Protea Banks · South Africa · Pinnacle · Drift
Northern Pinnacle
Two caves that ragged-tooth sharks use, marked as a winter feature
Area photo: Brendan Herbert (I've Got It On Film!) · CC BY 2.0
The northern of the two high points on Protea Banks, with a reef top at 32 m falling away to a ledge at 40 m. Two caves in the reef are used by ragged-tooth sharks on their annual migration, and operator dive maps mark this end of the bank as a tiger shark zone. Schools of hammerheads move along the northern reef in spring and summer.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Protea Banks and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
Site maps published elsewhere
The dive
There is no fixed drop point on the Northern Pinnacle: the skipper picks it on the day from the current, the swell and the visibility, after a boat run of roughly 6 to 7.5 km offshore from Shelly Beach. The reef top is already at 32 m, so your working depth is set the moment you arrive and bottom time is short. Below it the ledge runs to 40 m.
This is the more advanced of the two pinnacles, the deeper one and the one with the most structure, and the operator dive map marks strong drift pathways across it. You work along the rock as the current takes you, north or south, past the two caves that ragged-tooth sharks use on their annual migration and congregation route; the same map lists those caves as a winter feature. The best months to dive this end of the bank are May to November.
Spring and summer change what is in the water. Large schools of hammerheads move along the northern reef, and in peak season divers may watch hundreds glide past in formation. The dive map also marks this ground as a tiger shark zone in summer, and lists tiger sharks, hammerheads and pelagics as what the northern pinnacle is best for.
Background
The northern end of the bank built its reputation on two things that still define the diving: seasonal aggregations of ragged-tooth sharks in its caves, and the complex reef formations around the pinnacle itself. Operator dive maps mark the caves as a winter feature and the same ground as a tiger shark zone in summer, and Wikipedia describes the Northern Pinnacle as a preferred destination in the winter months.
Marine life and season
- Sand tiger sharks
- Hammerheads
- Tiger sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Protea Banks: Scalloped hammerheads school October-March, with great hammerheads most likely around March-April; bull (Zambezi) sharks aggregate June-September; ragged-tooth sharks pass through in winter.
Know before you go
- Depth and current pull against each other here: the reef top is at 32 m and the flow runs medium to strong, so plan a short bottom time and a generous gas reserve.
- The current sets either north or south depending on the day, so the direction of the dive is decided on the water rather than planned in advance.
Dive videos
Shark diving South Africa - Protea Banks - Northern Pinnacle · Tomas Choleva on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Northern Pinnacle?+
The reef top sits at 32 m and the ledge below it runs to 40 m, so it is a deep dive from the moment you arrive. Bottom times are short and there is no shallower part of the site to fall back on.
When can you dive with ragged-tooth sharks here?+
Ragged-tooth sharks use the two caves on the Northern Pinnacle on their annual migration, and the best window for diving the site is between May and November.
What certification do I need?+
PADI lists Advanced Open Water, Deep Diver and Drift Diver for Protea Banks, and the bank is rated an advanced site at 30 m and more. Deep and current experience matter more than the card itself.
Sources
- Protea banks — Wikipedia
- Protea Banks dive site — PADI
- Protea Banks — Scubago
- Protea Banks Shark Diving — African Dive Adventures
- Protea Banks Dive Map — African Dive Adventures
- Protea Banks Dive Conditions — African Dive Adventures
- Protea Banks Shark Diving History — African Dive Adventures
In The Logbook
- Where to dive with tiger, bull and white sharksBig animals · 14 min read
- How long does a tank of air last?Gear & kit · 9 min read
- Why your ears hurt diving, and how to stop itBody & health · 8 min read
- When and where to dive with hammerheadsBig animals · 16 min read
More dive sites in Protea Banks
Sand slope
Giant guitar sharks on the sand at 40 m
Pinnacle
Zambezi sharks over open ground, October to May
Similar dives elsewhere
Mother of Sharks: hammerheads and tigers on a lone pinnacle
A chain of sea mountains drifted one to the next
Twin peaks at 8 m over a gutter full of grey nurse sharks
A large pinnacle with drop-offs, dived between 14 and 40 m