Diving at Troglodyte's Cove

The dive site Troglodyte's Cove or Cave Gully 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 if the dive site Troglodyte’s Cove. (Photo CDS&M)

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

Position

• S34°10.828’ E018°49.509’ 1 Troglodyte's Cove

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

Name

The site is named "Troglodyte's Cove" or "Cave Gully" for the cave at the head of the inlet which shows signs of recent habitation in the form of garbage and discarded utensils.

Depth

Maximum about 14 m at the edge of the sand.

Topography

The gully below the cave mouth has steep rock sides and pebble/boulder bottom. Reef ridges roughly parallel to shore formations, and gets to 9 m depth very close to the outer edge of the shoreline, then shelves down gradually to 14 m, at which depth it reaches the fine sand. The ripples on the sand are approximately perpendicular to shoreline as wave crests are also usually perpendicular to the shoreline. There are some fairly big outcrops and boulders up to about 3 m high above the bottom, and some overhangs near the shoreline, especially in the inlet. Towards Lorry Bay (West of the gully) the reef is more rugged and spectacular.

Geology: Sandstone with some quartzite veins. Probably of the Peninsula formation.

Conditions

South westerly swell should be short and low.

Facilities

Off road paved parking.

Get in

The entry gully from near the top

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

The site can be accessed by boat or from the shore.

Shore dive with a moderate climb. There is off-road paved parking on the seaward side of Faure Marine Drive (R44) at S34°10.887’ E018°49.464’. The path is to the right facing the sea. Walk along the path until it starts to descend steeply then turn shorewards to the deep gully and walk along the sloping ledge on the rock face that leads down to the cave mouth. From there climb down the boulder slope to the water’s edge at the large rusty steel roller.

View of the inlet from the water. The entry/exit point is right in the middle of the photo. The cave mouth is just visible up the gully.

There is a convenient rock to stand on to do final kit-up, and the water will usually be deep enough to jump in. About 250 m total walking distance with a descent of about 25 m, most of which is in the last 50 m. Entry and Exit are very sheltered from south west swell and the climb is not difficult. Access altogether reasonable for a fit diver.

Alternatively a boat dive about 4 km from Gordon's Bay harbour or 4.4 km from Harbour Island. Anchor off shore where you want to dive. The inlet is not a suitable anchorage.

See

Klipfish

Koester

Marine life

There is a rock to the north east of the gully which is frequented by a small group of seals.

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

Routes

1. In at gully at mouth of cave, Very easy entry, climb down rocks no problem. Dive in inlet, rock face on left till out of inlet, then straight out over coarse gravel North magnetic till sand. Turn and swim back about south east magnetic, over sand, gravel/pebbles, occasional small boulders, larger outcrops and finally rocky reef with pebble bottomed gullies to shoreline near the seal reef. Follow shoreline back to inlet and exit at gully
2. In at gully at mouth of cave, down, out and round to left (west). to quite near to Lorry Bay and back to gully.

Stay safe

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

Hazards

Shore access requires a walk down steep rock and boulders and a slightly tricky entry and exit.

Skills

No special skills required. Reasonable fitness and agility are required for shore entry.

Equipment

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

No special equipment recommended.

Nearby

• 1 Bikini Beach
• 2 Ledges
• 3 Vogelsteen
• 4 Cow and Calf
• 5 Stone Dog
• 6 Pinnacle
• 7 Tony's Reef
• 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