Snorkeling / diving spots around gordons bay

[PsyPhin]

Hello,

I am looking to see if there are any decent casual spots around Gordons Bay or Bettys bay area for snorkeling / Free diving.
Clear water, easy currents etc.

Thanks.

[albertvl]

The guys usually go to Hangklip for spear fishing and arikreukel. Used to for perlemoen but now of course that is illegal.

If you just want to snorkel for sightseeing you can snorkel out at Jocks Bay at low tide. Just don't try it if the sea is rough, the currents get pretty hectic if the surf is strong.

But if the sea is calm you can swim out to the kelp - the sea stays fairly shallow for quite far.

Steer clear of the rocky shore on either side. But if you stick to the middle of the bay you should be ok.

Remember that this is shark country. Personally I would never spear fish around those waters. Also remember that Jock's Bay is a marine reserve. Don't take anything with you that might make you look like a poacher. And you may also get some unfriendly action from the actual poachers. They love that area.

Sadly Betties is not really great for snorkeling because of the poaching pests.

[jock_the_GIANT]

I used to go crayfish diving in the little bay north of the Hangklip Lighthouse near Pringle Bay
It is a bit of a walk from the parking area, but never a lot of people there.

Water was mostly clear, and can't remember if there are strong currents, But then again I only went on beautiful days.

Link below show the bay
https://www.google.com/maps/@-34.384.../data=!3m1!1e3

[raocos]

The best time for diving in Gordons Bay area is after and during a South-easter ('during' if it's not blowing too hard) so mainly during summer months. I suggest you join 'Underwater Cape Town' Facebook group and ask questions there and also call the main operators in the area: Indigo Scuba or Dive 'n Adventure Gordons Bay and Alpha Dive in Strand. No I'm not advertising for anyone I'm just referring you to them.

Hello,

I am looking to see if there are any decent casual spots around Gordons Bay or Bettys bay area for snorkeling / Free diving.
Clear water, easy currents etc.

Thanks.

[PsyPhin]

Thanks for the replies, I will check out the spots and suggestions.

[Tony Weaver]

If it's just sightseeing you want in nice, clear, calm water, then Moonlight Bay is good - park at the Maasbaai slipway at the Cape Hangklip lighthouse, then walk back down the road to the parking lot going down to the beach, and walk from there towards the lighthouse, the beach before the lighthouse is Moonlight, lovely sheltered cove with outer kelp beds.
For more of an open water dive, off the right hand side of Pringle Bay beach towards Rooi Els is good, as are the gullies off Rooi Els back towards Pringle. Kogel Bay on the Rooi Els side of the beach has some sheltered diving.

[Sandjan]

The nice thing about the stretch between Gordons Bay and Betty's bay is that one can find a nice spot for all wind directions, and some spots can even handle quite a big swell. Somewhat similar to the other side of the bay, but obviously one does not get the same protection from the westerlies that Smitswinkel to Fishoek can give you.

Still, Betties is divable during a westerly, either NW or SW, you will have to pick your sport and keep an eye on when the swell is arriving. Once a big swell pulls in you are better off going for a wave.

My favourite spot in Betties is De Wets baai. It is the last bay towards Kleinmond.

Holbaai punt and Hangklip are fantastic. Holbaai involves quite a walk and a swim and as long as you stay below the spring highwater mark the Seafarm guys have nothing to say, does not matter how many signs they put up. They closed the road and access decades ago but is a super spot complete with a shallow wreck and very nice to snorkel.

The SE spots are the ones from Hangklip to Gordons Bay.

Moonlight is great and the inside is diveable even during a very big swell. But it is not pleasant during a big swell, it's actually horrible spelled with a k. The only reason I ever dived there during a massive swell was that the number of kreef days are very few and when it's an open day its an open day and then one has to make a plan.

Its the only place where I could get to without overexerting myself too much, even though one has to walk bloody far. Decades ago it was different. I would simply swim out deep enough and dive regardless of the bottom swell. Nowadays I am way to lazy to only take 4 bugs out in a storm at 18 meters and worry about ball biters swimming around in the murky water.

Pringle Point is great. Rooi Els is great.

At Kogelbaai it is very protected against the side of the mountain, but the kreef is so so. Better fish everything around the corner towards Rooiels.

Gordons bay is very sheltered, but the viz is always much much better towards Rooi Els and further on.

Lastly, those crosses just before Rooi Els are there for a reason. It is for anglers that got hit from the rocks and drowned. So to be safe, don't dive that side when the swell is pumping.

[Jaco Versfeld]

Are there any nice spots that are easy to Snorkel? I would love to introduce my kids to snorkelling - age 8 and 10.

I hear Kogelbay has quite strong currents - my youngest is not that strong a swimmer yet.

[Tony Weaver]

Are there any nice spots that are easy to Snorkel? I would love to introduce my kids to snorkelling - age 8 and 10.

I hear Kogelbay has quite strong currents - my youngest is not that strong a swimmer yet.

Yes, avoid Kogelbaai, although there are some gullies on the Rooi Els side of the beach that are relatively safe. Best "nursery" diving is on the Hangklip peninsula near the lighthouse - drive through Pringle Bay, past the Hangklip Hotel on the (brand new) tar road and take the first public turnoff to the right past the hotel. Park near the slipway at Masbaai and backtrack slightly to the track and parking lot down to Moonlight Bay beach, walk left over the headland to a smallish beach just before the lighthouse. Lovely spot, completely calm and sheltered, and great diving for kids. There are also some lovely gullies on the Bettys Bay side of the lighthouse, but only diveable for kids in very calm conditions.

[P Louw]

Make contact with Indigo Divers (Deon +27 (83) 268-1851). Dive operator in that area. Ask him to maybe join on there boat when they go out. They dive sometimes very close to shore just off Bikini Beach and also Pringle Bay. Maybe progress then to scuba.