H.C. RICHARDS

Best months: Mar

Protected Area

Jutten Island Marine Protected Area

Why dive here

With 269+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, blue whales, dolphins, dwarf minke whales and great white sharks - H.C. RICHARDS offers some of Cape Town & Western Cape's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 14-16°C, warmest February, March, April.

Best timeMar

WetsuitA 7mm wetsuit with a hood

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Blue Whales, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales and Great White Sharks · 269+ species recorded

Water14-16°C · warmest February, March, April

CharacterWreck dive · max 3m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The H.C. Richards isn’t a deep dive, not even close. At a max of three metres, it's more of a snorkel or a very relaxed dive, but don't let that fool you. This is an old iron hulk, formerly the Emily Faithfull, dismasted off the Cape and then scuttled to form part of a jetty in Salamander Bay. We love how the shallow depth brings the wreck’s rusty skeleton into sharp relief, especially on a sunny day when the light catches the barnacle-encrusted plates. What you get here is pure texture. The wreck is a mosaic of rust and growth, a fantastic macro playground. Look for pipefish tucked into crevices and small crabs scuttling across the decaying metal. It’s not about big pelagics here, it’s about slow exploration and appreciation for how nature reclaims man-made structures. We'd suggest going at high tide for the best visibility, as the bay can get a bit stirred up. It’s our pick for a leisurely afternoon dive, perfect for photographers or anyone keen to just potter about and soak in a bit of Cape history without the pressure of depth or currents.