Two Oceans Aquarium

Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa

The team at Two Oceans Aquarium are, without a doubt, a fantastic entry point for anyone looking to get PADI certified in Cape Town. We love that their training tanks range from the small kelp forest exhibit, where you can get comfortable with the sway and flow, right up to the sheer scale of the I&J Ocean Exhibit. That big tank is our favourite for a reason. Imagine a tunnel, 10 meters long, sunlight filtering down, and then you’re in it. There’s a quiet hum of the filtration system, a gentle surge, and you’re suddenly sharing space with ragged-tooth sharks gliding past, their skin rough if you could touch it, and huge rays ghosting by, almost brushing your fins. It’s an environment that makes you feel incredibly small and connected, all at once. For a first-timer, or someone getting back into it, this is ideal. You’re in controlled conditions, but with genuine big animals – an experience that usually takes dozens of open water dives to achieve. Our advice? Try to book your open water dives on a weekday if possible; it tends to be a bit quieter in the tanks, giving you more room to simply absorb the experience. They specialise in PADI courses, and their IDC status means you’re learning from instructors at the top of their game. It’s a solid, unique choice for anyone diving in Cape Town.