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North Sands, Aliwal Shoal

KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaDirections
3mm wetsuit typical

North Sands, Aliwal Shoal at a glance

North Sands, Aliwal Shoal is a dive site in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Divers commonly see Potato bass, Goldies / anthias, and Green turtle. Recent reports put the water around 24°C (74°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

No window today· next: Wed 6:00–19:00 · favorable & moderate

Forecast for this hour · 22:00 · run 3 h ago
1.8 m (5.8 ft)waves — about two meters expected (waves — about six feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 24°C · seasonal avg 23°C ( · Forecast 74°F · seasonal avg 73°F)

Dive windows this week

MonNo window

1.4 m waves · 5 kn wind (4.7 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

TueNo window

2.4 m waves · 13 kn wind (7.8 ft waves · 13 kn wind)

Wed6:00–7:00 moderate, 7:00–19:00 favorable

1.6 m waves · 5 kn wind (5.2 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Thu6:00–10:00 favorable, 10:00–19:00 moderate

1.5 m waves · 11 kn wind (5.0 ft waves · 11 kn wind)

Fri6:00–11:00 moderate

1.6 m waves · 14 kn wind (5.2 ft waves · 14 kn wind)

Sat6:00–10:00 moderate

1.8 m waves · 14 kn wind (5.9 ft waves · 14 kn wind)

Sun6:00–10:00 favorable, 10:00–14:00 moderate, 18:00–19:00 moderate

1.5 m waves · 8 kn wind (5.0 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 4:41 · Sunrise 5:06 · Sunset 18:14 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 13 km from site · updated 26 Oct, 19:24 GMT+2

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near North Sands, Aliwal Shoal

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Goldies / anthias, Blacktip reef shark, Kingfish / trevally

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 4% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (79°F), waves have typically been 2.3 m (7.7 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  2. February, 1% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 2.5 m (8.1 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  3. March, 1% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 2.6 m (8.6 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots
  4. April, 4% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (78°F), waves have typically been 2.8 m (9.0 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  5. May, 3% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (77°F), waves have typically been 2.7 m (8.8 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  6. June, 4% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 24°C (74°F), waves have typically been 3.0 m (9.8 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  7. July, 1% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (73°F), waves have typically been 3.0 m (9.9 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots
  8. August, 1% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (72°F), waves have typically been 3.1 m (10.2 ft), wind has typically been 24 knots
  9. September, 0% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (72°F), waves have typically been 3.2 m (10.4 ft), wind has typically been 23 knots
  10. October, 0% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (73°F), waves have typically been 3.1 m (10.0 ft), wind has typically been 24 knots
  11. November, 3% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 24°C (75°F), waves have typically been 2.6 m (8.5 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots
  12. December, 4% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (77°F), waves have typically been 2.4 m (7.8 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

  • Moorish Idol recorded here Dec (3 records)

    Zanclus cornutusmost recent 1999

  • Grey Nurse recorded here Jul, Dec (2 records)

    Carcharias taurusmost recent 1999

  • Blue-streak Cleaner Wrasse recorded here Dec (1 record)

    Labroides dimidiatusmost recent 1997

  • Bluespotted Lagoon Ray recorded here Dec (1 record)

    Taeniura lymmamost recent 1998

  • Chromis dimidiata recorded here Dec (1 record)

    most recent 1999

  • Emperor Angelfish recorded here Dec (1 record)

    Pomacanthus imperatormost recent 1999

  • Grammistes sexlineatus recorded here Dec (1 record)

    most recent 1999

  • Lionfish recorded here Dec (1 record)

    Pterois volitansmost recent 1998

Newest record here: 1999. Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

No description for this site yet — divers who know it can suggest one below.

boatdriftreef

No hazards recorded for this site yet — that never means there are none. Ask a local operator before you dive.

Reviews

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