ALBACORE - Cape Town & Western Cape

Albacore is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to. She’s not massive, just 26.5m, a fishing trawler scuttled in 1975 off Green Point after springing a leak at the coal jetty. We love that backstory. The real draw here is the depth, sitting at 60m, making it a serious technical dive. Dropping down, you feel the chill of the Atlantic bite, even on a sunny day. The visibility can be temperamental, but when it’s good, the wreck appears out of the gloom, draped in anemones and sponges. What you'll find is a wreck that’s been thoroughly salvaged, with her 360hp engine long gone, but that only adds to her character. We find the stripped-down hull fascinating; you can really appreciate her skeleton. Look closely, and you’ll spot shy reef fish darting in and out of the plating and the occasional shy dogfish tucked away. It's a beautiful, challenging dive for experienced tech divers who appreciate a wreck with a story, and aren't afraid of the deep.

Location
Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-33.866665, 18.316668
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
60m

Wreck History - ALBACORE

Year Sunk
1975
Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
scuttled

The Albacore was a local Cape Town fishing vessel whose working days had come to an end. After sitting idle for three years, her aging wooden hull finally gave way in June 1975, springing a leak while she was moored alongside the coal jetty. With the vessel beyond saving, a decision was made to give her a burial at sea. Her 360hp engine was salvaged, and the old fishing boat was towed out from shore and deliberately scuttled off Green Point.

Lying at a depth of 60 meters, the Albacore is now a premier technical dive site for experienced trimix divers. The deep, cold, and often current-swept waters of the Atlantic make this a challenging dive that requires meticulous planning. For those qualified to make the descent, the reward is the sight of a largely intact fishing vessel, sitting upright on the seabed. She serves as a deep artificial reef, attracting marine life and offering a silent tribute to Cape Town's long-standing fishing heritage.

Marine Protected Area: Robben island Marine Protected Area

Best Time to Dive in Cape Town & Western Cape

The warmest water temperatures in Cape Town & Western Cape occur in January, averaging 18.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 18.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 18.9°C (air: 20.8°C)
  • February: 18.9°C (air: 20.7°C)
  • March: 18.9°C (air: 19.5°C)
  • April: 18.9°C (air: 17.3°C)
  • May: 18.9°C (air: 15.8°C)
  • June: 18.9°C (air: 15.0°C)
  • July: 18.9°C (air: 13.2°C)
  • August: 18.9°C (air: 13.2°C)
  • September: 18.9°C (air: 13.9°C)
  • October: 18.9°C (air: 16.5°C)
  • November: 18.9°C (air: 17.8°C)
  • December: 18.9°C (air: 19.3°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Cape Town & Western Cape

Nearest Dive Centres to ALBACORE

Marine Life in Cape Town & Western Cape

Home to 271 recorded species including 176 reef fish, 45 sharks & rays, 28 whales & dolphins, 5 hard corals, 4 other, 4 octopus & squid.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for ALBACORE

Based on average water temperature of 18.9°C.

  • Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 19°C water
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories