Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Geldkis Blinder

The dive site Geldkis Blinder is an inshore rocky reef in the North Oudekraal area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Geldkis Blinder Halal Travel Guide

North Oudekraal dive sites with routes - Map showing the location of the dive site Geldkis Blinder

Position

S33°58.67’ E018°21.62’ Geldkis blinder GPS -33.979333,18.360333 (top of the blinder)

A break is usually visible, though at high tide on a good day it may not break. Unfortunately if conditions are at their best, this will be the case. However the site is not difficult to find with a compass. From the gap between Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Geldkis|Geldkis and Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Strawberry Rocks|Strawberry Rocks, swim out about 40 m bearing 030° magnetic, and you should be over the reef. In good visibility it will be visible from the surface.

Alternatively, dive at the gap, and swim north magnetic until you are obstructed by high reef and then swim around with the reef to your left. It is hard to miss as it is much higher than the surrounding reef.

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

Name

The site is just to seaward of the large rock shown on charts and maps as Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Geldkis|Geldkis, which is also a well known dive site. The highest rock on the reef is a blinder which occasionally breaks the surface at low tide, hence the name "Geldkis Blinder".

Depth

The bottom is generally from 15 m on the inshore side to about 20 m on the sand further to the north west.

Visibility

Visibility is likely to be very similar to Geldkis and Justin's caves, but as the site is deeper, it may be better.

Oudekraal Justins and Geldkis 150dpi - Aerial view of north Oudekraal. (photo CDS&M)

Topography

Geldkis Blinder is a group of large boulders and outcrops which extend to the surface at one place at low tide, where there is usually a break unless the swell is very low. There is occasional sand between the rocks in low areas, and the reef extends down to sand bottom on the seaward side at about 20m. There are numerous lower submerged boulders around the high ones. Some of the boulders have overhangs, or small holes and caves under them. There are also some deep narrow gaps between rocks, and a rock arch about half way along the northern side. The site is spectacular in good visibility. The blinder is a huge rock with an low overhang at the bottom which extends more or less to the surface from 18m, almost vertically on the north side.

Geology: Granite corestone boulders and bedrock of the late Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton, surrounded by quartz sand.

Conditions

Often good during or after south easterly winds, but strong south easterly winds (offshore) can make it difficult to swim back to shore on the surface. The site is exposed to south westerly swells, and large or long period swell will produce strong surge and usually poor visibility.

The site is usually at its best during summer but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and early winter.

Thit is an area which sometimes has upwellings, caused by offshore winds, and resulting in clear cold water, which may be followed by algal bloom (red tide), which will reduce visibility again.

Facilities

None. Security is no better than most roadside parking in this area.

Muslim Friendly Travel TO Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Geldkis Blinder

GPS -33.979333,18.360333|width=|align= Geldkis Blinder]] Shore dive: Park at the side of the road on the outside of the bend just north of the Twelve Apostles Hotel. The entry/exit point is Diving the Cape peninsula and False bay/Sandy Cove|Sandy Cove. This gives the most direct route to the site which is beyond the group of large granite boulders known as Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Geldkis|Geldkis about 300 m from the entry point at Sandy cove.

Boat Dive: May be from Hout Bay (16 km) or Oceana Power Boat Club (13.5 km). Probably best done as a live-boat dive as the holding ground is questionable.

What to see in Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Geldkis Blinder

Marine life

Seals often gather on Strawberry Rocks, and some may come over to watch you during the dive. There are kelp forests on top of the shallower rocks, and on the way to the site. Various brown and red algae grow on top of the rocks. Walls exposed to the south west and vorth west swells are relatively bare compared to overhangs, caves and sheltered areas, some of which are quite colourful and encrusted with a wide range of hydroids, crinoids, black mussels, encrusting sponges, small sea fans, hard and soft corals. The low reef is covered by pink corallines and large numbers of sea urchins.

Encrusting sponges at Geldkis Blinder PC013187 - Encrusting sponges
Brooding cushion star at Geldkis blinder PC013191 - Brooding cushion star
Gas flame nudibranchs at geldkis blinder DSC01412 - Gas flame nudibranchs
Reef life at geldkis blinder PC013210 - The deeper reef to the West of the blinder
Tubular sponges at Geldkis Blinder PC013206 - Branched tubular sponge

Features

The portal arch at geldkis blinder PC013221 - The portal arch is a short distance from the north wall of the blinder

There is a large portal arch swim-through formed by a boulder wedged into a wide crack, a short distance to the West of the blinder offshore wall, and the wall itself is a fair height, as it extends down to about 18 m from close to the surface.

Photography

A good site for macro photography, and opportunities with wide angle if the visibility is good.

Routes

The deep reef at the south west of Geldkis blinder PC013199 - The deeper reef is flatter and less colourful

There are two basic routes depending on whether the dive is from shore or a boat.

For a shore dive, enter at Sandy Cove, and swim out on the surface to the gap between Geldkis and Strawberry rocks. Continue on the surface to the Blinder which can usually be identified by the break. Dive just inshore of the break and swim round the group anti-clockwise, visiting the arch about halfway along and turning when the reef gets low. Surface when finished to take a bearing on the gap unless you are very confident of your navigation. Swim back on compass bearing through the gap and back to Sandy Cove (about 220°magnetic). If you surface nearer to the south end of Geldkis, return by the southern route round the south of Geldkis and follow the north edge of the point.
For a boat dive, start in much the same place and follow a similar route round the site, returning to the blinder to surface or using a DSMB. It is not recommended to leave a boat at anchor unattended because of the possibility of strong winds causing it to drag and be blown away out to sea.

Stay Safe

Hazards

Cold water, hot sunshine. Strong surge over shallow rocks. Sea urchins. Strong offshore winds may develop over a short time.

Skills

No special skills are required for a boat dive, For a shore dive a fair level of fitness is required as there is a long swim to and from the site. Ability to navigate back by compass is recommended, particularly if there is an offshore wind forecast.

Equipment

A light is recommended for looking into crevices and overhangs, and also because of the loss of colour at depth. A compass is strongly recommended for shore dives and the return should be done underwater if the wind picks up during the dive, so save enough air for the swim. A deployable SMB is suggested for boat dives, and Nitrox will allow maximum dive time after your long swim. It is really only of much value if you expect to dive for longer than 45minutes, in which case a dry suit is also recommended.

Nearby

Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Bakoven Rock|Bakoven Rock GPS -33.959250,18.370067
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Dreadlocks Reef|Dreadlocks Reef GPS -33.972792,18.361831
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Strawberry Rocks|Strawberry Rocks GPS -33.978650,18.360967
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Geldkis|Geldkis GPS -33.978833,18.360217
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Het Huis te Kraaiestein|Het Huis te Kraaiestein GPS -33.980833,18.360833
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Mushroom Pinnacle|Mushroom Pinnacle GPS -33.979683,18.358683
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Sandy Cove|Sandy Cove GPS -33.981667,18.360833
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Justins Caves|Justin’s Caves GPS -33.980800,18.358333
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/MV Antipolis|Antipolis GPS -33.984333,18.356167
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Klein Pannekoek|Klein Pannekoek GPS -33.981833,18.351500
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Groot Pannekoek|Groot Pannekoek GPS -33.985500,18.345833
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Coral Gardens (Oudekraal) | Coral Gardens GPS -33.987833,18.346367
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Coral Gardens (Oudekraal) | Coral Gardens Offshore Pinnacle GPS -33.985353,18.341922
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/13th Apostle|13th Apostle GPS -33.991433,18.332033

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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Geldkis Blinder

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