Ocean activities in Cape Town

Cape Town is in a unique position surrounded by oceans. The 1000 m high peninsula divides the Atlantic Ocean side with the Indian Ocean side and the sprawling False Bay is 30 kilometers wide at its widest point. Cape Point offers a spectacular view and although it is not the true place where the two oceans meet, it is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the world where the view of the ocean is endless. Cape Town’s ocean is teeming with wildlife and provides the perfect opportunity for endless ocean activities.

Surf

Cape Town is a famous surf destination where experienced surfers from all over the world seek the thrill of surfing the famous waves. Cape Town is dotted with idyllic beginner-friendly beaches and adrenaline-pumping big waves that will intimidate even the most experienced surfers. For beginners, Muizenberg Beach is the place to be with its fun little waves and laid-back beach vibe. Long Beach in Kommetjie is a setting of serenity and perfect waves that makes it the perfect destination for intermediate surfers and surf photographers. Intermediate to advanced surfers can also escape the crowds and head to nearby Scarborough Beach with its stunning views and low levels of congestion. Big Bay between Melkbos and Bloubergstrand is popular with all experience levels, depending on the weather. On small days it is perfect for beginners and more suitable for intermediate and advanced on days with bigger waves. For more experienced surfers, there’s Off The Wall at Mouille Point, Dunes near Noordhoek Beach, and Crayfish Factory near Kommetjie, where surfers can escape the crowds and experience some of the most exciting waves in Cape Town. If you have the courage of a soldier, Dungeons is a great place to tow waves near Hout Bay. Red Bull Big Wave Africa used to hold its annual event here because of the monstrous building-size waves. In 2006, the record for the largest wave ridden in Africa at the time was made in Dungeons with a towed surfer tackling a colossal 60-foot wave. This place is definitely not for the faint-hearted and if you are inexperienced or value your life, a short hike up the mountainside offers the perfect spot for a picnic while watching adrenaline junkies through binoculars.

Snorkeling and Diving

Cape Town has a wide range of snorkeling and diving sites with soft sheltered bays for a lazy day on the reefs and offshore wrecks for the adventurous and expert divers. Long Beach in Simon’s Town is a sandy bottom site with some small shipwrecks and old mooring rigs that provide artificial reefs. This is a great training destination with a wide variety of marine life to make your dive interesting. Windmill Beach is one of the most popular sites for snorkelers and snorkelers. The sheltered beach entrance and small sheltered bay provide peaceful snorkeling and the offshore reefs east of the beach produce a wide variety of fish and invertebrates for divers. If you have a spirit for adventure, freediving with Cow Sharks is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Shark Alley in the Castle Rock Marine Protected Area is one of the best places to dive with these magnificent creatures. Diving is best done in winter and requires a permit. Cape Town is dotted with shipwrecks and many offer excellent diving opportunities. One of them is the SS Clan Stuart, a 3500 ton British steamer that was wrecked in 1914 in Simon’s Town and is in fairly shallow water at 8m. This historic shipwreck is a local favorite with divers as it provides accessible shoreline access, is well protected from the southwestern surf, and provides a diverse and interesting population of reef animals. Other popular sites include Sunny Cove, Quarry, Roman Rock, A Frame, Spaniard Rock, Outer Castle, and Outer Castle. For the adrenaline junkies, they can take on the most fearsome and feared creature in the ocean from the safety of a metal cage. Go head-to-head with the majestic Great White Shark with the many shark cage diving operators operating in False Bay, which is home to this terrifying predator. You don’t need any diving experience for this adventure, just the courage of a lion.

Boat and cruise adventures

Cape Town is the perfect destination for anyone who wants to go out to sea. From relaxing harbor lunch and drink cruises to thrilling deep sea fishing adventures, Cape Town has something for everyone. On the famous V&A Waterfront there are a variety of cruises available for all ages. You can choose from site seeing cruises, lunch or champagne cruises, dinner or sunset cruises, and even a themed adventure on the Jolly Roger pirate ship. Cape Town is famous around the world for its whale season when southern right whales migrate to calve and breed. Whales are frequently seen just offshore, but to guarantee a sighting, it’s best to hop on one of the many available whale-watching boat cruises. If you are a bird watcher, Cape Town is famous for its pelagic bird watching trips, where you can spot petrels, albatrosses, shearwaters and much more. These trips often produce oddities that people travel from all over the world to detect. Cape Town also has a unique and sought-after variety of game fish and you can try your hand at catching tuna, snoek, horse mackerel, mako sharks, dorado and more more than 40 miles offshore.

With all these great adventures and many more, Cape Town is a must on your itinerary.