Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Smits Cliff

The dive site Smits Cliff or Hells Gate is a shoreline rocky reef in the Batsata area on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

The site is not dived very often as there are more popular sites which are more accessible. As a result it is mostly unexplored and has not been mapped.

• S34°16.48’ E018°28.41’ -34.27466718.47351 Smits Cliffs Below the cliffs visible above the water on the south side of Smitswinkel Bay,

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required.

The site name "Smits Cliffs" refers to the cliffs above the site and the contraction for Smitswinkel Bay commonly used by local divers. The cliffs at the south side of Smitswinkel Bay are marked on the charts as "Hell’s Gate". The mountain above them is called Judas Peak (919 m).

Maximum depth is probably about 16 m.

Not a particularly spectacular site, but interesting, Large and medium sandstone boulders and outcrops, with coarse shelly sand in low spots.

Geology: Ordovician sandstones, probably of the Graafwater formation.

This site is well protected from south westerly swell, but quite exposed to south easterly weather. It would usually be a winter dive.

Access to this site is only by boat. The site is approximately 6.2 km from Miller's Point slipway and 13.5km from Simon's Town jetty.

Moderate variety of invertebrates.

No specific routes recommended.

No site specific hazards known.

No special skills required.

No special equipment recommended

34°16′22″S 18°28′48″E

Smits Cliff and nearby dive sites. Orange line indicates the border of the Paulsberg Restricted Area of the MPA.

• -34.2667518.479351 SAS Transvaal
• -34.26663318.4795672 MFV Orotava
• -34.26748318.481553 Good Hope Reef
• -34.267818.480654 MFV Princess Elizabeth
• -34.26756718.4808335 SAS Good Hope
• -34.26878318.48156 MV Rockeater
• -34.27476718.482157 Smits Reef
• -34.2758918.480678 Batsata Rock

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Batsata area

Other regional dive sites:

• Dive sites of Table Bay and approaches,
• Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast
• Dive sites of False Bay offshore and approaches
• Dive sites of False Bay east coast
• Fresh water dive sites of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area