Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Caravan Reef

The dive site Caravan Reef is an inshore rocky reef in the Miller's Point area on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Caravan Reef Halal Travel Guide

Dive sites of Caravan Reef - Map showing the layout and position of the dive sites at Caravan Reef

Caravan Reef is a large area of granite reef to the north east of the slipway at Miller's Point, and as such is very close to the launch area. One would think that it would be a popular dive site, but it is largely unexplored, unlike the adjacent wreck of the SAS Pietermaritzburg, which is one of the most frequently dived sites on the Cape Peninsula.

Position

Approximately half a square kilometer of reef centred about 750 m north-east of the Miller's Point slipway, and about 700 m in diameter.

S34°13.417’ E018°28.527’ Caravan Central north pinnacle GPS -34.223617,18.475450
S34°13.433’ E018°28.550’ Caravan Central east pinnacle GPS -34.223883,18.475833
S34°13.352’ E018°28.733’ North Caravan GPS -34.222533,18.478883
S34°13.513' E018°28.721' South Caravan GPS -34.225217,18.478683
S34°13.311' E018°28.564' PMB Pinnacles GPS -34.221850,18.476067|zoom=15, named for its proximity to the wreck of SAS Pietermaritzburg
S34°13.500' E018°28.450' Inner Caravan GPS -34.225,18.474167 (estimated)

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

Name

This site is offshore of the caravan park at Miller’s Point, which may be the origin of the name "Caravan Reef".

Depth

Central: Maximum about 12 to 15 m, Top of reef about 5 m
North: Maximum about 22 m, Top of reef about 12 m
East: Maximum about 17 m, Top of reef about 3.5 m
South: Maximum about 20 m, Top of reef about 4 m
PMB Pinnacles: Maximum about 22 m on the sand to the east. Top of highest pinnacle about 6 m.

Topography

PMB Pinnacles map - Map of the dive site at PMB Pinnacles

Thit is an extensive area of granite reef. It can be subdivided into a number of sections:

North Caravan Reef: Sand at about 22 m on the east side. Top of the reef is at about 12 m. There is a long ridge running roughly north-west/south-east which is high to the south-west side, with a steep wall and occasional transverse jointing, and low to the north, with steeper parts further south. This section is separated from Central Caravan Reef by a band of sand bottom at about 20 m depth.

Central Caravan Reef: The largest contiguous section of reef. Roughly central to the other sections.

South Caravan Reef: Separated from Central Caravan Reef by a narrow belt of sand. Huge granite outcrops with scattered smaller boulders on a shelly sand bottom. Quite a lot of cracks, but mostly quite narrow and not very deep. A few small overhangs. The pinnacle is quite shallow, at about 4 m, but most of the outcrops are much lower, and are seldom as shallow as 10 m.

Inner Caravan Reef: Separated from Central Caravan Reef by a narrow belt of sand. Not yet surveyed.

PMB Pinnacles: Separated from Central Caravan Reef by a narrow belt of sand. This section has a compact group of fairly massive boulders, including an almost pyramidal pinnacle, standing on a flattish base of rock at about 15 m, and rising to a small peak about 4 m from the surface. Nearby to the south, across a very narrow sand belt and there is a patch of mostly low reef with a few boulders rising above 15 m. The adjacent sand is at a depth of 18 to 22 m.

Geology: Late Pre-Cambrian granite corestones of the Peninsula pluton on a sand bottom.

Conditions

The site is moderately protected from south westerly swell. South east chop may make it unpleasant on the surface, but it may be quiet below the wave base, however a strong south easter or one that blows for a long time will push up a swell that will make it unpleasant all the way down. Generally considered a winter dive site but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and spring.

Muslim Friendly Travel TO Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Caravan Reef

GPS -34.223883,18.475833 width=|align=Caravan Reef}} Boat dive from Millers Point. About 1 km from the slipway (Caravan North) or less.

What to see in Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Caravan Reef

Strawberry_anemones_at_Caravan_Reef_DSC00997 - Strawberry anemones

Marine life

A wide range of typical False Bay invertebrates may be found on the reefs.

Southern area: In the 15 to 20 m depth range the cover is split between a dense turf of large sea squirts with common feather stars on the steeper surfaces, occasional gaps with Strawberry anemones or encrusting sponges, and upper surfaces often covered by Red chested or Mauve sea cucumbers, with a scattering of golden cucumbers. Some low areas with serpent skinned brittle stars. A fair number of gorgonian sea fans, a few Cauliflower and Sunburst soft corals. Quite a number of smallish thickets of arborescent hydroids. Occasional small plocamium. In shallower areas a lot of red-bait or similar on top of the reef.

Photography

Routes

No particular routes recommended.

Stay Safe

Hazards

Thit is an area where boat traffic may be heavy. Great white sharks have been sighted near this site.

Skills

No special skills required, though the ability to deploy a DSMB is useful in case you need to surface away from the shot line.

Equipment

Surface marker buoy recommended if you ascend away from the boat as thit is an area with a lot of boating traffic, not all of which pays a great deal of attention to diving flags.

Nearby

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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Caravan Reef

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