CAPE MATAPAN - Cape Town & Western Cape

The Cape Matapan wreck is pure Cape Town charm, a proper trawler sitting upright on the seabed at 23 metres. We’ve always been drawn to how intact it is; the bow still points purposefully, and you can swim right into the wheelhouse if you’re comfortable with a bit of overhead. Inside, you’ll likely brush past some pretty bold hottentot fish, and the occasional Roman will eye you from a shadowy corner. The Matapan sunk in 1960, and over sixty years, it’s become a fantastic artificial reef. Look closely at the deck plating, and you’ll find nudibranchs in all sorts of colours, little flashes of orange and purple against the rust. Our favourite part has to be the stern, though. The prop is still there, usually covered in anemones, and the area around it is often buzzing with koelvoet and strepies. We’d suggest diving this one on a calm day, particularly after a few days of southeast wind; that’s when the visibility really opens up, giving you the best chance to appreciate the full outline of the vessel. It’s a classic Cape Town wreck dive, suitable for anyone comfortable with the depth and a bit of a current, which can sometimes sweep through.

Location
Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-33.886665, 18.407778
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
23m

Wreck History - CAPE MATAPAN

Year Sunk
1976
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
scuttled
Tonnage
750 tons

Originally serving in the Royal Navy as a WWII-era Isles-class anti-submarine trawler, the SAS Cape Matapan had a long and storied career. After the war, she was transferred to the South African Navy, where she continued her service. By the 1970s, the aging vessel was decommissioned. Instead of being sent to the scrapyard, a new mission was planned: she would become a cornerstone of a new artificial reef designed to attract both marine life and scuba divers.

In 1976, the Cape Matapan was stripped of contaminants and carefully prepared for her final descent. She was scuttled in Smitswinkel Bay, near Cape Town, where she settled upright on the sandy seabed. She is one of five wrecks sunk in the bay, creating a world-class 'wreck alley' for advanced divers. The Cape Matapan sits at a depth of around 23 meters and remains remarkably intact. Divers can explore her decks, peer into the holds, and admire the bridge area, all of which are now festooned with a spectacular array of vibrant soft corals, sponges, and sea fans. The wreck is a bustling metropolis for fish, making it a truly breathtaking and photogenic dive.

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 CAPE MATAPAN

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 CAPE MATAPAN

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