No.1 Area:
This area of reef derives its name from fisherman who consider this the No.1 fishing spot of Durban. No.1 is situated approximately 5km out to sea. Whereas this reef is extensive, most of the diving takes place to the South of the Bell Buoy that demarcates the shipping lane / entrance to the harbour.

This is probably one of the most challenging and rewarding dive sites on the KZN coast. The depth, the variation in visibility, strong currents and proximity to the shipping lanes make this dive is an advanced, if not technical dive.

Nitrox is highly recommended, along with a deploy buoy. Safety stops for 2.5min at half your max depth should be conducted in order to assist with decompression, and as a preventative measure against in and out going ships. (it is not uncommon to have ships travelling to within 100m of the buoy line!)

In terms of diving conditions, this is the most consistent and most dramatic dive site off Durban with 10m drop offs, immense caves and variety of reef and pelagic fish, corals and marine artefacts.

What can you expect to see:
Manta’s, eagle ray’s , electric rays, butterfly rays, sword fish, marlin, king fish, baardman , daga salmon, frog fish, paper fish, tiger angel fish (discovered and named after Dennis King , zambezi sharks , black Tip , copper shark, ragged tooth sharks, great white sharks , guitar fish , whip gobies , fire gobies, lizard fish are just some of the fish you are bound to encounter on No.1 on any dive.

Black Coral trees – some over 2m tall, whip corals, fan corals, tiger anemones and strawberry anemones colonise the reef and host invertebrates and small fish.

In terms of Marine artefacts, huge ships anchors and chains, rudders and ammunition lie scattered on the reef.

Artillery Reef:

Description: Artillery shells from the dump are sporadically encountered here… look on the sand and inside the cracks and crevices. This is one of the areas of no.1 where you can swim in any direction and lock into some interesting reef.

Depth: 25 to 30m

Additional Information: The ammunition that is found in this area is from the Ammunition dump that is off the Bluff. If you find a shell it is advisable to let it be as most the ammunition that has been dumped is unexploded!

Raggies:

Description: This is large ledge that has been under cut to form two large caves. The caves are often inhabited by Ragged Tooth sharks as they migrate up and down the eastern coastline of SA. There is an anchor chain that runs parallel to the entire ledge.

Depth: 22m on the top of the ledge and 30m on the sand

Additional Information: frog fish, tiger angel fish, lizard fish and whip gobies along with the ragged tooth sharks s is why you want to dive this reef.

Nev’s Ledge

Description: The ledge begins with a 8m drop off and opens up into a mini amphitheatre. The mini amphitheatre has an old Dan forth anchor and a rudder.

There are a number of caves and swim through’s along the ledge. On the southern end of the ledge there is a large pot hole with a sandy bottom.

Depth: 20m to 30m

Additional Information: raggie scorpion fish, pipe fish, razor fish and flap nose hound sharks along with incredible topography of this reef are the reason you want to do this dive this reef. Some interesting sightings have been: Great White, logger head turtle, orange spotted rockod, shoal of 200 plus spotted grunter.

Eskom

Description: a shallow reef that is dominated by a large pinnacle that stands to attention on a relatively flat reef. There are coils and coils of cable that are scattered all over the reef which inspired the name Eskom.

Depth: 20 to 27m

Additional Information: Swim in any direction on this reef and you will be rewarded with an interesting section.

Bat Reef

Description: This reef is a pinnacle that extends like a large finger from 27m. Wrapped around the pinnacle is an anchor chain with the anchor out on the sand.

The pinnacle is surrounded by gullies and caves that host a large variety of butterfly, wrasse, goldies, angelfish and clown trigger fish. There is also a large population of bat fish here –hence the name sake. Lookout for whip gobies, long nose hawk fish and crabs in the Black Coral trees.

Depth: 22m on the top and 27m on the sand

Additional Information: Best dived in calm conditions – whereas a drift dive on No.1 is always exciting, a strong current will not allow you to get where you want to be.

Dave’s Cave
Description: An isolated reef that juts out of the sand. The isolated nature of this reef makes for intense concentration of pelagic and tropical fish. This is one of the southern most sections of reef dived on No.1. There is an isolated cave that is home to daga salmon and baardman which sift through the sand in search of invertebrates.

Depth: 27m on the sand

Additional Information: Not an easy dive in a strong current due to the isolate nature of the reef. This reef is very popular with the fisherman due to the daga and baardman that are found here.
Look on the sand for rays and paper fish.