19/09/2026
Protea Banks Marine Protected Area
Protea Banks is a spectacular 6 km-long offshore reef located approximately 7 km from Shelly Beach, on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. The reef is made up of pinnacles, caves, gullies, rocky ridges and sandy areas, with most recreational diving taking place between 27 and 34 metres.
In 2019, Protea Banks was declared a Marine Protected Area (MPA), helping to protect this important ecosystem and the many species that use it for feeding, breeding, aggregation and migration.
Sitting directly in the path of the powerful Agulhas Current, Protea Banks acts like a highway for marine life. Bull sharks and oceanic blacktips are regular visitors, while large schools of hammerheads, tiger sharks, ragged-tooth sharks and giant guitar sharks can be encountered at different times of the year.
The Northern Pinnacles and caves are particularly famous for seasonal gatherings of ragged-tooth sharks, while the Southern Pinnacles are known for exciting pelagic encounters, including schooling hammerheads.
Protea Banks is also home to eagle rays, ribbontail rays, dolphins and huge schools of tuna, kingfish, barracuda and other fish. From June to November, migrating humpback whales pass along the coast and their songs can sometimes be heard underwater during a dive.
Protected, wild and constantly changing, Protea Banks is much more than a dive site. It is a thriving marine ecosystem where you never know what might come out of the blue.
