Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa
    Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area

    Shark Alley

    Best months: Mar

    Protected Area

    Table Mountain National Park 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 - Shark Alley 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
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Shark Alley, despite the name, isn’t about big toothy predators. It’s about being utterly swarmed by Cape fur seals, and we love it for that. This isn't a deep dive; you’re staying mostly in the 3-5 meter range, often less. It’s more of an interaction than a reef exploration. We generally hop on a boat out here, though if you’re keen for a shallow shore entry, that's an option too, but you’ll want to pick your tide carefully. The sheer number of seals is the draw. They zip around you, blowing bubbles, nipping playfully at fins, their sleek bodies a blur in the green water. It's a sensory overload of movement and sound – you can hear their barks and chirps, even underwater. Visibility averages around 8 meters, which is plenty to see the chaos unfolding. We’d suggest going in the morning; the seals tend to be most active before the wind picks up. It’s a riot of a dive, perfect for photographers wanting action shots and anyone who just wants to feel completely immersed in marine animal antics.

    Safety Notes

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

    Today05:1017:5712h 46m daylightGolden hour 17:23

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Shark Alley

    Shark Alley Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Shark Alley, 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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