Diving in KwaZulu Natal

Diving at Kosi Bay or Sodwana

Most keen divers head to the warm sub-tropical waters of KwaZulu Natal for the finest diving holidays in South Africa.

We favour the pristine reefs off Coastal Maputaland (in the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park) for the best diving in KwaZulu Natal. Here, you can have a superb diving experience in a true wilderness environment yet not lack for creature comforts. Thonga Beach Lodge has a dive centre on site. You can learn to dive there with PADI courses on offer. You’ll enjoy spectacular coral formations and a bewildering range of beautiful reef fish as well as turtles, manta ray, dolphins and whale sharks.

Aliwal Shoals, south of Durban, was voted one of the top 10 diving sites in the world. The reef is known for its marine diversity: dazzling soft coral, starfish, anemones, seahorses, large schools of pelagic fish, even the docile Ragged Tooth Shark. However, it’s fair to say that there are not many attractive hotel options in these areas.

We tailormake all our diving trips in South Africa around your specific needs. However, have a look at our sample tours – Bush & Beach in South Africa and Isibindi Fly-in Safari for some ways to incorporate these stunning coastal lodges into a trip. If you are looking to learn to dive, you may need to add on a couple of nights.