Cape Town diving - An overview

[Grey Goose]

Aquarat (and others), thanks for the description of Cape Town diving in another thread on SA diving. Below, I've got a few question, so any advise from experienced Cape Town divers would be appreciated.

I'm heading to Cape Town, arriving the morning of March 3 (Saturday) and hope to set up in Simon's Town and dive in the area through to and including Tuesday before I head back to the city for meetings on Wednesday. Is there any benefit to diving in and around Simon's Town for a few days and then move to the city centre a day earlier and dive there on Tuesday (in Cape Town, staying near harbour), or would it be best to stay around Simon's town for diving portion of my trip?

About me. I'm a cold water diver living in Toronto, Canada. Will likely bring my drysuit and Bp/w.

A few more questions:

What kind of tanks do they rent in Cape Town (size, steel vs aluminum)? Do they rent back mount double tanks? Do the shops rent DIN tanks? I assume SPG's are metric?

I will check out Pisces Divers. Others? Aquarat, do you have any more info on the Underwater Explorers and where they might dive (I'm GUE Fundies certified)? Can I anticipate a problem finding buddies on the Monday or Tuesday (e.g., do local shops have excursions these days)?

The sevengill shark dive @ Pyramid Rock looks interesting, as does the Cape Fur seal dive (Partridge Point). Lot's of wreck diving where I am so would prefer to see pretty fish and corals (both would be ok, too). Any other suggestions welcome, ~85 feet or up.

Any recommendations for accommodations in Simon's town (or other setting) appreciated, as would recommendations for things to do in and around Simon's Town after diving done for the day.

Thanks!

 

[DivealotZA]

Hi Grey Goose

I'm just going to respond in line, I hope you don't mind!

would it be best to stay around Simon's town for diving portion of my trip?
Simonstown isn't that far from the City so driving would be fine, otherwise you could organize a dive on the Atlantic side while you stay there, it will get good use of your drysuit. Diving here can be really give or take, and Summer diving False bay generally is unpredictable, with the South-Easter, Gordons Bay and Atlantic side generally clean up, but it's all really weather dependent, you may have crystal clear water in False Bay too and dirty waters in the others...

What kind of tanks do they rent in Cape Town (size, steel vs aluminum)? Do they rent back mount double tanks? Do the shops rent DIN tanks? I assume SPG's are metric?
Most commonly, DIN 12l steel - but all places will have a yolk adapter or yolk tanks...some places do also have back mount doubles, but you would have to inquire with them first...SPG's are metric and work in bars

I will check out Pisces Divers. Can I anticipate a problem finding buddies on the Monday or Tuesday (e.g., do local shops have excursions these days)?
Shouldn't be that hard to find divers, but if you do, drop me a message and I'll organize for my wife to take you out, we have full gear, tanks etc. and she's an instructor

The sevengill shark dive @ Pyramid Rock looks interesting, as does the Cape Fur seal dive (Partridge Point). Lot's of wreck diving where I am so would prefer to see pretty fish and corals (both would be ok, too). Any other suggestions welcome, ~85 feet or up.
Simonstown has some beautiful sites, a lot are shore entry, worth a look are definitely A-Frame, Castle Rock and Shark Alley/Pyramid Rock - this can be done as a shore and boat dive, but to me it's no point in doing it as a boat dive...

Any recommendations for accommodations in Simon's town (or other setting) appreciated, as would recommendations for things to do in and around Simon's Town after diving done for the day.
Go get some wine in the Winelands after! Kalk Bay is also a nice little town to visit, and the city centre really isn't that far away...Accomodation, I've stayed at Whale View Manor Boutique Hotel and Spa - Simon's Town Accommodation, cape town beachside accommodation, seaside day spa and Peninsula Tours which is quite nice.

Hope this helps a little more!

 

[Grey Goose]

Many thanks for this. Lots of useful information. I may just take you up on diving with your wife. Given I won’t be getting in until mid morning Saturday, March 3, I will probably miss out on any charters going out so will be looking for a buddy/guide. Also on Monday, it looks like a lot of charters are closed so will need a buddy.

 

[cephalopod2]

Hi Grey Goose,
Just getting back from Kenya and catching this. I'm not a local, but was just in Cape Town for 2 weeks diving in March 2017 so thought I would add a couple more thoughts.

What kind of tanks do they rent in Cape Town (size, steel vs aluminum)?
Pisces' default was 10L steel when I was there with 12L steel available at no extra charge but you had to ask in advance.

The sevengill shark dive @ Pyramid Rock looks interesting, as does the Cape Fur seal dive (Partridge Point). Lot's of wreck diving where I am so would prefer to see pretty fish and corals (both would be ok, too). Any other suggestions welcome, ~85 feet or up.

There are 2 tank boat trips for sevengills and then seals so you could easily do them both in 1 day. Check closer to your departure how many sevengills have been seen recently. I've been told sightings have been down. It's the sevengills that make that site IMO. You can also book single boat dives with e.g. Pisces without penalty, so shore sevengills + boat seals may also be possible depending on dates.

I don't know how hard core you are, but if there are any days you're not diving with Mrs. DivealotZA the best way I found to get 3 guaranteed dives a day in was shore diving with Carel of Dive Inn (former head instructor for Pisces) who's also legendary in CT as a spotter. Diving with Carel you have unlimited dive time. Pisces defaulted to a 45 min time limit, but when I asked nicely were kind enough to extend that to 60 min. The shore sites I dove were so shallow I could log 90-100+ min dives with Carel on a 12L no problem and would have been longer were I not so cold - I envy your drysuit! And I don't know what size of group you usually dive with, but if you want to take advantage of the DM's local knowledge/guiding the dive groups I had with Pisces were on the larger side (compared to Asia). E.g. I had a group of 10:1 at Partridge in 0.5m viz (as a boat dive), but they will run groups as large as 12:1 they told me.

Any recommendations for accommodations in Simon's town (or other setting) appreciated, as would recommendations for things to do in and around Simon's Town after diving done for the day.

I stayed here which is really close to Pisces and has a great view and breakfast www.moonglow.co.za.

In terms of other things to do, walking among the African penguins at Boulders Beach (where I also saw rock hyraxes) and visiting Cape Point (esp the trail to the furthest lighthouse) were both great. I'm not usually one for such things, but I also enjoyed the short tour of the ostrich farm out near Cape Point.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[matador]

Just saw this, so if it isn't already too late I will briefly answer your questions.
I would suggest stay in Simon't town. Getting from Cape to Simon's town early in the morning for the dives (and then going back) can be a pain especially if you get stuck on the wrong side of traffic.
Double-tanks: not sure if they rent them but not sure if you need them either. Dives do not tend to be very long because of the cold ...
7-gill sharks: apparently not there anymore, orcas have been attacking them as well as the great whites: Orcas dining on great white shark livers in South Africa | Daily Mail Online
Seal dive is fun, go for it.

I did a few dives around Cape in June last year and I really loved it. Kelp forest and seal dive was fun but I was particularly impressed with the amount and variety of nudibranches. If you are a nudi lover I could recommend you a local dive guide which specialises in them, pm if interested.
Here are my photos from my trip last year: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stefanost/albums/72157684890375786

have fun (and be careful at night ...)

 

[billt4sf]

Yoke not yolk