The south coast of KwaZulu Natal is blessed with two vast offshore reef systems. Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks (5 and 8km offshore respectively) are both kissed by the warm Agulhas current, bringing indigo-blue waters and many pelagic fish. These reefs attract sharks of all shapes and sizes, so if you're looking for the big stuff outside of the cage, this is where it's at ! - see map for dive site descriptions.

Aliwal Shoal, with its many caves, gullies and pinnacles, provides a seasonal residence for hundreds of ragged-tooth sharks. From June to October it is not unusual to find yourself in the presence of several, large and fully mature specimens. Outside of "raggie" season, Aliwal Shoal offers consistently great diving. Guitar sharks and stingrays abound. Dolphins, eagle rays and manta rays are not uncommon and for something special, the wreck of The Produce (1974) produces the goods when the current allows - see tour report 2003 for pictures.

Protea Banks must rate as amongst the worlds top shark diving destinations, and yet the world has hardly heard of it. Hang at around 30m and drift at a leisurely 1-2 knots over some spectacularly boring reef. If the nudibranchs catch your eye (and they do seem bigger and more colourful !) you're looking in the wrong place, the chances are a 3m bull shark has just grazed your back, but keep on looking for that elusive pipe fish and you may fail to notice the ramoras on the side of a 4m tiger shark!. More about tiger shark dives...

Of course Protea Banks has its quiet days and conditions can challenging, but this is SA diving at it's best! Few other dive sites can boast regular sightings of Zambezi (bull sharks), hammerhead, ragged-tooth, black tip and tiger sharks (amongst others). Due to depth and current, divers must hold Advanced certifications with a minimum of 20 logged dives to dive safely on Protea banks. More shark pictures from Protea...

THE SARDINE RUN - View sardine run tour 2004
Every year, seasonal fluctuations in the warm Agulhas current allow a colder, counter-current to upwell and move nutrient rich waters up past the Wild Coast to KwaZulu Natal. With this current come vast numbers of sardines (Sardinops sagax) in a natural migratory spectacle of unrivaled scale. Game fish and other predators such as dolphins, sharks and even whales are attracted by the frenzy and seem oblivious to the presence of divers - their focus being almost entirely on the sardines. Whether you're diving or simply a surface spectator, the sardine run offers unique photo opportunities and unforgettable memories - Join us in 2008