Hermanus · South Africa · Reef · Pinnacle
Boiling Pot
Two pinnacles on a narrow ledge where surge bubbles between the rocks
Area photo: Peter Southwood · CC BY-SA 3.0
Boiling Pot is a boat dive off Hermanus on a narrow ledge with two distinct pinnacles, reaching about 23 m. It takes its name from the bubbling that sometimes shows between the rocks when the surge works through them, and seals sometimes join the dive.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Hermanus and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The dive works along a narrow ledge between two distinct pinnacles, with the bottom at around 23 m. Sea whips, sea fans and gorgonians grow among the hard and soft corals, alongside giant orange wall sponges, red-bait and strawberry anemones. Horsefish, klipvis, octopus, cuttlefish, shysharks, pipefish and nudibranchs live on the reef. Between the rocks the surge can set the water bubbling, the effect that gives the site its name.
Marine life and season
- Seals & sea lions
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Nudibranchs
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Hermanus: Boats run year-round, weather permitting, so no month stands out; June to December adds southern right whales seen from shore.
Know before you go
- Surge runs between the rocks of the ledge, strong enough at times to set the water bubbling.
Sources
- Diving Services offered by Scuba Africa, Hermanus — Scuba Africa
- Hermanus Dive Spots — South Africa Online
More dive sites in Hermanus
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Big smooth boulders scattered over sand patches
Pinnacle
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Reef
A sheltered ledge and small wall used for dive training
Reef
Broken reef threaded with sand gullies, divable from shore or boat
Similar dives elsewhere
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Two kilometres of ledges, pinnacles and gullies, diveable in most weather