DivePlnr
    CRAGNESS dive site
    wreck
    Sodwana Bay, South Africa
    Maputaland Marine Reserve

    CRAGNESS

    Best months: Dec–Apr

    Protected Area

    Maputaland Marine Reserve

    Why dive here

    With 558+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, blue sharks, blue-spotted stingrays and bull sharks - CRAGNESS offers some of Sodwana Bay's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 23-28°C, warmest January, February, March.

    Best timeDec–Apr
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeBarracuda, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Blue Sharks, Blue-Spotted Stingrays and Bull Sharks · 558+ species recorded
    Water23-28°C · warmest January, February, March
    CharacterWreck dive
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Cragness is a wreck dive, pure and simple, and one of our favourites for its sheer scale. This steamship, over 125 metres long, went down off Barracouta Point in 1924, on its way from Port Natal to Perim Island. Today, the sheer size of the Cragness is what gets you. We’ve spent whole dives just trying to get a feel for the bow section, then swinging wide around the collapsing superstructure towards the stern. Visibility here can vary, but on a good day, when the current isn’t too feisty, it feels like you're exploring a sunken city. Keep an eye out for potato bass lurking in the deeper holds, and we often see massive schools of snapper swirling through what used to be the cargo bays. It's a proper adventure dive, best suited for experienced wreck divers who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of current. Don't rush it; pick a section and really explore its nooks and crannies. There's always something new to spot.

    Safety Notes

    Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

    Today05:1817:5412h 36m daylightGolden hour 17:23

    Nearest Dive Centres to CRAGNESS

    Dive shops near CRAGNESS

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    Occi Scuba

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for CRAGNESS

    CRAGNESS Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for CRAGNESS, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-27.53, 32.7) (0km away)

    ExcellentGreatGoodFairPoor★Best monthsThis month

    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    23°C

    73°F · Range: 22.3–24.5°C

    Air Temperature

    22°C

    71°F

    Wind Speed

    7.35 m/s

    14.3 knots

    Atmospheric Pressure

    1017.9 hPa

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

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