Aliwal Shoal is approximately 30 minutes drive from Durban. The World Famous Aliwal Shoal (quoted as being one of the top ten dive sites in the World) was formed thousands of years ago from fossilized sand dunes during the times when sea levels were much lower than they are today. The Aghulas Current which runs south along the east coast of Africa brings with it warm water and a huge diversity of tropical sea life.
During the months of June through to November you are sure to see Ragged Tooth Sharks as they congregate on the Shoal to mate. It is not uncommon to find 15 to 150 of these ferocious looking but docile animals on a single dive. In summer you have every chance of seeing huge Tiger Sharks and Hammerheads. Depending on conditions the best dives are Cathedral, Raggie Cave, Shark Alley and a number of other spots.
The very well known Tiger Sharks often visit the reefs here where scuba divers can enjoy the sheer beauty of this magnificent predator. The Tiger sharks on Aliwal Shoal are unusually non-aggressive and allow divers a close encounter without the use of a shark cage The Ragged Toothed Shark visits Aliwal Shoal from the middle of May to the end of September. Contrary to what people believe, these sharks are completely harmless to humans. These sharks gorge themselves with sardines which have migrated from the cold antarctic seas all the way up the South African coast. These sharks are full of fish and very lazy when they visit the Aliwal Shoal. No shark bites have been recorded to date. This is an ideal place to start your shark diving experience.
The Grey reef shark is another shark that is often spotted on the reef. A very curious shark that will swim in closer to have a better look. The type that is found in the Indian ocean is very calm and can be fed by hand.
The white tipped shark prefers to swim in open water but does visit the reef on occasion. It has a round dorsal fin and swims gracefully. No reports of any attacks have been reported. The Indian ocean nurse shark is a nocturnal fish and hides during the day. They are very active during the night, often swimming in groups and hunting out their prey, mainly small fish.
Should you tire of the sharks, you can always dive on any of the wrecks or go hunting for the huge Brindle Bass. Other species (depending on the season), include Manta, Devil and other Rays, schools of pelagic fish, whales, dolphins, and many, many more. Visibility varies from 5 to 40 meters, and the water temperature in summer is 24+ degrees Celsius and in winter not colder than 19 degrees Celsius. The depths vary between 6 to 18 meters with 30 -meter sites for the suitably qualified. The dives are all done without cages and afford the unique opportunity to see these animals in their natural environment.
For the wreck enthusiasts there are two wonderful wrecks to explore – The Produce - a steel cargo ship which was carrying molasses when it hit the reef and sunk in 1974. It is lying on its hull in 3 sections. The stern and bow are more or less intact but the centre section has collapsed. A favourite haunt of Lion Fish, and everyone who dives here is hoping for a glimpse of the two giant Brindle Bass which are rumoured to weigh around 400 Kg ! Look out for the big moray eel which lives in the wreck toilet. The very rare Harlequin Goldie (which is indigenous to this area) has been seen here. You may be lucky enough to see a Tiger Shark if the visibility is good.
The Nebo - a wooden wreckage of an old steamer which sunk in 1884 lies approximately 1 Km north west of Aliwal Shoal. It is still possible to see the propeller and the boiler on the wreck. There are many eels and large shoals of baitfish at all times of the year. You will see many different species of shrimps around the boiler area. Keep an eye open for Barracuda and Tuna which are hunting the smaller fish which shelter here. There have been sightings of paper fish and frog fish on the wreck
