SS Oakburn and MV Bos 400 - Cape Town & Western Cape

We often combine the *Oakburn* and *Bos 400* for a double dose of wreck diving just off Duiker Island. The *Oakburn*, an old steamship, sits broken in two sections. It's an atmospheric dive, especially when the light filters through the kelp. You'll find schools of hottentot and strepies darting through the rusted metal. Then there's the *Bos 400*, a crane barge driven ashore in a storm. It’s a more challenging dive, with strong surge often pushing you around its massive, exposed structure. But the rewards are there: playful Cape fur seals often zip past, and we've seen decent-sized kabeljou hiding in the shadowed areas. These aren't pristine wrecks, but they're full of character and very much a part of the local ecosystem.

Location
Cape Town & Western Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
-34.036934, 18.309550
Type
wreck

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 SS Oakburn and MV Bos 400

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 SS Oakburn and MV Bos 400

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