Diving Aliwal Shoal/North Sands

The dive site North Sands is an offshore rocky reef with coral at Aliwal Shoal, near Umkomaas in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

Aliwal shoal is probably best known for ragged tooth sharks, but is worth diving for the other marine life too.

Access
The site is only accessible by boat. It is about 7.2km from the launching site at the Mkomazi river mouth.

Position

 * S30°13.618' E030°49.645'

Aliwal Shoal is a rocky bank some 3.5 to 5 km off the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2009). A permit is required.

Depth
Maximum depth is about 20m.

Visibility
Visibility may exceed 15m

Topography
Mostly low rocky reef with gullies and overhangs, occasional swimthroughs, sand in gaps. Long overhang to the side of a strip of sand.

Marine life
Various reef and pelagic fish and a wide range of invertebrates: Diana's Hogfish, Sea goldies, Spotted ragged tooth sharks, Round ribbontail ray, Marbled electric ray, Honeycomb stingray, Yellow snappers, Dusky sweepers, Variegated lizardfish, Blackspotted blaasop, Emperor angelfish, Raggy or Tasselled scorpionfish, Old woman angelfish, Wildeperd, trumpetfish, Moorish idol, Natal seacatfish. Twotone fingerfin, Cleaner wrasse, Goldbar wrasse, Southern Right whales and Mantas may visit Orange sponges, yellow turret corals, Hermit crab, Lacy yellow bryozoan, brown sea fan, Tiger cowry, Yellow radial sea pen, anemone, Grey volcano sponges, Nudibranchs Chromodoris hamiltoni, Phyllidia varicosa, Zigzag oyster? Brown feather stars, Thistle soft coral.

Suggested Routes
Follow the divemaster and stay with the group.

Hazards
The ragged tooth sharks are not considered a significant hazard if not molested or startled.

Skills
No special skills required. Ability to deploy a DSMB is recommended.

Equipment
No special equipment is required, but a DSMB is recommended in case you get separated from the group.

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