Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Stern Reef

The dive site Stern Reef is an inshore rocky reef in the Rocklands 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/Stern Reef Halal Travel Guide

Map_of_the_CT_dive_sites_at_Rocklands_Point - Map of the sites at Rocklands Point including the position of Stern Reef

CT dive site Stern Reef from the parking area - Stern Reef from the parking area at Spaniard Rock. The break in the middle of the picture is on the reef.

Position

• S34°13.164’ E018°28.032’ GPS -34.2194,18.4672 An extensive area of high to low relief granite corestones on a sand bottom, marked by a rock which breaks the surface at some states of the tide. About 260 m South of Spaniard Rock, towards Miller’s Point.

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

Depth

Maximum depth is about 14 m, and the top of the reef breaks surface at low tide. Other rocks are lower. but the bottom is fairly level.

Stern_Reef1 - Stern Reef (centre) on a quiet day, showing the top of the rocks just breaking the surface.

Topography

Coarse sand bottom with big granite boulders and reef. Largely fairly high to high relief with some low areas. Quite nice, specially just seaward of blinder, with quite a nice swim-through and some deep gullies between boulders. The reef has not yet been surveyed, but is thought to extend at least 50m to the north, east and west of the breakers. The bottom to the south is sandy.

Geology: Late Pre-Cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton.

Conditions

Shore diving is limited by entry and exit conditions. Boat dives may be done in bigger swell with more surge, but the site is fairly shallow and surge will usually reach all the way down.

Facilities

Same parking area as for Spaniard Rock

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

-34.2194|18.472|width=|align= Stern Reef}} Optional shore dive from Rocklands Point: Parking at side of primary street on gravel shoulder. Access not easy and entry/exit a bit rough if there is much swell.

Can also be done as a boat dive from Miller’s Point. The site is easy to find as there is almost always a break

What to See

Marine life

Kelp on top of shallower reef areas. Heavy encrustations of red bait and feather stars with a variety of other invertebrates typical of the area.

Photography

Fairly good site for macro photography.

Routes

No specific route recommended.

Stay Safe

Hazards

The path from the road is steep and slippery and usually in poor repair. Shore entry and exit are over a boulder beach.

Skills

No special skills required for boat dive. Some fitness and agility required for shore entry and exit.

Equipment

No special equipment required. A light is handy for looking into crevices and overhangs. A compass can be useful for keeping track of where you are.

Nearby

• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Insanity Reef|Insanity Reef GPS -34.213617,18.467400
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Omega Reef|Omega Reef GPS -34.21425,18.473917
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Rocklands blinder|Rocklands Blinder GPS -34.215000,18.466667
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Alpha Reef|Alpha Reef GPS -34.216450,18.469733
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Spaniard Rock|Spaniard Rock GPS -34.217167,18.467167
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/SAS Pietermaritzburg|SAS Pietermaritzburg GPS -34.221716,18.474417
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Caravan Reef|Caravan Reef - PMB Pinnacles GPS -34.221850,18.476067
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Caravan Reef|Caravan Reef - North Caravan GPS -34.222533,18.478883
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Caravan Reef|Caravan Reef - Caravan Central GPS ,
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Caravan Reef|Caravan Reef - Inner Caravan GPS -34.225,18.474167
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Caravan Reef|Caravan Reef - South Caravan GPS -34.225217,18.478683

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