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inshore dive site at Fish Hoek on the Cape Peninsula east coast
Africa > Southern Africa > South Africa > Diving in South Africa > Diving the west coast of South Africa > Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay > Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Fish Hoek Reef

The dive site Fish Hoek Reef is an offshore rocky reef in the Fish Hoek area on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula, in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.


Understand

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Map of the dive site at Fish Hoek Reef
See also: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay#Understand

Position

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  • 1 Fish Hoek Reef: S34°08.292’ E018°26.676’ — (at the shallowest known point).

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required.

Name

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The name "Fish Hoek Reef " is a geographic description. The Reef is in Fish Hoek Bay.

Depth

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Maximum depth is about 16 m at the edge of the sand. There are two areas where the reef rises to about 7 m, and the average depth of a dive is likely to be about 12 m.

Visibility

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Visibility is unlikely to be very good, as this is a site more often dived when the conditions elsewhere are worse, but it could be good, and due to the shallow depth, often quite well illuminated.

Topography

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The reef is not yet full mapped, The shallowest point found so far is about 7 m deep, and the 9 m contour runs NW-SE, approximately 40 m wide and 150 m long. Most of the reef is deeper, down to about 15 m on the east, and the reef is about 300 m long and 150 m wide. The reef is moderate profile sandstone, quite blocky and rugged, with lots of small ledges and undercuts, and criss-crossed by small cracks and gullies, providing habitat for a fairly good range of invertebrates and fish.

Geology: Sandstone reef probably of the Peninsula formation. Strike is roughly NW-SE.

Conditions

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Get in

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See also: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay#Boat dives

A long swim shore dive (about 550 m) or a boat dive from Simon’s Town or Miller’s Point. The site is about 6.2 km from Simon's Town Jetty, or 10.6 km from Miller's Point slipway.

Marine life

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There is sparse Split-fan kelp in the shallower areas. Typical fish and invertebrates of shallow reef in the region. Large numbers of Palmate sea fans (Leptogorgia palma) along the outer edge of the reef.

Photography

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Routes

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No particular routes recommended.

Stay safe

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See also: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay#Stay safe

Hazards

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Anyone considering doing this as a shore dive should be aware that Great White sharks have been seen cruising this area.

Skills

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No special skills required. The depth is suitable for entry level divers.

Equipment

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See also: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay#Equipment

A compass is recommended if this is done as a shore dive.

Nearby

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Map
Fish Hoek Reef and other sites in the vicinity

Back to the list of Alphabetical list of sites, or dive sites in the Fish Hoek and Glencairn area

Other regional dive sites:

This dive guide to Fish Hoek Reef is a usable article. It has information on location and equipment as well as some complete entries on what to see. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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