Aliwal Shoal Area Accommodation
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Purple sea fan, Aliwal Shoal © Peter Southwood, Copyright![]()
Crown squirrelfish, Aliwal Shoal © Peter Southwood, Copyright![]()
Arch at Cathedra dive site on the Aliwal shoal, near Umkomaas in the Kwa-Zulu-Natal © Peter Southwood, Copyright![]()
Round ribbontail ray, Aliwal Shoal © Peter Southwood, Copyright
Aliwal Shoal Area
Aliwal Shoal Holidays - South Coast, KwaZulu Natal
Click here for Aliwal Shoal accommodation
Rated by Jacques Cousteau as one of the top 10 dive spots in the world, the Umkomaas, Aliwal Shoal in KZN brings divers flocking to the South Coast to experience the incredible attractions that the Aliwal Shoal has to offer.
The marine life on the Alwal Shoal is said to be magnificent, ragged tooth sharks or "raggies" - also known as grey nurse sharks, are regularly spotted between August and November, as they use the Aliwal Shoal Area to mate. Because the Aliwal Shoal marine life is so abundant, not only will you see 15 to 20 sharks at any one time, also mantas, moray eels, stingrays, sweetlips, potato groupers and turtles. At certain times of the year, you may also see dolphins, humpbacks, whale sharks and hammerhead sharks.
Visitors diving the South Coast Aliwal Shoal can expect fine water temperatures year-round, as the shoal lies on the edge of the warm Mozambique current.
Popular diving sites on Aliwal Shoal:
The Cathedral - max depth 27 metres / minimum qualifcation - advanced
Produce - max depth 32 metres / minimum qualifcation - advanced
Raggie's Cave - max depth 18 metres / minimum qualifcation - open water
Inside Edge - max depth 22 metres, 16 metres on top / minimum qualifcation - advanced / open water
Manta Point - max depth 22 metres / minimum qualifcation - advanced / open water
Aliwal Shoal Area Attractions:
Crocworld Conservation Center (Scottburgh) - enjoy an exciting experience by getting up close and personal with these wonderful creatures.
Empisini Nature Reserve (Umkomaas) - home to a wide variety of birdlife.
Umkomaas Golf Club - 18 hole par 72 course with a beautiful view across the Indian Ocean.
Find accommodation in Aliwal Shoal area towns:
Distance from Aliwal Shoal Scuba:
South Coast, Widenham - 2km
South Coast, Umkomaas - 2.4km
South Coast, Freeland Park - 8.9km
South Coast, Scottburgh - 11km
South Coast, Illovo Beach - 12.1km
South Coast, Winklespruit - 13.8km
South Coast, Park Rynie - 14.9km
South Coast, Clansthal - 15.5km
South Coast, Kelso - 20.2km
- Clansthal (0.57km)
- Widenham (1.98km)
- Umkomaas Area (3.54km)
- Freeland Park (4.64km)
- Scottburgh Area (5.61km)
- Scottburgh (5.67km)
- Illovo Beach (13.17km)
- Kelso (14.42km)
- Winklespruit (15.10km)
- Kingsburgh (16.49km)
- Warner Beach (16.88km)
- Pennington (17.07km)
- Selborne Park (17.44km)
- Doonside (18.56km)
- Amanzimtoti Area (21.61km)
Aliwal Shoal Accommodation - South Coast, KwaZulu Natal
Divers from all over the world come to the KZN, South Coast, Aliwal Shoal to experience the magnificent marine life. Get up close to ragged tooth sharks or 'raggies' as they are fondly known, grey nurse sharks, mantas, moray eels, stingrays, potato groupers and turtles, and at certain times of the year, you may also see dolphins and humpback whales.
Expect warm water temperatures year-round when you dive the Aliwal Shoal's best dive spots:
- The Cathedral, which takes the prize as the South Coast's best dive spot.
- Produce is one of KZN's best wreck sites.
- Raggie's Cave is the most reliable place to see ragged tooth sharks on the South Coast.
- Inside Edge offers a sheer wall filled with interesting nooks and crannies.
- Manta Point is one of the Shoal's most beautiful dive sites to see coral.
South Coast accommodation options in the Aliwal Shoal Area:
Visitors and scuba divers needing Aliwal Shoal accommodation generally arrive in groups and should, if available, choose the South Coast Self Catering categories for more affordable group accommodation. The N2 freeway allows for easy travelling, and any town within 60 km will be no more than a 30 minute drive. Umkomaas accommodation and Clansthal accommodation will be first choice from a distance point of view.
Visit The Where To Stay KwaZulu Natal, South Coast, Aliwal Shoal Accommodation Page
It is our mission to search for, and recruit a wide selection of suitable Aliwal Shoal Area accommodation, particularly the more popular categories such as Aliwal Shoal Guest House / Bed & Breakfast accommodation, Aliwal Shoal Self Catering accommodation, Aliwal Shoal Holiday Resort accommodation, and Aliwal Shoal Hotel accommodation in the Aliwal Shoal area.
99% of all Aliwal Shoal Guest Houses listed on WhereToStay will display rates for your convenience. Occasionally an Aliwal Shoal Guest House will ask you to request a quotation.
More sought after Aliwal Shoal accommodation categories include Aliwal Shoal accommodation for conferences, pet friendly Aliwal Shoal accommodation, Aliwal Shoal wheelchair friendly accommodation, and Aliwal Shoal accommodation that sleeps 10 or more.
If you are specifically pursuing these special Aliwal Shoal holiday categories, then we highly recommend that you contact the property owners directly to ensure that the facilities are satisfactory and to your liking.
If in doubt about facilities and quality, we recommend that you consider "regularly inspected" Star Graded accommodation in Aliwal Shoal, Click here to see our Star Graded Aliwal Shoal accommodation page.
You can find suitable Aliwal Shoal accommodation properties via our Map Search or our other simple Quick Search options on WhereToStay - Simply fill in the desired town or suburb then the desired category..........and you're away. You may get lucky and find some of our SPECIALS that are advertised from time to time - look out for the *Accommodation Specials* on our multitude of holiday accommodation listings.
Afrikaans alternate search phrase - Aliwal Shoal akommodasie or Aliwal Shoal akomodasie, or Aliwal Shoal selfsorg akomodasie or Aliwal Shoal gastehuis akommodasie or Aliwal Shoal b&o.
