Sodwana Bay is part of Isimangaliso Wetland Park which is a world heritage site. The area has been a protected reserve for many years (since December 1950), ensuring large fish populations as well as pristine corals.

We have an impressive fish diversity on our reefs, with over 1100 species having been positively identified. The beautiful coral reefs at Sodwana Bay were created by a layer of corals which colonised sandstone outcrops which are the remains of dunes and beaches that were fossilised during previous sea levels. The potholes in many of the reefs are thought to have been pools in the sandstone. These reefs are of the most southerly coral reefs in the world and are fed by warm water carried southward by the Agulhas Current. The fact that no silt-bearing rivers are close to the area ensures that the corals are pristine and the visibility good.

Sodwana Bay is a summer rainfall area averaging 1100mm annual rainfall. It has a sub-tropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The maximum summer temperature is 30�C with an average of 26�C while the minimum winter temperature is 18�C with an average of 21�C.

Sodwana Bay is rated by international divers as one of the top 10 dive destinations in the world. The maximum summer water temperature is 28�C with an average of 26�C while the minimum winter water temperature is 17�C with an average of 22�C. Visibility ranges from 8m to 40m (depending on the time of the year) with an average of 12m. Visibility is reduced in winter due to the increased plankton in the water. This however leads to increased sightings of Whale sharks and Manta rays. Humpback whales are a common sighting during their annual migration from June to November. Sodwana is also one of the preferred aggregation sites of the pregnant ragged-tooth shark from November to March.

Make your preference of time and divesite known to us by 12:00 the day before the dive and we will do our best to accommodate you. You do not have to attend a dive planning session. We will phone you the evening before the dive giving you the details of your dive. We meet on the beach half an hour before dive time. We can also arrange transport onto the beach if required.

THE BOATS

Reefteach has two fully equipped 7.2metre rubberducks (RIB). They are inspected annually to ensure compliance to the South African Maritime Safety Authority regulations. This includes ensuring radio communications, flares, safety flotation devices, oxygen, first aid kits, etc. Both boats are equipped with a GPS, echo sounder, a ladder and windbreakers for the trip back.

We Love Diving!

Reefteach is driven by two passions. The first is a love for the natural environment and more specifically, the marine environment. The second is a drive for personalised customer service. In combining these two passions our mission is the following: To increase the understanding of the marine environment for each of our customers in a personalised relationship. Reefteach was established at Sodwana Bay in 2000. Although we moved into an already saturated industry there was an obvious need for an operation which could cater for the many divers who were seeking to learn more about the coral reef. We have filled that niche and have become a successful dive charter having recently been awarded a concession by Isimangaliso Wetland Authority.

Reefteach has an intimate knowledge of the reefs at Sodwana Bay and are the operator of choice for divers wishing to know more about the underwater environment. Reefteach staff have completed thousands of dives at Sodwana Bay and because we personally dive daily, we are in a position to show you the best Sodwana has to offer. All of our dives are led by divemasters who have an extensive knowledge of the reefs, marine life and the ecology. Dive briefings are done using books in our marine reference library on the beach. In this way the divers know what marine life they can expect to see and to look out for. After the dive the reference books are used again to facilitate identification.

Reefteach has a number of special routes that are not well known by other operators. In this way we dive pristine areas that are away from the crowds. Furthermore even on the well known divesites the Reefteach staff knows where the rare fish and critters can be found.

Memberships:

Reefteach are members of the following organisations:

PADI
DAN
East Coast Fish Watch
Reefcheck
Sharklife

The reefs at Sodwana Bay

The coastline runs north-north-easterly with the reefs being parallel to the coastline, approximately 500m offshore. The winds are mainly north-easterly or south-westerly. The wave action is onshore and varies from 0.5m to 3m. Dive boats are RIB (rigid inflatable boats) otherwise known as rubberducks in South Africa. These boats are launched through the surf in the protected bay behind Jesser point.

The reefs are named after the distance (in miles) from the launch site at Jesser point. In 1822 the Royal Navy sent the ships Leven, Barracouta, and Cockburn to survey the coastline. The captain of the Barracouta was Lieutenant A.Vidal, after whom Cape Vidal was named, and Leven Point was named after the sloop HMS Leven. The various points along the coast: Jesser, Liefelds, Gobey & Hully were named after officers on the ships who died of malaria.

DIVESITES - SODWANA BAY

ANTONS

This divesite is the most popular of all divesites at Sodwana Bay. Of the approximately 180,000 dives that are undertaken annually more than 30% are done at this site. This clearly puts paid to the myth that Sodwana is dived out or that the divers have smashed all the coral. This dive site is the most south-western point of 2 mile reef. It has amazing topography with lots of caves and swim throughs. It is covered in coral both hard and soft with a huge patch of leather coral. Antons is best known for its huge shoals of fish. Humpback snappers, bluebanded snappers, yellow snappers, dory snappers and flame goatfish create yellow swathes above the reef. Trumpetfish that have changed to yellow can often be found skulking in amongst these shoals. Shoals of zebra and german are also common. Hidden under the overhangs are numerous rockcod, squirrelfish, soldiers, potato bass, soapfish and sweepers. Two resident frogfish can often be found here.

UNIFORM

This divesite is located just east of 5 Mile reef. It is approximately 45m long and 50m wide. The maximum depth is 30m and the average depth 27m. The dive site is covered in swathes of layered contoured coral with the odd patch of pimple and mushroom coral. The coral has hundreds of chocolate dips hovering above it. Special fish to be seen are the marbled leopardgrouper, tiger angelfish, swallowtail angelfish, purple butterflyfish, coachman, masked coachman, yellowtail goldie.

HOTSPOT

This divesite is located south of 5 Mile reef. It is flat with a 2m ledge along its northern upcurrent edge. The ledge is approximately 100m long. The maximum depth is 30m and the average depth 27m. An overhang with black coral hides two longnose hawkfish. Hundreds of blue-and-gold fusiliers as well as yellowback fusiliers take advantage of the upwelling of the water along the ledge. Large pelagic fish hang a few metres above the reef. Zambesi and tiger sharks are seen here regularly. Numerous whip corals are home to well camouflaged shrimps.

BIKINI

This divesite is located on the southern seaward edge of 2 Mile reef. Like a bikini it doesn't look like much but hides lots of beautiful things. It consists of two divesites and much debate has taken place about which is bikini top and which is bikini bottom. Suffice to say Bikini North and Bikini South have ended the ribald discussions.

BIKINI SOUTH

It is flat with a 0.5m 1m ledge along its northern edge. The ledge is approximately 100m long. The maximum depth is 20m and the average depth 17m. A favourite spot on this site is Mellow Yellow. An area that has huge shoals of blue-banded snappers, yellow snappers, humpback snappers, flame goatfish and white kingfish. The ledge has numerous cleaning-station overhangs staffed by bluestreak cleaner wrasse, banded boxer shrimp and white-banded cleaner shrimp. Specials that can be found here are juvenile razor wrasse and ghost pipefish.

BIKINI NORTH

It is flat with a 1m 2m ledge along its seaward edge. The ledge is approximately 40m long. The maximum depth is 22m and the average depth 18m. This divesite is essentially a continuous cleaning-station staffed by bluestreak cleaner wrasse, banded boxer shrimp, white-banded cleaner shrimp and Durban dancer shrimps. Emperor angelfish, semicircle angelfish and numerous species of rockcod can be seen reversing into cleaning stations. Specials that can be found here are paper fish, eggshell shrimps, squat shrimps, anemone crabs and many species of less common nudibranchs.

OTHER DIVESITES

There are numerous other divesites and special routes that Reefteach uses. Some of these are: Stringer, Pinnacles, Four Buoy, Chain, Waynes World, Simons, Coral Gardens, Caves & Overhangs, Ribbon, Pick & Pay, The Garden Route, Arches, Chain, Little Hotspot, etc. Come and dive with us and we will show you all the wonders to be found on these divesites.

SCUBA COURSES

All courses exclude accommodation which can be arranged upon request. Reefteach offers a full range of PADI scuba courses from beginner to assistant instructor. These courses are run at Sodwana Bay as well as in Gauteng. The course prices at Sodwana Bay include the dives while those in Gauteng exclude dives. The prices include course materials.

Courses

Specialities