North Coast (Zululand), Sodwana Bay to Kosi
Kosi Bay
It is 70km north of Sodwana Bay and is best dived from a boat launched at Sodwana. There are extensive coral reefs here and one needs to scout the area. The reef off the river mouth is good for ignoblis and a host of other gamefish. Drop-offs where the reef meets the sand attract the most gamefish.
Island Rock
35km north of Sodwana and provides some excellent gamefish diving. The reef in the middle of the bay in 50-60foot is very good for wahoo that patrol along the northern edge. This spot is also good for big ignoblis in the late afternoon.
Mabibi
Approximately 25km north of Sodwana and has extensive reef. This is a good spot for king mackerel. Look for drop-offs where the reef meets the sand.
Nine Mile
This is a reef known to most local spearfishermen and produced a 242kg black marlin some years back. It is best dived in a north-south current and the gamefish normally run on the seaward edge of the reef over the sand. Some big ignoblis have been shot in the breaking zone here. There is a shoal of big yellow spotted kingfish that patrol the northern tip of the reef.
There are numerous other dive spots in this area and more pinnacles far out to sea are being found. There is always the possibility of seeing a marlin in these waters and as these spots become known, more and more divers will be visiting them to try their luck.
Sodwana
Sodwana is well known scuba dive spot with many divable spots all year round
Cape Vidal
Situated at the southern end of the St Lucia reserve, Cape Vidal is probably the most speared spot in Zululand. Leven Point, 20km north at the edge of the sanctuary, has provided many a spearo with some hectic early morning action. This spot is good for most gamefish with king and queen mackerel being the most common. Quite a few sailfish are shot here each year. This spot needs a north-south current and the queen mackerel run on the outer edge of the shallow reef which lies in 8m. This line can also be good for big king mackerel on their return trip from the sardine run. The deeper ledge, that can be very sanded up at times, is in 15m. This is a good drift for king mackerel. The sailfish are mostly seen on the outside of this ledge further out over the sand. Big wahoo also patrol this area.
King Oscar
Opposite the sand dune for which it is named, and 5km north of Vidal.This reef consists of some scattered shallow rocks which can become sanded up depending on sand movement. It is a good area for queen mackerel that patrol this area looking for small sprats that congregate over the shallow rocks. There are some deep ledges quite a way out to sea off here and off the greens. The depth is 35m and there are some big kaakap to be had here. The fishermen trawl these spots for marlin but the strong current most days makes for difficult diving.
Vidal Point
The point at Vidal is also a good spot for queen mackerel and some big sailfish have been speared here. It is a good place to ambush the large ignoblis that lurk here. Further south off the lighthouse out in 50-60foot is a good king mackerel drift. Lying on the sand is the best way to bag them here.
Lighthouse Reef
Situated straight out to sea from the St Lucia lighthouse this is one of the best diving spots in the country. The pinnacle comes up to 12m and drops-off to 27m+. When this reef turns on there is an amazing variety of gamefish and big reef fish to be speared. With the close proximity to both the Mfolozi river mouth and the estuary mouth, it is best dived during the winter months after a south westerly and on calm days. To get there launch a boat out of the estuary from the St Lucia ski-boat club.
The stretch of coast from here all the way to the Tugela river mouth is mostly undiveable due to large sandbanks and the many rivers along this stretch. I have spoken to one or two divers who have managed to find clean water here and the fish life is apparently amazing.