The dive site Whale Rock is an offshore rocky reef in the Robben Island area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
Understand
editPosition
edit1 Whale Rock: S33°50.112’ E018°22.858’ — A shoal area of reef south of Robben Island.
This site is in the Robben Island Marine Protected Area since 2019. A permit is required.
Name
editThe name "Whale Rock" is the name for the area on SA Navy charts.
Depth
editFairly shallow. Mostly less than 10 m.
Topography
editLarge area of shallow reef.
Geology: Pre-Cambrian sedimentary rocks, probably of the Tygerberg formation.
Conditions
editThis reef is exposed to the south west swell. There is often a break in the area and the surge can be very powerful. The water is usually cold. The site should be dived when the sea is fairly flat.
The site is usually at it's best in summer but there are also occasional opportunities in other seasons.
Get in
editOnly accessible by boat. The site is about 8 km from Oceana Power Boat Club slipway.
There are day charter boats which can take a diver to any of the dive sites in the region, but most operators only work from a limited number of launch sites, which limits the dive sites they visit. Visits to a dive site also depend on the weather and are generally not predictable or bookable more than two to four days in advance. See the listing for Cape Peninsula and False Bay boat dive charters and the associated services directory for contact details.
See
editMarine life
editLarge red bait pods abound in this area.
Photography
editRoutes
editNo particular route recommended.
Stay safe
editHazards
editSurge can be very strong.
Skills
editNo special skills required.
Equipment
editNo special equipment recommended
Nearby
edit- 1 Robben Island steamer wreck
- 2 MV Daeyang Family
- 3 SS Hypatia
- 4 MV Winton
- 5 Highfields
- 6 Two Oceans Aquarium
- 7 SS Cape Matapan
- 8 RMS Athens
- 9 SS SA Seafarer
- 10 MV Gemsbok
- 11 Three Anchor Bay
- 12 Sea Point Ridge Pinnacles
- 13 Bantry Bay
Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Robben Island area
Other regional dive sites: