Protea Banks – The Shark Diving Capital of South Africa

Welcome to Protea Banks, one of the world’s most thrilling shark diving destinations. Situated just 7 km off the coast of Shelly Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, this reef is known as the Shark Diving Capital of South Africa.

Here, adrenaline, natural beauty, and conservation come together to create an unforgettable diving experience.

A Pristine Marine Protected Area

Protea Banks is officially part of a Marine Protected Area (MPA), which means its waters and marine life enjoy a level of protection that helps conserve biodiversity and limit harmful human activity. This ensures the reef remains pristine, healthy, and thriving, providing divers with an untouched underwater world where sharks and other species can flourish.

The reef itself is a fossilized sand dune lying between 27 and 40 meters deep. With caves, pinnacles, gullies, and overhangs, it provides the perfect home for a wide range of marine species — especially sharks.

Protea Banks Diving Experience

Certification & Requirements

Protea Banks is not for beginners. Strong currents, deep dives, and blue-water drifting make it an advanced dive site recommended only for experienced divers with a minimum of 35 logged dives. Divers usually use negative entries to descend quickly into the action-packed currents where the sharks roam.

Certification: Advanced Open Water required.
Experience: Minimum 35 logged dives, with deep diving experience.
Option: If you do not meet these requirements, you may hire an instructor to guide you.

Dive Profile

Depth: 27–35 meters.
Duration: 40–50 minutes, depending on air consumption.
Drift multilevel dive

Conditions: Currents can be strong, and dives are challenging. Good buoyancy and situational awareness are essential.

Two main dive options are available on Protea Banks

Reef Dives – Exploring caves and reef structures, especially when ragged-tooth sharks are in season.
Baited Shark Dives – A thrilling drift where bait drums are used to attract multiple species of sharks for up-close encounters.

Best Time to Dive Protea Banks

Summer (Nov–May): Large schools of hammerheads, bull sharks, tiger sharks.
Winter (Jun–Oct): Congregations of ragged-tooth sharks in the caves.
Every season offers something unique, making Protea Banks a year-round diving hotspot.

Please take note

ALL DIVES ARE SUBJECT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE DAY!

Our dives are strictly weather-dependent, which means dives can be canceled even on the day of the dive. Every morning our skipper visits our base and assesses the conditions. That is for the safety of our divers.

If the dive is canceled due to weather conditions you can choose to dive another day, choose one of our day tours or be refunded.

Due to the logistical planning of running a successful dive charter, dives canceled by the customer within less than 48 hours notice will not be refunded. On the day dives will not be refunded if being cold, seasick, hungover, being tired is a reason for not diving. The same applies to not being able to descend and no shows.

NB!! Deposits for promotion packages will not be refunded. Only dives that have been canceled due to launch conditions or for safety purposes will be refunded.

Please take note, Protea Banks is a Marine Protected area, therefore EVERY diver requires an MPA Permit. These are obtainable from any Post Office (Monthly or Annual) or for your convenience from us (monthly only).