Aliwal Shoal · South Africa · Wreck

MV Produce

A 176-metre molasses carrier broken across the sand at 32 metres.

Area photo: Georgina Jones · CC BY-SA 4.0

The MV Produce was a 176-metre Norwegian bulk molasses carrier that struck the north-eastern pinnacle of Aliwal Shoal in 1974 and sank within four hours. She lies on her starboard side on sand at 32 metres, her top at 16, back broken and midship collapsed, and she holds the endemic harlequin goldie along with kingfish, salmon and brindle bass.

Also known as Produce wreck.

Where it is and how deep

Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

30.2498° S, 30.8296° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

The wreck is reached by boat from the launch at the Mkomazi River mouth and is dived only when the current is weak. You come down onto the highest structure at about 16 metres and work down the hull towards the sand at 32, where she lies on her starboard side. The back of the ship is broken and the midship largely collapsed, so the middle of her reads as a field of plating and frames rather than a ship, but the bow and the stern are largely intact and it is possible to swim between the two.

The fish life is the draw. The hull houses the endemic and scarce harlequin goldie, Pseudanthias connelli, with game fish such as salmon and kingfish working the structure and brindle bass sometimes met in the hold. Visibility varies from good to bad and is frequently around 10 metres, with water near 22°C. Penetration of the wreck is likely to be hazardous and is not part of a normal dive here, and the current often comes up strong enough to wash divers off the wreck, so keep the structure within reach and be ready to leave it early.

The wreck

Vessel: MV Produce
Type: Norwegian bulk molasses carrier
Length: 176 m (577 ft)
Sunk: 1974
Cause: Collided with the north-eastern pinnacle of the shoal
Lies: On her starboard side on sand at 32 m, back broken and midship collapsed

The Produce struck the north-eastern pinnacle of the shoal on 11 August 1974. She began listing rapidly, the crew had less than 30 minutes to abandon ship, and she sank within four hours, coming to rest on her starboard side on the sand at 32 metres. Local commercial fishermen, the SAS Oranjeland and an air force helicopter between them saved every crew member.

Marine life and season

Trevally & jacks
Groupers

Month-by-month season rating for MV Produce
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good

Season follows Aliwal Shoal: The reef is dived all year round; ragged-tooth sharks congregate from July to November, bull sharks gather from December to April.

Know before you go

Penetration is likely to be hazardous: the back of the ship is broken and the midship largely collapsed, so the dive is run on the outside of the hull.
The current is often strong and divers are washed off the wreck, which is why the dive should only be conducted in weak current conditions.

Dive videos

Scuba Diving on Aliwal Shoal - The Produce Wreck · Brian on YouTube

Questions divers ask

How deep is the MV Produce?+

The top of the wreck is at about 16 metres and she rests on sand at 32 metres, so most of the dive is below 20 metres. That depth, plus the currents often encountered, makes it an advanced dive.

Can you penetrate the MV Produce?+

Penetration is likely to be hazardous. Her back is broken and the midship largely collapsed, although the bow and stern are largely intact and it is possible to swim between them along the outside.