Protea Banks · South Africa · Pinnacle · Drift
Southern Pinnacle
Zambezi sharks over open ground, October to May
Area photo: Brendan Herbert (I've Got It On Film!) · CC BY 2.0
The southern high point of Protea Banks, a reef top at 26 m with sand patches at 30 m below it. The ground is wider and more open than the northern pinnacle and many trips start at the Southern Cave, which holds large populations of reef fish. Zambezi (bull) sharks are the draw here, best observed between October and May.
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
The boat runs about 6 km out from Shelly Beach to the southern end of the bank. One of the most popular places to start a trip is the Southern Cave, which holds large populations of reef fish, and the profile from there is shallower than the northern end: a reef top at 26 m with sand patches at 30 m. That is still a deep dive, but it buys a few more minutes of bottom time.
The southern ground is wider and more open than the north, with open sand channels and a fast drift, which is why it suits drift lines and meet-on-top style dives. You work along the rock as the current runs north or south rather than holding on one feature. Outside the Zambezi season this end of the reef is rated for ragged-tooth sharks, from May to October, and for guitar sharks.
Zambezi sharks, the bull sharks of this coast, are what the southern pinnacle is known for, and October to May is the window for them. The dive map calls the ground prime hammerhead habitat and rates it for hammerhead and bull shark migrations; scalloped hammerheads may be seen in this area in March and April.
Background
As Protea Banks developed into a shark destination its two ends acquired separate reputations. The southern pinnacles became known for deeper, current-driven encounters, while the northern ground was recognised for its seasonal aggregations of ragged-tooth sharks and its complex reef formations. The two are still dived and described separately.
Marine life and season
- Bull sharks
- Hammerheads
- Sand tiger sharks
- Reef fish swarms
| 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
- The current runs medium to strong and can set either north or south, so the direction of the dive is decided on the day and only settled once the boat is on the water.
- At 26 to 30 m with sharks in mid-water it is easy to lose track of gas and depth; agree a turn pressure before the descent and keep the group together.
Questions divers ask
When are Zambezi sharks seen at Protea Banks?+
The Southern Pinnacle is home to Zambezi (bull) sharks, and they are best observed between October and May. Ragged-tooth sharks use the same ground from May to October.
How deep is the Southern Pinnacle?+
The reef top is at 26 m and the sand patches below it lie at 30 m, making it the shallower of the two Protea Banks pinnacles but still an advanced dive.
What is the Southern Cave?+
Wikipedia describes it as one of the most popular spots to start a diving trip at Protea Banks, and it holds large populations of reef fish. Whether it counts as a distinct site or as an entry point on the Southern Pinnacle is not clear from published sources.
Sources
- Protea banks — Wikipedia
- Protea Banks dive site — PADI
- Protea Banks — Scubago
- 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
- When and where to dive with hammerheadsBig animals · 16 min read
More dive sites in Protea Banks
Pinnacle
Two caves that ragged-tooth sharks use, marked as a winter feature
Sand slope
Giant guitar sharks on the sand at 40 m
Similar dives elsewhere
A chain of sea mountains drifted one to the next
Up to 30 manta rays reported over one cleaning-station boulder
A narrow swim-through and mantas on a current-split point
Manta cleaning stations in the channels between three pinnacles