Paaltjies

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 - Paaltjies 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 5-15m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Paaltjies, up in Saldanha Bay, is a shallow rock garden we really rate for something a bit different. Forget your deep walls; this is all about exploring a maze of kelp-draped boulders, sometimes just a metre or two deep, topping out around five at high tide. You’ll be finning through dense forests of sea lettuce and other plant life, which gives it a wonderfully eerie, primeval feel. We’ve often spotted puffadder shy sharks tucked into crevices here, and there are always plenty of common pipefish flitting about. Visibility can hover around 3 metres, so it’s not for checking off your pelagic list, but it’s an excellent spot for macro enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys slow, deliberate dives looking for the small, fascinating stuff. Our best experiences here have been on a calm, sunny day when the light filters through the kelp. It’s a site that rewards patience.