Clifton Rocks - Cape Town & Western Cape
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.
- Location
- Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -33.939100, 18.370367
- Type
- cave
Marine Protected Area: Duikerklip Provincial Nature Reserve
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
- 13th Apostle (cave)
- ADELFOTIS - 15m (wreck)
- A Frame - 5-20m (reef)
- A-frame Cape Town (pinnacle)
- A-frame Cape Town (reef)
- ALBACORE - 60m (wreck)
- Albatross Rock (reef)
- ALCESTIS - 31m (wreck)
- Alpha Reef (wall)
- AMERICA - 12m (wreck)
- Ammunition Barges - 9m (wreck)
- Andre se Gat - 15-30m (cave)
- AN HUNG NO.1 - 2m (wreck)
- Ankers (reef)
- Anvil Rock (pinnacle)
Nearest Dive Centres to Clifton Rocks
- Alpha Dive Centre - ["PADI","NAUI"]
- Alpha Dive Centre - Strand
- Bellville Underwater Club - ["CMAS","IANTD"]
- Best Kiteboarding Africa
- Blue Flash
- Cape Town Dive Centre - PADI
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
- Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) - Reef Fish
- African Weakfish (Atractoscion aequidens) - Reef Fish
- California Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) - Reef Fish
- Elf (Pomatomus saltatrix) - Reef Fish
- Rig (Galeorhinus galeus) - Sharks & Rays
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) - Reef Fish
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Jac (Helicolenus dactylopterus) - Reef Fish
- Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
- Angel (Brama brama) - Reef Fish
- Ribbonfish (Lepidopus caudatus) - Reef Fish
- Cosmopolitan Spurdog (Squalus megalops) - Sharks & Rays
- Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) - Sharks & Rays
- pearl-side (Maurolicus muelleri) - Reef Fish
- Gaper (Champsodon capensis) - Reef Fish
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Bronze whaler (Carcharhinus brachyurus) - Sharks & Rays
- Common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis)
Recommended Packing List for Clifton Rocks
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