Atlantic Dive Sites
The Maori - Sunk 1909
The Maori was a steam freighter built in 1893, with a registered tonnage of 5317 tons gross, and was owned by Shaw Savill Company. She was wrecked near Cape Town on 5 August 1909 while en route from London to Dunedin in New Zealand with a general cargo which included crockery, wine and champagne, explosives, and railway tracks.
At 11.30pm on 4 August 1909 she left Table Bay after taking on coal at Cape Town. Little over an hour later - 12.40am on 5 August - the Maori went aground on the rocks at Duiker Point, near Llandudno. Six crewmen drowned in the surf after the lifeboat they were attempting to reach the shore in capsized. Most of the rest of the crew were rescued from the wreck by rocket apparatus. The Maori has become one of the most popular dive sites in Cape Town. She was even dived by Jacques Cousteau in the 1960's!
Average depth: 20m. Maximum depth: 25m.
The Oakburn (1906) and The Boss 400 (1970's)
The Oakburn, a British cargo steamer of 3865 tons, was wrecked in fog on 21 May 1906, on a voyage from New York to Sydney. Two lives were lost. It's cargo included railway lines and equipment, glassware, sewing machines, musical instruments, oil and paper.
The Boss 400 was the biggest floating crane in Africa when the towing lines broke and hit the rocks in a storm. It now sits above the Oakburn and makes for a very interesting dive.
A short boat trip from Hout Bay harbour into Maori Bay. This site is easily found as The Boss is clearly visible.
Average depth: 20m. Maximum depth: 25m.
Seal Island
This is a real treat !, come and dive with the Cape Fur Seals at seal island near Hout Bay. The boat drops you close to the island at a depth of 5/6 meters. There are so many seals all inhabiting this rock. All you need to do is descend to the bottom and sit and watch as the seals swim around you. They are very inqusitive creatures and expect them to get real close. This is a great place to bring your undrwater camera.
The Katzumaru
The Katzumaru which sink in 1972 in the Hout Bay Harbour mouth is an oriental trawler. She lies on a sandy bottom on her starboard side, at a 45 degree angle at a depth of 27 meters on deck and 32 meters on the sand. There are lots of fish and other Marine life typical of the Atlantic Ocean, such as Hottentots, Steenbrashs, Galjoen. With lots of soft corals and colourful Nudibranchs and anemones and passing sealS, this is a wonderful dive.
PADI Advanced Open Water certification required.
Vulcan Rock
Vulcan Rock is a large and deep pinnacle about 2 km outside Hout Bay Harbour. The visibility can be really good, but the waters a little chilly. Vulcan Rock rises to the surface and drops down to 30 meters below. At around 19 meters there is an open Cave. You will often see large fish here as well as numerous Crayfish. This dive is for the more experienced diver Advanced Open Water
Justin's Caves
This dive site is very exciting, with large Caverns, overhangs and stunning swim through for both Open Water and Advanced Open Water. Justin's Caves is better to dive in the summer, take a torch with you that makes all the colours stand out on the ceilings and walls of the Cavern. With many corals and anemones and lovely marine life, Cuttlefish, Crayfish and many Hottentots, makes this a wonderful dive. Depth 12 meters to 18 meters
|
LogIn
Atlantic Dive Sites