Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Geldkis Blinder

The dive site Geldkis Blinder is an inshore rocky reef in the North Oudekraal area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Position

 * S33°58.67’ E018°21.62’ &mdash; (top of the blinder)

A break is usually visible, though at high tide on a good day it may not break. Unfortunately if conditions are at their best, this will be the case. However the site is not difficult to find with a compass. From the gap between Geldkis and Strawberry Rocks, swim out about 40 m bearing 030° magnetic, and you should be over the reef. In good visibility it will be visible from the surface.

Alternatively, dive at the gap, and swim north magnetic until you are obstructed by high reef, then swim around with the reef to your left. It is hard to miss as it is much higher than the surrounding reef.

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required.

Name
The site is just to seaward of the large rock shown on charts and maps as Geldkis, which is also a well known dive site. The highest rock on the reef is a blinder which occasionally breaks the surface at low tide, hence the name "Geldkis Blinder".

Depth
The bottom is generally from 15 m on the inshore side to about 20 m on the sand further to the north west.

Visibility
Visibility is likely to be very similar to Geldkis and Justin's caves, but as the site is deeper, it may be better.



Topography
Geldkis Blinder is a group of large boulders and outcrops which extend to the surface at one place at low tide, where there is usually a break unless the swell is very low. There is occasional sand between the rocks in low areas, and the reef extends down to sand bottom on the seaward side at about 20m. There are numerous lower submerged boulders around the high ones. Some of the boulders have overhangs, or small holes and caves under them. There are also some deep narrow gaps between rocks, and a rock arch about half way along the northern side. The site is spectacular in good visibility. The blinder is a huge rock with a low overhang at the bottom which extends more or less to the surface from 18m, almost vertically on the north side.

Geology: Granite corestone boulders and bedrock of the late Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton, surrounded by quartz sand.

Conditions
Often good during or after south easterly winds, but strong south easterly winds (offshore) can make it difficult to swim back to shore on the surface. The site is exposed to south westerly swells, and large or long period swell will produce strong surge and usually poor visibility. The site is usually at its best during summer but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and early winter.

This is an area which sometimes has upwellings, caused by offshore winds, and resulting in clear cold water, which may be followed by algal bloom (red tide), which will reduce visibility again.

Facilities
None. Security is no better than most roadside parking in this area.

Get in
Shore dive: Park at the side of the road on the outside of the bend just north of the Twelve Apostles Hotel. The entry/exit point is Sandy Cove. This gives the most direct route to the site which is beyond the group of large granite boulders known as Geldkis about 300 m from the entry point at Sandy Cove.

Boat Dive: May be from Hout Bay (16 km) or Oceana Power Boat Club slipway (13.5 km). Probably best done as a live-boat dive as the holding ground is questionable.

Marine life
Seals often gather on Strawberry Rocks, and some may come over to watch you during the dive. There are kelp forests on top of the shallower rocks, and on the way to the site. Various brown and red algae grow on top of the rocks. Walls exposed to the south west and north west swells are relatively bare compared to overhangs, caves and sheltered areas, some of which are quite colourful and encrusted with a wide range of hydroids, crinoids, black mussels, encrusting sponges, small sea fans, hard and soft corals. The low reef is covered by pink corallines and large numbers of sea urchins.

Features


There is a large portal arch swim-through formed by a boulder wedged into a wide crack, a short distance to the west of the blinder offshore wall, and the wall itself is a fair height, as it extends down to about 18 m from close to the surface.

Photography
A good site for macro photography, and opportunities with wide angle if the visibility is good.

Routes


There are two basic routes depending on whether the dive is from shore or a boat.
 * 1) For a shore dive, enter at Sandy Cove, and swim out on the surface to the gap between Geldkis and Strawberry rocks. Continue on the surface to the Blinder which can usually be identified by the break. Dive just inshore of the break and swim round the group anti-clockwise, visiting the arch about halfway along and turning when the reef gets low. Surface when finished to take a bearing on the gap unless you are very confident of your navigation. Swim back on compass bearing through the gap and back to Sandy Cove (about 220°magnetic). If you surface nearer to the south end of Geldkis, return by the southern route round the south of Geldkis and follow the north edge of the point.
 * 2) For a boat dive, start in much the same place and follow a similar route round the site, returning to the blinder to surface or using a DSMB. It is not recommended to leave a boat at anchor unattended because of the possibility of strong winds causing it to drag and be blown away out to sea.

Hazards
Cold water, hot sunshine. Strong surge over shallow rocks. Sea urchins. Strong offshore winds may develop over a short time.

Skills
No special skills are required for a boat dive, For a shore dive a fair level of fitness is required as there is a long swim to and from the site. Ability to navigate back by compass is recommended, particularly if there is an offshore wind forecast.

Equipment
A light is recommended for looking into crevices and overhangs, and also because of the loss of colour at depth. A compass is strongly recommended for shore dives and the return should be done underwater if the wind picks up during the dive, so save enough air for the swim. A deployable SMB is suggested for boat dives, and Nitrox will allow maximum dive time after your long swim. It is really only of much value if you expect to dive for longer than 45 minutes, in which case a dry suit is also recommended.

Nearby


Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Oudekraal area

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches


 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula east coast
 * Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
 * Dive sites of False Bay east coast
 * Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area