Gordon's Bay & Rooi-Els · South Africa · Reef
Phil's Bay
Shallow sandstone ridges named for a Gordon's Bay instructor
Area photo: Pbsouthwood · CC BY-SA 4.0
Phil's Bay is a shoreline rocky reef in the Gordon's Bay area, named after Philip Faure, a Gordon's Bay diving instructor who spent several years exploring the area. A moderate reef of sandstone ridges runs parallel to the shore above a sand bottom, with red bait, feather stars, sponges and sea fans.
Also known as Phil's Reef.
Where it is and how deep
34.1867° S, 18.8189° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Divers descend onto a moderate relief reef of sandstone rocks and ridges, with sandy gaps running more or less parallel to the shoreline. Seaward the reef gives way to a sand bottom at the maximum depth of about 14 m, and towards the shore it grows more rugged while staying deep close inshore. There is no set route, and dives are planned to surface where the boat can reach the divers.
Red bait covers the rocks in the shallower areas and feather stars take over deeper down. Sponges and sea fans add colour, and a variety of small creatures live among them, so macro photography gives the best results. Visibility on a good day is likely to be 5 to 6 m, often less, and as much as 10 m on a very good day. The site is usually at its best in summer, after a south-easter, when the swell is low.
Marine life and season
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime |
Season follows Gordon's Bay & Rooi-Els: Diving runs mostly in summer, when the weather permits, with some good days in other seasons and an occasional winter dive.
Know before you go
- Exposed to south westerly and north westerly swell and wind; dive it when the south westerly swell is low.
- A slight current may run; plan the dive to surface near the boat.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Phil's Bay?+
The maximum depth is about 14 m, where the reef meets the sand.
Sources
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Phil's Bay — Wikivoyage
More dive sites in Gordon's Bay & Rooi-Els
Three sponge-covered pinnacles off the Rooi-els shore
Twin reefs shaped like a whale and calf, close to Gordon's Bay
Noble coral on every pinnacle, above sheer walls to the sand
Steep shoreline walls and a boulder swim-through close to the gully
A surface-breaking rock pinnacle above reef with unusually varied invertebrates
Ridges and gullies below the Rocky Bay resort cliffs
Kelp forest and broken sandstone ridges off the Rooi-els point
Sheltered cove entry below a shoreline cave
Similar dives elsewhere
Ridges of medium height running out to a seaward pinnacle
Gestating ragged-tooth sharks settle here from December
Big smooth boulders scattered over sand patches
Marbled electric rays on a 10 to 14 m reef