LOUISE MARLENE - Cape Town & Western Cape

The Louise Marlene is one of our favourite wreck dives on the Cape Peninsula, a real character of a site. She was a fishing trawler, built in the Netherlands in the early 60s, and went down in heavy seas in '78 after her pilchard cargo likely shifted. The crew all got off safely, which we always appreciate in a good wreck story. She sits upright in about 24 metres, mostly intact, though the stern's seen better days. We love dropping down onto the wheelhouse, often finding a shy octopus tucked into a corner, or big schools of hottentot darting between the broken plating. There are often some chunky roman and red stumpnose patrolling the deeper sections of the deck. The sand around her often yields some interesting macro life too, if you take the time to look – we've spotted pipefish and nudibranchs here. It's a solid dive for advanced open water divers who appreciate a bit of history and don't mind a bit of a current if the conditions aren't perfect. We’d suggest going on a calmer day; it makes exploring the holds much more enjoyable.

Location
Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-33.883335, 18.416666
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
24m

Marine Protected Area: Robben island Marine Protected Area

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 LOUISE MARLENE

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 LOUISE MARLENE

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