Sodwana Bay, South Africa
    iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area

    Roonies

    Best months: Dec–Apr

    Protected Area

    iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area

    Why dive here

    With 558+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, blue sharks, blue-spotted stingrays and bull sharks - Roonies offers some of Sodwana Bay's richest reef 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
    CharacterReef dive
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Roonies. Where do we even begin? This is one of those sites we always try to hit when we're in Sodwana, a true standout for anyone who appreciates the quieter, more intricate side of reef diving. At 31m, it's a spot where a little extra bottom time on nitrox really pays off, letting you properly soak in the details. Drop down and you're often met with schools of cardinalfish swirling around the coral heads, creating these shimmering curtains. Keep your eyes peeled for the smaller stuff – we’ve had incredible luck finding Longnose and Swallowtail Hawkfish perched just so, or spotting those elusive Snakehead Cowries tucked away. We’ve even seen the occasional reef manta glide by in the blue, a moment that always makes the whole trip. Visibility averages 15m, which gives it a moody, atmospheric feel sometimes, filtering the sunlight into shafts that highlight the Black Coral Trees reaching out from the reef. It’s a site for advanced divers who prefer slow exploration over a mad dash, perfect for photographers or anyone who just loves to observe.

    Today05:1817:5512h 37m daylightGolden hour 17:24

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Roonies

    Roonies Ocean Conditions

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

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    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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