GENERAL BOTHA
Protected Area
False Bay Seal Island Provincial Nature Reserve
Why dive here
With 269+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, blue whales, dolphins, dwarf minke whales and great white sharks - GENERAL BOTHA offers some of Cape Town & Western Cape's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 14-16°C, warmest February, March, April.
The General Botha, down at 50 metres, is a proper technical dive, and one we’ve always had a soft spot for. She was scuttled by gunfire in False Bay back in ‘47, an old training vessel, and now she sits upright, mostly intact, an impressive sight as you descend into the gloom. We love the sheer scale of the wreck; you can still make out the superstructure, and the bow section is particularly dramatic. Visibility can be a bit hit or miss, typical for False Bay, but when it’s good, the size of the General Botha really comes into its own. This isn’t a rummage-around sort of wreck; it’s about appreciating the structure, the history, and the way the ocean has claimed it. Look out for the resident shy sharks tucked into crevices and big hottentot fish schooling around the mast. Our favourite time to dive her is on a calm, winter’s day, when the swell has died down and the water has that crisp, clear feel. This is one for experienced wreck divers comfortable with deep profiles and potential currents.
Typical GENERAL BOTHA Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Maximum depth 50m exceeds recreational limits (40m). Technical diving certification and equipment required.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Cold water this month (avg 15°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Nearest Dive Centres to GENERAL BOTHA
Dive shops near GENERAL BOTHA
Ollava
Pisces Divers
Cape Town Dive Centre
Alpha Dive Centre
Just Africa Scuba
Alpha Dive Centre - Strand
Reviews for GENERAL BOTHA
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for GENERAL BOTHA
GENERAL BOTHA Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for GENERAL BOTHA, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-33.92, 18.46) (8km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
15°C
59°F · Range: 12.4–17.2°C
Air Temperature
17°C
62°F
Wind Speed
7.33 m/s
14.2 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1018.1 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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