Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Three Anchor Bay

The dive site Three Anchor Bay is a shoreline rocky reef in the Green Point area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

-33.90618.39751 Three Anchor Bay: S33°54.36’ E018°23.85’

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required.

The name "Three Anchor Bay" has been associated with this little bay for over a century, and it is marked on maps under this name.

Shallow

Rocky shoreline reefs and sand bottom.

Geology: Sedimentary rocks, probably Tygerberg formation of the Pre-Cambrian Malmesbury series.

This spot picks up a fair amount of swell and except for the little beach and the slipway any other entries or exits require you to go through the surf zone. As this is a very rocky area this is not a good idea.

Off road paved parking lot to the north of the bay.

Normally dived from shore entry: Park on the parking lot to the north east of the bay, close to the Putt-Putt course. Access down is via the slipway road or one of the few sets of stairs on either side of the bay. Entry is at the slipway or over the beach as the slipway can be very slippery at times.

Dive along the reef edges, either to the north or the south of the sand. There will be more to see and less risk from boat traffic.

Boat traffic may be a problem during the day as there is a slipway at the entry area.

No special skills required.

No special equipment recommended.

33°54′22″S 18°23′51″E

Three Anchor Bay and nearby dive sites. The yellow lines are boundaries of the MPAs, and the orange lines are boundaries of restricted zones within the MPAs.

• -33.8818318.3385831 MV Gemsbok
• -33.88596718.43052 Highfields
• -33.88713318.40973 SS Cape Matapan
• -33.89666718.3966674 SS SA Seafarer
• -33.897518.40955 RMS Athens
• -33.90793318.41796 Two Oceans Aquarium
• -33.91508318.3570177 Sea Point Ridge Pinnacles
• -33.92618.37758 Bantry Bay
• -33.930918.364159 North Lion’s Paw Main Reef
• -33.93846718.36483310 South Lion’s Paw
• -33.939118.37036711 Clifton Rocks
• -33.94231718.364912 Cleeve's Tunnel
• -33.9592518.37006713 Bakoven Rock

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

Other regional dive sites:

• Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula west coast
• Dive sites of the Cape Peninsula east 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