Reef and wreck scuba diving excursions on the Umkomaas coast, near Durban

Explore an underwater oasis famed for its rich bio-diversity and vibrant population of tropical fish with reef and wreck scuba diving excursions on the Kwa-Zulu Natal coast.

There's a reason adventurer Jacques Cousteau put Aliwal reef on his bucket list, a hotspot for feared apex predators and a colourful community of coral inhabitants - this 3km marine reserve offers a stunning natural landscape punctuated by vibrant reefs and sunken ships lurking in the deep...

Location
A 30-minute drive from central Durban, Blue Ocean dive centre is situated in the small village of Umkomaas. Using rubber dinghies to access the dive Sites, the ride out to sea is around 7km from the Mkomazi River mouth which takes about 10-15mins.

Activity options
While there are many dive sites with the 18m Open Water Diver limit, a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (PADI Junior Advanced Open Water Diver) certification is recommended.

Reef:
Choose from 5 different sites along the Aliwal reef with depths ranging from 14 - 27m. Swim with placid nurse sharks and discover coral critters or go on the hunt for ragged-tooth shark teeth on the sandbanks, swimming with dolphins and rays.

Wreck:
Visit MV Produce and Nebo Wreck for sightings of hammerhead and bull sharks, home to the mighty brindle bass, harlequin goldies, lionfish, salmon and kingfish as well as an abundance of other colourful tropical fish that now live in the wooden and rusting metal wrecks.

Conditions
Ocean temperatures fluctuate between 17°C (June/July) and 27°C (Feb). Avg throughout the year: 23°C.
Seasonal sightings include:

-December to May – Tiger sharks
-December to February – Whale sharks
-Late May to November – Ragged tooth sharks
-May to November – Humpback whales