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Geo Cloete: Cape Town

For many years Cape Town did not really feature on the world tourist map. These days however tourists cannot get enough of this formerly hidden treasure. In the last few years many an award has been rightly bestowed upon the city. It truly is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, particularly if you are a nature lover or enthusiastic about the underwater environment.

Slowly but surely international divers are discovering the marvelous treasures which await below the waterline along the Cape Town’s coastline. To me, Cape Town diving is like a rough diamond. Don’t expect all the glitter of resort-style diving. Instead think of it as a true wilderness were on any given day you stand the chance of seeing just about anything. Sharks, whales, dolphins, turtles, seals, schools of baitfish being predated on, nudibranchs and much much more. Most reefs are made up of giant granite boulders, densely covered in colorful life. For rusting metal lovers there are a good number of wrecks to explore. So if you are a diver and heading this way, don’t miss out on what promise to be a pleasant surprise.

To view more on what Cape Town diving has to offer, visit Cape Town ~ Just Beyond the Shoreline, or see more of Geo’s work on Facebook.

Geo won the 2015 Durban Underwater Club Shootout.

Highlighting some of the natural beauty of Cape Town.
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Highlighting some of the natural beauty of Cape Town.

Cape Fur Seal (*Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus*).
#2

Cape Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus).

Typical of reef scenes in Cape Town, gaint granite boulders densily covered with colourful life.
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Typical of reef scenes in Cape Town, gaint granite boulders densily covered with colourful life.

Cape Dorid (*Hypselodoris capensis*).
#4

Cape Dorid (Hypselodoris capensis).

Speckled Klipfish (*Clinus venustris*).
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Speckled Klipfish (Clinus venustris).

Diver exploring one of the wrecks along the Cape Town coast line.
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Diver exploring one of the wrecks along the Cape Town coast line.

Diver descending while the crane of The Boss 400 towers above.
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Diver descending while the crane of The Boss 400 towers above.

Blue Shark (*Prionace glauca*).
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Blue Shark (Prionace glauca).

Dusky Dolphins (*Lagenorhynchus obscurus*) coming to say hello.
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Dusky Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) coming to say hello.

Shortfin Mako (*Isurus oxyrinchus*).
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Shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus).

Box Jellyfish (*Carybdea branchi*).
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Box Jellyfish (Carybdea branchi).

Speckled Klipfish (*Clinus venustris*).
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Speckled Klipfish (Clinus venustris).

Basket Star (*Astrocladus euryale*) detail.
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Basket Star (Astrocladus euryale) detail.

Close-up of an octopus eye.
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Close-up of an octopus eye.

Bobtail Squid (*Sepiolida sp*).
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Bobtail Squid (Sepiolida sp).

Strawberry Anemone (*Corynactis annulata*).
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Strawberry Anemone (Corynactis annulata).

Longsnout Pipefish (*Syngnathus temminckii*).
#17

Longsnout Pipefish (Syngnathus temminckii).

Sevengill Shark (*Notorynchus cepedianus*)
#18

Sevengill Shark (Notorynchus cepedianus)

Cape Fur Seal (*Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus*).
#19

Cape Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus).