About this site
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.
Depth range8–27m
Best months to dive
MayJunJulAugSepOct
Known hazards
⚠ current⚠ cold-water⚠ sharks⚠ boat-traffic
Loading map…
-33.9600, 25.7100
Open in OSM ↗Recent Conditions
No conditions reported yet. Be the first!
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first!
Dive schools nearby
Schools operating in South Africa.
No schools listed for this region yet.
Browse all schools