Durban · South Africa · Wreck
The Odd
Boilers, mast, bow and stern all visible from the surface.
Area photo: Peter Southwood · CC BY-SA 4.0
A shallow wreck of unknown history at the entrance to Vetch's harbour, close to the new North Pier, in 7 m. The boilers, mast, bow and stern show from the surface, and the broken inshore side shelters shoals of juvenile fish hunted by resident lionfish and scorpionfish.
Also known as The "Odd" wreck, Odd wreck.
Where it is and how deep
29.8703° S, 31.0536° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The wreck lies in 7 m at the entrance to Vetch's harbour, parallel to the beach and very close to the new North Pier. The vessel is relatively intact: the boilers, mast, bow and stern are all visible from the surface. The seaward side is well preserved but buried in sand.
The inshore side is broken up and holds many juvenile butterflyfish and angelfish. Resident lionfish and scorpionfish prey on the shoals of juveniles among the plates. Divers tow a surface marker buoy for the whole dive, because the skippers launching from the mini harbour mostly do not know the wreck is there, and stay down when a ski boat can be heard approaching.
The wreck
- Vessel
- The Odd (name not recorded)
- Type
- Vessel with boilers and a mast
- Cause
- Not recorded
- Lies
- Parallel to the beach in 7 m, seaward side buried in sand
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| 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
- Boats launching from the mini harbour cross the wreck; tow a buoy and do not surface while a ski boat is approaching.
Dive videos
Scuba Diving - The Odd Wreck - Durban, South Africa #idiveafrica · Andre Jansen on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Odd wreck in Durban?+
The Odd lies in 7 m at the entrance to Vetch's harbour, shallow enough that its boilers, mast, bow and stern show from the surface.
Sources
- Durban Dive Sites – Wrecks — Durban Undersea Club
- Diving in Durban — Wikivoyage
More dive sites in Durban
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The boilers of a 1940 sugar ship, reached from Addington Beach.
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