Diving With Sharks on Aliwal Shoal
There are numerous species of sharks to be found in our warm waters at Durban’s Aliwal Shoal on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast therefore making it one of the best to dive. The species of sharks range from Ragged Tooth Sharks which make their appearance on Aliwal Shoal from April through to November to majestic Whale Sharks which can be seen from December… It is for this reason that Aliwal Shoal is such a popular diving site.
Ragged Tooth Sharks
Ragged Tooth Sharks can be viewed either at Aliwal Shoal Reef or at our Local reefs off Rocky Bay, just south of Durban. At times you will be able to see female Ragged Tooth Sharks the whole year round! Due to their long sharp teeth they tend to look fierce, but are relatively relaxed and make for excellent photos.
Tiger Sharks
Tiger Sharks are definitely one of the most awesome sharks to dive with in the open ocean. We are one of the few countries in the world that do not use a cage on these dives. The best time to see a Tiger Shark at Durban’s Aliwal Shoal is in the summer, although they are also seen in the Winter. There can be anything from 1 – 10 Tigers on a dive out at Aliwal Shoal.
Black Tip Sharks
Black Tip Sharks can be seen throughout the year in schools of 5 to 30 sharks on a dive at Durban’s Aliwal Shoal. You can dive on a reef to view the sharks and then come up to 10m of water and do a drift dive with the sharks. On such a dive, one can also encounter Tiger Sharks and, during the winter months, the Dusky shark.
Bull Sharks
Bull Sharks are a great sighting while on a dive because they are not always around. They can be seen on the Reefs at Durban’s Aliwal Shoal at times.
Giant Guitar Sharks
These are found in the Summer months on sandy patches on Durban’s Aliwal Shoal.
Hammer Head Sharks
Hammer head sharks can be seen throughout the year on our Aliwal Shoal Reefs. However, the summer months seem to be the best time to view these sharks.
Whale Sharks
Whale Sharks can be seen at Durban’s Aliwal Shoal from December to March. This is because there is an abundance of plankton in the water for them to feed on. From Rocky Bay to Scottburgh they swim close inshore, where there can be anywhere between 1 – 7 on a given day.
