View source for Diving the Tsitsikamma/Rheeder's Reef

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The dive site '''Rheeder's Reef''' is an inshore rocky reef in the Storm's River Mouth area of the Tsitsikamma National Park, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

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===Position===
* S34.02901° E23.92825° *Rheeder's Reef GPS -34.02901,23.92825 


Beyond the ''Knoll'' on the coastline to the east of the Storm's River mouth.

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This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2022). A permit is required.
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===Depth===
Maximum depth is about 21m. and the shallower areas are mostly about 16m, but extend inshore as far as you can dive. This is not often shallower than about 8m, as the surge can be very strong, and it is usually more pleasant to stay a bit deeper. 

===Visibility===
Visibility is very variable, and ranges from less than 3m to more than 20m. 10m would be considered good.

===Topography===
Extensive relatively flat reef. Ridges run E-W with strike of sedimentary rock, probably sandstones and shales. Occasional sand patches. Dip very steep, near vertical.

'''Geology:'''
Sedimentary rocks of the Table Mountain series, probably Ordovician sandstones of the ''Peninsula'' formation..
Strike roughly east-west, parallel with the shoreline cliffs, Dip very steep, near vertical.

===Conditions===
The site is exposed to wind and swell from the south east and south west, so should be dived when the swell is fairly low and particularly when the swell period is short. The site is reasonably protected from winds from the north west, but these usually accompany a cold front and south westerly swell will follow.

The site is usually at it's best in winter but there are also occasional opportunities at other times of the year.
The site will probably be diveable in any conditions when it is safe to launch or recover a boat at the slipway, but this gives no indication of the visibility.

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Access to this site is only by boat as the shore is a steep cliff. The site is about (distance)km from the Storm's River Mouth slipway 

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===Marine life===
Varies considerably with the topography: On the higher profile areas,there is quite heavy invertebrate turf with lots of sponges, gorgonian twig corals, colonial ascidians, False corals, and scattered anemones. Also sone Granular, Reticulated, Cobbled and Spiny starfish, brittle stars, feather stars, Cape urchins, fan hydroids, small whitish soft corals, nudibranchs, small barnacles etc.
Fish include Blue Hottentot, Roman, Dageraad, Blacktail, Fransmadam, Koester, Steentjie, and shy sharks

<gallery widths="180px" heights="120px" >
Lobed colonial ascidians at Rheeder's ReefP2277044 - Orange lobed colonial ascidians 
Orange and blue fan ascidians at Rheeder's Reef P2277048 - Orange and blue fan ascidians 
Articulated coralline algal turf at Rheeder's Reef P2277054 - Articulated coralline algal turf 
Reef assemblage at Rheeder's Reef P2277055 - Reef assemblage 
Juvenile Dageraad at Rheeder's Reef P2277087 - Juvenile Slinger 
Sea fan at Rheeder's Reef P2277121 - Sea fan 
Noble coral at Rheeder's Reef P2277132 - Noble coral 
Basket star on sponge at Rheeder's Reef P2277147 - Basket star on sponge 
Reef assemblage at Rheeder's Reef P2277153 - Invertebrate reef assemblage 
Cape dorids on sponge at Rheeder's Reef P2277156 - Cape dorid nudibranchs on a sponge 
Gas flame nudibranch at Rheeder's Reef P2277157 - Gas flame nudibranch 
Juvenile Koester at Rheeder's Reef P2277159 - Juvenile Koester 
</gallery>

===Photography===
Good site for photography, particularly close up and macro photography of invertebrates, but also providing opportunities to photograph the local reef fish, Visibility is variable, and the water is fairly deep, so an external flash is recommended for anything other than close-up work.

===Routes===
No particular routes recommended. Try to find an area where the ridges and gullies are relatively large as there is more to see and less bare rock.

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===Hazards===
No site specific hazards known.

===Skills===
No special skills required. Good buoyancy control is helpful if there is a strong surge.

===Equipment===
No special equipment required. A DSMB will make it easier for the boat crew to find you if you do not surface on the shotline. A shotline is not particularly useful here for recreational dives, as the bottom is relatively flat. If the visibility is poor it will be dark, and a light will be useful to restore colour at depth.

Back to Diving the Tsitsikamma 

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