Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Bantry Bay

The dive site Bantry Bay is a shoreline rocky reef in the Sea Point area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

Position

• S33°55.56’ E018°22.65’ 1 Bantry Bay This little bay is at the southern end of Sea Point, towards Clifton.

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required.

Name

The name "Bantry Bay" has been associated with this cove for more than a century, and this is the name used on maps of the area.

Depth

Fairly shallow, probably not more than 10 m

Topography

The contact zone between the granite Peninsula pluton and the older Tygerberg strata at Bantry Bay

Mixed granite and metamorphosed Tygerberg rock in the contact zone

The layout is simple: a small bay fringed with thick kelp with sandy areas in-between. The reef is large granite boulders and outcrops.

Geology: Granite of the Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton. This site is very close to the famous boundary between the intrusive granite of the huge Cape Peninsula batholith and the older sedimentary rock of the Tygerberg formation. A short distance to the north on the shore is an area of metamorphic rock where the molten granite made contact with the surrounding strata. There is considerable variation in the rocks over about 100 m of shore. Worth a visit if you have any interest in geology.

Conditions

It is generally better to go at high tide, and important that the swell is very low for a shore entry. The site is slightly protected from the swell by a ridge outside the bay. This protection is only slight and this spot is quite exposed to the south west swell and it is not often diveable.

The site is usually at it's best in summer but there may also be occasional opportunities in other seasons.

Facilities

Adequate off-road parking.

Get in

Normally a shore entry, but may be done from a boat.

The site is about 6.4 km from Oceana Power Boat Club slipway at Granger Bay

Go along the Sea Point Beach Road and instead of turning left and up to go to Clifton at the traffic circle, go straight. The bay is right at the end of this little road, which also turns up at the end, though the last section is one-way down. Park anywhere near the bay and go down the steps in the corner where the road turns up. Getting in is generally easy, just jump. Getting out is more of a problem. Most rocks are a touch too steep to get onto, others are too much affected by waves. Judge things carefully as it can be a bit tricky getting out again after the dive.

See

Marine life

Fairly dense kelp forest of sea bamboo. The sand is quite heavy and has many bits of shell it. It is one of the few places where one can quite easily find the Leprous Platanna klipfish Xenopoclinus leprosus. These are well hidden, but a patient search will reveal them. This is also the place where you may see Bobtails.

Routes

No special routes suggested.

Stay safe

Hazards

Difficult exit if the swell comes up.

Skills

No special skills required, Suitable for night dives in good conditions

Equipment

No special equipment recommended.

Nearby

• MV Gemsbok
• 1 Three Anchor Bay
• 2 Sea Point Ridge Pinnacles
• 3 North Lion’s Paw Northern Pinnacles
• 4 North Lion’s Paw Monty's Pinnacles
• 5 North Lion’s Paw Eastern Pinnacle
• 6 North Lion’s Paw Barry's Pinnacles
• 7 North Lion’s Paw Cave Rock
• 8 North Lion’s Paw Main Reef
• 9 South Lion’s Paw
• 10 Clifton Rocks
• 11 Cleeve's Tunnel

Back to Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay