With warm water that ranges from 28°C in Summer to 1 minimum of 21°C in Winter, the reef is able to host incredible biodiversity. You'll find that at this latitude, the marine species that prefer cooler and warmer water overlap, giving rise to an amazing number of species seen in this area. 2 Mile Reef is the largest, at around 2km in length and roughly 1km wide. 7 Mile Reef is another wonderful dive, and it is well known for many great sightings - both large and small 'surprises' are to be had. Look out for Ragged Tooth Sharks and Bottlenose Dolphins, as well as stunning Ribbon Eels and colorful Paperfish... and don't forget it has some of the best topography of all the reef in this area. To dive 7 Mile Reef, you need to be an Advanced certified diver though, as it gets down to 24m.
Sodwana can be dived 364 days a year, weather permitting. The park is however, closed on New Year's Day each year. The best months to dive are from January to May, as the water is then at its warmest and viz is anything from 20-30m. It never really gets that cold here, so a 5mm wetsuit and hood are sufficient in the cooler months. The Humpback Migration begins in June and lasts until late October, and this is really something worth seeing. The best time for experiencing this, is from late July to late September.
You are able to drive from Johannesburg, but it is rather a long trip. The best option is to fly into Durban, hire a car and take the 4,5-hour drive north, or book a private transfer.
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