Scuba Diving in Umkomaas for Certified Divers

As a certified diver, your holidays in South Africa would not be complete without a trip to the East Coast to go scuba diving in Umkomaas! Hop onboard our rib or zodiac boat and let us show you why this part of the globe is so famous amongst scuba diving enthusiasts around the globe.

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Dive Area
We dive at the Aliwal Shoal reef which is listed as one of Jacques Cousteau's best dive sites in the world. It consists of a rocky reef that sits in the middle of a sandy plain with many caves and overhangs that shelter all sorts of marine species. Indeed, the nearby Agulhas Current brings warmth and nutrients to the area, whereby the aquatic wildlife at Aliwal Shoal can thrive. This is also why larger predators, in particular tiger sharks, often frequent the area in search of prey. Sightings of these fascinating creatures present a real highlight for all those who go scuba diving in Umkomaas. Dolphins and turtles are also spotted here quite often and divers that come between the months of May and November might even be lucky enough to see the odd humpback whale. Moreover, Aliwal Shoal is a great dive site for both newly certified divers as well as for divers with a lot of experience due to its incredible diversity. As such, scuba diving in Umkomaas is on countless divers' bucket list.

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Programme
In order to go scuba diving in Umkomaas, we ask you to arrive at our dive centre at 07:00 am where you will check-in, fill out the necessary paperwork and get geared up. We're happy to provide you with rental equipment for the day for an additional fee if necessary. Moreover, we will start loading the boat at around 07:30 to be ready and set for an 08:00 am launch from the Umkomaas River Mouth. The boat ride to Aliwal Shoal takes around 10 to 15 minutes, depending on which of the many spots around Aliwal Shoal we choose.

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Highlights
- Boat trip to the reef and back
- Back-roll entry into the water
- Exploring the beautifully diverse Aliwal Shoal reef and its bustling wildlife
- Spot animals like sharks, turtles, dolphins and possibly whales

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Facts
- Total duration: 3h
- Group size per guide: 10 people
- Number of dives per trip: 1

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Included Services
- Certified dive guide
- Boat ride to and from the dive site
- Optional: Hard gear set (BCD regulator) rental for R200 per day
- Optional: Full gear set (hard gear, wetsuit, mask, fins, weight belt & cylinder) rental for R400

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Requirements
- Minimum age: 10 years
- Certified Open Water Diver
- At least 1 logged dive within the last year
- Marine Permit (obtainable from our Dive Centre or any Post Office in South Africa)