xyrandomyx
Contributor
I started this thread to answer PsyWulf's question from over here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/south-african-divers/467481-who-where.html#post6915132
It was slightly off the topic and it seemed it'd be neater to put it somewhere else, especially if others want to chip in.
OK, so first off -- ops. I've personally dived with Down South Scuba and Pisces Divers. I can recommend both. Blue Flash is highly recommended (even by their competitors, maybe a little grudgingly), so they're an option too -- but they do cater more to the experienced local divers than the tourists and newbies. I believe you need to organise with them in advance if you want an in-water DM (and pay extra?).
Pisces Divers is probably your best bet for mid-week launches. For guided shore dives, Down South would be good during the week two. There are a bunch of other ops, many of them good, I'm sure -- I just don't know enough to vouch for them. If you have a buddy to go with for a shore dive, Down South and Pisces can provide rental gear.
Next, where to dive? Erm, well. It depends a lot on what you want to see. There are plenty of options. The weather's in between seasons. As a general rule, summer diving's better over on the (cold) Atlantic side of the Peninsula and winter diving's better on the (slightly warmer) False Bay side. At this time of year, it's a bit half and half, so you really just have to check weather reports.
My personal recommendations? Long Beach if you need to do a check-out dive (might be a good idea if you're renting a bunch of cold-water gear you're not used to). If you haven't dived with seals before, Duiker Island or Partridge Point would be good. The Broadnose Sevengill sharks at Pyramid are another thing worth seeing. If wrecks are your thing, there are lots (Dive Bug Bit Me's recommendations are probably best here). My choices would be one of the wrecks in Smitswinkel Bay or the Maori over on the Atlantic side. For general shore dives, A-Frame and Castle Rocks are my two favourite sites.
This website has pretty thorough guide to the sites and a lot of useful info on diving here in general: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay ? Travel guides at Wikivoyage
It was slightly off the topic and it seemed it'd be neater to put it somewhere else, especially if others want to chip in.
OK, so first off -- ops. I've personally dived with Down South Scuba and Pisces Divers. I can recommend both. Blue Flash is highly recommended (even by their competitors, maybe a little grudgingly), so they're an option too -- but they do cater more to the experienced local divers than the tourists and newbies. I believe you need to organise with them in advance if you want an in-water DM (and pay extra?).
Pisces Divers is probably your best bet for mid-week launches. For guided shore dives, Down South would be good during the week two. There are a bunch of other ops, many of them good, I'm sure -- I just don't know enough to vouch for them. If you have a buddy to go with for a shore dive, Down South and Pisces can provide rental gear.
Next, where to dive? Erm, well. It depends a lot on what you want to see. There are plenty of options. The weather's in between seasons. As a general rule, summer diving's better over on the (cold) Atlantic side of the Peninsula and winter diving's better on the (slightly warmer) False Bay side. At this time of year, it's a bit half and half, so you really just have to check weather reports.
My personal recommendations? Long Beach if you need to do a check-out dive (might be a good idea if you're renting a bunch of cold-water gear you're not used to). If you haven't dived with seals before, Duiker Island or Partridge Point would be good. The Broadnose Sevengill sharks at Pyramid are another thing worth seeing. If wrecks are your thing, there are lots (Dive Bug Bit Me's recommendations are probably best here). My choices would be one of the wrecks in Smitswinkel Bay or the Maori over on the Atlantic side. For general shore dives, A-Frame and Castle Rocks are my two favourite sites.
This website has pretty thorough guide to the sites and a lot of useful info on diving here in general: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay ? Travel guides at Wikivoyage