Diving Protea Banks
Protea Banks has been rated by many divers from around the world as the best shark dive. Many divers are scared of sharks due to horror stories and myths created by the movie world, but their fears are totally unfounded. Sharks are intelligent animals, do not recognise us as a food source and generally tend to be shy and respectful towards the divers
Key Dive Sites
NORTHERN PINNACLES: The reef has two large cave systems which are used by the Ragged Tooth Sharks as resting zones on their annual migration and congregation route. On a good day, the diver can encounter up to 200 sharks in an area smaller than half a rugby field. Starting at the large cave we look in from the top to observe the ‘Raggies’ interacting peacefully with each other, often in numbers so large the bottom can hardly be seen! Afterwards we can pass through a tunnel that we can swim through (if it is not occupied by sharks). At the end of the tunnel lies the second cave. This cave is also open on top and features several chambers, each one with a wide opening at the top ceiling. If there are no Raggies in the caves, it is fun to explore around in the chambers, looking for sharks’ teeth. This is the only souvenir we allow the diver to remove from the reef. As spring goes into summer, large shoals of Hammerhead Sharks frequent this part of the reef.
SOUTHERN PINNACLES: This area is home to the Zambezi Shark (Bull Shark) that Protea Banks initially became famous for. From Oct to May, some very large specimens can be encountered here. Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks are also seen shoaling at this time; they can come past in groups of up to several hundred. Hunting packs of Great Hammerheads investigate any strange noises. We start the dive at the Southern Cave full of game and reef fish and head towards Kingfish Gully, an overhanging rock that is home to large shoals of Kingfish, Yellowtail, Kaakap, Sea Pike Tunny and Potato Bass. The current then takes us to a large sandy patch called Sand Shark Gully. It lies at exactly 40m depth and is home of the Giant Guitar Shark, at times these can be seen lined up like planes at an airport.
BAITED TIGER SHARK DIVE: South Africa is one of only three countries in the world offering this kind of diving. Using a baiting technique that closely resembles the shark’s natural feeding habit, African Dive Adventures lets divers as well as snorkelers and non-divers share in the experience. Starting with a special Tiger Shark Dive Briefing and explanation of code of conduct, guests are then taken out to Protea Banks. The bait is dropped in the water at about 6m/18ft depth and we wait until the chum slick has dissipated and a tiger shark has picked up the scent. As soon as the tiger is circling the bucket, the divers enter the water as quietly as possible and swim slowly towards the bait bucket. Divers as well as bucket will be drifting with the current as the tiger sharks swim round and round and right in between the divers. After approximately one hour we will call time out and return to base. (This activity is optional and you need to pay the dive centre directly)