Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Smits Cliff

The dive site Smits Cliff or Hells Gate is a shoreline rocky reef in the Batsata area on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand
The site is not dived very often as there are more popular sites which are more accessible. As a result it is mostly unexplored and has not been mapped.

Position

 * S34°16.48’ E018°28.41’ Below the cliffs visible above the water on the south side of Smitswinkel Bay,

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required.



Name
The site name "Smits Cliffs" refers to the cliffs above the site and the contraction for Smitswinkel Bay commonly used by local divers. The cliffs at the south side of Smitswinkel Bay are marked on the charts as "Hell’s Gate". The mountain above them is called Judas Peak (919 m).

Depth
Maximum depth is probably about 16 m.

Topography
Not a particularly spectacular site, but interesting, Large and medium sandstone boulders and outcrops, with coarse shelly sand in low spots.

Geology: Ordovician sandstones, probably of the Graafwater formation.

Conditions
This site is well protected from south westerly swell, but quite exposed to south easterly weather. It would usually be a winter dive.

Get in
Access to this site is only by boat. The site is approximately 6.2 km from Miller's Point slipway and 13.5km from Simon's Town jetty.

Marine life
Moderate variety of invertebrates.

Routes
No specific routes recommended.

Hazards
No site specific hazards known.

Skills
No special skills required.

Equipment
No special equipment recommended

Nearby






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

Other regional dive sites:
 * Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
 * Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west 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