KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area

    Inside Edge - Aliwal Shoal

    Best months: Jan–Mar

    Protected Area

    Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area

    Why dive here

    With 490+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blue sharks, bull sharks, eagle rays and great white sharks - Inside Edge - Aliwal Shoal offers some of KwaZulu-Natal's richest reef diving. Water ranges 21-26°C, warmest January, February, March.

    Best timeJan–Mar
    WetsuitA 3mm full wetsuit
    Marine lifeBarracuda, Blue Sharks, Bull Sharks, Eagle Rays and Great White Sharks · 490+ species recorded
    Water21-26°C · warmest January, February, March
    CharacterReef dive
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Inside Edge really captures the character of Aliwal Shoal. We love how the reef here just erupts from the sand, creating this incredible maze of gullies and swim-throughs. It’s got a bit of everything: pinnacles that climb towards the surface, shadowy caverns, and those sandy patches that always seem to hide something interesting. Our favourite part is cruising through the landscape, keeping an eye out for the Blacktip sharks that are often patrolling. We’ve had great luck spotting Thresher sharks here too, usually in the deeper sections closer to dawn. Look for Undulated morays tucked into crevices and the vibrant colours of Gorgeous Gussies darting over the reef. The depth stays around 20m, making it a relaxed dive, but the currents can get frisky, so check with your skipper. Visibility averages 13m, which is decent for the Shoal, but we’ve had days where it’s pushed 20m, really opening up the views. It’s a fantastic site for photographers, especially with all the small stuff like nudibranchs and those clownfish in their anemones. For anyone who enjoys a bit of exploration and appreciates a good shark encounter, Inside Edge is a solid pick.

    Today05:2418:0412h 40m daylightGolden hour 17:32

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Inside Edge - Aliwal Shoal

    Inside Edge - Aliwal Shoal Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Inside Edge - Aliwal Shoal, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-30.31, 30.76) (42km away)

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    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    22°C

    71°F · Range: 21–22.7°C

    Air Temperature

    20°C

    68°F

    Wind Speed

    7.64 m/s

    14.9 knots

    Atmospheric Pressure

    1017.9 hPa

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

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