Diving Aliwal Shoal/Northern Pinnacles

The dive site Northern Pinnacles is an offshore rocky reef with coral at Aliwal Shoal near Umkomaas in the Kwa-Zulu-Natal province of South Africa.

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

Position
S30°15.698' E030°49.679'

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

Marine life
Various fish and invertebrates can be seen: Starry moray, Strepie, Round ribbontail ray, Blackedged blaasop, White spot butterfly fish, Twotone fingerfin, Black edged butterfly fish, Shortspine porcupine fish, Honeycomb moray, Salt and pepper moray, Goldbar wrasse, Bridle triggerfish, Spotted Hawkfish, Goldies, Potato bass, Crown squirrelfish, Whitespotted boxfish, Ladder wrasse. Queen coris. Yellow radial sea pen, Tubular hydroids, Yellow jelly colonial ascidian, White soft coral, Branched black coral, Barnacles, Mottled maroon sponge, Greentree coral, Nudibranch Chromodoris africana, Turret coral,

Suggested Routes
Follow the divemaster.

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

Equipment
No special equipment required. A DSMB could be useful if you are separated from the group and have to surface away from the dive leader.

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