Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Albatross Rock

The dive site Albatross Rock is an offshore rocky reef in the South Peninsula 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/Albatross Rock Halal Travel Guide

Position

• S34°16.527' E018°22.210' Albatross Rock GPS -34.27545,18.370167 (Outer pinnacle)

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

Name

The name "Albatross Rock" is the name for this area used on the SAN charts. The rock was named after a tug of the same name which was wrecked there.

Depth

Maximum depth is probably about 20 m. and the top of the pinnacle is about (?) m.

Visibility

Visibility is likely to be better after a south easterly wind, and may exceed 10 m, but is more likely to be around 5 to 6 m.

Topography

Fairly rugged profile sandstone reef, mostly relatively flat on top, but with deeper gulleys and undercuts in deeper water. Sand bottom to gullies below about 12 m. Gullies appear to mostly run roughly north/south.

Geology: Ordovician sandstone of the Peninsula formation. Dip small, probably less than 10°. strike unclear, probably about east-west. jointing also unclear,but probably mostly north-south.

Conditions

The site is exposed to wind and sea from the north west to south west, and should be dived only in fairly flat seas. The site is protected from south easterly seas, though it will catch the wind.

The site is most likely to be diveable in late spring and summer but there will be occasional opportunities at other times.

Muslim Friendly Travel TO Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Albatross Rock

GPS -34.27545,370167 width=|align=Albatross Rock}} The site is only accessible by boat. It is 11.2 km from the slipway at the old crayfish factory north of Scarborough (Soetwater), about 17.1 km from the launch site at Kommetjie and 27.5 km from Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Hout Bay harbour|Hout Bay harbour slipway.

What to See

Marine life

Fairly dense laminaria down to over 12 m, fair amount of red bait in small sizes, and heavy undergrowth of plocamium and other small red and brown algae. Hottentot seabream, shy sharks, and klipfish have been seen, and large numbers of West coast rock lobster.

• Ball sponges at Albatross Rock DSC00749 - Sponges at Albatross Rock
• Juvenile rock lobster at Albatross Rock DSC00740 - Juvenile rock lobster on a kelp holdfast
• Noble coral and sponges at Albatross Rock DSC00763 - Noble coral and sponges at Albatross Rock

Features

There are several wrecks near Albatross Rock. These include the Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/SS Thomas T Tucker|SS Thomas T Tucker and the Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/SS Umhlali|SS Umhlali and the Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/SS Bia|SS Bia and the Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/SS Star of Africa|Star of Africa and the SS Albatross and the SS Nolloth.

Photography

Macro photography is most likely to deliver acceptable results unless the visibility is unvery good, in which case wide angle natural light may produce good kelp forest studies.

Suggested Routes

No particular routes recommended

Stay Safe

Hazards

No site specific hazards known.

Skills

No special skills required.

Equipment

No special equipment recommended.

Nearby

• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/SS Thomas T Tucker|SS Thomas T. Tucker GPS ,
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/SS Star of Africa| Star of Africa GPS -34.271583,18.36425
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/SS Bia|SS Bia GPS -34.270194,18.377306
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/SS Umhlali|SS Umhlali GPS -34.273917,18.374783
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/South-west Reefs|South-west Reefs GPS ,

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