HADDON HALL

Best months: Mar

Protected Area

Malgas 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 - HADDON HALL 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 5m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Haddon Hall is one of our favourite shallow wrecks, especially for a relaxed dive when the wind plays ball. It’s barely 5 metres deep but there’s so much ship to see. Built in 1895, this old carrier came to rest off Saldanha Bay in 1913, and what’s left of her hull and superstructure is now an open invitation for exploration. We love finning slowly over the scattered plates, imagining the scale of a ship nearly 116 metres long. You can weave between the ribs, which feel like walking through the skeleton of a giant sea beast. This shallow depth means excellent light penetration on a sunny day. The visibility can be hit or miss in the Western Cape, but when it's good here, the light makes the whole wreck glow. Look closely and you’ll find small octopuses tucked into crevices, their eyes watching you. Schools of juvenile fish often hover around the larger metal structures, darting in and out of the shade. This is a perfect site for newer divers or those who just want to spend an hour poking around a proper old wreck without the challenges of depth or current. It's a proper historical site, easy to get to, and always delivers a solid dive.