on to keep the spray out of your eyes. It has been known for the occasional diver to also use a snorkel to keep out heavy spray in rough conditions. If you wear a hat to protect your head from UV, make sure the hat is a tight fit, and preferably with a lanyard. The combination of cool sea air, wind, spray and high levels of UV can grill you in quite a short time, even in winter. Wear a good blockout or other method of keeping the sun from your skin. Unfortunately some blockouts wash off easily, and others sting your eyes if water gets into your mask and sloshes around a bit. A ski-mask is considered slightly eccentric, but it does the job.
Preparing for the dive.
If using all your own equipment, pack it as you find convenient, and check that everything is in good working order before leaving home. It will be wet on the way home, a waterproof bag or bin will keep the water off the upholstery. If using rental gear, get to the shop early to make sure it fits and works properly. If you are an unusual shape or size you may have difficulty finding a suit which fits well.At some places you will kit up at the side of the road or in a parking lot, and at others there will be changing rooms provided by the dive operator. If this is an issue, find out before the dive, You might want to take along a small mat or towel to stand on while putting on your suit, particularly if the ground is sandy or muddy.Some operators provide facilities at the dive shop for the customers to change into their dive suits and assemble equipment and load the boat before leaving for the launch site. In these cases the heavy equipment is usually loaded by staff, and the divers carry their light equipment to the boat. Where the boat collects divers from a jetty, the divers are expected to get their own kit to the boat. Actual loading will usually be done or supervised by the skipper.You will almost always be expected to wear your dive suit on the boat trip. There is no space to put it on during the ride, which may be wet.
What to take
- A small bag is useful to carry items like sunglasses, sunblock, hat, etc. Cell phones and car keys are usually kept in a waterproof bag or box by the skipper, and stored in the console. Large boxes for underwater cameras or video equipment should be negotiated before the dive, as there may or may not be space for them on board. In summer sunblock is advised for most skin types. UV factor is generally high and reflection from the water grills you from below. A peaked or brimmed hat may help if securely strapped on against the wind generated by boat speed.
- Kit bags for dive gear are not usually carried, but a medium sized soft bag to hold fins and mask, and other dive accessories like DSMB, reel, computer, dive light etc. is OK.
- On a long boat trip a small bottle of water or other suitable rehydration drink is nice to have, specially for after a deep or long dive. Similarly a small amount of high energy food may be welcome after a cold dive. In Cape Town, many dive boats supply a small chocolate bar or other sweet (candy) to each diver after the dive.
- A light waterproof windbreaker jacket is useful if the wind is strong, the weather or water is cold, or the trip is long. This can reduce wind-chill, particularly after the dive if you wear a wetsuit.
- A small emergency supplies (dive saver) kit of spare O-rings, fin strap, etc is acceptable.
What not to take
- Don’t take anything that you do not intend to use on the trip. (emergency equipment excepted).
- Don’t bring anything that must not get wet unless you have a watertight bag or box for it. A towel is usually a waste of time, as it will probably get wet. The same goes for dry clothing.
- Space is limited and must be shared by all. Do not annoy everyone by bringing a huge bin for your kit and fighting with the skipper at boarding time. No-one will have sympathy when you are evicted.
Loading kit and getting into the boat
The boat may loaded before launching, except where the water at the slipway is too shallow, when the boat is not taken out between dives, or when the slipway is not at the same place where the divers will be boarding.Loading of the boat is usually done by the skipper and divemaster. You are usually expected to transport your own equipment to the boat and hand it over to the person who will stow it for the trip. The standard arrangement is to stack scuba sets along a centreline rack, and tie them in place. You will usually sit at your scuba set, so if you want to do pre-dive buddy checks, ask for your gear and your buddy’s to be stowed together.Weight belts and pockets may be stacked on deck or in a box at the front or back of the rack. They are handed out when the boat gets to the site, so be sure you can identify your weights.
Fins and masks are usually stowed by the diver. There are often no special places reserved for this purpose, and fins are generally stowed either behind a handrope along the inner side of the pontoons, or between scuba sets along the rack. Be careful how you do this, as simply stacking them on top of the scuba sets can sometimes result in a fin or two being blown overboard by wind. This can ruin your dive, and is usually expensive. Masks are commonly stored in the foot pocket of a fin. The deck is not a good place for fragile items.Large cameras with strobe arms should be carried in the smallest plastic bin or crate that will hold them. There will often be several divers with camera boxes contending for the same limited storage space. Do not expect special treatment unless you have specifically organised it with the charterer.Some crews will carry your scuba set to the boat, but don’t count on it. If you need help, say so. If you are renting gear from the same organisation that runs the boat, they will usually load it for you. Make sure you can identify your rented gear and that it has all been loaded.
Slipway launches
Slipway launches are standard in the Western Cape
Where launching is from a slipway the procedure is fairly relaxed, and much depends on how far the slipway is from the parking area, and whether there is a convenient jetty.In some cases, usually at low tide, the water may be too shallow to launch the boat loaded with kit, but more often the boat is loaded with most of the dive gear, but not the divers, before launching. The boat is then launched with usually just the skipper on board, and the divers either get in from shallow water or from a jetty, as described above.Sometimes there may be commercial ski-boat fishermen launching at the same slipway. There are exceptions, but the lasting impression is of a mob of hooligans with no respect for anyone. They are generally a law unto themselves, and you will not gain brownie points by pointing out the error of their ways, and are likely to be given a brief introductory course in local invective at no charge.
Getting into the boat will depend on the launch site. In most cases the boat will be launched with only a skipper on board. Divers will board from the jetty or from the water.
Boarding from a jetty
Boarding from a jetty is usually easy, unless the step down to the boat is high. The crew will help where necessary and direct boarding. Follow their instructions. Do not leap down onto the deck, as it may not be designed to take this kind of shock load, and the sound of cracking glass fibre will not bring a smile to the skipper’s face. Also don’t leap down onto the pontoon, as this is likely to be followed by an inelegant face-plant onto the rack of scuba gear. The owners may be more concerned with damage to their equipment than your injuries.
The roll bar at the stern is a good place to hold if you can reach it. The radio antenna, plastic windscreen and engine control levers are not.Try to avoid getting parts of yourself between the boat and the jetty. The pontoons are fairly soft, but the jetty usually isn't, and may be decorated by barnacles and other abrasive material.
Boarding from shallow water
If boarding from standing in the water, try to get in where the water is not too deep, as most divers do not have the agility and upper body strength to boost themselves in without fins or a jump. Ask for help if you need it, but your fellow divers are more likely to be enthusiastic than skillful at pulling you in, Say goodbye to dignity, and hope for a reasonably comfortable landing.
The stern of the boat (blunt end) is usually lower and therefore easier to get into. This is often combined with it being in the shallowest water, so get in and out of the way of the people who have to hold the boat while the rest are getting in.
If you are a gymnast or acrobat you may safely ignore this advice.
Sjedeći
Seating is almost exclusively on the pontoons, with your back to the water. This puts you in a position where losing your balance backwards will result in falling into the water, a manoeuvre most divers prefer to restrict to times when the boat is stationary at the dive site. To prevent unscheduled backward rolls, use the foot-straps and hand-ropes provided. As a general rule, sit opposite your scuba set, so you don’t have to move around when kitting up on site.
Occasionally there may be a seat across the stern in front of the motors. This will be the most comfortable place on the boat but may catch more spray in your face. The boat will bounce up and down as it hits waves. Bigger boats less so than small ones, and the part that bounces the least is the stern, so the most comfortable seating is as far back as you can get. This puts you close to the motors, and if they are two-stroke, closest to the exhaust smoke when the boat is not moving. You may not have much choice where you get to sit, but if you have a bad back or other disability which makes a rough ride a problem, mention this to your dive-master or the skipper as soon as possible. You will not be popular if the boat has to stop to re-arrange passengers. With practice it is possible to sit with one foot in a foot-strap (preferably the foot nearer the bow (pointy end)) and ride the bumps with very little effort. It is much like riding a horse, don’t fight the motion, absorb the bumps by relaxing a bit, and you will bounce less. A death-grip on the hand ropes will be exhausting if the ride is long.
Some boats have no footstraps. You will have to find something else to hold onto, or lean into the boat to keep more weight on your feet. Some divers may be seen comfortably sitting on the tubes, riding the waves with no obvious concern as the boat bounces along. They may not even need to hold on. They have done this before.
Moving around in the boat
If possible, don’t move around while the boat is moving, unless asked to trim the boat. You will be expected to sit where directed by the skipper, and unless there is a good reason not to, do as requested. Standing up when the boat is moving and there is nothing to hold onto can result in a fall and possible injury if the boat hits a wave or moves in an unexpected direction. If equipment comes loose under way, shout to the skipper, who will stop if it is safe, so that the equipment can be re-stowed.There may be cables and pipes in places on the deck. These are usually routed through areas where they are reasonably protected, but as a rule don’t stand on them or use them to hold on to. Batteries are often stored in plastic boxes near the transom, to keep the wires short. The lids are not usually load bearing structures, do not use them as steps.
Getting out of the boat
Getting into the water is usually done by a synchronised backward roll – falling into the water alongside your neighbour, neither on top nor underneath. Generally all the divers or a nominated group will roll off together, on a countdown from the skipper or divemaster. It is important to all roll together, as if you do not, the later divers may fall on top of the earlier ones, possibly casing injury or equipment damage. If you are not ready, or are not happy with this procedure, wait until the others are in and the boat is clear of them. The skipper will then let you roll in clear of the others, but you may have to fin a bit to get to them. This can be a problem if diving in a current. Some divers may not wish to backward roll with a large camera setup. Oni mogu tražiti od skipera da im doda kameru kad su u vodi. U tom bi slučaju trebali ostati blizu čamca i po mogućnosti ga držati dok im kamera ne padne.
Linija za pucanje i plutajuća plutača
Većina ronjenja u Cape Townu ima greben ili olupinu. Uobičajeno je mjesto označiti mlaznicom prije zarona kako bi se ronioci mogli spustiti na pravo mjesto. Ako na površini postoji mala struja, sačma će se spustiti niz vjetar kako bi zauzela opuštenost. U ovom je slučaju uobičajeno ući u vodu uzvodno od plutače na kratkoj udaljenosti i započeti spuštanje čim se linija vidi kroz vodu, kako bi se rad plivanja natrag prema struji sveo na najmanju moguću mjeru. Ploveći sve do plutače znači da ćete morati plivati natrag protiv struje. Linija za pucanje nije sidro. Ako se povučete niz liniju plutače, ona može povući pucanj, a vi ćete na kraju pasti niz struju, kao i svi ostali iza vas. Ako je linija sačme prekratka, bova se može podići i odnijeti s mjesta, tako da treba malo opustiti. Struja možda neće raditi izravno niz vjetar. Čak i kada se radi o struji koju uzrokuje vjetar, Coriolisove će je sile pomaknuti u smjeru suprotnom od kazaljke na satu u smjeru vjetra na južnoj hemisferi, u efektu poznatom kao Ekmanov transport. Učinak je oko 45 ° na površini, više kako idete dublje, ali s manje brzine.
Možete izaći na površinu na liniji sačme ili dalje od nje. Ako ne znate web mjesto, možda će biti teško pronaći put natrag. To obično nije problem, a većina ronilaca u Cape Townu uspjet će se gdje god se zateknu na kraju ronjenja, ali u ovom slučaju se toplo preporučuje postavljanje DSMB-a i postavljanje na vlastitu plutaču ili plutaču vašeg prijatelja. DSMB će naznačiti prisutnost ronioca kako bi se čamci u tom području mogli održavati čistima i kako bi vaš skiper ronilačkog broda mogao pratiti gdje će vjerojatno izaći na površinu njegovi kupci.
Ako postoji značajna vjerojatnost izrona na površini od metka za streljanje u području s velikim brodskim prometom, ronioci se potiču ili će možda biti potrebno da nose DSMB i postave ga prije isplivanja. Druga mjesta na kojima će ronioci možda trebati nositi DSMB su ona udaljena od mora ili u bilo kojem trenutku za koje skiper misli da bi moglo biti teško pronaći ronioca zbog uvjeta na moru. Za rekreativno ronjenje, izbor boje i veličine za osobni DSMB ovisi o roniocu. Najčešća je žuta, narančasta i crvena, ali povremeno se može vidjeti i jarko ružičasta, a ako skipera izričito ne obavijestite o posebnom značenju neke boje, pretpostavit će se da ne postoji posebno značenje osim označavanja vašeg položaja. Nikoga neće zanimati koliko je velik sve dok se to može vidjeti s razumne udaljenosti. Reflektirajuće trake, trepćuća svjetla i vaše ime također nisu obvezni.
Voditelji ronjenja
Na brodu može biti jedan, a možda i nije. Čamci koji opskrbljuju lokalno stanovništvo rjeđe će pružiti ronilačkog majstora od brodova povezanih sa školama ili koji općenito opslužuju trgovinu u prolazu i posjetitelje. Ako niste sigurni u ronjenje bez da vas netko pokaže, spomenite to prilikom rezervacije i pitajte o mogućnostima.
Ronjenje algama
U područjima gdje su jake alge, ronioci uglavnom ne vuku SMB-ove tijekom ronjenja. Srećom, to su također obično mjesta na kojima nema značajnih struja, iako val može biti jak. Mnoge obale i obalne stranice Cape Towna imaju jake alge, posebno na obali Atlantika. Na ovim se područjima potapaju ronioci da nose DSMB-ove i koriste ih kada izlaze na površinu dalje od linije za pucanje, tako da skiper može pratiti gdje su svi na površini i kako bi čamci koji prolaze mogli imati priliku izbjeći da vas potrče ako nekome smeta. da pazi. DSMB su također vrlo učinkoviti za signaliziranje broda kada ste na površini - puno više nego ruka u crnom mokrom odijelu. To može biti posebno dragocjeno ako vjetar pojača tijekom ronjenja, a površina je prepuna bijele vode.
Vraćanje u čamac nakon zarona
Pravilo 1: Ne skidajte peraje u vodi ako nema ljestava. Trebaju vam da vas pojačaju. Većina gumenih pataka nema ljestve za ukrcavanje. To je još važnije ako se ukrcavate na vjetrovnu stranu čamca, jer će se čamac gotovo uvijek spuštati niz vjetar brže od ronioca. Približite se čamcu i primite vanjski ručni konop. Pokušajte zadržati stisak na čamcu cijelo vrijeme i pustite ga toliko dugo koliko je neophodno da uklonite komplet, jer se čamac može udaljiti dok se ne držite.
Nekoliko čamaca može pružiti kratku kopču s petljom kroz koju možete provući ruku, ali iz nekog razloga to je izuzetno rijetko. Još je rjeđa linija s kopčom koju možete pričvrstiti na opremu prije nego što je skinete. Vjerojatno nema potrebe kupaca za tim predmetima ... Posadu ili drugi ronioci podići će vašu opremu na brod.
Preporučeni postupak je prvo propustiti sve fotoaparate ili drugu labavu opremu. Zatim skinite i predajte utege. To osigurava plutanje nakon uklanjanja BC-a. Ne puštajte dok se ne uvjerite da sugovornik dobro steže, pojasevi s utezima vrlo brzo tonu. Uklonite akvarij i predajte ga posadi. Možete pomoći potiskivanjem ispod seta kad se podignu i provjerom da se DV i mjerači ne zakače za ručne užad. Maska i disalica mogu se pribaviti u bilo kojem trenutku ako je to prikladno. Uhvatite se dobro za priložene ručke ili uže što je više moguće uz bok pontona. Uronite se što je više moguće da biste podigli uzgon, a zatim snažno postavite peraje prema gore i rukama se izvucite što je više moguće, a zatim gurnite uže ili ručke dok kotrljate gornji dio tijela na ponton. Promijenite stisak na unutarnju ručku ili liniju ruke i zamahnite nogom u čamac. Možda je zgodno ovdje se zaustaviti dok vam netko uklanja peraje, a zatim sjesti i zamahnuti drugom nogom u čamac. Uz dobre peraje, dobru tehniku i razumnu snagu moguće je ukrcati se na ovaj način u udobnosti i dostojanstvu. Ova je metoda puno teža ako je na vjetru uz jak vjetar.
Ako nemate snage, postupak je sličan, ali uz pomoć posade ili ronilaca koji su već u čamcu, koji će vas uvući glavnom silom i čime god se mogu dočepati. Prije nego što nekoga optužite za nepristojni napad, razmislite postoji li razumno alternativno mjesto za koje bi moglo ugrabiti ono što bi uspjelo. Elegancija je obrnuto proporcionalna vašoj veličini i masi. Ako ispred odijela imate bedrene džepove, nemojte ukrcavati krhku ili glomaznu opremu u džepovima. Bočni džepovi obično nisu problem.
Novi je trend kod nekih čamaca koji pružaju ljestve za ulazak. Stil "božićnog drvca" relativno je popularan jer se na njega lako penjati perajama na nogama. Na gumenim patkama obično je obješen sa strane, a na katamaranima s krutim trupom poželjna je presjeka.
Izlazak iz čamca nakon ronjenja
Izlazak na mol je obično jednostavan, ali može biti kompliciran zbog visokog mola i oseke. Ako je problem, posada će pomoći i dati upute. Ako radite svoje, vrijede ista upozorenja kao i za ulazak s mola. Osobito o tome da se ne uđete između broda i mola.
Izlazak na plažu u Cape Townu je neobičan, ali relativno jednostavan. Obično je sigurnije i prikladnije sići s niske strane ako se brod naginje dok trči uz plažu. Ako ste na visokoj strani, pričekajte dok nema mjesta i pomaknite se na nisku stranu, ili će u nekim slučajevima visoka strana postati niska dok se čamac vraća natrag kad se teret ukloni. Ne pokušavajte istovariti komplet preko visoke strane, u slučaju da ste na pogrešnom mjestu i ako se čamac spusti na vas. To je osobito vjerojatno ako se čamac nije potpuno oslobodio valova.
Vidjeti
Vode poluotoka Cape i False Bay podržavaju uspješnu ekologiju hladnih umjerenih morskih organizama, od kojih su mnogi endemi Južne Afrike ili čak manjih regija, a iako ribe nisu tako spektakularno obojene kao one u tropskim vodama, mnoge su prilično šareni kako bi se zakamuflirali među izuzetno živopisne beskičmenjake koji prekrivaju grebene.
Morske životinje
Širok je raspon morskih životinja koje se mogu vidjeti tijekom ronjenja u ovoj regiji, a uključuju i neke od najstrašnijih i najspektakularnijih susreta ronilaca.
Kitovi i dupini
False Bay odredište je poznato za promatranje kitova. Veliki broj kitova s južne desnice svake godine posjeti zaljev, no neobično je vidjeti ga tijekom ronjenja. Ostale vrste kitova koje se povremeno viđaju u False Bayu su grbavi kitovi, Brydeovi kitovi i Orca, a još je manje vjerojatno da će ih se vidjeti tijekom ronjenja. Ako imate sreće susresti kita tijekom ronjenja, budite oprezni, jer njihova ogromna veličina olakšava roniocu nenamjerno ozljeđivanje.
Dupini su također viđeni u False Bayu i na atlantskoj obali. Obični dupini povremeno posjećuju škole koje broje stotine do tisuće, ali ronioci ih često ne vide. Mračni dupini obično putuju u manjim skupinama, ali je vjerojatnije da će istražiti ronioca na sigurnosnom stajalištu. Druge vrste povremeno posjećuju, ali više su zapažene zbog nasukavanja koje ronioci vide pod vodom.
Morski psi
False Bay jedno je od najpouzdanijih mjesta za gledanje velikih bijelih morskih pasa, mada rijetko kao ronilac, a često je viđeno i nekoliko drugih vrsta morskih pasa. Sevengill ili Cowshark često se mogu vidjeti na nekoliko lokaliteta, dok su morski psi i mačke morski psi rašireniji. Lokalno postoje četiri uobičajene vrste mačjih pasa, od šarenog puhastog pasa do mnogo većeg pidžamskog morskog psa. Ostale pelagične morske pse obično se mogu vidjeti samo na morskim zaronima s plavim vodama s južnog poluotoka, a nekoliko velikih pelagičnih vrsta riba može se vidjeti na sličnim putovanjima.
Pelagika
Na nekim mjestima ronjenja povremeno se mogu vidjeti velike jate žutog repa, a u nepredvidljivim prilikama ronioci mogu imati sreće vidjeti oceanske sunčane ribe, južne desne kitove, grbave kitove, obične, dobre i sumračne dupine.
Obični snoek, koji je kamen temeljac lokalne ribolovne industrije, vrlo je sramežljiv i ronioci ga rijetko vide, usprkos svojoj navici da plijeni u velikom broju.
Pingvini i tuljani
U False Bayu postoje kolonije afričkih pingvina, ali krajnje je neobično vidjeti ih tijekom ronjenja. S druge strane, tuljani iz Capea znatiželjni su i ne boje se ronilaca, a vrlo su često viđeni, kako u False Bayu, tako i na atlantskoj obali. Postoji nekoliko mjesta na kojima se gotovo mogu zajamčeno vidjeti.
Grebenasta riba
Grebenske ribe ove regije najrazličitije su u False Bayu, a najčešće u zabranjenim zonama morskih zaštićenih područja, gdje su zakonom zaštićene nekoliko desetljeća, premda se i dalje događa krivolov, a provedba je prilično nepouzdana. Većina grebenskih riba donekle je kamuflirana. Mnoge su srebrno sive i zasenčene, poput sveprisutne hottentot morske ribe, srebrnkaste Fransmadam i Steentjie. Drugi imaju okomite trake ili tamne mrlje koje mogu pomoći u razbijanju njihovog profila u algama, kao što su bijele stumnoze, zebre i bijele steenbre, dok su mnoge manje vrste kriptično obojene i izvrsno se uklapaju u svoj okoliš. To su uglavnom ribe koje većinu svog vremena provode na grebenu ili vrlo blizu njega, a njihova obojenost obično je pokazatelj tipičnih boja njihovog staništa. Uključuju razne endemske klipfish, te nekoliko beba i gobija, prste na nogu, rt triplefin, škorpion Smoothskin, dvije vrste preslica, lulu i rocksucker. Postoji i nekoliko crvenih riba koje su prilično vidljive, poput vrlo uobičajene rimske, te rjeđe crvene panjeve i crvene steenbre. Većina spomenutih riba su osamljene ili se nalaze u malim jatama, ali postoje i Strepies i Maasbanker koji se uglavnom jataju, a umjereno velike jate Hottentota vide se prilično često. Galjoeni su prilično rijetki i obično se viđaju u malim skupinama na vrhu grebena gdje ima puno pokreta valova, a nož čeljusti sličnog izgleda preferira dublji greben visokog profila između stijena. Morski ribe su sramežljive i danju provode u pukotinama i rupama.
Pješčana područja
Pješčana područja također imaju svoje karakteristične ribe, koje uključuju nekoliko vrsta zraka, tabane, gurnarde, ribu pufer i kljunastu pješčanu ribu, koja je rijetka i sramežljiva danju, ali se može vidjeti u velikom broju noću na nekim mjestima, kada izlazi iz pijeska u kojem se skriva i slobodno pliva uokolo. Nekoliko vrsta klipfish-a također obitava u pijesku, s tim da razne vrste preferiraju različitu gustoću pijeska, s tim da one koje preferiraju sitni pijesak imaju tijelo više poput zmije, dok su one u grubom pijesku robusnije. Njihov se oblik tijela također podudara s vrstom pijeska.
Grebeni beskralješnjaci
Bentoski beskičmenjaci pružaju većinu svijetlih boja na grebenima ove regije, a rasprostranjenost vrsta karakteristična je za različite podregije poput dubine i temperature vode. Raznolikost je velika, a postoje velike razlike u prevladavajućem grebenskom pokrivaču i dubinom i zemljopisnim položajem. Karakteristični život grebena znatno se razlikuje između istočne i zapadne strane rta Poluotok, a to je prepoznato kao granica između jugozapadnog rta i priobalne bioregije Agulhas. Vertikalna zonacija također je karakteristična za različite bioregije, tako da mogu biti vrlo uočljive razlike u onome što se može vidjeti na različitim nalazištima.
Općenito je tendencija da određenim područjem grebena dominira određena vrsta organizma, na primjer, zvijezde običnog perja, morski krastavci s crvenim prsima, morski krastavci s crvenim lišćem, crveni mamac ili ježini, u mjeri u kojoj glavni dio površine pokriva dominantni organizam. To ne znači da nema raznolikosti, jer na većini grebena postoji velik raspon staništa, ovisno o orijentaciji i hrapavosti, a u velikoj mjeri i sjedeći organizmi žive tamo gdje mogu, a to je u velikoj mjeri ovisno o tome gdje su ličinke planktona naći uporište.
Midwater
Pelagični beskičmenjaci su po svojoj uglavnom planktonskoj prirodi nepredvidljivi kada i gdje ih se može vidjeti. Obuhvaćaju nekoliko vrsta meduza, nekoliko vrsta češljastih želea, nekoliko sporadičnih sifonofora, salpi i pteropoda i puno stvari premalih da bi se to lako primijetilo. Ima i lignji, ali su vrlo sramežljive i rijetko ih se viđa po danu.
Spužve, knidariji, želei od češlja, ravni crvi, segmentirani crvi, člankonošci, mekušci, briozoani, iglokožci, ascidiji, ribe, morske ptice i morski sisavci zabilježeni su iz ove regije. Wikipedia: Popis morskih životinja na poluotoku Cape i False Bayu. Mnoge od njih mogao bi vidjeti ronilac rekreativac.
Morske alge
Šume alga
Šume alga najočitije su morske alge u Cape Townu. Postoje tri roda koja se mogu naći lokalno, ponekad u neposrednoj blizini. Najočitiji je morski bambus koji na površinu dospije kad je potpuno izrastao, a na vrhu ima debelu stijenku s ispunjenom plinom šupljinom i koji drži lisu blizu površine radi maksimalne izloženosti svjetlosti. Ova je alga vrlo česta na atlantskoj obali, a ima je i s obje strane False Baya, ali češće prema južnom dijelu zaljeva.
Manja spalinska alga raste na dubljim grebenima i ne doseže površinu. Listovi su kraći i nema šupljine ispunjene plinom, tako da listovi ostaju potopljeni u tamnijim vodama. Ova se alga nalazi u dubljim vodama od morskog bambusa, sa sličnim geografskim rasponom.
Treća je alga u mjehuru koja ima nakupine dugih tankih vrhova, s dugim listovima i velikim brojem malih mjehura punjenih plinom koji drže algu uspravnom, a listove na površini. Ova alga se ne nalazi u False Bayu, a uglavnom se viđa u blizini otoka Robben.
Podrum od algi i šuma od algi.
Ispod listova algi, greben u plićim područjima gdje ima dovoljno svjetlosti, može biti prekriven podlogom različitih morskih algi, a određene vrste ovisit će o raznim čimbenicima, uključujući količinu dostupne svjetlosti i količinu vode pokret. Zelene i smeđe morske alge u pravilu će se nalaziti u plićim područjima, a crvene će biti dublje, jer mogu preživjeti s manje svjetlosti. Najdublje su često crvene koraline alge, koje na gornjim površinama stijena mogu stvarati gust travnjak.
Inkrustiranje koralina.
Tamo gdje je surf presnažan ili je svjetlost preslaba za druge morske alge, narasle koraline alge mogu i dalje naći oslonac i napredovati. Te crvene alge čine prilično tvrdu i čvrsto prianjajuću koru na grebenu, a poznate su i kao "ružičasta boja", što je lijep opis njihovog izgleda - uopće ne izgledaju poput morskih algi. Njihov domet je gotovo bilo gdje u regiji gdje prodire dovoljno svjetlosti i već nema drugih stanovnika na grebenu.
U regiji postoji oko 57 zelenih morskih algi, 49 smeđih i 240 crvenih algi Wikipedia: Popis morskih algi na poluotoku Cape i False Bayu.
Brodolomi
The Rt oluje i RT dobre nade tradicionalni su nazivi za ovu regiju i to s dobrim razlogom. Vrijeme ponekad može biti vrlo loše, a obala je vrlo izložena, s malo zaštićenih luka, ali je također važna usputna točka na jednom od svjetskih velikih pomorskih trgovačkih putova. Kao rezultat, zabilježen je zastrašujući broj olupina brodova duž lokalne obale.
Mnoge od ovih olupina nikada nisu pronađene, a mnoge druge su razbijene do neprepoznatljivosti ili prekrivene pijeskom ili u slučaju Table Baya, pokopane u okviru projekata melioracije, ali nekoliko je na mjestima koja mogu roniti i mogu ih posjetiti ronioci ako su pogodni uvjeti.
Dubine olupina za ronjenje variraju od 3 do 4 metra, do više od 65 metara, a stanje varira od polovine ukopanih fragmenata drveta ili čelika do brodova koji zadržavaju većinu svoje izvorne strukture i izgleda, a iz dubine se ocrtavaju kao da ploveći pjeskovitim dnom.
Većina je jako obložena grebenskim organizmima, od morskih algi u plitkoj vodi do velikog raspona šarenih beskičmenjaka u dubljoj vodi. Oni također pružaju utočište raznim grebenima, a mogu ih posjetiti pelagične ribe u nepredvidivim prigodama. U stvari, oni služe kao umjetni grebeni, a kao rezultat toga općenito su također zanimljivi roniocima koji nisu posebno zainteresirani za njih kao artefakte.
Topografske značajke
Mnoga mjesta karakteriziraju zanimljive topografske značajke, uključujući vrhove, slivove, špilje, preplivavajuće i nadvisne dijelove. Te su značajke značajne ne samo zbog doprinosa morskom krajoliku, već također pružaju velike razlike u dostupnim staništima na tom mjestu, a rezultat je snažna korelacija između visoke biološke raznolikosti i zanimljive topografije. Opći topografski karakter nalazišta ovisi o geologiji, a granitna se nalazišta odmah razlikuju od sedimentnih pješčenjaka i škriljaca. Granitne su stijene obično zaobljene i složene kao kamene stijene na izbočenjima iste stijene, često s bijelim kvarcnim pijeskom između sebe ili kao postupno nagnuta osnova. Te gomile kamenja različitih veličina često tvore vrhove i slivove u prilično slučajnim smjerovima, a prevjesi i rupe između njih u nekim su slučajevima dovoljno veliki da ronioci mogu plivati, pružajući spektakularnu strukturu grebena.
Slojevi pješčenjaka imaju tendenciju stvaranja formacija kojima dominiraju lokalni pad i udar, a to je i predvidljivije. Međutim, detalji u manjim razmjerima teže stvaranju više malih rupa, pukotina, izbočina i grebena od granitnih područja, a ona su općenito manje spektakularna. Postoje iznimke, gdje su grebeni pješčenjaka vrlo krševiti, obično tamo gdje je poniranje prilično strmo, ali ne okomito, a obala je prilično strma, ali u različitoj ravnini od umaka.
Srećom, stara izreka "kako gore, tako i dolje" vrijedi prilično dobro, a karakter grebena može se prilično pouzdano predvidjeti promatranjem susjednog krajolika obale. Glavna iznimka od ovog pravila je južno od zaljeva Smitswinkel, gdje su pješčenjaci iznad vode i granit ispod.
Geološka struktura i povijest ove regije ukratko su opisani u Wikipedia: Morska geologija poluotoka Cape i False Bay
Čitati
Referentne knjige o ekologiji voda Cape Towna:
Iz SURG, posebno za ronioce u ovoj regiji: Dostupno u odabranim ronilačkim trgovinama i knjižarama u Cape Townu, te izravno od SURG-a.
- Jones, Georgina. 2008. Terenski vodič za morske životinje na poluotoku Cape, SURG, Cape Town. ISBN 9780620416399
- Zsilavecz, Guido. 2005. godine Obalne ribe na poluotoku Cape i False Bay, SURG, Cape Town. ISBN 0620342307
- Zsilavecz, Guido. 2007. Nudibranci poluotoka Cape i False Bay, SURG, Cape Town. ISBN 0620380543
Od drugih izdavača i općenitije:
- Branch, G. i Branch, M. 1981, Žive obale južne Afrike, Struik, Cape Town. ISBN 0869771159
- Podružnica, G.M. Griffiths, C.L. Branch, M.L. i Beckley, L.E. 2010, Dva oceana - Vodič kroz morski život južne Afrike, David Philip, Cape Town. ISBN 9781770077720
- Gosliner, T. 1987. Nudibranci južne Arice, Sea Challengers & Jeff Hamann, Monterey. ISBN 0930118138
- Heemstra, P. i Heemstra E. 2004, Obalne ribe južne Afrike, NISC / SAIAB, Grahamstown.
- Ed. Smith, M.M. i Heemstra, P. 2003 Smithove morske ribe. Struik, Cape Town
- Stegenga, H. Bolton, J.J. i Anderson, R.J. 1997, Morske alge južnoafričke zapadne obale. Bolus herbarij, Cape Town. ISBN 079921793X (prilično tehnički)
Referentne knjige o geologiji Cape Peninsula:
- Compton, John S. 2004, Stijene i planine Cape Towna. Dvokatnica, Cape Town. ISBN 1919930701
