Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Klein Pannekoek

The dive site Klein Pannekoek is an inshore rocky reef in the central Oudekraal area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Understand

Position

Klein Pannekoek 📍: S33°58.91’ E018°21.09’ — About 570 m at 212° magnetic to the north cove at the Table Mountain National Park Oudekraal site.

This site is in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area since 2004. A permit is required. The site is within the Karbonkelberg restricted zone

Name

The name "Klein Pannekoek" means Small Pancake, and refers to the flat appearance of the exposed part of the rock and compares it to the nearby, slightly larger but also flat, rock known as Groot Pannekoek

Depth

No records available. Maximum depth probably about 15 m

Topography

Very large granite corestone outcrops and boulders, Some overhangs, crevices and small caves.

Geology: Late Pre-Cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton

Conditions

Best after south-easterly winds (offshore). The swell should be low, though a bit of white water on the outer reefs is normal. There is usually some surge, and it can be quite strong.

Facilities

Limited off street parking with fairly good security, Clean, neat toilet facilities, Fresh water showers and taps, picnic sites (no fires permitted), shade, seating, garbage cans, a nice little beach and pleasant and protected snorkelling areas for beginners.

Get in

Boat dive or shore dive with a long swim (570 m). It is about 15 km from Hout Bay or 13 km from the Oceana Power Boat Club slipway at Granger Bay.

Shore dive: Parking as for Coral Gardens. Go down the stairs at the west end of the parking lot and across the grassy area then turn right to the small sand beach at the northern cove. The entry area is usually a placid spot as it is well sheltered from the south west swell The long climb down the stairs and the long swim to the site require a reasonable level of fitness, but there is fresh water on tap at the top of the stairs and a few litres on your head and suit before the descent will keep you cooler.

See

Marine life

There are kelp forests and a good variety of invertebrates on the rocks.

Photography

Routes

No particular route recommended.

Stay safe

Hazards

Cold water, Strong surge in gulleys and swim-throughs. Sea urchins. Strong offshore winds may develop over a short time.

Skills

The site requires fitness if dived from the shore. The ability to navigate back underwater on a shore entry dive is strongly recommended.

Equipment

A compass is recommended to help navigate back from shore entry dives in case an offshore wind comes up during the dive. A snorkel is recommended in case you do not have enough gas left to return underwater, as it is often necessary to swim face down to get through dense kelp.

Nearby

Back to the Alphabetical list of sites, or list of dive sites in the Oudekraal area

Other regional dive sites:

Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Klein Pannekoek - inshore dive site at Oudekraal on the Cape Peninsula west coast