Protea Banks

Protea Banks is a reef system off Shelly Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, though it sits near the border with the Eastern Cape, reached by boat from Margate or Shelly Beach. It is known primarily as a shark diving destination, with divers regularly encountering ragged-tooth sharks seasonally, along with reports of bull (Zambezi) sharks and tiger sharks on baited dives, plus hammerheads, eagle rays, grouper, and even whales passing through at times. The reef reaches a maximum depth of around 36 metres and is rated an advanced dive, split into northern and southern pinnacles, with divers noting blue water descents, deep sections, and strong drift currents typical of its exposed offshore position. Because of the depth, current, and shark interactions involved, it is generally considered a dive for those with some experience rather than a beginner site.

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

• Hammerhead sharkHammerhead sharkReported here · unconfirmed
• Eagle rayEagle rayReported here · unconfirmed
• GrouperGrouperReported here · unconfirmed
• Tiger SharkGaleocerdo cuvierReported here · unconfirmed
• Bull SharkCarcharhinus leucasReported here · unconfirmed
• WhaleWhaleReported here · unconfirmed