Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Dome Rock
From Halal Explorer
The dive site Dome Rock reef is an offshore rocky reef in the Simon's Bay area of False Bay, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
Contents
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Dome Rock Halal Travel Guide
Dome Rock Reef map - Map of the dive site at Dome Rock Divers at safety stop P9070239 - Divers at safety stop at Dome Rock reef
Position
S34°11.119' E18°27.776' Dome Rock reef GPS -34.185317,18.462933 (16m pinnacle)
This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required. The site is almost entirely within the Boulders Restricted Zone of the Cape Peninsula Marine Protected Area
Name
The site was named "Dome Rock" by the first diver known to have dived there, who reported a large domed pinnacle.
Depth
Maximum depth is about 25 m on the surrounding sand, and the top of the pinnacle is about 16 m. (Average depth for a dive is likely to be about 22 m.)
Visibility
Visibility is likely to be similar to the nearby reefs, but may be a bit better than the shallower areas if there is a significant swell.
Topography
The site comprises two adjacent areas of reef. To the south there is a large outcrop of granite, rising from the sand bottom at about 24 m to a small pinnacle at about 16 m. This area of reef is about 60 m from east to west and about 40 m from north to south, with the pinnacle about central on the south edge. The northern section is similar in size, but relatively flat and quite close to the southern section across a sandy gap with scattered boulders. There are other outlying areas of low reef to the south and west that have not yet been surveyed, and no information is available about them.
Geology: Pre-cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton, surrounded by fine quartz sand.
Conditions
The site is exposed to south easterly winds and waves, so should be dived in westerly winds. The site is reasonably protected from swells from the south west.
The site is usually at it's best in autumn, winter or spring, but there are also occasional opportunities in summer.
Muslim Friendly Travel TO Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Dome Rock
-34.185317|18.462933|width=|align=* Dome Rock reef}} This reef is only accessible by boat. The site is about 3.2 km from Simons' Town jetty, or 4.6 km from Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Miller's Point slipway|Miller's Point slipway.
What to See
Marine life
The reef is typical for this region and depth range. There is the usual heavy encrustation of echinoderms, including feather stars, brittle stars and sea cucumbers, and a moderate number of sea fans, soft corals and anemones. There will probably be small shoals of hottentot seabream and a few other reef fish, like klipfish, fingerfins and Roman.
- Striped anemone P9070215 - Striped anemone
- Strawberry anemones P9070176 - Strawberry anemones
- Eunicella tricoronata P9070233 - Close-up of the sinuous sea fan ''Eunicella tricoronata''
- Bryozoan P9070185 - Scrolled false coral
- Balanophyllia bonaespei P9070161 - Cup corals ''Balanophyllia bonaespei''
- Malacacanthus capensis P9070150 - Malacacanthus capensis - Sunburst soft corals
Photography
Macro photography is likely to produce good results on most dives.
Suggested Routes
No particular routes recommended and the main section of the reef is small enough to explore on a single dive, and there is only one significant pinnacle.
Stay Safe
Hazards
No site-specific hazards known.
Skills
No special skills required.
Equipment
No special equipment required. A DSMB is recommended if you are likely to surface away from the shotline, and nitrox will probably allow a longer dive.
Nearby
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Castor Rock|Castor Rock - Northern Pinnacle GPS -34.178117,18.459833
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Castor Rock|Castor Rock - Central Pinnacle GPS -34.178667,18.460083
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Friskies Pinnacle|North Friskies Pinnacle GPS -34.178667,18.463833
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Friskies Pinnacle|Friskies Pinnacle GPS -34.179667,18.463667
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Castor Rock|Wonders Pinnacle GPS -34.180167,18.460833
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Castor Rock|Roman's Rest GPS -34.180583,18.463417
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Roman Rock|Roman Rock GPS -34.18122,18.46007
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Roman Rock|Spider Crab Reef GPS -34.1815,18.457167
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Tivoli Pinnacles|Tivoli Pinnacles GPS -34.1815333,18.46275
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Rambler Rock|Rambler Rock North-east reefs GPS -34.181933,18.466600
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Rambler Rock|Rambler Rock North-west pinnacle GPS -34.182067,18.464983
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Rambler Rock|Rambler Rock Southern pinnacles GPS -34.183517,18.465300
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Rambler Rock|Hotlips Pinnacle GPS -34.185767,18.468183
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Noah's Ark|Noah’s Ark - Eastern wreck GPS -34.192167,18.455100
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Maidstone Rock|Ammo Reef GPS -34.192733,18.462567
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Maidstone Rock|Anchor Reef GPS -34.192917,18.460000
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Noah's Ark|Noah’s Ark - Heat exchanger GPS -34.192767,18.454783
Back to Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay#Roman Rock area
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