From Wikitravel

The dive site Die Josie is an inshore rocky reef in the Hout Bay area on the Atlantic seaboard of the Cape Peninsula, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

[edit] Understand

A reef which is close to Hout Bay harbour and is suitable for night dives.

[edit] Position

S34° 04.497’ E018° 21.256’

The reefs are at the base of the cliffs below Chapman's Peak

This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2009). A permit is required.

[edit] Name

The name "Die Josie" is given to this area on the SAN charts.

[edit] Depth

Maximum depth at the sand is about 17m, top of main part of the reef at about 7m. The reef extends to the shoreline.

[edit] Topography

Fairly flat fine sand bottom at about 17m. Above that, granite reef. One of the few areas where the granite is not extensively weathered, as can be seen from the cliffs above the site. There is considerable jointing more or less vertically, parallel to and perpendicular to the cliff face. This pattern is similar on the reef, the blocky formations are more reminiscent of the sandstone reefs in other parts of the peninsula, but with almost no overhangs, undercuts, caves etc. There are plenty of almost vertical faces and flattish tops, with fairly angular corners and edges, and the characteristic rounded shapes of the corestone reefs are absent excepting for wave rounded boulders.

Geology: Basically outcrops of the late Pre-Cambrian granite of the Peninsula pluton, with loose boulders of granite and Table Mountain Sandstones from the overlying strata.

Probably one of the best views available of the unconformity between Cape Granite and Graafwater sandstone is clearly visible from the surface of the water, but quite high up on the cliff.

[edit] Conditions

Best after south easterly winds (summer). Exposed to south westerly swells.

[edit] Get in

This site is only accessible by boat, though in principle an entry could be made by base-jumping the cliffs from the Chapman's Peak drive.

The site is about 3.4km from Hout Bay harbour slipway.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Marine life

Kelp on top of the reef, with a variety of invertebrates on the top and sides of the rocks.

[edit] Photography

[edit] Routes

No special route recommended.

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Hazards

Cold water.

[edit] Skills

No special skills required. This site is suitable for boat dives at night, and is conveniently close to Hout Bay harbour.

[edit] Equipment

No special equipment recommended .

Back to Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay#Hout Bay

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