FONG SHONG (?FENG SHENG) NO 22 - Cape Town & Western Cape
The Fong Shong No 22, resting at a modest 10 metres, offers a surprisingly engaging wreck dive off Robben Island. We love its accessibility, making it a solid choice for newer wreck divers or those looking for a relaxed second dive. The wreck itself, a Taiwanese fishing vessel that came to grief in 1976, is quite broken up but still has enough structure to explore. You can peek into the remains of the wheelhouse, feeling the surge gently push you through the skeletal frames. What makes it truly special for us is the life it holds. Shoals of hottentot fish swirl around the rusty plates, and we’ve often spotted shy puffadder shysharks tucked into crevices. Keep an eye out for the vibrant nudibranchs that pepper the metalwork – a macro photographer’s delight. The visibility here can be hit-or-miss, so we always check the day's conditions, but even on a greener day, the wreck's character shines through. It’s a dive that rewards slow exploration, a chance to really soak in the history and the unexpected vibrancy of a wreck reclaimed by the sea.
- Location
- Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -33.412500, 18.091110
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 10m
Marine Protected Area: Dassen Island 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 FONG SHONG (?FENG SHENG) NO 22
- 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 FONG SHONG (?FENG SHENG) NO 22
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