Pinnacles - KwaZulu-Natal
Seven Blinders isn't your grand, intact ship, but it's a site we always enjoy, especially when the south-easterly wind has been blowing for a few days. You're looking at a scattering of an old wreck, bits of metal spread across the seabed, mingled with chunky rock formations. It's relatively shallow, maxing out at 11m, which gives you plenty of bottom time to poke around. What we really love here is how the wreck has just become part of the natural reef. It’s absolutely smothered in kelp, anemones, and a surprising number of sea urchins. We often find cuttlefish lurking in the nooks and crannies, and the shy sharks are a common sight, blending right into the rocky debris. Visibility averages 3m, so you’ll need to get close, but that just means you’re really focusing on the details. It’s a dive that rewards slow, deliberate exploration. Ideal for a relaxed morning dive when you just want to wander through the kelp and see what’s hiding.
- Location
- KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -30.261200, 30.828400
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area
Best Time to Dive in KwaZulu-Natal
The warmest water temperatures in KwaZulu-Natal occur in January, averaging 27.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.0°C (air: 24.4°C)
- February: 27.0°C (air: 24.6°C)
- March: 27.0°C (air: 24.0°C)
- April: 27.0°C (air: 21.7°C)
- May: 27.0°C (air: 20.1°C)
- June: 27.0°C (air: 18.2°C)
- July: 27.0°C (air: 17.5°C)
- August: 27.0°C (air: 18.2°C)
- September: 27.0°C (air: 19.3°C)
- October: 27.0°C (air: 20.3°C)
- November: 27.0°C (air: 21.8°C)
- December: 27.0°C (air: 23.2°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in KwaZulu-Natal
- Aliwal Shoal - 5-30m (reef)
- Aliwal Shoal (reef)
- Aliwal Shoal (reef)
- Aliwal Shoal (cenote)
- Amanzi Harbour (reef)
- Amanzi Harbour (cenote)
- Amanzi Rock Face (cenote)
- Amanzi Rock Face (wreck)
- Amphitheatre
- Amphitheatre (cenote)
- Birthday Ledges
- Butchers (reef)
- Butchers (reef)
- Canyons (cave)
- Castle (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Pinnacles
- Aliwal Shoal Adventures - Ocean Warriors - ["PADI"]
- Blue Ocean Dive Resort - ["PADI"]
- MISS BEHAVIN’S MERMAIDS
- ScubaXcursion - SSI
- South Coast Diving Co - ["PADI"]
- Umhlanga Scuba - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in KwaZulu-Natal
Home to 495 recorded species including 400 reef fish, 41 sharks & rays, 19 hard corals, 9 sea snails & nudibranchs, 7 whales & dolphins, 7 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- Soldier (Cheimerius nufar) - Reef Fish
- African Weakfish (Atractoscion aequidens) - Reef Fish
- Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) - Reef Fish
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- California Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) - Reef Fish
- Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) - Reef Fish
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Oriental Bonito (Sarda orientalis) - Reef Fish
- Prodigal Son (Rachycentron canadum) - Reef Fish
- Talang queenfish (Scomberoides commersonnianus) - Reef Fish
- Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) - Sharks & Rays
- Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) - Sharks & Rays
- Mozambique mouth-breeder (Oreochromis mossambicus) - Reef Fish
- Elf (Pomatomus saltatrix) - Reef Fish
- dory (Zeus faber) - Reef Fish
- Bass (Polyprion americanus) - Reef Fish
- Blue And Yellow Grouper (Epinephelus flavocaeruleus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Pinnacles
Based on average water temperature of 27.0°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- 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