What marine life can you see diving in False Bay?

Divers in False Bay can encounter the following species: Blacktip Shark, Blue Shark, Broadnose Sevengill Shark, Bull Shark, Cape Fur Seal, Cape Rock Lobster, Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Thresher Shark, Dusky Shark, Fur Seals, Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, Great Barracuda, Great Hammerhead Shark, Great White Shark, Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Humpback Whale, Killer Whale, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Ocean Sunfish, Sand Tiger Shark, Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, Short-tail Stingray, Smooth Hammerhead Shark, Southern Right Whale, Sperm Whale, Spiny Butterfly Ray, Striped Catshark, Tiger Shark, Whale Shark.

What is the best time to dive in False Bay?

The best months to dive in False Bay are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, offering optimal visibility and conditions.

What is the water temperature in False Bay?

Water temperatures in False Bay range from 12°C to 20°C throughout the year.

Where is False Bay located?

False Bay is a dive destination located in South Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean.

False Bay

South Africa · Atlantic Ocean

OVERVIEW

Why dive in False Bay?

False Bay is a dynamic marine environment in South Africa, renowned for its dramatic seasonal shifts and exceptional biodiversity. Positioned at the confluence of cold Atlantic and warmer Indian Ocean currents, it hosts an incredible array of marine life, from diverse shark species and whales to dolphins, seals, and vibrant kelp forests. While summer experiences stronger winds and reduced visibility, the winter and spring months generally offer calmer seas and crystal-clear waters, making it a prime destination for unforgettable underwater exploration.

WATER TEMPERATURE -

VISIBILITY -

CURRENT STRENGTHLight – Moderate

BEST SEASON

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Frequent sightings

Broadnose Sevengill Shark

Notorynchus cepedianus

The Broadnose Sevengill Shark is notable for having seven gill slits, unlike most sharks which have five. It is a large, strong species that inhabits coastal and offshore waters. This shark is known to be opportunistic, feeding on a variety of prey including fish and marine mammals.

Cape Fur Seal

Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus

The Cape Fur Seal is a large marine mammal known for its thick fur and external ear flaps. They are highly social animals, often found in large groups along coastlines and islands in southern Africa.

Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

The Great White Shark is the largest known predatory fish, characterized by its torpedo-shaped body, conical snout, and large, serrated triangular teeth. It is an apex predator found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide, playing a crucial role in marine ecosystems. This species exhibits regional endothermy, allowing it to maintain a body temperature higher than the surrounding water, which aids in its active predatory lifestyle.

Humpback 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.

Short-tail Stingray

Bathytoshia brevicaudata

The Short-tail Stingray is the largest species of stingray, known for its dark brown or blackish coloration and short tail relative to other rays. It is found in coastal and deep waters, often near the seabed where it hunts small fish and invertebrates.

Southern Right Whale

Eubalaena australis

The Southern Right Whale is a large baleen whale distinguished by its robust, black body, lack of a dorsal fin, and distinctive callosities on its head. It is a filter feeder, consuming vast quantities of krill and copepods in the Southern Ocean. These migratory whales travel to warmer coastal waters for breeding and calving.

Striped Catshark

Poroderma africanum

The Striped Catshark is a small shark species, known for its distinctive pattern of vertical stripes. It resides mostly in coastal and reef environments around South Africa and is primarily nocturnal, feeding on small fish and invertebrates.