Snorkeling & Boat Trip to Discover Marine Life in Cape Town

This ocean snorkelling safari is one of the most exciting ways to discover Cape Town's coastline beyond the beaches and viewpoints. The experience starts at the Hout Bay snorkelling centre, where the team will meet you, provide you with full wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins, and give you a safety briefing and introduction to the marine environment you'll be visiting.

You will then board a boat prepared for small groups and sail out to sea, skirting ocean cliffs and areas not easily accessible from land. Throughout the trip, the marine guides will explain the characteristics of the Great African Kelp Forest, a unique underwater ecosystem that serves as a refuge for a multitude of species. The tour is designed for you to enjoy both the coastal scenery and the underwater world.

This extended trip includes several snorkelling spots: kelp forest areas where you can swim among long stalks that rise to the surface, and at least one shallow wreck that has become home to fish and other marine life. The aim is to offer an immersive, varied and environmentally friendly experience, with enough time in the water to explore each location at your leisure.

In terms of wildlife, you may see sunfish, dolphins, whales in season and different species of fish and seabirds. It is also possible to spot Cape fur seals from the boat or near the snorkelling areas, but nowadays, for safety reasons and due to an outbreak of rabies in the colony, it is no longer possible to snorkel directly with the seals or enter the water in the middle of the colony. The experience focuses on the kelp forest, the shipwreck and wildlife observation, always respecting the appropriate distance.

At the end of the trip, you will return to the snorkelling centre, where you can enjoy hot showers, changing rooms and WiFi, and have a refreshment to warm up. The whole service is very much geared towards comfort and safety: small groups, attentive guides and a clear focus on responsible tourism in one of the most spectacular seascapes in the world.