Aliwal Shoal
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Why dive in Aliwal Shoal?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 9
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Diurnal Frequent sightingsBlacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
The Blacktip Shark is easily recognized by the dark tips on its fins. It is a fast and energetic predator, often seen leaping out of the water. Blacktip sharks can be found in warm coastal waters around the world.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsBull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
The bull shark is a robust coastal shark known for its ability to tolerate freshwater, frequently entering rivers and estuaries. It is an opportunistic predator feeding on fish, rays, crustaceans, and other marine animals in tropical and subtropical regions.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Oceanic Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is the world's largest ray, with a disc width that can reach up to 9 meters. It is a circumglobal species found in tropical to temperate pelagic waters, often near coastlines, reefs, and in the open ocean, diving to depths of 1,000 meters. These filter feeders primarily consume zooplankton, including mesopelagic sources, and can also eat small fish. While generally solitary, they aggregate at feeding grounds and cleaning stations. The species is currently listed as Endangered due to overfishing and low reproductive rates.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsHumpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
The Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a large baleen whale known for its distinctive body shape, long pectoral fins (up to one-third of its body length), and knobbly head. These migratory cetaceans are filter feeders, consuming krill and small schooling fish. They are also famous for their acrobatic surface behaviors like breaching and complex vocalizations, particularly the male's elaborate songs.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsSand Tiger Shark
Carcharias taurus
The Sand Tiger Shark is known for its fierce appearance with a bulky body and sharp, protruding teeth. Despite its menacing look, it is relatively sluggish and not aggressive unless provoked.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsScalloped Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna lewini
The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is a large, migratory shark easily recognized by the central indentation on its hammer-shaped head. These sharks are found globally in warm temperate and tropical coastal and oceanic waters, often forming large schools around seamounts and islands. They are primarily nocturnal foragers, feeding on a diverse diet of bony fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans, and smaller sharks and rays.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsTiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
The tiger shark is a large apex predator recognized by the dark vertical stripes along its body, especially visible in juveniles. It inhabits tropical and subtropical waters and has a highly varied diet, feeding on fish, rays, turtles, seabirds, and other marine animals.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 59
Barred MorayEchidna polyzona
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Bluering AngelfishPomacanthus annularis
Bluespotted Ribbontail RayTaeniura lymma
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Blunt-head ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinos
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Bumphead ParrotfishBolbometopon muricatum
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatus
Common OctopusOctopus vulgaris
Coral HindCephalopholis miniata
Dogtooth TunaGymnosarda unicolor
Dusky GrouperEpinephelus marginatus
Dusky SharkCarcharhinus obscurus
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis
Giant clamTridacna gigas
Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda
Green Sea TurtleChelonia mydas
Honeycomb MorayGymnothorax favagineus
Humphead WrasseCheilinus undulatus
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
LionfishPterois spp.
Loggerhead Sea TurtleCaretta caretta
Longhorn CowfishLactoria cornuta
Longtail Butterfly RayGymnura poecilura
Lyretail AnthiasPseudanthias squamipinnis
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Oceanic Whitetip SharkCarcharhinus longimanus
Ocellated Eagle RayAetobatus ocellatus
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Ornate Eagle RayAetomylaeus vespertilio
Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolor
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Scarlet-Striped Cleaner ShrimpLysmata grabhami
Short-tail StingrayBathytoshia brevicaudata
Shortfin Devil RayMobula kuhlii
Sicklefin Devil RayMobula tarapacana
Silky SharkCarcharhinus falciformis
Silvertip SharkCarcharhinus albimarginatus
Snowflake MorayEchidna nebulosa
Sperm WhalePhyseter macrocephalus
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted Eagle RayAetobatus narinari
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
White-spotted PufferfishArothron hispidus
Yellow BoxfishOstracion cubicus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Zebra SharkStegostoma tigrinum
Where is Aliwal Shoal
Indian Ocean · South Africa
Frequently asked questions about Aliwal Shoal
When is the best time to dive in Aliwal Shoal?
The best time to dive in Aliwal Shoal is from May to November. In those months the water is between 18°C and 27°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Aliwal Shoal?
Divers can encounter 68 species in Aliwal Shoal. Highlights include Blacktip Shark, Bull Shark, Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, Humpback Whale, Reef Manta Ray, and Sand Tiger Shark.
When can you see the Bull Shark in Aliwal Shoal?
The Bull Shark is most often seen in Aliwal Shoal from November to May.
When can you see the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray in Aliwal Shoal?
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is most often seen in Aliwal Shoal from April to September.
When can you see the Humpback Whale in Aliwal Shoal?
The Humpback Whale is most often seen in Aliwal Shoal from June to October.
What is the water temperature in Aliwal Shoal?
Water temperature in Aliwal Shoal ranges from 18°C in June to 28°C in January.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Aliwal Shoal?
Most divers wear a 7 mm wetsuit in June, when the water drops to 18°C, and a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty in January, when it reaches 28°C.
What is the visibility like when diving in Aliwal Shoal?
Visibility in Aliwal Shoal ranges from 5 m to 30 m. The water is clearest from May to August.
What are the currents like in Aliwal Shoal?
Divers in Aliwal Shoal can expect moderate, strong, light, or very strong currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Aliwal Shoal?
After dark, Aliwal Shoal reveals nocturnal species such as Sand Tiger Shark, Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray, Common Octopus, Fimbriated Moray, Giant Moray, and Honeycomb Moray.
Where is Aliwal Shoal located?
Aliwal Shoal is a dive destination in South Africa, in the Indian Ocean.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Aliwal Shoal. Spotted something that looks off?
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