Clifton Rocks
Protected Area
Duikerklip Provincial Nature Reserve
Why dive here
With 269+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, blue whales, dolphins, dwarf minke whales and great white sharks - Clifton Rocks offers some of Cape Town & Western Cape's richest cave diving. Water ranges 14-16°C, warmest February, March, April.
Clifton Rocks gives you a different kind of dive for the Cape. It’s a granite boulder field, massive rocks rising from a sandy bottom, forming a maze of crevices, overhangs, and swim-throughs. The boulders are undercut, creating shadows and narrow gaps that are fun to explore. You’ll weave your way through, watching the light play on the rock faces, and looking out for whatever small stuff has settled in the cracks. It's a site best suited for divers who enjoy a bit of navigation and aren't bothered by surge, which can get lively in the shallower areas.
Safety Notes
Overhead environment - never enter without proper cave/cavern training, redundant equipment, and a guideline.
Cold water this month (avg 15°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
Nearest Dive Centres to Clifton Rocks
Dive shops near Clifton Rocks
Into the Blue Scuba
Two Oceans Aquarium
Coral Wetsuits
UCT Underwater Club
University of Cape Town Underwater Club
Dive Action
Reviews for Clifton Rocks
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Clifton Rocks
Clifton Rocks Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Clifton Rocks, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-33.92, 18.46) (8km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
15°C
59°F · Range: 12.4–17.2°C
Air Temperature
17°C
62°F
Wind Speed
7.33 m/s
14.2 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1018.1 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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