Best Scuba Diving Packages at Protea Banks
Explore our scuba diving packages at Protea Banks, South Africa. Join us for thrilling shark diving adventures under water
Protea Banks Shark Diving Seasons
Ragged-tooth Shark Diving
Ragged-tooth Shark Diving
Ragged-tooth Shark Diving
Ragged-tooth sharks in South Africa undertake an annual migration of over 1,000 km. They give birth in Cape Town’s cold summer waters, then journey to KwaZulu-Natal’s warmer reefs—like Protea Banks and Aliwal Shoal—where rocky caves provide ideal mating grounds during the cooler months from May to November.
Hammerhead Shark Diving
Ragged-tooth Shark Diving
Ragged-tooth Shark Diving
Mass Aggregation of Hammerhead Sharks – A Seasonal Spectacle at Protea Banks
Between September and February, Protea Banks hosts one of the ocean’s most stunning events—the migration of thousands of Hammerhead sharks, primarily Scalloped Hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini).
Tiger Shark Diving
Ragged-tooth Shark Diving
Tiger Shark Diving
Tiger Sharks
From January to June, South Africa offers the chance to encounter the majestic Tiger Shark. While rare sightings can occur on regular dives at Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks, the best way to observe them up close—and capture stunning photos—is through a professionally guided baited shark dive.
Bull Shark Diving
Oceanic Blacktip Shark Diving
Tiger Shark Diving
Bull Sharks
Also known as Zambezi sharks in Africa, Bull sharks are unique for their ability to thrive in salt and freshwater. They’ve been found over 100 km up the Zambezi River and are frequent visitors on our baited dives—often seen year-round as permanent residents of the reef.
Oceanic Blacktip Shark Diving
Oceanic Blacktip Shark Diving
Oceanic Blacktip Shark Diving
Oceanic Blacktip Sharks
Oceanic Blacktips are permanent residents of Protea Banks and a frequent highlight of baited dives. Generally calm and curious, they exhibit playful behavior but can be easily startled. Divers should remain aware of their surroundings, as sudden movements may trigger unpredictable reactions. Their dark-tipped fins make them unmistakable underwater.
Blue Shark Diving
Oceanic Blacktip Shark Diving
Oceanic Blacktip Shark Diving
While not permanent residents, the sleek Blue Sharks can occasionally be spotted passing through Protea Banks, particularly during the cooler months. These pelagic visitors add an element of open-ocean excitement to dives.
Explore the Rays+Whales of protea banks
Round Ribbontail Ray
Round Ribbontail Ray
Round Ribbontail Ray
These beautifully patterned rays are often encountered year-round at Protea Banks, gracefully gliding over the reefs. Their distinctive round tail makes them easily recognizable additions to the vibrant underwater landscape.
Eagle Ray
Round Ribbontail Ray
Round Ribbontail Ray
With their impressive wingspan, Eagle Rays are frequent visitors to Protea Banks throughout the year. They are often seen soaring in small groups, adding an element of majestic flight to the diving experience.
Electric Ray
Round Ribbontail Ray
Hawksbill Turtle
Encounters with Electric Rays at Protea Banks are less frequent but can occur year-round. These fascinating rays possess the unique ability to generate an electric field, a truly memorable natural phenomenon to witness.
Hawksbill Turtle
Whales (Humpback)
Hawksbill Turtle
Sightings of Hawksbill Turtles at Protea Banks are occasional throughout the year. These charming sea turtles, with their distinctive beak-like mouths, add to the diverse marine tapestry of the reef.
Dolphins
Whales (Humpback)
Whales (Humpback)
Playful pods of dolphins are often encountered year-round near Protea Banks, both at the surface and underwater. Their energetic displays and curious nature make for delightful and memorable interactions.
Whales (Humpback)
Whales (Humpback)
Whales (Humpback)
From June to December, Protea Banks becomes a prime location to witness the awe-inspiring Humpback whale migration. These gentle giants can be observed breaching at the surface and sometimes even encountered underwater.
Explore the Guitar+Ragged-tooth sharks of protea banks
The Southern Pinnacle represents a key site for studying shark migration, behavior, and dynamics.
The Southern Pinnacle represents a key site for studying shark migration, behavior, and dynamics.
The Southern Pinnacle represents a key site for studying shark migration, behavior, and dynamics.
Situated at depths ranging from 28 to 32 meters, the Southern Pinnacle of Protea Banks offers striking underwater topography and a vibrant community of reef-associated fish species. While the reef structure itself is visually impressive, its primary draw lies in the high frequency and diversity of large pelagic visitors—particularly sharks.
This site is predominantly explored during the summer season, when oceanographic conditions are optimal for observing Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) and the elusive Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran). Notably, the area also serves as a seasonal habitat for the endangered Giant Guitarfish (Rhynchobatus djiddensis), which is increasingly rare across much of its range.
The Southern Pinnacle represents a key site for studying shark migration, behavior, and population dynamics in the western Indian Ocean.
Northern Pinnacle – Seasonal Aggregation Site for Ragged-tooth sharks Carcharias taurus
The Southern Pinnacle represents a key site for studying shark migration, behavior, and dynamics.
The Southern Pinnacle represents a key site for studying shark migration, behavior, and dynamics.
The Northern Pinnacle of Protea Banks is primarily explored during the austral winter months, coinciding with the seasonal migration and aggregation of Ragged-tooth sharks (Carcharias taurus). This species is known to gather in significant numbers within the site's two prominent underwater caverns, making it a critical location for observation and study.
The dive typically begins at the larger of the two caves. From there, divers traverse a natural tunnel and canyon system en route to the second cave, which features multiple interconnected chambers and large overhead openings that allow ambient light to filter in—ideal for non-intrusive viewing.
As divers begin their ascent following bottom time, the experience continues to offer rich opportunities for pelagic observation. The midwater column frequently hosts encounters with sharks, rays, cetaceans such as humpback whales and dolphins, as well as large shoals of pelagic game fish. Notably, significant marine activity is often observed even during the final stages of the dive, including throughout the safety stop.
This site is of particular interest to researchers and advanced divers due to its geological complexity and the abundance of megafauna during migratory seasons.