Bull Shark — see destinations where it is seen
Carcharhinus leucas
Southern Africa · South Africa
Aliwal Shoal
Essentials
- Dive difficulty
- Advanced
- By site: Beginner → Intermediate
- Best months
- Jun – Aug · Nov
- Access
- Day boat
- Reachable without a liveaboard
- Experience & eligibility
- No required certification documented
Wildlife
Documented presence, never a guaranteed sighting.
Humpback Whale — see destinations where it is seen
Megaptera novaeangliae
Oceanic Blacktip Shark — see destinations where it is seen
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sand Tiger Shark — see destinations where it is seen
Carcharias taurus
Tiger Shark — see destinations where it is seen
Galeocerdo cuvier
Dive sites
Baited Shark Dive (Shark Alley)
- Depth : 8–10m
- Level : Intermediate
- Dive type : Drift
- Access : Day boat · Reachable without a liveaboard
Main wildlife : Oceanic Blacktip Shark, Tiger Shark
A drift dive on the Outside Edge of Aliwal Shoal, following the current from an anchored bait drum — explicitly a baited/chummed shark dive, not a… Read moreShow less
A drift dive on the Outside Edge of Aliwal Shoal, following the current from an anchored bait drum — explicitly a baited/chummed shark dive, not a natural encounter, and marketed as such by every operator running it. The reserve's most reliable oceanic blacktip shark site (2-20+ sharks per dive, present year-round), with tiger sharks appearing more often November-May. Day boat from Umkomaas, no liveaboard.
Raggies Cave
- Depth : 5–18m
- Level : Beginner
- Dive type : Reef · Drift · Cave / cavern
- Access : Day boat · Reachable without a liveaboard
Main wildlife : Sand Tiger Shark
A large overhang/amphitheatre with a swim-through, in Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area — the top spot for ragged-tooth ("sand tiger") shark… Read moreShow less
A large overhang/amphitheatre with a swim-through, in Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area — the top spot for ragged-tooth ("sand tiger") shark aggregations, with dozens of sharks resting here through the winter season. Open Water certification suffices per multiple operators (depth stays shallow, ~11m average); day boat launches through the surf from Umkomaas Beach, no liveaboard.
When to go
Choose a month
Documented best months
Conditions in Jun
Water22–24°C
VisibilityNot documented
CurrentNot documented
In season this month: Bull Shark, Humpback Whale, Sand Tiger Shark
Water temperature: NOAA OISST satellite sea-surface normals (2020–2024, typical range for the month). It can be cooler at depth or below a thermocline — check with your operator for exposure protection.