Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Stonehenge

The dive site Stonehenge is an offshore rocky reef in the Karbonkelberg headland area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Includes sites Stonehenge North, Stonehenge Central, Stonehenge South, Stonehenge wreck, Stonehenge Blinder, A-340 Pinnacle, Canyon, and the Dusky Pinnacle reefs, which include Coral Pinnacle and Sponge Garden.

Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Stonehenge Halal Travel Guide

Stonehenge dive sites (Cape Town) map - Map of the dive sites in the area known as Stonehenge, south of Duiker Point on the Cape Peninsula

It is a good site for varied topography, biodiversity and depth variation.

Position

South of Duiker Point, below Karbonkelberg

S34°02.590' E018°18.206' Dusky Pinnacles - Coral Pinnacle GPS -34.043167,18.304136
S34°02.587' E018°18.235' Dusky Pinnacles - Sponge pinnacle GPS -34.043117,18.303917
S34°02.625' E018°18.300' Stonehenge North GPS -34.043708,18.305000
S34°02.740' E018°18.200' A-340 Pinnacle GPS -34.045667,18.303333
S34°02.750' E018°18.300' Stonehenge Central GPS -34.045833,18.305000
S34°02.835' E018°18.365' Stonehenge South GPS -34.04725,18.306083
S34°02.885' E018°18.335' Stonehenge Wreck GPS -34.048083,18.305583
S34°02.838' E018°18.316' Stonehenge Blinder GPS -34.047300,18.305267

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is not required.

Name

The area is named "Stonehenge" after a group of rocks which break the surface near a much larger rock which is shown on the charts.

Depth

Maximum depth is over 30 m, along the eastern edge, and the depth varies considerably with the sites, some of which break the surface.

Visibility

Visibility will vary with season and weather conditions in much the same way as other sites in this area. On a good day it should be 10m or more, possibly as much as 20 m on an exceptional day, and should generally be more than 5 m in diveable conditions. However it is feasible for a plankton bloom after an upwelling to reduce visibility, particularly near the surface, even when conditions are otherwise optimal.

Topography

Big boulders and rock outcrops over an extensive area. High relief in deeper areas with swim-throughs, holes and overhangs.

Stonehenge blinder is a huge granite corestone pinnacle about 65 m E-W by 45 m N-S at the base, tapering to 45 m E-W by 25 m N-S near the top. There is a narrow crack about 1.5 m wide and several metres deep by 15 or more metres long near the south east side, and the north side is very sheer. The top point is a bit away from the north eastern edge and is about 3 m deep. The bottom is lower profile reef at 20 m and deeper.

The western pinnacles are along the edge of the slope to deeper water, and the northern and eastern sites are relatively shallow. Thit is a huge area of reef which has not been explored very extensively and is only partly surveyed.

Geology: Granite of the late Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton

Conditions

The site is exposed to south westerly swells, so best when the south west swell component is low and short. This may occur during or after south easterly winds. The site is usually at it's best in summer, but there may also be occasional opportunities in autumn or early winter. The area to the south of Duiker point is marked on the charts as "Bakleiplaas" which is thought to be a reference to the usually relatively choppy surface conditions. The sea here is seldom really flat. The reef is not very extensively explored as conditions are not often good for diving, particularly in the shallower parts, where there is usually white water and strong surge.

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

Expect cold water (about 11°C). Temperature ranges between about 8°C to 14°C

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

GPS -34.045833,18.305000 width=|align= Stonehenge dive sites}} The site is only accessible by boat. It is about 6.5 km from Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Hout Bay harbour|Hout Bay harbour.

What to See

Marine life

Typical of the big reefs of the Atlantic coast. There is a heavy growth of red bait in shallow areas, Kelp on top surfaces in moderate depths, and fairly bare rock with urchins on relatively flat deep surfaces. Walls, overhangs and other steep surfaces are covered with wide variety of sponges, corals, ascidians and other invertebrates.

Anemones at Stonhenge Reef P4137402 - Anemones, whelks and mussels at Stonehenge Reef off the Cape Peninsula
Colonial ascidian and brittle stars at Stonehenge Reef P4137418 - Colonial ascidian and brittle stars at Stonehenge Reef off the Cape Peninsula
Anemones and mussels at Stonehenge Reef P4137403 - Anemones and mussels at Stonehenge Reef off the Cape Peninsula
Red bait pod at Stonehenge Reef P4137419 - Red bait pod at Stonehenge Reef off the Cape Peninsula
Sandy anemone at Stonhenge Reef P4137421 - Sandy anemone at Stonehenge Reef off the Cape Peninsula
Sandy anemones at Stonhenge Reef P4137431 - Dense cover of sandy anemones at Stonehenge Reef off the Cape Peninsula
Anemones and sponges at Stonehenge Reef P4137434 - Anemones and sponges at Stonehenge Reef off the Cape Peninsula
Striped anemones at Stonehenge Reef P4137438 - Dense cover of striped anemones at Stonehenge Reef off the Cape Peninsula
Sponges at Stonehenge ReefP4137444 - Sponges and colonial ascidians at Stonehenge Reef off the Cape Peninsula
Sponges and soft corals at Stonehenge Reef P4137445 - Sponges and soft corals at Stonehenge Reef off the Cape Peninsula
Noble coral at Stonehenge Reef P4137447 - Noble coral at Stonehenge Reef off the Cape Peninsula
Reef assemblage at Stonehenge Reef P4137451 - Soft corals, rock lobster, sponges and colonial ascidians at Stonehenge Reef off the Cape Peninsula

Photography

Good photographic site. There will always be good subjects for macro work, and wide angle with natural lighting will produce good results on a clear day.

Routes

Stonehenge Blinder: — Drop in at the pinnacle and descend to the bottom. Slowly ascend as you swim around the pinnacle, observing the various zones. If the sea is calm, a safety stop can be done over the top of the pinnacle, otherwise deploy a DSMB or ascend on the shotline.

Stonehenge Wreck: — Drop a shotline at the GPS position and use it to find the wreckage, which is a small amount of debris at 21 m from a small workboat which sank here while transporting salvaged steel from the wreck of the Bos400 towards Hout Bay harbour. After looking at this, swim a compass course to the blinder, which is the most interesting recorded topographical feature in easy reach, or do your own thing and explore the area. Carry a DSMB and use it to alert the boat when you start ascent.

Dusky Pinnacles detail map - Detail map of the dive sites at Dusky Pinnacles

Dusky Pinnacles, with Coral Pinnacle and Sponge Garden — to the north west of the exposed rocks there are a few pinnacles grouped quite closely in a rough line from west to east. Coral pinnacle is the highest. It is a typical single huge boulder on a flat bedrock base, like several others in this region. It is small enough that most divers will move away from it at some stage of the dive, so a DSMB is recommended in case you do not get back to the shotline. Depths of 24 m are found nearby, and over 30 m is feasible by swimming west or north. There is a lower pinnacle a short distance to the West and another slightly north-east. The area to the south west is not mapped or reported in any detail, but is probably also deeper than 30 m. There is a smaller pinnacle south of the Duskies which rises to about 7 m depth on top, and other roughly 9 m pinnacles a short distance to the east. These pinnacles were named after a pod of dusky dolphins which were seen at the pinnacle on the day that it was first surveyed, which was the first recorded dive at the site. The main pinnacle of the group is commonly called Coral Pinnacle for the noble corals on its sides. The row of lower pinnacles to the east is the Sponge Garden, which has several large swim-throughs under the pinnacles, and several overhangs and small walls, which have quite diverse and colourful sponges.

A-340 Pinnacle

Stonehenge Central is relatively shallow and heavily grown with kelp. Although shallow, it is high profile reef with lots of small gaps and overhangs.

Stay Safe

Hazards

Cold water, Strong surge in gulleys and swim-throughs, and over the top of the shallow parts of the reef. Strong offshore winds may develop over a short time.

Skills

No special skills required. The ability to deploy a DSM and use a compass is useful.

Equipment

A light can be useful to look into dark places and to restore colour at depth. A compass can help keep track of your position, and a DSMB is handy to allow the boat to keep track of ascending divers. Nitrox can extend your no-decompression time if you are well insulated.

Nearby

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Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Stonehenge

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