False Bay Underwater Club - Cape Town & Western Cape
The team at False Bay Underwater Club are less a dive shop and more a proper institution. This isn’t the place for a quick resort course, it’s where serious Cape Town divers come to learn, to fill tanks, and to hang out. We love their Sunday club dives, a real community vibe whether you’re jumping in for a kelp forest exploration or heading out to deeper wreck sites. You’ll find them tucked away in Simon’s Town, a short walk from the water. We’d suggest arriving early, grabbing a coffee, and just soaking up the atmosphere. The smell of neoprene and salt air hangs heavy, mixed with the excited chatter of divers gearing up. They’re proficient with air, nitrox, and trimix fills, so no matter your flavour of diving, they’ll sort you out. For anyone looking to genuinely connect with the local dive scene and explore the Western Cape’s incredible, if sometimes chilly, waters, FBUC is our pick. You’ll be in good hands, learning from divers who know these waters like the back of their hand, especially around the nearby Roman Rock or the often-dramatic Smitswinkel Bay wrecks.
- Location
- Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -34.002710, 18.473240
- [email protected]
- Website
- http://www.fbuc.co.za
- Certification Agencies
- ["SSI","CMAS","IANTD"]
- Address
- Under Wetton road bridge, Wynberg
Diving Capabilities - False Bay Underwater Club
- Nitrox / EANx
- Trimix
- Technical Diving
Dive Sites Near False Bay Underwater Club
False Bay Underwater Club provides access to 15 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)
Other Dive Centres in Cape Town & Western Cape
- Alpha Dive Centre - ["PADI","NAUI"]
- Alpha Dive Centre - Strand
- Bellville Underwater Club - ["CMAS","IANTD"]
- Best Kiteboarding Africa
- Blue Flash
- Cape Town Dive Centre - PADI
- Coral Wetsuits
- Dive Action - ["PADI","NAUI","IANTD"]
- DiveInn Cape Town - ["RAID"]
- INDIGO SCUBA - SSI, RAID
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)
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 Marine Life
- 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
Recommended Packing List for Cape Town & Western Cape
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