South Africa Unlimited – Diving with sharks!
Experience an unforgettable diving vacation to South Africa, Umkomaas. Dive indefinitely at Aliwal Shoal, where you will come face to face with sharks. Includes 3 “baited” dives for the ultimate adventure in the enchanting underwater world. Adventure and excitement guaranteed!
Travel period
Features
Starting from
Unlimited diving with sharks in Aliwal Shoal
Go on a diving vacation to Umkomaas in South Africa, where you will explore the world-famous Aliwal Shoal on a daily basis. Named by Jacques Cousteau as one of his favorites, this spectacular reef offers the chance to come face to face with as many as six different species of sharks, including sand tiger sharks, bull sharks and hammerhead sharks. It is also home to five species of rays, potato grouper, Goliath grouper and a huge variety of reef life.
During this trip you will make a minimum of 2 dives per day, with the possibility of adding extra dives thanks to the unlimited dive package. The program also includes 2 impressive wreck dives and some baited dives, where sharks come up on a scent without being fed. From oceanic blacktip sharks and tiger sharks to the wrecks of the MV Produce and Nebo, each dive offers is a genuine adventure.
You will stay at the Blue Ocean Dive Resort, a comfortable base right by the sea. The resort combines hotel, dive center, restaurant and bar in one location, with spacious rooms and excellent service. Here you can relax and enjoy the ocean views after a day of diving, while everything you need for an unforgettable diving vacation is at your fingertips.
Best travel time for a diving vacation to South Africa
Aliwal Shoal is a great year-round diving destination thanks to the constant presence of sharks. Oceanic black tip sharks, dolphins and turtles show up throughout the year.
- May to November: best time to spot humpback whales. Ragged Tooth Sharks come to mate.
- October to March: best period to see hammerheads.
- December to May: These months are ideal for spotting white tip reef sharks, manta rays, tiger sharks and bull sharks.
Want to combine this trip with the spectacular sardine run? This is only possible in June and July.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for diving in South Africa
Between November and May, 5mm is sufficient for most divers. You may also want to opt for an extra shorty and hood to keep you comfortable in the water. For the other months, a 7mm can even be considered.
What will you experience on this diving vacation?
View itinerary here
Day 1 & 2 | Trip to South Africa
This diving vacation begins with a flight from Europe to Durban. The flight likely includes a short layover at Johannesburg, the Middle East or Turkey. Total travel time will be between approximately 13 & 17 hours. On day 2, you land at Durban International Airport. At Durban airport you will be picked up and taken to the Blue Ocean Dive Resort in Umkomaas, about 80 kilometers south of the airport and close to the coast.
Upon arrival at the resort, you will be checked into your room. The rest of the day is devoted to relaxation. In the late afternoon, the first briefing is also already scheduled on shark diving at Aliwal Shoal, so you will be all set and prepared for the dives you will do next week.
Day 3 to 10 | Unlimited diving at Aliwal Shoal
This week you will dive every day at Aliwal Shoal! You will make at least 2 dives a day, but if the weather conditions are good you can make more dives later in the day.
The boat leaves in the morning, but of course you have time to have breakfast first. Most dive sites are no more than 3o minutes away by boat.
Aliwal Shoal is one of South Africa’s best-known diving areas, and for good reason. The ancient reef is known for its rich marine life and impressive shark population. The reef consists of sandstone formations overgrown with hard and soft corals, among which schools of fish, rays and turtles make their way. You also often see dolphins, manta rays, eagle rays and seasonally, humpback whales.
What makes Aliwal Shoal truly special is the chance to dive with sharks. You can encounter sand tiger sharks, ocean blacktip sharks, hammerheads, bull sharks and occasionally even tiger sharks here, among others.
During week you will go to the best dive sites of the Aliwal Shoal reef system. If weather conditions are favorable, includes southern reefs that are deeper and more advanced for extra challenge. These reefs are rarely visited and are therefore rich in life.
There are also 2 wreck dives scheduled: the MV Produce (sunk in 1974) at 32 meters depth and the Nebo (sunk in 1884) at 24 meters depth. also make for impressive dives.
A number of baited dives will also be on the program. During the baited dives in Aliwal Shoal, the sharks are not fed, but are lured by scent.
Day 11 & 12 | The return trip
Today begins the journey back home. You will have a final breakfast at the dive resort and then be transferred to the airport. Of course, your last days on Day 10 depend on what time your flight leaves.
Would you prefer to stay even longer in South Africa? You can easily extend the trip with fantastic safaris, for example three extra days in the Kruger Park or closer to the Blue Ocean Dive Resort in St. Lucia. In addition, Mozambique is nearby, so you can easily combine this trip with diving in the southernmost tip of Mozambique, such as Ponta do Ouro, or in the popular diving destination Tofo. This way you can extend your diving and wildlife adventure all the way. We are happy to help you with a tailor-made trip!
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
Blue Ocean Dive Resort
You will be staying at the Blue Ocean Dive Resort. The great thing about this resort is that the diving school is just on the property, which means that from the moment you wake up you are already in the middle of the diving world. The resort is also close to the ocean and offers fantastic views of both the Indian Ocean and the Umkomaas Golf Course.
There is a restaurant, bar, gym and swimming pool. The best nights here are the braai (BBQ) evenings, where you sit together around the campfire, enjoy a drink, admire fantastic underwater photos and socialize over the day’s dives. Also fun is an evening walk to the local seafood restaurant on the beach, where you can enjoy a delicious Prawn or seafood dinner.
The Blue Ocean Dive Resort features 20 spacious, recently renovated rooms. Whether you choose a double room, family room, or single room, you are guaranteed a comfortable stay.
Travel costs
What is included
This diving vacation to South Africa is available from US$ 2.085 per person based on two people in one room. The diving trip can be expanded as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about this diving vacation to South Africa? Get in touch with us!
Included in this diving trip, from US$ 2.085 p.p.
- 9 nights at the Blue Ocean Dive Resort
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Dive package consisting of 8 days of unlimited diving*
- Nitrox for certified divers
- Return airport transfers Durban
- VZR & Administration fee
* For each day, it is possible to make more dives (unlimited!) if weather and launch conditions are favorable.
Excluding
- Durban flight from US$ 1.107 p.p.
✈︎ The quoted (international) flight prices are indicative prices and based on departures from Europe. However, we can arrange flights from any location worldwide. Booking your own flights is of course also possible.
Optional
- Full diving equipment US$ 210 p.p.
Email this diving holiday
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Frequently asked questions about diving at Aliwal Shoal
Diving in the Galapagos Islands general information
You must be at least Advanced Open Water (or similar) certified and have at least 30 logged dives. In addition, nitrox certification is also recommended.
Boat diving, especially with sharks. In addition, you will also dive on 2 wrecks during this trip.
You must be at least Advanced Open Water certified and Nitrox is recommended.
Most dive sites are up to 30 minutes away by boat.
This is an unlimited package with a minimum of 2 dives per day, and in good weather conditions this can be extended.
During the baited dives in Aliwal Shoal, the sharks are not fed, but are lured by scent. A drum, a barrel with holes, is used. This is lowered into the water and remains at a depth of about 5 meters. Inside this drum are remains of fish, usually sardines. The smell of these fish remains smells super good to the sharks, and that is what attracts them.
No, there is no use of cages. You are always free in the water.
Not directly at the resort, but nearby is the “house reef” of Aliwal Shoal. Accessible only by boat.
No, the diving school focuses exclusively on guiding certified divers.
Yes, on-site
Diving equipment
The tanks are DIN tanks, but there are inserts to make them INT.
Yes, by request. If you want to use a 15 liter tank you can do so at no extra cost.
Yes, this is free for certified Nitrox divers.
Renting a full set costs €180 for the entire trip.
Activities, Excursions and Wellness
Safaris and horseback riding.
Accommodation / Resort
Yes, this is free
Yes, on-site
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