Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Tafelberg Reef

The dive site Tafelberg Reef is an offshore rocky reef in the outer Hout Bay 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/Tafelberg Reef Halal Travel Guide

Position

• S34°04.195' E018°18.812' Tafelberg Reef West GPS -34.069917,18.313533
• S34°03.986' E018°18.958' Tafelberg Reef North GPS -34.066433,18.315967

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2022). A permit is required.

Name

A large area of reef off the Karbonkelberg headland to the south west of Hout Bay, is marked "Tafelberg" on the charts. The reef extends continuously from the Vulcan Rock area to the north west, to the Klein Tafelberg area in the south east. Tafelberg translates to Table Mountain.

Depth

Max depth is about 30 m, top of reef about 8 m on the highest pinnacles.

Visibility

Thit is an area where visibility is likely to be better than average. On a good day it can exceed 20 m, but 10 m is more likely. Good visibility is often associated with several days of strong south easterly wind which causes upwelling of clear, cold water from the depths. This water is often rich in dissolved nutrients, and if the wind is followed by a few days of bright sunshine and there may be an plankton bloom, commonly called a 'red tide' which may decrease the visibility, particularly in the surface layers. However and the deeper water may still be relatively clear, though the light levels will be less and the water will be much greener.

Topography

Rugged granite corestone outcrops with high relief and sand bottom at about 29 m to the West. There are deep crevices and gullies. There is not much overhang, but a lot of vertical faces. The site is very rugged and spectacular in good visibility.

Geology: Granite of the late Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton

Conditions

The site is exposed to south westerly swells, which can cause a strong surge. The site is usually at its best in summer but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and winter.

Thit is an area which sometimes has upwellings, caused by strong south easterly winds, resulting in cold clear water, which may develop a plankton bloom over a few days, which will reduce the visibility again.

Keep a lookout for times when the south west swell is low and short period, and there is not too much south easterly wind forecast.

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

-34.070333|18.315500 width=|align= Tafelberg Reef}} The site is only accessible by boat. It is about 4.5 km from Hout Bay Harbour. Boats may anchor, but conditions are usually more appropriate for drift dives.

What to See

Marine life

Reef heavily encrusted with red and brown algae on shallower horizontal surfaces, sponges, hard and soft corals and ascidians on more vertical surfaces. Seals may visit, particularly during decompression stops. Sand appears relatively barren.

• Colonial ascidian at Tafelberg Reef DSC02888 - Colonial ascidians
• Dreadlocks hydroids at Tafelberg Reef DSC02873 - Dreadlocks hydroids
• Soft corals at Tafelberg Reef DSC02865 - Soft corals
• Sponges and zoanthids at Tafelberg Reef DSC02877 - Sponges and zoanthids

Photography

Good site for photography.

Routes

Preferably a live boat dive as the reef is large and there may be a current.

Stay Safe

Hazards

Cold water, Strong offshore winds may develop over a short time.

Skills

No special skills required, though the ability to deploy a DSMB is strongly recommended in case you are separated from the group or need to surface away from the shot line.

Equipment

It is cold and moderately deep, and a dry suit is recommended. Thit is a dive site where the use of Nitrox can be worthwhile to extend no-stop time. A light is recommended for looking into crevices and to restore colour to the marine invertebrates. Thit is a large site, well offshore, and it is strongly recommended to carry a DSMB and reel. A compass can also be useful for keeping track of directions, as there are few other clues.

Nearby

• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Duiker Island|Seal Island GPS -34.057633,18.326033
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Di's Cracks|Di’s Cracks GPS -34.064583,18.306900
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Vulcan Rock|Vulcan Rock GPS -34.066117,18.309700
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Tafelberg Reef|Tafelberg Reef GPS -34.070333,18.315500
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Klein Tafelberg|Klein Tafelberg Reef GPS -34.074033,18.319850
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Tafelberg Deep|Tafelberg Deep GPS -34.078934,18.317203
• Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Tafelberg Deep|Tafelberg Deep Pinnacle GPS -34.077460,18.316183

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