Diving Aliwal Shoal/Eelskin ridge

The dive site Eelskin Ridge is an offshore rocky reef with coral at Aliwal Shoal, near Umkomaas in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

The site is only accessible by boat. It is about 7.2km from the launch site at the mouth of the Mkomazi river.

• S30°15.804' E030°49.415' -30.263430.823581 Eelskin Ridge

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2009). A permit is required.

Maximum depth is about 24m.

Visibility may exceed 12m

Reef slopes up from west to east (inshore to offshore) in this area, and runs roughly parallel to coast.

This is an area which often has a slight current.

A variety of fish and invertebrates can be seen: Turncoat hogfish, Devil firefish, Scorpionfish, Halfmoon rockcod, Crown squirrelfish, Black spotted blaasop, Yellow snapper, Barred filefish, Goldies, Blacksaddle goatfish, Clown triggerfish, Longnose butterflyfish, Moorish idol, Loggerhead turtles, Zigzag oyster, Radial sea pen/dead man's fingers, Desmarestia seaweed, encrusting coralline seaweeds, Dark grey turreted ball sponge, white encrusting colonial ascidian, branched black corals, white feathery hydroids, brown feather stars, Lobster, Striped and spotted anemones. buried sea cucumbers, cleaner shrimps, brown and orange spiky starfish, Slender brown squirts, Octopus,

Follow the divemaster.

No special skills required. Ability to deploy a DSMB recommended.

No special equipment required. A DSMB and reel could be useful if you have to surface away from the dive leader.

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