Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Pie Rock

The dive site Pie Rock is an offshore rocky reef in the Castle Rocks restricted zone 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/Pie Rock Halal Travel Guide

Pie Rock Reef Map - Map of the dive site at Pie Rock reef

Thit is a spectacular dive in good visibility, and large numbers of fish may be seen. Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Outer Castle|Outer Castle is structurally part of the same reef, but has historically been considered a separate site.

Position

S34°14.375' E018°29.075' North Pie Rock GPS -34.239583,18.484583
S34°14.400' E018°28.900' West Pie Rock Reef GPS -34.24,18.481667
S34°14.445' E018°28.985' South Pie Rock Reef pinnacles GPS -34.240750,18.483083

North Pie Rock pinnacles are about 760 m from North Entry at Castle Rocks. Bearing 353° True (017° magnetic) to Bakoven Rock, roughly 278° True (302° magnetic) to North side of Castle Rocks, and about 150 m south east of Outer Castle

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required. The site is entirely inside the Castle Rocks Restricted Zone.

Name

The site is called "Pie Rock" because one of the larger rocks in the area is said to look a bit like a giant wedge of pie.

Depth

Maximum depth is about 25 m. Top of the pinnacle is at 5 m. Average depth on a dive is about 15 m.

Topography

Large granite corestone outcrops and boulders. The site is in three main sections, Pie Rock North Reef, Pie Rock Southern Pinnacles and Pie Rock West Reef. There is a pinnacle at the east side of the main site, which is also the deeper side.

Pie Rock North Pinnacles is a group of high pinnacles south of the Outer Castle blinder.

Pie Rock Southern Pinnacles are part of a more extensive area of low reef to the south. There is also a section to the east which has not been fully explored.

Geology: Granite of the Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton.

Conditions

The site is moderately protected from south westerly swell. South east chop may make it unpleasant on the surface, but it may be quiet below the wave base, however a strong south-easter or one that blows for a long time will push up a swell that will make it unpleasant all the way down. Generally considered a winter dive site but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and spring.

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

-34.235|18.48|width=|align= Pie Rock reefs and nearby dive sites}} The site is considered a boat dive. It is roughly 2 km from Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Miller's Point slipway|Miller's Point slipway and 9.3km from Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Simon's Town jetty|Simon's Town jetty. It could be dived from shore entry at Castle Rocks, but would require a 750 m swim each way. For a shore dive use a SMB as boat traffic in the area can be heavy on a good day. Bearing from Castle Rocks north entry roughly 120° magnetic. Don't try this in a strong offshore wind.

What to See

Marine life

Large numbers of false corals, feather stars, colonial ascidians, red sea cucumbers and colonial hydroids. A reasonable variety of fish, sometimes in fairly large shoals.

Diver and seal at Pie Rock DSC09722 - Diver and seal at Pie Rock
Anemone at Pie Rock DSC04911 - Anemone
Bank steenbras at Pie Rock DSC05042 - Bank steenbras
Blue choirboys at Pie Rock DSC04909 - Blue choirboy ascidians
Klipfish at Pie Rock DSC06575 - Klipfish
Orange clubbed nudibranch at Pie Rock DSC06570 - Orange clubbed nudibranch
Red chested sea cucumbers at Pie Rock DSC04940 - Red chested sea cucumbers can reach a high population density
Scallop at Pie Rock DSC05087 - Scallops can occasionall be seen on the sand

Photography

(photographic equipment suggestions)

Routes

No particular route recommended.

Stay Safe

Hazards

No site specific hazards are recorded.

Skills

Certification appropriate to the depth is expected, otherwise no special skills are required. Ability to deploy a DSMB may be useful if you surface away from the shotline.

Equipment

A DSMB may be convenient if you surface away from the shotline.

Nearby

Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Miller’s Point|Miller's Point slipway GPS -34.230483,18.473897
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Miller’s Point|Miller's Point tidal swimmingpool GPS -34.231319,18.475978
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Murphy's|Murphy's GPS -34.232600,18.483100
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Miller’s Point|Miller's Point - Rumbly Bay GPS -34.234314,18.474908
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Boat Rock|Boat Rock GPS -34.234500,18.483333
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Boat Rock|Festival Pinnacle GPS -34.235667,18.483583
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Fan Reef|Fan Reef GPS -34.236083,18.487667
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Shark Alley|Shark Alley GPS -34.236833,18.476667
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Pyramid|Pyramid Rock GPS -34.237083,18.478300
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/☎ Reef|☎ reef GPS -34.237100,18.486700
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Outer Castle|Outer Castle GPS -34.238683,18.483233
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Castle Rocks|Castle Rocks North Side GPS -34.2387,18.4775
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Pyramid|Pyramid Reef - Castle Pinnacles GPS -34.239267,18.480433
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Giant's Castle|Giant's Castle GPS -34.239300,18.487100
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Pyramid|Pyramid Reef - Sansui Reef GPS ,
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Castle Rocks|Castle Rocks Point Reefs GPS -34.24,18.48
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Castle Rocks|Inner Castle GPS -34.241,18.4779

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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Pie Rock

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