South Africa Resorts

Where’s the best resort-based diving in South Africa?

Facing out into the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean and fed by currents that flow up the coast of Africa, South Africa’s eastern shoreline is jam-packed with thrilling marine life encounters.

The small town of Unkomaas, south of Durban, is the base for many diving adventures, providing access to the famous dive sites of Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks. Extensions to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi wildlife reserve can be easily arranged to combine topside and underwater wildlife in one holiday.

Those looking to take on South Africa’s extraordinary Sardine Run will be based farther down the same coastline, staying in comfortable accommodation closer to the action.

What to see when

There is something incredible to see whenever you visit South Africa on a resort-based diving holiday. South Africa is the domain of the shark, and a large number of species can be regularly seen here.

Those looking to get up close and personal will enjoy a visit from June through to November, when ragged tooth sharks gather in numbers, with dozens often seen on one dive. These docile, slow moving sharks make for a fabulous photo for the scrapbook. Humpback whale migrate up the coast for much of this period and can be sighted from the boat, and their melodic songs sometimes heard underwater.

January to March are the best months for a chance to encounter tiger and hammerhead shark, although they can be seen as early as September.

Other shark species regularly seen include white tip, black tip and grey reef shark, along with dusky shark. It is even possible to see a guitar shark. The area also has regular sightings of turtle, dolphin and devil ray and manta ray throughout the year.

The Sardine Run happens around June and July each year. This incredible wildlife spectacle can be difficult to predict, but rewards those lucky enough to witness it with a truly incredible show that will live long in the memory.