subject: Dive Travel and Diving Adventure on the West Coast of South Africa [print this page] The South African West Coast presents some interesting opportunities for dive travel and diving adventures. Although not situated in tropical waters, there is nonetheless a myriad of marine life and shipwrecks to explore.
The area:
The South African West Coast stretches from just north of Cape Town, right up to the Namibian border. A stretch of more than 500 miles, it includes a number of towns that arose for different reasons. Some are simply harbor towns, like Saldanha Bay which offers a deep cargo bay. Most simply came to be as fishing villages, while a few of those also gave rise to fish processing factories. Some simply came to be as holiday towns - thanks to the picturesque scenery. Of course, there are also a few that were built around diamond mining operations...
The sea:
While the western coastline does not sport a warm tropical ocean, it still boasts a multitude of different species and life forms - from the small but tasty herring, right up to whales, including abalone, coral reefs, huge crayfish, and squid, just to name a few.
The shipwrecks:
While there are many long stretches of plain sandy beaches, the coastline also contains a lot of rock formations, many of which have proven treacherous to ships in stormy weather. As such, there are a multitude of shipwrecks that settled on the ocean floor over time. While most of these are not huge ships, they still make for some excellent entertainment and exploration possibilities. Additionally, they attract a multitude of marine life over time due to the shelter they provide.
The weather:
While the upper portion of the coastline gets rain during the local summer (October to March), the lower half gets its rain in winter so summer days are mostly sunny. As such, it is unlikely that the weather will spoil your outing on any given summer's day.
Is it worth it?
Dive travel and diving adventure on the West Coast of South Africa presents a multitude of opportunities for exploration, and offers a lot to be experienced. Additionally, the local people are friendly and hospitable, ensuring that your stay will be pleasant.
For international tourists, there is the added advantage of a relatively weak local currency, making it a relatively cheap travel destination.
Dive Travel and Diving Adventure on the West Coast of South Africa
By: Arthur Randall
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