BARUTO COAST - Cape Town & Western Cape

Baruto Coast, off the Cape Peninsula, is a wreck dive that really delivers. It’s shallow, only 13 metres, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's easy pickings. This site is exposed and needs careful planning around the swell. We love it when the ocean is calm, the sun streams down, and you can really appreciate the history. The Baruto herself is a Japanese fishing trawler, sunk in 1987. She sits upright, pretty intact, which is a big part of her charm. You can swim through the wheelhouse, poke around the engine room, and even peer into the old fish holds. The metalwork is completely encrusted with colourful jewel anemones and sponges, a stark contrast to the dark steel. Keep an eye out for shy shy sharks tucked into crevices and the occasional octopus, camouflaged against the rust. This site is a great option for newer wreck divers or those wanting a relaxed second dive, provided you pick your weather window wisely. If the visibility is good, it's a wonderfully atmospheric dive.

Location
Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-33.903330, 18.393333
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
13m

Wreck History - BARUTO COAST

Vessel Type
unknown
Cause
unknown

The 'Baruto Coast' is a shallow, unidentified wreck lying in the waters off Cape Town, its name likely a local moniker for a vessel whose true identity has been lost. Its history is a mystery, but its presence is undeniable. Lying at just 13 metres, the wreck is so shallow that portions of its hull and superstructure are visible from the surface, creating a dramatic silhouette against the waves. This accessibility makes it a fantastic site for novice wreck divers, photographers, and even freedivers looking to explore a piece of submerged history.

Diving the Baruto Coast offers a superb introduction to the rich underwater environment of the Western Cape. The broken structure acts as an artificial reef, providing shelter for a host of local marine species. Divers can navigate through the skeletal remains, observing the interplay of light and shadow while searching for the colourful nudibranchs, shy fish, and crustaceans that now call this wreck home. It's a dive that emphasizes exploration and the beauty of nature's reclamation process over a known historical narrative.

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 BARUTO COAST

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 BARUTO COAST

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