False Bay Kelp Forest - Cape Town & Western Cape

Diving a kelp forest is a different beast entirely, and False Bay’s offering is one of our favourites. Think of it as a dimly lit, underwater cathedral, light filtering down through the swaying fronds of giant bamboo kelp. It’s shallow, mostly 5-18m, which means decent bottom time to really explore the nooks and crannies. We love drifting through the shafts of light, looking for the tiny stuff – pygmy pipehorses clinging to the stalks, or the surprisingly colourful nudibranchs like the Cape Silvertip. It’s an intermediate dive, mainly because of the potential for surge and currents, especially if you get a bit further out. But stick closer to shore, and it’s generally calmer. Keep an eye out for the Cape fur seals; they're incredibly playful and often zoom past, darting in and out of the kelp. While the big draw for some is the chance of a sevengill cow shark sighting, we find the real magic in the smaller critters and the ethereal light. This spot really suits divers who appreciate a unique environment and enjoy hunting for macro life, rather than expecting big pelagics.

Location
Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-34.210000, 18.470000
Type
reef
Maximum Depth
5-18m
Difficulty
Intermediate

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 False Bay Kelp Forest

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 False Bay Kelp Forest

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