CLAN STUART - Cape Town & Western Cape

The Clan Stuart wreck is one of our favourite shore dives in Simon's Town, especially on a calm day. She’s an old steamship, almost completely broken up, but that’s precisely her charm. You’ll find her bones scattered across the sandy bottom at a shallow 6 metres, often less depending on the tide. We love kicking out to see the bow section, still quite intact and draped in the frilly white blooms of dead man’s fingers. It's a fantastic site for new divers and macro enthusiasts. You’ll spend most of your time exploring the nooks and crannies where shy pajama sharks often hide, or spotting tiny nudibranchs inching across the rusty plating. Visibility can range from a murky 3 metres to a sparkling 10 metres, so we always check the forecast for a southerly wind, which usually brings clearer water. Look for the engine block, a big, hulking mass now a busy apartment block for countless colourful sea anemones. Even if the visibility isn’t perfect, the sheer amount of life packed into this shallow wreck makes it a truly engaging dive.

Location
Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-34.171390, 18.431389
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
6m

Marine Protected Area: Table Mountain National Park 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 CLAN STUART

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 CLAN STUART

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