Robberg & Plettenberg Bay · South Africa · Pinnacle
Whale Rock
Ragged-tooth sharks around a pinnacle that breaks off Robberg Point
Area photo: Theo Crazzolara · CC BY 2.0
Whale Rock is a large pinnacle off Robberg Nature Reserve, the rock the Greek trawler Athina struck before it sank, and it can often be seen breaking 900 m offshore. It is dived only when conditions allow, and experienced divers go for its big fish and ragged-tooth sharks.
Where it is and how deep
34.1045° S, 23.3963° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive is made on the pinnacle between 24 and 30 m. Sea fans, soft corals and colourful sponges cover the rock, and the site is known for its big fish and for the many ragged-tooth sharks that gather around it.
Marine life and season
- Sand tiger sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair |
Season follows Robberg & Plettenberg Bay: September and October are the best months; onshore south-easterlies churn the sea up in summer, while winter westerlies clear the water.
Know before you go
- The pinnacle often breaks at the surface and is dived only when sea conditions allow.
Questions divers ask
What certification does Whale Rock need?+
Advanced: the pinnacle is dived between 24 and 30 m and only in good conditions, so it is no site for novice divers.
Sources
- Top Dive Sites along the Garden Route – Plettenberg Bay — ProDive Plettenberg Bay
- OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap contributors
More dive sites in Robberg & Plettenberg Bay
Wreck
A Greek trawler's hull lying a short swim off Robberg
Reef
A maze of caves and swim-throughs with ragged-tooth sharks
Wall
Sea fans draped in basket stars on a soft-coral wall
Reef
Huge reef terraces with the odd big mako shark passing
Reef
Juvenile reef fish and cuttlefish among anemones in the shallows
Sand slope
Cape fur seals blowing bubbles at divers on the sand
Pinnacle
Three pinnacles reached on a short swim from the beach
Big caves among round boulders off Robberg's island
Similar dives elsewhere
Zambezi sharks over open ground, October to May
A pinnacle that nearly breaks the surface above a steep wall
A summit 40 m long with the reef falling past 60 m
A coral mountain from 30 m to 16 m, slack water only