The dive site Ledges is a shoreline rocky reef in the Gordon's Bay area on the east side of False Bay, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
Understand edit
Position edit
- S34°10.193’ E018°50.726’ 1 Ledges
This site is not in a Marine Protected Area. A permit is not required.
Name edit
Named "Ledges" for the ledge on the shore just above high water, which is the landmark from the seaward side. There is also a high rock outcrop at the north east end of the ledge where enthusiasts jump into the water from several meters up. Take care where you jump if you try this.
Depth edit
Maximum depth is about 9 m.
Topography edit
Fairly flat bottom with smallish boulders and occasional sand between.
Geology: The coastal outcrops of Tygerberg formation in the Gordon’s Bay area are visible here and to the north
Conditions edit
Best during or after South Easterly winds. Reasonably sheltered from South Westerly swells.
Facilities edit
Small paved parking area on the seaward side of the road.
Get in edit
Usually a boat dive. The site is about 1.8 km from Gordon's Bay harbour, or 2.4 km from Harbour Island.
Alternatively it could be a shore dive with quite a steep climb. Park at the paved parking area just before the junction of the R44 and Protea road. Find your own route before kitting up.
See edit
Marine life edit
Surprisingly interesting variety of organisms though the topography is pretty bland. Low reef with mounds of stringy stuff with sand and cerianthids. Fine sand offshore. Popular site for rock anglers, so quite a lot of nylon monofilament fishing line, often in tangled masses.
Photography edit
Routes edit
No particular route recommended.
Stay safe edit
Hazards edit
Shore access requires a scramble down steep rocks and a slightly tricky entry and exit.
Skills edit
No special skills required for boat dive. Reasonable fitness would be required for shore dive to climb down the mountainside from the road
Equipment edit
No special equipment recommended.
Nearby edit
- 1 Bikini Beach
- 2 Vogelsteen
- 3 Cow and Calf
- 4 Stone Dog
- 5 Pinnacle
- 6 Tony's Reef
- 7 Troglodyte's Cove
- 8 Lorry Bay
- 9 Phil's Bay
- 10 Rocky Bay Noble Reef
- 11 Rocky Bay
Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Gordon's Bay area
Other regional dive sites: