North cardinal wreck

Best months: Mar

Protected Area

Marcus 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 - North cardinal wreck offers some of Cape Town & Western Cape's richest reef 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

CharacterReef dive · max 10-25m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The North Cardinal wreck in Saldanha Bay is a sleeper site, often overlooked for the flashier Cape wrecks. Don't expect dramatic overhangs or massive penetration here; this one's mostly buried in sand at a max 12m, but that’s its charm. We love the challenge of tracing its outline, spotting the bow and stern, and imagining what she was in her prime. Visibility averages a shy 2m, sometimes a little more, making it an intimate dive. You’re often face-to-face with the resident crayfish – big, inquisitive fellows – and cuttlefish are a frequent sight, sometimes flashing colours as you approach. Kolsterte, a type of seabream, flit around the exposed metalwork, which is often draped in kelp and anemones. It’s a gentle wreck, perfect for divers who enjoy slow exploration and finding beauty in the details rather than grand vistas. We’d suggest a calm morning, permission secured from the port authority, and a good dive light to peek into the shadowy corners.