Protea Banks - KwaZulu-Natal
Protea Banks, off KwaZulu-Natal, is where you go for sharks. We're talking ragged-tooth sharks in their hundreds during winter, hammerheads in summer, and occasional bull sharks or tigers passing through. It's an open-ocean, drift dive, often with strong currents, so you need to be comfortable with advanced conditions and proficient with an SMB. This is a site for experienced divers who prioritize pelagics over reef scenery.
- Location
- KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -30.828844, 30.523453
Marine Protected Area: Protea Banks 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 Protea Banks
- 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 Protea Banks
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