Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Cow and Calf

The dive sites Cow and Calf and Stone Dog are on a shoreline rocky reef in the Gordon's Bay area on the east side of False Bay, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

Cow and Calf is a reasonably accessible shore dive close to Gordon's Bay, in an area relatively protected from south westerly swell, and provides a reasonable range of depth and good variety of reef life. Anchorage on the sand is adequate though fairly exposed.

Position

Cow and Calf 📍: S34°10.310’ E018°50.263’
Stone Dog 📍: S34°10.376’ E018°50.183’ shore entry ledge below the dog This site is not in a Marine Protected Area. A permit is not required.

Name

Named "Cow and Calf" for the twin reefs just offshore which approach and sometimes break the surface, and which are reminiscent of a whale cow and calf.

Depth

Average depth about .

Maximum depth about on the sand.

Topography

Cow and Calf: The gap between high reef ridges and shore is about 5 to 8 m deep, with low ridges and boulders. The inner ridge of the reef breaks surface at low tide, The outer face of this ridge drops to about 7 to 9 m, and the gap to the next reef is about that deep. The outer reef is very sheer on seaward side, rising from 10m to very near the surface. The bottom slopes down gradually to sand at 12 m, with a narrow band of pebbles and small boulders. At the base of the ridge it may be possible to see across the pebbles to the sand if the visibility is good, and the pebble zone tapers away to the south west. These are rugged reefs of sandstone with quartzite veins. The bottom inshore of the ridges is rock and medium to small boulders with pebbles, sand and shell in crevices. The inner reef is about 33m from the shore and is about 35 m long. The outer reef is about 45 m off the shore and about 50 m long.

Stone Dog and The Slot:

There is a deep narrow gully ("The Slot") 100 m south west along the shoreline from the entry ledge, which connects by a short, shallow, narrow tunnel at the surface to a second gully (“Stone Dog gully”) which opens to the bay about 150 m from entry point. There is a large rock above this gully which from the water looks a bit like a sitting dog. Oddly enough, from the landward side it looks more like a dog standing with its front feet on a rock. The Slot is deep and narrow, with almost vertical sides, getting shallow suddenly at the tunnel, then a similar gully other side at roughly 90° to the Slot. The tunnel is mostly in the intertidal zone, and is angled sharply down on the seaward side. Quite a strong surge usually runs through the tunnel and may rise to the ceiling. This could be very dangerous in a big sea. Position of the tunnel is approximately S34°10.370’, E018°50.202’. Stone Dog gully has several relatively big boulders in it and the surge can be very strong. It is passable in very calm conditions at high tide by a streamlined diver with minimal projecting equipment which may hook up and jam the diver in the gap. Attempt at your own risk.

About 30 m further west along the coastline is Red Bait gully, a deep narrow gully a couple of metres wide and about 7 m deep, with walls covered by red-bait pods. Another 40 m west is a pair of gullies of similar depth but somewhat wider, at the extreme east of the "Pinnacle" dive site area.

Geology: Ordovician sandstone of the Table Mountain group, probably Peninsula formation. Strike is parallel to the shoreline and dip is steep, about 60° to the southwest

Conditions

The site is exposed to the north west wind. It is slightly protected from south west swell but is shallow and there will be surge, which will reduce visibility as there is a fine light silt in this area. It is very well protected from south easterly winds, and these will generally flatten the sea in this area, so it is usually best during or after south easterly winds. The site is usually at its best in summer but there are also occasional opportunities at other times of the year.

This is an area which sometimes has plankton blooms (red tides) which will cause poor visibility.

Facilities

Paved roadside parking area with garbage bin. Security is probably no worse than any other roadside parking area.

Get in

Access is easiest by boat, but is also possible from the shore.

Boat dive: From Gordon's Bay harbour (2.4 km) or Harbour Island (3.0 km). The site is the reef which is visible at most times as an area of turbulence or white water.

Shore dive: Parking is on the seaward side of the road below the five houses. The climb is moderately steep but not difficult. The path is not clear and should be checked out before kitting up. There are three entry points:

Down steep rocks to a ledge directly inshore of the reef, 75 m at 019° magnetic from car park. There is a good exit point to the west of a little gully at the east side of the ledge, almost a staircase. At the west side of the ledge is a small shallow ridge parallel to the shore which is a convenient step at low tide. The choice of exit points depends on tide and swell. Don’t rush it, and time the wave sets to choose an opportunity for exit when the waves are smallest.
Entry/exit at the north-east facing gully. See also the access section for Vogelsteen for this alternative entry and exit point.
Entry and or exit at Stone Dog is also an option, but there is no roadside parking at the entry point. Park at the same place as for Cow and calf and walk along the road about 100 m to where a wide track angles down the verge quite steeply. Climb down to the entry area, which requires a slight scramble down the rocks between the gully and Stone Dog outcrop The climb down is steep enough to require good balance and care, and reasonably strong ankles, and there are places where the hands should be used unless you are particularly agile. Dive along the reef towards Cow and Calf. Exit at Vogelsteen gully or the Cow and Calf ledge, or exit at the same place. The climb up is actually easier and there is less risk of slipping.

See

Marine life

There are a lot of gorgonian sea fans (Eunicella spp) at the base of the ridges, Higher up are Multicolour sea fans, and the tops are covered with Red bait. A variety of other sessile animals encrust the rocks among these zones, and there are various small seaweeds as well. <gallery mode=packed> Image:Crowned nudibranch at Cow and calf DSC08968.JPG|Crowned nudibranch Image:Juvenile Cape knifejaw at Cow and calf DSC08944.JPG|Juvenile Cape knifejaw Image:Spotted flatworm at Cow and Calf DSC08935.JPG|Spotted flatworm </gallery>

Features

The slot and the swim-through to Stone Dog Gully. Only try the swim-through in very calm conditions.

Photography

Good photographic site for invertebrates

Routes

Entry off the ledge at the bottom of the cliff directly inshore from Cow and Calf ridges. Surface swim north to the inner reef, descend on the shoreward side, swim west a bit then offshore to the sand at 12 m, then east a bit along pebbles, and south back to the outer ridge. Continue anticlockwise around the ridge until back at the east end, then south to the inner ridge, around to the south side, then south again to the shore.
Entry off the ledge directly inshore of Cow and Calf, descend to 3 to 6 m depth and swim about 100 m keeping the shore to your left until you reach the deep narrow gully (The Slot). This connects by a short, shallow, narrow tunnel at the surface to a second gully (Stone Dog gully) which opens to the bay about 150 m from the entry point. Swim back parallel to the shore to the entry point.

Stay safe

Hazards

Shore access requires a scramble down steep rocks and a slightly tricky entry and exit depending on tide and swell. The tunnel at Stone Dog is tight and the surge through it can be very strong.

Skills

This is a suitable site for inexperienced divers as it is close inshore and shallow. Night dives are best done from a boat as the climb up the hillside will be tricky on a dark night. Take the conditions into account and decide for yourself.

A reasonable level of fitness and agility is required for shore entry, particularly down the rock face to the ledge.

Equipment

No special equipment recommended.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Gordon's Bay area

Other regional dive sites:

Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Cow and Calf - shoreline dive sit at Gordon's Bay in False Bay