Jutten island

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 - Jutten island offers some of Cape Town & Western Cape's richest 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

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Jutten Island, tucked into the mouth of Saldanha Bay, feels like a secret garden, a world away from the busy Cape Town coast. We love a good kelp forest, and this one delivers. It’s a dense, swaying cathedral of ochre kelp reaching up to the surface, filtering the light into dappled greens and golds. Dive down, and you’re immersed in a dynamic environment, alive with shy sharks tucked into crevices, their eyes glinting. Look closely among the kelp holdfasts and you’ll spot colourful nudibranchs and basket stars clinging to the stalks. Visibility here averages around 4m, so it’s not about seeing vast panoramas. It’s about the intimacy of the forest, the details you find in the nooks and crannies. We’d suggest a slow pace, really letting your eyes adjust to the low light. Keep an eye out for the flashes of silver from schools of strepies darting through the fronds. This site is perfect for photographers who appreciate macro life and the unique challenge of a dark, atmospheric dive. It’s also our pick for anyone who wants to experience a quintessential South African kelp dive, rich with local character.