Sandy Cove - Cape Town & Western Cape

Teddy Bears always makes us smile. It’s exactly as the name suggests – a playground for marine life, with enormous plate corals that sprawl out like picnic tables waiting for a tea party. Drop down onto the reef and you’re immediately enveloped by dense schools of fusiliers. Seriously, they’re so thick they sometimes block out the sun, shimmering silver and blue. We’ve seen blue banded snapper mixed in too, a vibrant flash of yellow and white. It’s not just about the schools though. Keep an eye out for the smaller details. We’ve had great luck spotting pharaoh cuttlefish here, their skin rippling with colour as they glide across the coral. And if you’re patient, you might even catch a two-tone wrasse at work, diligently cleaning other fish over those big plate corals. This site tops out at 19 metres, so it’s a relaxed, easy dive, perfect for a long bottom time, letting you drift and soak it all in. Visibility averages 14 metres, which is decent enough to appreciate the scale of those coral structures. We’d suggest hitting it mid-morning, after the initial rush of boats, for a more tranquil experience.

Location
Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-33.981300, 18.360700
Type
reef

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 Sandy Cove

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 Sandy Cove

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