PILOT VESSEL 120

Best months: Dec–Apr

Why dive here

With 558+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, blue sharks, blue-spotted stingrays and bull sharks - PILOT VESSEL 120 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 · max 7m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Pilot Vessel 120 is one of those sites we always recommend, especially for a relaxed second dive. At a mere 7 metres, it’s a brilliant, easygoing wreck dive and fantastic for photographers keen on getting long bottom times. The history itself is a bit of a mystery, but what we know is this pilot boat, lost off Mozambique in 1980, somehow ended up here, broken and scattered across the sand. You’ll find its remains spread over a fairly wide area, meaning there’s plenty to explore without feeling confined. We love the way the light filters down onto the scattered sections, illuminating the clouds of juvenile snapper and the occasional lionfish lurking in the shadows. Look closely in the crevices and you’ll often spot moray eels, their heads peeking out, curious about divers. It’s not a dramatic upright wreck, more a collection of interesting pieces now heavily encrusted with soft corals, attracting all sorts of smaller reef fish. Visibility here tends to be excellent, often reaching 20 metres or more, making the exploration even more rewarding.