Justins Caves

Justins Caves is a shallow shore dive in the Table Mountain National Park MPA near Oudekraal, featuring a dramatic cluster of granite boulders that form walls, overhangs, swim-throughs and small caves. Reef life is generally sparse and dominated by invertebrates such as sea urchins, sea cucumbers and mussels, and two large iron anchors, a cannon and other wreck fragments lie on the reef floor and are believed to be debris from the 1698 wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman Het Huis te Kraaiestein. The site is widely regarded as one of the most popular inshore reef dives on the Cape Town Atlantic coast. Depths typically range 8-15 m, with some pockets around 17 m. Visibility commonly runs 8-10 m and can improve to 15-20 m after favorable winds. Water is cold year-round and thermoclines can bring temperatures down near 10 °C. Entry is from shore at Oudekraal beach: park along the roadside near the Twelve Apostles Hotel, climb down to a rocky ledge and swim out through a kelp-strewn gully about 150 m to the reef; boats can reach the area but anchoring is difficult. Moderate currents and strong surge in confined swim-throughs can occur, especially with south-westerly swell; the rocky, kelp-covered entry is slippery and a dive light is recommended. A Table Mountain National Park diving permit is required and the site is typically dived late spring through summer when conditions allow.