SAS GELDERLAND - Cape Town & Western Cape
We always enjoy a good wreck, and the SAS Gelderland offers a solid dive just off Simon's Town. This scuttled military vessel sits upright at 23 metres, a decent depth for most open-water divers. You can swim through parts of the superstructure, which makes for some interesting navigation, and we’ve often found pyjama sharks tucked away in the darker corners. The wreck itself isn't massive, 35.7m long, but it’s well colonised by sea anemones and various small reef fish. It’s a great option for a second dive of the day, or when the conditions further out are a bit too bouncy.
- Location
- Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -34.033333, 18.305000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 23m
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
- 13th Apostle (cave)
- ADELFOTIS - 15m (wreck)
- A Frame - 5-20m (reef)
- A-frame Cape Town (pinnacle)
- A-frame Cape Town (reef)
- ALBACORE - 60m (wreck)
- Albatross Rock (reef)
- ALCESTIS - 31m (wreck)
- Alpha Reef (wall)
- AMERICA - 12m (wreck)
- Ammunition Barges - 9m (wreck)
- Andre se Gat - 15-30m (cave)
- AN HUNG NO.1 - 2m (wreck)
- Ankers (reef)
- Anvil Rock (pinnacle)
Nearest Dive Centres to SAS GELDERLAND
- Alpha Dive Centre - ["PADI","NAUI"]
- Alpha Dive Centre - Strand
- Bellville Underwater Club - ["CMAS","IANTD"]
- Best Kiteboarding Africa
- Blue Flash
- Cape Town Dive Centre - PADI
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
- Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) - Reef Fish
- African Weakfish (Atractoscion aequidens) - Reef Fish
- California Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) - Reef Fish
- Elf (Pomatomus saltatrix) - Reef Fish
- Rig (Galeorhinus galeus) - Sharks & Rays
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) - Reef Fish
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Jac (Helicolenus dactylopterus) - Reef Fish
- Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
- Angel (Brama brama) - Reef Fish
- Ribbonfish (Lepidopus caudatus) - Reef Fish
- Cosmopolitan Spurdog (Squalus megalops) - Sharks & Rays
- Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) - Sharks & Rays
- pearl-side (Maurolicus muelleri) - Reef Fish
- Gaper (Champsodon capensis) - Reef Fish
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Bronze whaler (Carcharhinus brachyurus) - Sharks & Rays
- Common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis)
Recommended Packing List for SAS GELDERLAND
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