Diving at Ledges

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

Aerial view of the dive site at Ledges. (Photo CDS&M)

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

Position

• S34°10.193’ E018°50.726’ 1 Ledges

This site is not in a Marine Protected Area. A permit is not required.

Name

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

Maximum depth is about 9 m.

Topography

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

Best during or after South Easterly winds. Reasonably sheltered from South Westerly swells.

Facilities

Small paved parking area on the seaward side of the road.

Get in

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

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

Marine life

See also: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay#The marine ecology

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.

Routes

No particular route recommended.

Stay safe

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

Hazards

Shore access requires a scramble down steep rocks and a slightly tricky entry and exit.

Skills

No special skills required for boat dive. Reasonable fitness would be required for shore dive to climb down the mountainside from the road

Equipment

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

No special equipment recommended.

Nearby

• 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:

• Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
• Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast
• Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula east coast
• Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
• Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area