Best macro dive spots in South Africa? Any guides who love small animals?

[cephalopod2]

I am wondering what you feel the best macro dive spots in South Africa are.

I have been rumbling around the internet reading ScubaBoard, checking dive op's FB photos and reading about marine bioregions but despite my efforts I don't feel I am making much progress. So I thought I would ask the people who already have the answer.

Of course every site has macro life, but from the info I have found it seems that many of the most famous South African locations are focused on pelagics and/or reefscapes.

I have looked at all the Sodwana Bay photos I could find, but macro critters do not seem to be the primary emphasis there (from what I could see).

I found these wonderful posts by @MermaidLaura and @seastung about Cape Town sites that sound just beautiful - is Cape Town the best macro diving or are there others who would like to chime in?

Wow... Top 5 dive sites in South Africa....
Steenbras Deep, Noble Reef and New Reef in Gordon's Bay (the other side of False Bay to Simons Town) - fabulous, unspoilt reefs, unusual marine life, macro climates all of their own, diverse, nudibranchs, lush...colorful - simply stunning!

I'm also Cape Town based. Atlantic side it's really hard to beat Star Walls: the longest wall in Cape Town, drops from 8m to about 36 in places and the wall itself is just covered with life: sumo crabs and nudibranchs all over... as one diver said, it's nudi wallpaper down thereShore dives I like Coral Gardens and man have we ever been finding interesting stuff at little old Long Beach -- three very unusual nudis for starters

I'll be bringing my own muck-honed searching skills, but if there are any local guides who LOVE macro animals, I would love to hear about them too. I particularly love nudibranchs and you have some gorgeous ones I see!

And not having dry suit experience, I also am wondering where the nicest 'warmest' temperate sites would be for critters.

I have dived 2 weeks in Tofo Mozambique which I felt was very good for macro, but I am eager to see what South Africa has to offer - especially animals which cannot be seen in Moz or the Coral Triangle.

Many thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Fires]

I am wondering what you feel the best macro dive spots in South Africa are.

I have been rumbling around the internet reading ScubaBoard, checking dive op's FB photos and reading about marine bioregions but despite my efforts I don't feel I am making much progress. So I thought I would ask the people who already have the answer.

Of course every site has macro life, but from the info I have found it seems that many of the most famous South African locations are focused on pelagics and/or reefscapes.

I have looked at all the Sodwana Bay photos I could find, but macro critters do not seem to be the primary emphasis there (from what I could see).

I found these wonderful posts by @MermaidLaura and @seastung about Cape Town sites that sound just beautiful - is Cape Town the best macro diving or are there others who would like to chime in?




I'll be bringing my own muck-honed searching skills, but if there are any local guides who LOVE macro animals, I would love to hear about them too. I particularly love nudibranchs and you have some gorgeous ones I see!

And not having dry suit experience, I also am wondering where the nicest 'warmest' temperate sites would be for critters.

I have dived 2 weeks in Tofo Mozambique which I felt was very good for macro, but I am eager to see what South Africa has to offer - especially animals which cannot be seen in Moz or the Coral Triangle.

Many thanks for your thoughts.

I realise this is a very old post. But without an answer, it really serves no purpose.

To answer your question, and based on what you are looking for (warm water, macro etc.) I would have suggested Sodwana Bay. Plenty of macro life as well as the pelagic life everyone talks about. As far as I remember it, there was a operator (I think it was Amoray diving - not sure if it is still the same owner, or maybe the son now running it) who was considering doing a PADI distinctive speciality for nudi's there. So you can see plenty there for sure.

Hope this helps the next person who might stumble across it.