Various Reef Formations
Hermanus lies about 115 kilometres southeast of Cape Town. From July to November, the town is the heart of the whale route. Hermanus is famous for the fact that it is the best land-based whale watching venue in the world. The whale species seen most frequently along the Overberg coastal areas is the Southern right whale.
The climate in the Western Cape is typically Mediterranean and is usually warm and dry in the summer and mild and moist in the winter. Rain is frequent during the winter months. The average summer land temperatures are 16-27˚C, and the average winter land temperatures are 8-18˚C.
Diving is popular along the coastal town of Hermanus, with several dive spots around the area and dives varying in depth from 9 metres to 40 metres. Visibility ranges from 4 metres to 12 metres. Reefs are accessible by boat or by shore entries. A Marine Reserve, stretching from Kraal Rock in Walkerbay to Rietfontein and 500 metres out to sea from the high-water mark, makes this area full of marine life as no marine animals may be collected or disturbed in this reserve.
Various reef formations can be found, from gullies to walls and pinnacles to boulders. Being in the Cape, you are guaranteed sightings of crayfish and abalone. A reported 32 species of hard and soft corals, including Gorgonians, sea pens and sea whips, are another highlight. A large variety of sponges, including spectacular giant orange wall sponges, are found in this area.
Hermanus marine life that could be encountered comprises of horsefish, shovelnose lobsters, octopus, cuttlefish, Klipvis, shysharks, pipefish, basket stars, feather stars, starfish and numerous nudibranchs. Also be on the lookout for seals, cat sharks and pyjama sharks that often come and join the divers in this area. Most of the dives here are done from the new harbour.
There is a dive shop located near the launch site and the necessary ablution facilities are close by. A small tuck shop with snacks caters for those common hunger pangs. Some of the dive sites can be reached by doing a shore entry.
Hermanus Harbour Reef
The Hermanus harbour reef is known for its variety of marine life. This is a very attractive reef with steep drop-offs and big boulders scattered along the wall. Numerous species of hard and soft corals, including Gorgonians, Sea fans and sea whips are to be found along with a large variety of sponges, including spectacular Giant orange wall sponges.
Horsefish, Klipvis, Shysharks, octopus, Cuttlefish, Pipefish, Nudibranchs, huge Red-baits, Strawberry anemones, Basket-stars, Feather stars shovelnose lobsters, and starfish are just some of the sea life one will find. In this area guaranteed sightings of crayfish, abalone, kelp and sometimes seals!
The harbour isn’t used anymore so boat traffic isn’t a problem. The Old Harbour shouldn’t be dived when there is a big swell as the waves could bump divers into the rocks and walls.
The Old Harbour Wall Dive Spot
The old harbour wall dive spot in Hermanus, which is flat at the top, looks like a ledge with high walls. Scattered rock creates a floor with crevices for crayfish to hide in. It makes for an enjoyable dive with a swaying kelp forest to swim through, but beware of the surge when you come around the corners in some areas.
There are various species of Nudibranchs true to cold-water conditions, along with Blue hottentot fish and Fransmadam. Seals have been spotted here, and in breeding season, whales like to bring their offspring to this area. Be on the lookout for Sea swallows, a subspecies of the Nudibranch between vast amounts of Blue bottles when the wind blows from the sea.
The Sea swallows feed on the Blue bottles and store the venom to protect themselves. Also to be seen are giant orange wall sponges, often with tiny black and turquoise Nudibranchs scattered all over them. Starfish and yellow elegant feather stars are in abundance. This is one of the easier shore entries on the Cape coast.
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