5-20m
    KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area

    North Sands

    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 - North Sands 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 · max 5-20m
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    North Sands is one of those places that just works, especially when the winter migration kicks in. It’s essentially a big, open sandy area, but bordered by enough rocky bits to give things a bit of structure. We love coming here between April and October; that’s when the big sand sharks and various rays really show up, gliding over the bottom, often just out of the current. The real magic happens on the edges where the sand meets the rock. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff – we’ve seen more than a few Big-spot Anglerfish blending right into the rubble, and those Eroded Cowries are always a treat to spot. Visibility averages around 14 metres, which is usually plenty to take in the movement of a school of bludger or Yellow Spotted Trevally passing through. It’s a pretty chill dive, maxing out at 16 metres, making it suitable for divers who prefer a relaxed pace but still want to see some impressive marine life. You’ll spend most of your time slowly finning across the sand, keeping an eye on the horizon for those bigger animals, then poking around the rocks for the smaller, more camouflaged critters.

    Typical North Sands Dive Profile

    5mSafety Stop0m5m max~60 min estimated bottom time

    Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

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

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for North Sands

    North Sands Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for North Sands, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-30.31, 30.76) (42km away)

    ExcellentGreatGoodFairPoor★Best monthsThis month

    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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