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Difference between revisions of "Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Fan Reef"

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==Understand==
 
==Understand==
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[[Image:(insert image file name)|thumb|A typical sea fan at Fan Reef.]]
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[[Image:Palmate_sea_fan_at_North_Fan_Reef_DSC09255.JPG|thumb|A Palmate sea fan at north Fan Reef.]]
 
===Name===
 
===Name===
 
The reef is named "Fan Reef" for the large numbers of gorgonian sea fans found there. The alternative name '''Fantastic Reef''' is based on the original name.
 
The reef is named "Fan Reef" for the large numbers of gorgonian sea fans found there. The alternative name '''Fantastic Reef''' is based on the original name.
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==See==
 
==See==
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[[Image:(photo of typical marine organism from site)|thumb|(caption)]]
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[[Image:Basket_star_on_sea_fan_at_Fan_Reef_DSC08990.JPG|thumb|Basket star on sea fan]]
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[[Image:Horsefish_and_sunburst_coral_at_Fan_reef_DSC09309.JPG|thumb|Horsefish and sunburst soft coral]]
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[[Image:Mauve_sea_cucumbers_at_Fan_Reef_DSC08994.JPG|thumb|Mauve sea cucumbers and orange sponge]]
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[[Image:Sea_cucumbers_at_Fan_reef_DSC09315.JPG|thumb|Sea cucumbers]]
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[[Image:Shy_sharks_at_fan_reef_DSC09005.JPG|thumb|Shy sharks]]
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[[Image:Multicolour_sea_fans_at_North_Fan_Reef_DSC09285.JPG|thumb|Multicolour sea fans]]
 
===Marine life===
 
===Marine life===
 
Notable for a variety of sea fans, Sunburst soft corals, striped and strawberry anemones, Basket stars, feather stars, and sea cucumbers, coralline algae,  encrusting sponges, urchins, colonial ascidians and a few species of nudibranch.
 
Notable for a variety of sea fans, Sunburst soft corals, striped and strawberry anemones, Basket stars, feather stars, and sea cucumbers, coralline algae,  encrusting sponges, urchins, colonial ascidians and a few species of nudibranch.
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Back to [[Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay]]
 
Back to [[Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay]]
  
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{{usabletopic}}
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{{guidetopic}}

Revision as of 12:57, 16 October 2009

This is a CC-by-sa 3.0 compatible article.

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The dive site Fan Reef also known as Fantastic Reef is a small offshore rocky reef in the Castle Rocks area on the Cape Peninsula side of False Bay, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

The site has a large concentration of Gorgonian sea fans

Contents

Get in

Map of the dive site Fan Reef.

Access

Access to this site is only by boat. The distance from Miller's Point slipway is about 1.8km.

Position

S34°14.165 E18°29.260

The site is about half way between Miller's Point and Castle Rocks and is on the 30m depth contour. It is about 1.1 km from the shore directly to the west. North Fan Reef is about 100m to the north of Fan Reef across the sand.

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

Understand

A Palmate sea fan at north Fan Reef.

Name

The reef is named "Fan Reef" for the large numbers of gorgonian sea fans found there. The alternative name Fantastic Reef is based on the original name.

Depth

The bottom is at about 30m on the sand to the east of the reef


Topography

Fan Reef: Small isolated granite corestone reef, Large outcrops, some rocks quite high, some low. Reef area more or less contiguous.

North Fan Reef: Granite reef of outcrops and boulders of about 10m maximum height, and up to about 20m long. Rugged terrain, with lots of gulleys and steep walls and quite a few overhangs. There is a small swimthrough probably on the west side just above the sand.

Geology: Granite of the late Pre-Cambrian Peninsula pluton

Conditions

The site is moderately protected from south westerly swell. South east chop may make it unpleasant on the surface, but it may be quiet below the wave base. Generally considered a winter dive site but there are also occasional opportunities in autumn and spring.


Facilities

See

Basket star on sea fan
Horsefish and sunburst soft coral
Mauve sea cucumbers and orange sponge
Sea cucumbers
Shy sharks
Multicolour sea fans

Marine life

Notable for a variety of sea fans, Sunburst soft corals, striped and strawberry anemones, Basket stars, feather stars, and sea cucumbers, coralline algae, encrusting sponges, urchins, colonial ascidians and a few species of nudibranch.


Photography

(photographic equipment suggestions)

Suggested Routes

No routes recommended, the reef is quite small and may be comprehensively visited on a dive.

Stay safe

Hazards

No site specific hazards have been reported.

Skills

Appropriate certification for the depth is expected. No special skills are required, though bouyancy control and finning skills should be adequate to avoid damage to the sea fans and other sensitive organisms.

Equipment

No special equipment required. A DSMB and reel are recommended.

Back to Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay

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