2 Mile Stringer - Sodwana Bay
Two Mile Stringer, for us, is one of Sodwana's quiet achievers. It's not the grand canyons of Seven Mile, but what it lacks in scale, it makes up for in intimate moments. We love dropping onto those two rocky outcrops, islands in a sea of sand, because you never quite know what’s going to turn up. Last time, we watched a massive round ribbontail ray glide off into the blue, then spent a good 20 minutes with a spitlure frogfish, practically camouflaged against a sponge. This spot is a nursery for good reason. You’ll see schools of juvenile bream and gregory darting through the coral heads, and the pufferfish here are particularly bold. For photographers, especially macro fans, it’s a goldmine. Look closely at the crevices for harlequin shrimp, and keep an eye on the sand for those short-tail stingrays. It’s a shallow dive, rarely pushing past 13 meters, so you get plenty of bottom time, which we always appreciate. We’d suggest hitting it early in the morning, before the current picks up too much. This site offers a more relaxed pace, perfect for divers who prefer to slow down and really observe the smaller, often overlooked, residents of the reef. Expect to find a surprising density of juvenile fish and unique critters, making it an excellent choice for photographers or those wanting a less strenuous exploration.
- Location
- Sodwana Bay, South Africa, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- -27.529300, 32.682700
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area
Best Time to Dive in Sodwana Bay
The warmest water temperatures in Sodwana Bay occur in January, averaging 28.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.1°C (air: 25.1°C)
- February: 28.1°C (air: 25.2°C)
- March: 28.1°C (air: 24.5°C)
- April: 28.1°C (air: 22.7°C)
- May: 28.1°C (air: 21.1°C)
- June: 28.1°C (air: 19.1°C)
- July: 28.1°C (air: 18.8°C)
- August: 28.1°C (air: 19.5°C)
- September: 28.1°C (air: 20.6°C)
- October: 28.1°C (air: 21.6°C)
- November: 28.1°C (air: 23.3°C)
- December: 28.1°C (air: 24.6°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Sodwana Bay
- 2 Mile Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- 2 Mile Reef Pinnacles (reef)
- 2 Mile Reef Pinnacles (pinnacle)
- 2 Mile Stringer (wreck)
- 300 - 48m (wreck)
- 3 Mile Reef Hotspots (reef)
- 3 Mile Reef Hotspots (wreck)
- 7 Mile Reef (reef)
- 7 Miles Reef (reef)
- 7 Miles Reef (reef)
- 9 Mile Coral Tree (reef)
- 9 Mile Coral Tree (reef)
- 9 Mile Reef (reef)
- Adventure Reef - 2 Mile Reef (reef)
- Adventure Reef - 2 Mile Reef (wall)
Nearest Dive Centres to 2 Mile Stringer
- Coral Divers - ["PADI"]
- Gozo Azul Diving - ["PADI"]
- Malongane Beach Resort - ["PADI"]
- Maputo Dive Center - ["PADI"]
- Mermaids Cove Ei
- Occi Scuba - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Sodwana Bay
Home to 579 recorded species including 443 reef fish, 49 sharks & rays, 35 hard corals, 12 seagrass & algae, 8 crabs & lobsters, 7 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) - Sharks & Rays
- Soldier (Cheimerius nufar) - Reef Fish
- Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) - Sharks & Rays
- Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) - Reef Fish
- Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- Mozambique mouth-breeder (Oreochromis mossambicus) - Reef Fish
- Silver moony (Monodactylus argenteus) - Reef Fish
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- African Weakfish (Atractoscion aequidens) - Reef Fish
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- Hound Needlefish (Tylosurus crocodilus) - Reef Fish
- Jack (Selar crumenophthalmus) - Reef Fish
- Spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) - Reef Fish
- honeycomb stingray (Himantura uarnak) - Sharks & Rays
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Crescent Grunter (Terapon jarbua) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Coral Blenny (Istiblennius edentulus) - Reef Fish
- Bluefish (Kyphosus vaigiensis) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for 2 Mile Stringer
Based on average water temperature of 28.1°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°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