Knysna is known for its magical backdrop: the age-old forests, the rolling hills of Cape fynbos, and the miles of unspoilt beaches. But the magic of our natural surroundings is not limited to the beauty on dry land – dive our waters and discover an enchanted subaquatic world of fantasy…
While our cooler waters do not share the tropical attributes of the Caribbean, they offer a diverse, unusual dive experience filled with lush, soft corals with spectacular purple, orange and yellow colours, beautiful sea fans and a surprising number of fish varieties. The famous Knysna Seahorse can be found in our estuary and the wreck of the Paquita, lying between the Knysna Heads, is waiting to be explored. Should you crave a little more excitement, the waters off Plettenberg Bay to the east teem with ragged tooth sharks and seals, while the waters off Mossel Bay to the west are known for the great white sharks that visit the area.
And you don’t have to be a qualified diver to experience our magical underwater world – operators in Knysna offer one day courses for non-divers that include an ocean dive, with options to upgrade to a second off-shore or boat dive. Refresher courses for divers who haven’t taken the plunge in a while are also offered, as are longer, specialised courses. Qualified divers have a variety of guided dives to choose from and scuba gear is readily available for hire.
So if you have already spotted the elusive Knysna Loerie and the even more mysterious Knysna elephants, why not take a dive? You might not find Nemo, but you’ll have an unforgettable experience nonetheless.
And our waters are dive-able long after the summer holiday has come and gone. So if you’re not spending this holiday in Knysna (what were you thinking?), head on over to www.exploreknysna.com and book your decadent diving weekend in February or March of 2014. You’ll find the ideal boutique hotel, guesthouse, B&B or self-catering accommodation, as well as a calendar of events taking place in Knysna throughout the year – so feel free to plan your next break away to Knysna around one of our fantastic festivals or exciting events.
For more information on diving in our area, visit http://www.facebook.com/diveadventuresknysna or www.facebook.com/pages/Garden-Route-Diving-Adventures/451391904951257.