Durban · South Africa · Artificial reef
T-Barge
A 48-compartment concrete barge with a steel gantry at the T junction.
Area photo: Peter Southwood · CC BY-SA 4.0
A concrete barge of 48 compartments sunk as an artificial reef in December 1990, lying in 25 m about 3 km off Virginia beach. Being this far offshore, the visibility may be significantly better than at the inshore sites, and batfish, turtles and lionfish live on the structure.
Also known as T Barge, T-Barge wreck.
Where it is and how deep
29.7871° S, 31.0760° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The barge lies in 25 m. It is made of concrete, 30 m by 20 m by 3 m, and divided into 48 compartments of 3 m by 3 m by 3 m. A gantry-like steel superstructure stands at the T junction. The site sits far enough offshore that the visibility may be significantly better than at the inshore sites.
This is not a drift dive, and following a divemaster around the structure is difficult, so buddy pairs explore on their own. Batfish, pineapple fish, turtles, puffer fish and lionfish are found on the barge, and brindle bass have been seen recently. Each pair ascends on a buoy line, either its own deploy buoy or the divemaster's.
Background
The T-Barge is one of three artificial reefs sunk by the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) off Durban, and went down on 19 December 1990. The concrete barge, 30 m by 20 m by 3 m, is divided into 48 compartments, each 3 m by 3 m by 3 m, with a steel gantry-like superstructure at the T junction. It now lies in 25 m about 3 km off Virginia beach.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Durban: March to July is best: low rainfall and south-westerlies bring clear water. Spring rain (September to December) clouds the water near the harbour and Umlaas canal mouths.
Know before you go
- The barge is a popular fishing spot; carry a knife to cut free from fishing line in case of entanglement.
- Buddy pairs explore apart from the group, so each pair carries a deploy buoy to ascend on.
Dive videos
T-Barge Wreck, Durban - 4K Scuba Diving - 07/10/2023 · South Africa Underwater on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the T-Barge?+
The T-Barge lies in 25 m, about 3 km off Virginia beach north of Durban.
Sources
- Durban Dive Sites – Wrecks — Durban Undersea Club
- Diving in Durban — Wikivoyage
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