Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa
    False Bay Seal Island Provincial Nature Reserve

    Seal Island

    Best months: Mar

    Protected Area

    False Bay Seal Island Provincial Nature Reserve

    Why dive here

    With 269+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, blue whales, dolphins, dwarf minke whales and great white sharks - Seal Island offers some of Cape Town & Western Cape's richest 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
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Seal Island, just off Hout Bay, is exactly what it sounds like: a big granite rock covered in Cape fur seals. The dive here is often a shallow drift, mostly about interacting with these curious, playful animals. You’ll find them darting around, nipping at fins, and generally putting on a show. It's a fun, unique experience for photographers and anyone looking for a lively animal encounter, though the visibility can be a bit hit-or-miss.

    Safety Notes

    Cold water this month (avg 15°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.

    Today05:1017:5612h 46m daylightGolden hour 17:23

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Seal Island

    Seal Island Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Seal Island, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-33.92, 18.46) (8km away)

    ExcellentGreatGoodFairPoor★Best monthsThis month

    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    15°C

    59°F · Range: 12.4–17.2°C

    Air Temperature

    17°C

    62°F

    Wind Speed

    7.33 m/s

    14.2 knots

    Atmospheric Pressure

    1018.1 hPa

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data

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