Underwater Photography Requires A Bit Of Luck And Opportunity...
South Africa presents a frontier of raw, untamed beauty, offering this in abundance in an unparalleled adventure for anyone passionate about underwater photography. It’s a dynamic world where one dive can lead you through the sun-dappled corridors of a magical kelp forest, playing hide-and-seek with inquisitive Cape fur seals, while the next has you holding your breath in the deep blue, watching the sleek, powerful forms of blue sharks materialize from the depths.
It’s a realm of thrilling, unpredictable, and profoundly rewarding encounters making the shot of a lifetime a possibility.
A Kelp Kingdom Full Of Surprises
The dense kelp forests of the Cape Peninsula are a kaleidoscope of life, offering a truly dynamic and rewarding challenge for underwater photography. Within this submerged jungle, every dive reveals a new cast of characters. Keep an eye out for masters of camouflage like the common octopus, and the dazzling, psychedelic patterns of countless nudibranchs that dot the kelp fronds.
The water column is alive with shimmering schools of fish, while the sandy seabeds below are patrolled by various rays and several species of sharks, from the bashful pyjama shark to the formidable sevengill.
A Dark shyshark lays on a kelp frond
A gully hark cruising through a kelp forest
Pyjama sharks can grow to 1.1m (3.6 ft)
Broadnose Sevengill Cowshark
The adventure doesn’t stop there; with luck, you might even capture the rare sight of Cape clawless otters foraging or African penguins rocketing past on their hunt, making this one of the most diverse aquatic ecosystems on the planet.
Just Beyond The Forests...
Venturing beyond the kelp lined coast into the pelagic waters off the Cape Peninsula is to enter a vast, open arena where ocean giants roam and the encounters are truly heart-pounding. This is the realm of sleek, powerful predators, where you can be mesmerized by the iridescent cobalt skin of a blue shark as it glides effortlessly by, or feel your adrenaline spike at the sight of a lightning-fast mako shark appearing from the depths.
Mako captured by Tim Jenka
But the sharks are only part of the epic story which forms part of this underwater photography hotspot. This rich offshore ecosystem also draws in highly intelligent cetaceans, offering the chance to witness a pod of pilot whales or even experience the ultimate thrill of seeing the ocean’s apex predator, the orca, on the hunt.
Out here, in the great blue expanse, anything can happen, making every expedition a truly wild and unforgettable adventure.
Penguins, Seals, Sharks and Whales?
The Cape Peninsula is a place of staggering natural convergence, where a wildlife checklist that would take weeks to complete elsewhere can be ticked off in a single, breathless day. Imagine starting your morning amidst the charming chaos of an African penguin colony before encountering a troop of Chacma baboons casually foraging along the road outside your hotel.
By the afternoon, you could be on the water, surrounded by the barking symphony of thousands of Cape fur seals, all while the colossal form of a humpback whale breaks the surface for a breath against the dramatic backdrop of the mountains.
All the while, a diverse range of birds, from jewel-like sunbirds to majestic coastal raptors, provides a constant soundtrack. And the most remarkable part? Just when you believe you’ve witnessed the pinnacle of the Cape’s wild theatre, the next day can be even more varied. Nature might shuffle the cast, introducing a pod of dolphins, a different species of whale, or a unique seabird, constantly reminding you that here, an extraordinary day is simply the baseline.
Albatross – Tim Jenka
Common Dolphins Bow Riding – Tim Jenka
Macro Underwater Photography Heaven
While South Africa’s coastline is famous for its thrilling megafauna, the temperate waters of False Bay offer a different kind of magic, revealing themselves to be a true underwater macro photography heaven.
Divers who trade their wide-angle lenses for a macro port are rewarded with a kaleidoscope of hidden gems. The vibrant reefs are a living tapestry of colourful sponges and soft corals, creating the perfect backdrop for an astonishing array of tiny subjects. Here, an entire universe unfolds on a single rock, from the flamboyant, gas-flame nudibranchs and intricately patterned cuttlefish to secretive octopuses and a spectacular variety of cryptic klipfish. Every dive is a treasure hunt, promising a wealth of textures, patterns, and vibrant life that makes False Bay an essential pilgrimage for any macro enthusiast.
Barely Scratching The Surface
Everything we mentioned so far only covers one area of our two week expeditions (Cape Peninsula) and is just a small part of what South Africa offers.
Then there is the Sardine Run (part two of the same expedition) – a colossal gathering of predators creating what is famously known as ‘The Greatest Shoal on Earth,’ a breathtaking display of nature at its most raw and powerful.
You can find out more (and see some breathtaking photos) by having a look at our previous post.
It is not hard to see why so many people join year after year…
Join Us For An Adventure Of A Lifetime
Our ethical, small group expeditions is your chance to dive into the heart of the wild, from the magical kelp forests of the Cape Peninsula, made famous by ‘My Octopus Teacher’, to the raw, untamed spectacle of the Sardine Run.
To find out more, please check out the two options we offer (you can not go wring with either one):
For more information on availibity or how to book, please contact us and we will be happy to provide asssitance.
