Reef Snorkeling in Umkomaas

Dip your head beneath the surface of the sea and get a taste of the rich marine wildlife off South Africa's East Coast that scuba divers are so fascinated by. Snorkeling in Umkomaas is a great opportunity to swim with turtles, dolphins, whales, rays, sharks and all sorts of other fishes in their natural environment and to feel a sense of freedom and tranquillity you will rarely feel anywhere else.

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Dive Area
We snorkel 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 snorkeling in Umkomaas. Dolphins and turtles are also spotted here quite often and snorkelers that come between the months of May and November might even be lucky enough to see the odd humpback whale.

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Programme
- Meeting & Preparation:
In order to go snorkeling in Umkomaas, we ask you to arrive at our dive centre at 07:00 am where you will check-in and get geared up. We're happy to provide you with free rental equipment for the day 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
- Beautiful coral reef
- Diverse wildlife with many different species of fish
- Turtles, dolphins and possibly even whales
- Sharks (depending on the season: tiger sharks, pelagic black-tip sharks, white tip reef sharks, whale sharks, bull sharks, hammerhead sharks, ragged-tooth sharks dusky sharks, giant guitar sharks)

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

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Included Services
- Experienced skipper
- Boat ride to and from the dive site
- High-quality snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, wetsuit, fins)

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Requirements
- Ability to swim
- Marine Permit (obtainable from our Dive Centre or any Post Office in South Africa)