HARVEST CAPELLA - Cape Town & Western Cape

The *Harvest Capella*, aground since '87, is one of those easy-access wrecks we always end up circling back to. It's properly shallow, sitting mostly out of the water near Oudekraal, so you can even see bits of the trawler poking up from the surface. We love this site for a relaxed shore dive, especially when the southeasterly winds are playing nice. Slip in, and you're immediately face-to-face with rusted steel plates, barnacle-encrusted deck fittings, and what’s left of the hull. The real draw here is the sheer volume of macro life that’s made the *Capella* home. Look for nudibranchs everywhere, often in brilliant oranges and purples, inching their way across the metal. Octopus tuck themselves into crevices, their eyes watching you from the shadows. The kelp, thick and swaying around the wreck, adds to the atmosphere, and you’ll often spot shy shy sharks resting amongst the fronds. We’d suggest going at high tide to give you a bit more water over the top, which makes entry and exit smoother. It’s a photographer’s dream, particularly for wide-angle shots that capture the dramatic profile of the wreck against the surface.

Location
Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-34.026670, 18.316668
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
2m

Marine Protected Area: Duikerklip Provincial 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

Nearest Dive Centres to HARVEST CAPELLA

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

Recommended Packing List for HARVEST CAPELLA

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