TUNAMAN

Best months: Mar

Protected Area

Dassen Island 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 - TUNAMAN offers some of Cape Town & Western Cape's richest wreck 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

CharacterWreck dive · max 2m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Tunaman isn't your typical Cape Town dive, and honestly, we love it for that. Forget depth, this site is all about the dramatic surface action. The wreck, a fishing vessel that ran aground on Dassen Island back in '83, sits right in the shallows. We're talking two metres, max. You're snorkelling or free diving here, not on tanks, and that's precisely its charm. Head out on a calm day, ideally with a decent easterly wind earlier in the week to push the plankton away. You'll swim over the remains of the hull, parts of it still breaking the surface, and it’s a surprisingly busy place. The current can be quite strong around the island, so pick your conditions carefully. Look for the schools of hottentot darting through the rusted metal, and the occasional shy octopus tucked into a crevice. It's a fantastic spot for photographers looking for that half-in, half-out shot, or just for a quick dip to connect with a piece of maritime history. Our favourite part? The way the kelp weaves through the exposed superstructure, giving the wreck a truly wild, untamed feel. It's raw, exposed, and perfectly Dassen Island.