FENG CHUNG NO.11 - Cape Town & Western Cape

The Feng Chung No. 11, we reckon, is less about penetration and more about the raw power of the ocean. This old fishing trawler, run aground in dense fog back in '75, now lies broken in two sections, just a few metres deep. It’s a site we always point out to photographers or anyone who just wants to feel a connection to Cape Town’s maritime history without needing advanced certs. What you experience here is a fascinating tangle of metal and sea life. Think kelp fronds swaying through rusted plating, sea anemones in brilliant oranges and purples clinging to every surface, and schools of Hottentot darting in and out of the wreckage. The shallowness means you get incredible light penetration on sunny days, turning the entire scene into this mesmerising, shifting tapestry. Our favourite time to dive it is early morning, before the wind picks up, when the surface is like glass and you can practically see the deck from above water. You’ll be finning over what feels like a living museum, watching red Romans and shy sharks ghosting through the debris. Just remember, it can get surgey, so pick a calm day.

Location: Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates: -33.820835, 18.370832
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 3m

Marine Protected Area: Robben island 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)

Nearest Dive Centres to FENG CHUNG NO.11

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 FENG CHUNG NO.11

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