Aliwal Shoal is a fossilised sand dune reef 5 km off Umkomaas on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, internationally renowned for its aggregations of ragged-tooth sharks (grey nurse) sheltering in the caves and gutters between June and November. Oceanic blacktip sharks, bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales (winter), and large potato bass make every dive eventful, while the shoal's twin peaks — Cathedral and the Pinnacles — offer dramatic topography at 5–32 m. Boat entry through the surf is standard.
Protea Banks is a remote offshore reef 9 km from Shelly Beach in KwaZulu-Natal and is widely considered one of the premier shark dives on the planet. In winter (June–November) large numbers of ragged-tooth sharks congregate on the southern pinnacle, while tiger sharks, bull sharks, oceanic blacktips, and seasonal hammerhead schools patrol the northern end. Strong ocean swells, significant current, and depths of 25–40 m restrict this site firmly to advanced, experienced divers.
Raggie Cave — also called the A-Frame — lies on the western rim of False Bay near Miller's Point and is Cape Town's most iconic shark dive, where ragged-tooth sharks gather in an undercut rocky cavern at around 18–22 m from April through September. The cave's natural amphitheatre regularly holds five to fifteen raggies resting motionlessly, an unforgettable sight in the characteristically green Cape water. The surrounding reef offers kelp forest, pyjama sharks, octopus, and nudibranchs for those who venture beyond the cave entrance.
Thunderbolt Reef off Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) in the Eastern Cape is a rocky pinnacle system rising from 27 m to within 8 m of the surface, best known for its dense seasonal aggregations of ragged-tooth sharks from June to October that circle the reef in open water rather than caves, giving superb photographic opportunities. The reef structure supports large schools of baitfish, yellowtail, and bronze bream, attracting Cape gannets diving from above and dusky sharks below. Visibility in the Agulhas-influenced water averages 8–15 m and water temperature ranges from 15–21 °C.