Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Batsata Rock - offshore dive site near Smitswinkel Bay on the Cape Peninsula east coast
The dive site Batsata Rock is an inshore rocky reef in the Batsata area on the False Bay coast of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
Understand
See also: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay#Understand
The dive sites of the Batsata Rock reefs are some of the southernmost reefs of the west side of False Bay, and are in the restricted zone of the marine protected area. They are mostly medium profile granite and in the shallow to medium depth range.
Position
Batsata Rock 📍: S34°16.602’ E018°28.830’. The rock is visible above the water at all states of the tide.
This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required. The site is mostly inside the Paulsberg Restricted Zone. The northern boundary of the restricted zone passes through the northern blinder.
Name
The area is named for the exposed rock of the same name. Why it is called Batsata rock is not known. Banging Rocks Reef was named by the divers who explored and surveyed the area in June 2019, because there are one or more boulders that shift with the surge and knock against adjacent rocks. It is not the only reef in the region with banging rocks – there are also banging rocks at North Paw and at Geldkis on the Atlantic Seaboard.
Depth
Fairly shallow around the exposed rocks with an extensive area shallower than 9 m
Maximum depth is about 25 m to the north and east.
Visibility
Visibility is likely to be similar to the other nearby reef, such as Smits Reef and Partridge Point, but Batsata is a bit shallower and more exposed.
Topography
Relatively shallow between the shore and the exposed rocks, but deeper to seaward. A mixture of high and medium profile reef, with a number of deep sandy-bottomed gullies around the central area.
Geology: Pre-Cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton.
Conditions
This site is moderately protected from south westerly swell, but quite exposed to south easterly weather. It would usually be a winter dive.
Get in
See also: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay#Boat dives
This site is only accessible by boat. It is about 6.3 km from Millers Point slipway, and 13.6 km from Simon's Town jetty.
Do
Dive at one of the marks and explore the surrounding reef.
Batsata Rock 📍: S34°16.602’ E018°28.830’. The rock is visible above the water at all states of the tide.
Batsata Blinder 📍: S34°16.553' E018°28.840'. — the half-tide rock north of the exposed rock.
Banging Rocks Reef 📍: S34°16.775’ E018°28.830’. — granite corestone reef, depth 6 m on top of the pinnacle, 19 m on sand patch a few metres to the east. Maximum depth about 24 m.
Smiley's Reef 📍: S34°16.590' E018°28.725'. — a shallow (6 m) area to the west of the exposed rocks.
See
Marine life
See also: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay#The marine ecology
Kelp beds in the shallower areas, and a fair variety of local invertebrates.
Photography
Routes
No particular route recommended.
Stay safe
See also: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay#Stay safe
Hazards
No site specific hazards known
Skills
No special skills required.
Equipment
See also: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay#Equipment
No special equipment recommended
Nearby
Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Batsata area
Other regional dive sites:
Batsata Rock
Timezone:MultipleCoordinates:-34.28, 18.48