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Location: Aliwal Shoal (South Africa)
Please choose the information you would like to see...
Here you can see what other divers thought, the top dive sites, what fish to see, and what wrecks are here.
You can also access an overview of the location, including interactive maps, climate data, and photos.
We also have detailed listings of dive centres, resorts, travel agents and helpfull websites.
No buddies are currently registered for this location!


Top Dive Sites (make sure you dive these!)
1 Raggies Cave With 8 votes(s).
2 Cathedral With 5 votes(s).
3 Nebo Wreck With 4 votes(s).
4 Inside Edge With 2 votes(s).
5 North Sands With 2 votes(s).
6 Manta Point With 1 votes(s).
7 Raggie's Cave With 1 votes(s).
8 Produce Wreck With 1 votes(s).
9 Tiger Shark Dive With 1 votes(s).
10 chunnle pinnacles With 1 votes(s).

Marine Sightings:

Based on data from your reviews for Aliwal Shoal. we know the following about the marine life you can expect to see.
If you have been to Aliwal Shoal please add a review (see left). Your experience of what you saw will help to extend these results!

Reef Fish Sightings: Pelagic Fish Sightings: Quality of Coral:

Species: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Bluespotted Ray No data No data No data You should see this No data No data No data You should see this No data No data You may see this You should see this
Bottlenose Dolphin No data No data You may see this No data No data No data No data You should see this No data No data No data You may see this
Clown Anemonefish No data No data No data You should see this No data No data No data You should see this
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Emperor Angelfish No data No data You should see this You should see this No data No data No data You may see this
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Great Barracuda No data No data No data No data No data No data No data You may see this No data No data You may see this
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Great White Shark No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data You may see this
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Green Sea Turtle No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data You may see this No data No data You may see this
Grey Reef Shark No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data You may see this No data You may see this
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Leatherback Sea Turtle No data No data You may see this You may see this No data No data No data You should see this
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Loggerhead Sea Turtle No data No data No data You may see this No data No data No data You should see this No data No data No data You may see this
Longspine Porcupine Fish No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data You may see this
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Manta Ray No data No data No data You may see this No data No data No data You should see this No data You may see this You should see this
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Marbled Ray No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data You may see this You may see this
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Pilot Whale No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data You may see this
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Potato Grouper No data No data You may see this You may see this No data No data No data No data No data You may see this You may see this You may see this
Scorpion Fish No data No data You may see this You should see this No data No data No data No data You may see this You may see this You should see this You should see this
Spotted Eagle Ray No data No data No data No data No data No data No data No data You may see this
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Trumpetfish No data No data You may see this You should see this No data No data No data No data You may see this You may see this You should see this You may see this
Twoband Anemonefish No data No data You may see this You should see this No data No data No data No data No data You may see this
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Whale Shark No data You may see this No data You may see this
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Whitetip Reef Shark No data No data No data No data No data No data No data You may see this You may see this No data You may see this No data

Reviews:

Here are the last 10 reviews for Aliwal Shoal. Show all of them.

Visited Comments
February 2008 We spent a week diving with African Watersports doing the bluewater Tiger shark dive. I've dived with lots of sharks all over the world, but nothing prepared me for being literally face to face with up to 10 large Tiger sharks at once. It was one of the most terrifying and yet amazing experiences of my life. Sadly 8 Tiger sharks were illegally poached the week after we left. It just goes to show who really needs to fear who. These dives are only for the brave and/or stupid and for divers with lots of experience of shark diving. Having said that you'll never do a dive like this anywhere else in the world.
Date posted: 15-Oct-2008 22:04 by: simonspear
April 2008 Just love Aliwal Shoal, highly recommend Blue Vision as your Dive Charter!
Date posted: 27-May-2008 07:32 by: Andrea
September 2007 Unfortunatly a couple diving days were cancelled due to weather. Pretty chilly. Sometimes launching of the boats more thrillling then dive site. Still some some nice raggies
Date posted: 08-Apr-2008 18:31 by: Willem
November 2002 An under-rated place, always lots to see.
Date posted: 07-Mar-2007 22:27 by: justacey
October 2006 ** Inside Edge ** Drop on Inside Edge with general exploration of teh area. Sea temperature quite cool at 20 degrees C. Sea life a 'washing machine' with turbulent dirty water. Sea life seen; turtles, various nudibranches, moray eels, doplhins, anenome fish, rock fish and sea antheas.
Date posted: 15-Jan-2007 08:25 by: Eager Beaver
October 2006 ** Cathedral ** Sea conditions quite calm after the strong winds of the past few days with a slight current running. On descent arounf Cathedral with complete descent on the outside of Cathedral. Descent on the outside of Cathedral due to Cathedral being a resting place for Raggies. Inside Cathedral a large marble ray was seen which was excellent. Sea temperature was cool as a direct result of the cold fronts. Humpback whales were seen from the boat on the way back to shore. Sea life; marble ray, turtles, lion fish, sea antheas, yellow boxys, blue boxys, rock fish, scorpion fish, cowrie shells and nudibranches.
Date posted: 15-Jan-2007 08:14 by: Eager Beaver
October 2006 ** North Sands ** A drift dive with drop on North Sands to South Sands. Sea conditions not bad with a running current though viz a little poor with temperature of sea cool due to cold fronts and rain. Sea life; moorish idols, sea antheas, nudibranches, sea bream , trumpet fish and trigger fish.
Date posted: 15-Jan-2007 08:09 by: Eager Beaver
October 2006 ** Raggies Cave ** A drift dive, dropping on Raggies and drifting North towards North Sands. Sea a little rough with a swell (3-4m!!) Humpback whales were seen from the boat on the ride from the beach to site and again on return journey as were pods of dolphins :-) Due to current and drift dive the use of a DSMB was definitely required whilst performing safety stop. Sea life seen; octopus, yellow boxy, stonefish, trumpet fish, nudibranches and crayfish.
Date posted: 15-Jan-2007 08:06 by: Eager Beaver
October 2006 ** Inside Edge ** First dive of the day, sea conditions a lkittle rough with a swell and slight current running. DSMB definitely required. Current giving excellent voz. Water temperature slightly cool at 22 degrees C. Sea life seen: moray eels, manta shrimps, sea antheas, trigger fish, moorish idols, scorpion fish and various nudibranches.
Date posted: 15-Jan-2007 08:02 by: Eager Beaver
October 2006 ** North Sands ** Second dive of the dive after SIT on ocean (double tank dive). Sea conditions had worsened a little but still excellent diving. A drift dive from North Sands to Inside Edge. On descent a large pod of dolphins were encountered which was simply magnificent to watch. Sea life seen; rock fish, scorpion fish, crayfish, huge moray eel, potato bass and various nudibranches.
Date posted: 15-Jan-2007 07:59 by: Eager Beaver


Wreck Dives:

Here are the wreck dives we know of for Aliwal Shoal.

The Nebo
Ranked as OK by independant reviews Ranked as OK by independant reviews
The Nebo struck Aliwal Shoal in 1984 in fair weather and went down with its cargo of railway material. No lives were lost and she lies in 30m of water (100ft), still fairly intact. The wreck is home to an abundance of reef and pelagic fish.
24m / 79ft
30m / 98ft
Accidental sinking: 01-May-1884 Wreck penetration not possible Technical or decompression diving. More info...
Diver reviews for The Nebo:
Good viz
Date posted: 21-Mar-2006 17:24 by: Scuba Duck who thought that: Anyone can dive this wreck.
Ranked it as: Ranked as OK by Scuba DuckRanked as OK by Scuba Duck

The Produce
Ranked as OK by independant reviews Ranked as OK by independant reviews
The wreck of the Produce, a Norwegian Bulk Molasses tanker, struck Aliwal Shoal on the NE Pinnacles in 1974, no lives were lost. She now rests in 30 metres of water (100ft) and makes an interesting wreck dive. Big game fish such as salmon, kingfish, brindle bass share the wreck with lionfish and many colourful tropical species.
24m / 79ft
30m / 98ft
Accidental sinking: 11-Aug-1974 Wreck penetration not possible Technical or decompression diving. More info...
Diver reviews for The Produce:
We dived this wreck as our PADI Advance Open Water course. I found the current rather strong and was battling to stay in the same place. Lots of fish about but not too good vis. Saw a brindle bass.
Date posted: 07-Mar-2007 22:21 by: justacey who thought that: Only experienced wreck divers should attempt this.
Ranked it as: Ranked as OK by justaceyRanked as OK by justacey