The Aliwal Shoal
Eighty thousand years ago, the area around the shoal consisted of a bed of sand dunes. The result of Heavy rainfalls caused sand & shell to dissolve forming a compound of calcium carbonate which was to form the core of the shoal in what became dune rock. With he shift of the continental plates the sea level of the Indian Ocean rose and the Dune was flooded and submerged. With the result of deposits of sand and shells over time a massive and elaborate sandstone structure was created. The topography was very rugged with pinnacles, gullies and caves. Coral polyps formed large colonies on the sandstone, and Aliwal Shoal was born approximately 5 km off the coast of Umkomass.
Now the Shoal has an abundance of soft corals, sponges, and hiding places. These have combined to attract over 1200 species of fish, as well as turtles, rays, sharks and Hump Back Whales. Aliwal Shoal has stunning marine life and is a very popular diving destination especially for its abundance of Ragged Tooth Sharks (or otherwise known as Raggies, Sand Tiger or Grey Nurse Sharks) in the mating season between August and November.
The Aliwal Shoal is a rocky reef which is the remains of an ancient sand dune approximately 5 km off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The Aliwal Shoal reef plays host to many kinds of hard and soft corals and a variety of tropical and subtropical fish species. Aliwal Shoal was named after the sinking of the 3 Masted vessel "Aliwal", Captained by James Anderson in 1849 (source: Aliwal Shoal Tourism).
There are two wrecks near the reef that are prime sites for divers.
The Nebo
The Nebo was a 2000 ton steamship which sank on its maiden voyage on 20th May 1884 just north of the Aliwal Shoal. She was traveling from Sunderland to Durban, carrying the Amanzimtoti railway bridge. It was officially reported that she had struck an uncharted pinnacle but there has been much speculation and doubt about this theory. This pinnacle which sank the ship has never been chartered since and some experts believe that the weight of the railway bridge upon the deck may have caused her to be capsized by a large wave. There is more credibility to this story, as the Nebo is lying upside down, 28 metres below sea level.
The wreck is now nothing but a skeleton of steel ribs and plates but this has an abundance of colourful soft corals and sponges. The marine life is also in abundance from large schools of Goldies to catfish lurking on the bottom.
The Produce
The 15000 Tonne Norwegian bulk carrier the "Produce" sank on the 11th of August 1974 when she hit the northern pinnacles which ripped her Hull open. The crew made a brave attempt to get to shore and were all rescued. The the ship was however doomed and sank shortly afterwards. The rusted framework now provides an established residence for varied fish species including the huge Brindle Bass with makes for very good diving. The bridge of the vessel lies 12 metres under the surface, and the ship lies on a sand bed at approximately 35 metres.
Top Dives
Baited Tiger shark diving (No Cage)
Before the Tiger Shark Dive, you will receive a full briefing to help you to understand the Tiger Sharks behaviour and how to behave in return. Tiger Sharks are very shy, they are also very inquisitive and intelligent animals which is why they are one of the ocean's apex predators and deserve the highest respect. The Tiger Shark dive is rated as one of the top-5 dives you will ever do.
The dive takes place on the southern end of the Aliwal Shoal only a 20 minute boat ride from Umkomass. On arrival the crew will create an odour corridor working with the currents to attract the sharks to the boat. Almost immediately sharks will be spotted around the boat but these will be black tip sharks which are fantastic to dive with and close encounters are common with very low risk. Time is spent on the surface waiting for the arrival of the Tiger Sharks and this normally takes from 45 minutes to an hour before divers enter the water. Once the Tiger sharks arrive divers will quietly slip into the water. As soon as you look under the surface you will see dozens of sharks close by. This is a thrill in itself as these Black Tip Sharks are beautiful and very curious and sometimes bold. These is minimal risk with diving with the Black Tip Sharks and divers will get very used to them passing close by from behind, underneath and overhead. Once settled down and drifting at 5 metres neutrally bouyant divers will be able to relax and enjoy being surrounded with the sharks.
Divers must always remember why they are there though and that is for the Tiger sharks. Alertness is essential at all times and care must be taken with regards to the positioning around the baited drum and depth. There are safety divers watching from above at all times and should a Tiger Shark advance towards a diver then the safety diver will be there to assist.
Diving with Ragged Tooth Sharks
The Ragged Tooth Shark dives take place on the Aliwal Shoal and the reefs to the south of the Shoal. The main dive sites inhabited by the sharks are Cathedral, Chunnel & Raggies Cave. The sharks are there in most concentration but they can be found all over the Aliwal Shoal and to the reefs to the south of the Aliwal Shoal as well as the wreck of the Nebo. These dives are non baited and very natural and divers are given the opportunity to get very close to wild Ragged Tooth Sharks which are favourite for aquarium exhibitions due to their fierce appearance. These sharks are non-aggressive unless cornered like any other animal so are a pleasure to dive with.
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