Adventurous travellers will immerse themselves in the heart of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province on this exciting 10-day dive safari, the perfect mix of diving and safari drives. Divers will have ten dives across Aliwal Shoal, a renowned diving site created from a fossilised sand dune and Sodwana Bay, offering the only tropical water diving in South Africa.
Sharks are one of the main drawcards in KwaZulu-Natal, with tiger sharks drawn to its warmer waters from November to March and ragged tooth sharks coming here to breed from June to November. The vibrant reef systems here also attract turtles, manta rays, eels, and potato bass.
Your underwater experience is complemented by two nights in Zuka Private Game Reserve. With ecological restoration at its core, you’ll learn about the park’s conservation success on thrilling safari game drives that will take you in search of cheetah, leopard, and rhino.
| Location | Accommodation | Meal Plan | Activities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 to 3 | Kwazulu-Natal South Coast | Agulhas House | Breakfast & dinner | Transfer from King Shaka International Airport, Durban. 3 nights accommodation in Standard Room at Aghulhas House 3 coral dives and 1 shark dive at Aliwal Shoal |
| Day 4 to 8 | Sodwana Bay | Coral Divers | Daily Breakfast | 4 nights accommodation in Standard Bungalow 6 dives at Two Mile Reef (fuel surcharge to upgrade to more remote sites) |
| Day 8 and 9 | Zuka Private Game Reserve | Bayala Game Lodge | Breakfast & dinner | Transfer to Bayala Game Lodge 2 nights accommodation in a Standard Bungalow 2 game viewing drives per day |
| Day 10 | Transfer to King Shaka International Airport, Durban. |
Agulhas House
This welcoming boutique hotel and dive centre in Umkomaas has 21 ensuite rooms and 2 family ensuite rooms, each with air conditioning, fridges, tea and coffee making facilities, and free Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy the resort’s lush gardens and outdoor pool.
Coral Divers
Set within iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Coral Divers offers accommodation types for all budgets, including safari tented camping, standard cabins, and ensuite cabins. Ensuite cabins offer air conditioning and a private deck. There is also an outdoor pool, self-catering kitchen, bar and restaurant, and TV lounge.
Bayala Game Lodge
This recently renovated safari lodge is part of Zuka Private Game Reserve. There are 24 stylish guest rooms, some interconnecting for families. Each features large bathrooms with walk-in showers, air conditioning, and tea and coffee facilities. Upgrade to a Superior room for a private patio. There is also an outdoor pool, spa, free Wi-Fi, and bar and restaurant for guest use.
Agulhas House Dive Centre
Located within the resort, this RAID-accredited dive centre supports both technical and casual divers. They have several purpose-built dive boats that operate for daily excursions to a number of dive sites around Alihal Shoal or for specific shark or sardine run dives (seasonal).
Coral Divers
An award-winning PADI 5 Star Dive Centre, Coral Divers operates year-round, with several dive boats to take guests to a range of reef and wreck sites around Sodwana Bay. A pre-dive meeting is held each evening before the following day’s dives to go through logistics. On the day, shuttles operate to ferry guests from the hotel to the beach departure point.
Aliwal Shoal Dive Sites
South Sands: Featuring a sandy seabed and corals, this dive site is always home to a plethora of marine life, including rays, whitetip reef sharks, and a resident school of red fang triggerfish. Maximum depth 17m.
Cathedral: A spacious natural archway, ragged-tooth sharks are frequently spotted here, as are frogfish and paper fish. Maximum depth 27m.
Raggies Cave: One of the best dive sites to see ragged-tooth sharks (seasonally from August to November). The spacious overhangs and cave systems are often used by the sharks for breeding. Maximum depth 17m.
SS Nebo: This advanced wreck dive is still mostly intact, a former wooden cargo ship that sank in 1884. Kingfish and salmon are often seen here. Maximum depth 27m.
Northern Pinnacles: Extensive rock formations are home to an array of marine life, including honeycomb Moray eels, batfish, and manta rays. Maximum depth 18m.
Sodwana Bay Dive Sites
Quarter Mile: This sandy bottom drift dive is often home to ragged-tooth sharks, but is only accessible when authorities have ensured that humans won’t disrupt their breeding grounds. Maximum depth 14m.
2 Mile: One of the region’s largest reefs, this popular dive site is sheltered and accessible to all abilities. Ledges, pinnacles, and caves are home to lots of vibrant marine life. Maximum depth 18m.
6 Mile: Also known as Snapper’s College due to the plethora of bluestriped and dory snapper. This Advanced Open Water site also features black coral, Moray eels, and juvenile boxfish that shelter in the reef. Maximum depth 25m.
7 Mile (Northern Wall and Mushroom Rocks): This renowned dive site offers dramatic drop-offs and colourful soft corals. You can often spot turtles, Moray eels, and black tipped reef sharks. Maximum depth 22m.
9 Mile: With swim-throughs, caves, and overhangs, this versatile dive site has plenty of wildlife hidden in its crevices, including Moray eels, tube anemones, and potato bass. Sharks and scorpionfish are also often seen. Maximum depth 22m.
Agulhas House, Coral Divers and Bayala Game Lodge Safari
| A 9-night coastal and safari escape through Aliwal Shoal, Sodwana Bay, Manyoni Reserve. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Person pricing | |||||
| 3 nights at Agulhas House, including breakfast and dinner 4 nights at Coral Divers, including breakfast 2 nights at Bayala Safari Lodge, including breakfast and dinner Return airport transfers as specified in the itinerary 3 reef dives and 1 baited shark dive from The Agulhas House, including tank and weights 6 dives from Coral Divers, including tank and weights Activities and excursions as mentioned Park entrance and river usage fees unless otherwise stipulated |
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| Excluded | |||||
| Pre and post tour accommodation Flights not mentioned in itinerary Dive equipment hire Any optional activities Drinks and meals not mentioned in itinerary Personal expenses such as gratuities and telephone calls |
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| Valid to Dec 31, 2026 | AUD | ZAR | |||
| Low Season 1 May to 30 Sep 2026 | |||||
| 2 Divers | 51118 | ZAR | | | 51118 | |
| 4 Divers | 44474 | ZAR | | | 44474 | |
| 6 Divers | 41236 | ZAR | | | 41236 | |
| High Season 1 Jan to 30 Apr, 1 )ct to 31 Dec 2026 | |||||
| 2 Divers | 51588 | ZAR | | | 51588 | |
| 4 Divers | 44944 | ZAR | | | 44944 | |
| 6 Divers | 41706 | ZAR | | | 41706 | |
| This resort's prices are in ZAR and include all givernment taxes. The AUD prices shown are based on the current exchange rate. The price paid in AUD will be based on the actual exchange rate at the time any payments are made. | |||||
