Private Guided Nudibranch Hunting in Cape Town

Organized by
1 half day
Everybody welcome
From 18 years-old and up
From€46

An exciting opportunity for certified divers to go searching for the "Nudibranch" sea slugs in the colourful reefs of Cape Town

The members of Dive Inn Center are passionate Nudibranch hunters. Cape Town’s cold waters may not have the many colourful fish found on coral reefs. Instead, you can find incredibly colourful reefs, which are perfect for a macro fanatic.

So, what is a nudibranch? Short and sweet, it’s a slug – a sea slug. But not the common dull garden-variety slug – no, nudibranchs are usually rather colourful and attractive, showing incredible variety. Nudibranch itself means “naked gill”, because the gills are on the outside of the body. And while we all commonly refer to all sea slugs as nudibranchs, technically they are only one type of sea slug – there are many others!

In Cape Town there are around 75 known species, according to the naturalist and nudibranch diving fundis. For most of them we have nice common names, but we also have the scientific names for those who like to tick off species lists. Guido Zsilavecz has written a book “Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula of False Bay”. It shows most of the known Nudibranch species. While in Georgina Jones’ book “A Field Guide to the Marine Animals of the Cape Peninsula” the more common ones are shown. This in-between all the other animals found in the 8-18 degree waters.

Dive Inn Cape Town, specialises in looking for nudibranchs – they like them, they are good at finding them, making them the perfect guides for the keen nudibranch hunter and photographer. Dives can be done from shore (there are many easy-entry sites – quite unusual actually). Boats are used for deeper dives or further offshore, with depths ranging from 5 to 30 metres of depth. Of course, nudibranch diving Cape Town is not the only things you will see... You will encounter many other macro life on each dive, apart from simply enjoying the colour of the reefs and moody kelp beds alike.

Book your activity

Practical information

- A guided tour in search of nudibranchs near Simon's Town
- Best to do 2 dives minimum and dive time depending on Air Consumption or Cold.
- Lunch should be brought

Overall duration: 4-8 hours depending on the weather and the breaks in between the dives

Depth: from 5m to 25m

Course of events

- Meet with the instructor at Simon's Town railway station
- Transfer to the beach
- Get kitted up
- Briefed about the activity and the security protocols
- Enter the water
- Go hunting (time of dive depends on conditions, air usage, and the cold)
- 2nd dive is the same procedure, but after a cup of hot chocolate/Milo or water and something sweet.
- Logbooks updated

Activity requirements

Minimum qualification : Open Water (PADI, RAID, NAUI, SSI, CMAS, SDI, etc)

Special terms

Equipment is not included in the price. You will need to contact your instructor prior the activity to let him know of your level, number of logged dives, and the equipment you would like to rent (wetsuit and your size, Nitrox etc).

Cylinder and weights included.

If you are staying in Cape Town, transfer can be organised at an extra cost, just contact your instructor.

Please note the dives included are shore dives, for boat dives there is an extra cost.

Meeting point:
Simon's Town Train station, Western Cape. (To be confirmed one day prior to booking)
Spoken languages:English, Afrikaans
Included
  • Bottle water
  • 1 shore dive
  • Full equipment rental
Excluded
  • Dive permit for Marine protected area (±R50.00)
  • Boat dives at extra cost
  • Nitrox extra
  • 15lt cylinder extra
  • Transfer to/from Cape Town
  • Lunch
Do not forget to bring
  • Towel
  • Sunscreen
  • Extra refreshment drinks
  • Casual wear

Reviews

Average rating

5/5

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Jean-Michel F., Switzerland — 30/11/2021
5/5
Super plongée très intéressante avec une quantité et variété impressionnante de nudibranches, dans un environnement étonnant.

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