The Aliwal Shoal is a protected marine area off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is formed by an ancient dune and is about 5 km long. The shoal was named after the near-sinking of the ship “Aliwal” in 1849.

It is a popular scuba diving destination for all levels of training, from Open water to more advanced technical dives. This popularity is due to its spectecular  marine life  including corals, tropical and subtropical fish and large predators with regular sightings of Ragged-tooth sharks, mantas, moray eels, stingrays and other marine creatures. Divers may also spot dolphins, humpback whales, whale sharks, and hammerheads depending on the time of year.  

The shoal’s water temperatures range from a warm 24 degrees Celsius in summer to around 19 degrees Celsius in winter thanks to its location on the inner edge of the Mozambique current. Popular diving sites on the shoal include the cathedral, the pinnacles, the north sands and the ragged-tooth shark caves.