Aliwal Dive Centre & Lodge

Located in Umkomaas on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, Aliwal Dive Centre & Lodge has been a fixture of the South African diving community since 1995. As one of the earliest dive charter operations in the region, it has built a reputation for professionalism and safety, serving divers from across the globe.

The centre serves as a gateway to the Aliwal Shoal, a premier diving destination, as well as the nearby wrecks of the Nebo and the Produce. Whether you are looking for the adrenaline of shark encounters or the technical challenge of wreck diving, the centre is positioned to provide access to the best of the KwaZulu-Natal coast.

The centre operates as a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre (IDC), meaning it is equipped to train the next generation of professionals. The team possesses over 60 years of collective experience in the diving and shark diving industries, ensuring a high level of expertise for both recreational and professional students.

Safety is a core component of their operations, with the centre being an active member of DAN SA Business and a partner to DAN. This commitment to safety extends to their boat handling, with lead skippers having completed more than 24,000 surf launches.

The centre offers a comprehensive range of PADI courses, catering to everyone from those taking their first breaths underwater to professional candidates. Beginners can start with the Discover Scuba Diver programme, progressing through Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver.

For those looking to specialise, the centre provides PADI specialty courses including Nitrox, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Drift Diver, and Search and Recovery. They also offer Emergency First Response training and Rescue Diver courses.

As an IDC, the facility is a hub for professional development, hosting courses for Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Open Water Scuba Instructor, and Master Scuba Diver Trainer, as well as full Instructor Development Courses.

The centre utilises an 8-metre semi-rigid boat powered by twin 100HP Yamaha 4-stroke motors. This vessel has a capacity for 8 to 9 divers or snorkelers per trip.

The boat is fully equipped with all required safety gear, including emergency oxygen and a first aid kit. Nitrox is available for use on board to support extended bottom times during your dives.

On-site facilities include a purpose-built dive centre with dedicated gear storage and hot showers. For those looking to travel light, a full range of rental kit is available, including wetsuits, regulators, BCDs, fins, masks, and even wrist computers.

For those needing a camera, GoPro units with SD cards are available for hire. The centre also provides air refills and offers Nitrox up to 40% for divers looking to optimise their profiles.

The Aliwal Shoal is famous for its shark populations. During the June and July season, ragged-tooth sharks are the main attraction, often found resting in the amphitheatre at Cathedral or near Raggies Cave. You may also encounter hammerhead sharks, oceanic blacktip sharks, Zambezi sharks, and occasionally tiger sharks or bull sharks.

Pelagic life is a constant presence, with sightings of dolphins (Delphinidae), tuna (Thunnus), and various rays, including manta rays (Mobula alfredi) during their specific season. Large predators like the Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and various species of shark (Selachimorpha) patrol the deeper edges of the reef.

The reef itself is teeming with life, including potato groupers, moray eels (Muraenidae), and various species of snapper and jack (Carangidae). You will also see turtles, stingrays, and large schools of tropical fish moving across the coral and rock formations.

For macro enthusiasts, the area offers plenty of interest. Look closely for octopuses, cuttlefish (Sepiidae), nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), scorpionfish, frogfish (Antennarius), and various species of shrimp (Caridea). Spiny lobster (Palinuridae) and various species of anemones also inhabit the crevices of the reef.

Diving at Aliwal Shoal is heavily influenced by the seasonal movement of species, with the June to July period being particularly significant for ragged-tooth sharks and the Sardine Run. The area is known for its diverse marine life, which changes with the seasons.

Visibility at the sites typically ranges between 8 and 10 metres. The dive sites range from shallow sandy plateaus and reef flats to deeper wreck and cave environments, requiring appropriate buoyancy control and experience levels.