The popular seaside resort of Margate, which boasts its own airport, offers some of the best diving on the South African coast with vast shoals of game fish and big groups of sharks congregating around Protea Banks.
Visitors will find many accommodation options in Margate.
Diving Sites
Adda Reef
Access: A five-minute boat ride from Shelley Beach.
Conditions: Subject to rainy season run-off.
The reef runs for about 500m in a north-south direction. There are some deep caves with soft corals, anemones and many tropical reef fish.
Deep Salmon
Access: A five-minute boat ride from Shelley Beach.
Conditions: As it is close to shore, this reef can be murky in surgy conditions or if the rivers are in flood.
Deep Salmon consists of a large ridge with interesting caves, huge coral trees and colourful tropical reef fish. The rare tiger angelfish has been spotted on this reef.
Bo Boyi Reef
Access: This reef is close inshore and is a five-minute boat ride from Shelley Beach.
Conditions: As it is close to shore, this reef can be murky in surgy conditions or if the rivers are in flood.
This reef has many caves and overhangs and large colonies of soft corals. The fish life is prolific and game fish, such as kob or daga salmon, are often seen.
Potato Reef
Access: This is short (five-minute) boat ride from the Shelley Beach launch site.
Conditions: As it is close to shore, this reef can be murky in surgy conditions or if the rivers are in flood.
This lovely reef has many soft corals and plays host to a great variety of fish life.
