Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

Port Elizabeth is one of the most magical places to visit for diving, with a wide variety of soft corals and marine life, dramatic reefs, and shipwrecks. Many large mammals, including humpback and southern right whales, dolphins, seals, and jackass penguins, migrate along the Port Elizabeth coast.

Avalanche Reef, a popular dive site, is a large reef with overhangs, deep crevices, and a densely populated coral and fish population. Red romans, bronze breams, and Jan Bruin are common fish along the reef, while the Chocolate-chip Dorid, Orange Ghost Nudibranch, Mauve False Plum Anemone, and Elegant Feather Star are among the many other interesting species. Aside from the abundance of colorful marine life and diverse corals, there is also a fantastic wreck dive. The best wreck dive in the area is the HMS Harlem, a navy frigate sunk in 1987. The Harlem, which is 20 meters below the surface, has created an artificial reef for diving, complete with nooks and crannies inhabited by sharks, corals, and a variety of fish.

Location: Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa