MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Algoa Bay Scuba Diving

By

Scuba Diving in Algoa Bay
Scuba Diving in Algoa Bay

Diving Bell Buoy: As can be seen from the image this dive is within Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth and within sight of one of the major attractions – the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

The depth varies from 5 to 18 metres and is suitable for all levels of qualification.

This reef is also known as Roman Rocks due to the large number of red roman fish that are found here. Bell Bouy is an extensive reef and very popular amongst divers due to its close proximity to Hobie Beach. The large reef made up of gullies and pinnacles which are teeming with fish, soft corals, feather stars, starfish, sea fans and anemones.

Sea temperatures vary between 15-18 degrees Celsius in winter and 19-22 degrees Celsius in summer.

Many animals from the smallest nudibranch to the Ragged-tooth shark share a spot on this popular reef.

Close by the Bell Buoy is the Haerlem Wreck – an 18 to 21 metres dive for Advanced Divers.

The Haerlem is a navy frigate, scuttled in 1987 to form an artificial reef for diving.It lies close to Bell Buoy. A fascinating wreck, allowing the diver to explore various holes, nooks & crannies which have become inhabited by shy sharks, nudibranchs, soft corals and a variety of fish.

The Haerlem was built in 1958 and disarmed in 1963. After many years of hard work, first as an anti-submarine ship in the River Thames and later as an SA Navy survey ship in all of South Africa’s waters, the ship was finally scuttled in Algoa Bay on Nov 30,1987.12 Holes were blasted in both sides to ensure she filled with water equally and setteld evenly. She settled 21m below the surface facing north-south with her bow to the south.

Date: December 26, 2015 07:03

Click here for more: MyPE Images – MyPE (Latest images)

Many more PE Images here.

The following two tabs change content below.

Port Elizabethan

This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.