Aliwal Shoal Reef

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africareef18 m maxbeginner

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Conditions & tides

Aliwal Shoal ReefKwaZulu-Natal · 18 m

Fair · 4/5

conditions visualisation

Fair4/5

Some chop right now — best window today 11 AM–6 PM.

Wind6 kn SSW

Current~0.3 kn NNW · model

Swell

1.1 m · 7s · SE

Water

22 °C

Conditions through the day

7 AM7 PM

Calmest current near slack — 08:30 AM & 09:00 PM local

Sunrise 05:43 AM · Sunset 05:53 PM local

Show details

Tide · local

Outlook — select a day for full conditions

On-face swell 1.1 m — the component of the swell aimed at this site’s exposed face. Current is a regional model value (Copernicus, ~9 km grid) — a guide to the area, not a precise reef measurement. Imagery © Esri · not depth or visibility.

Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model

Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.

Dived here today? How were conditions vs. what we showed?

About this site

Aliwal Shoal is a submerged sandstone reef off the KwaZulu-Natal coast near Umkomaas, south of Durban, formed from an ancient fossilized dune. It reaches a maximum depth of around 18 metres and is rated a beginner dive over reef terrain. Tiger sharks are a confirmed presence on the shoal, and divers have also reported bull sharks, great white sharks, hammerheads, mackerel, manta rays, nudibranchs, nurse sharks, thresher sharks and whale sharks in the area. It remains a popular launch point for shark diving operators working out of Umkomaas and the surrounding south coast towns, with several distinct pinnacles and swim-throughs across the reef.

AI overview

Marine life here

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

Tiger SharkGaleocerdo cuvierConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Nurse sharkNurse sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Narrow-banded Spanish MackerelScomberomorus commersonReported here · unconfirmed
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacaresReported here · unconfirmed
False JacobeverSebastes capensisReported here · unconfirmed
Hammerhead sharkHammerhead sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Thresher sharkThresher sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Great white sharkGreat white sharkReported here · unconfirmed
MackerelMackerelReported here · unconfirmed
Whale SharkRhincodon typusReported here · unconfirmed
Bull SharkCarcharhinus leucasReported here · unconfirmed
Manta rayManta rayReported here · unconfirmed
NudibranchNudibranchReported here · unconfirmed