Activities in Durban – diving, surfing & fishing
Posted on 23. Mar, 2010 by admin in Durban
Durban is a great place to visit, whether or not it’s hosting the World Cup. If you have some downtime in between games in Durban during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, be sure to make the most of your surroundings as there are plenty of things to do in Durban. Despite being a busy and thriving city, Durban is also home to some stunning natural attractions, such as world-class beaches perfect for water sports, vast areas of wildlife perfect for exploring and exceptional golf courses perfect for an afternoon on the green.
Check out JF’s guide to activities in Durban to find out more.
Water sports
Durban is home to the fabulous Golden Miles and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. This makes conditions perfect for water sports in Durban and many come here to scuba dive, snorkel, surf and swim.
Scuba diving in Durban
There are a number of great dive sites around Durban, including Gansbaai, home of the Great White Sharks. You can also see dolphins and whales here and gain scuba diving qualifications. The best time for snorkelling and scuba diving is in June and July when the annual sardine run brings hordes of predators to the east coast.
Check out these dive schools in Durban:
Dive Nautique
Umhlhanga Rocks, north Durban, Tel: +27 (0)82 553 2834
Dive Nautique offer a range of courses as well as dolphin, whale shark and turtle tours. They are reliable and have been in business since 1990
Aliwal Dive Centre
No 2, Moodie Street, Umkomaas , Tel: +27 (0) 39 973 2233, Email: dive@aliwalshoal.co.za
Aliwal is a five-star PADI instruction centre with onsite accommodation for divers
Aqua Planet Dive Centre
Shop 10, Super Spar Centre, Shelly Beach, Tel: +27 (0)39 315 7524, Email: info@aquaplanet.co.za
Aqua Planet is one of the best dive centres in Durban with fully-qualified teachers and a good reputation
Durban Undersea Club
Vetch’s Pier, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)31 368 1199, Email: paul@duc.co.za
Durban Undersea Club is a fun and friendly organisation offering a range of activities from scuba diving to underwater hockey
Calypso Diving and Adventure Centre
1 King Shaka Avenue, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)31 332 0905
Calypso Diving and Adventure Centre offers wreck dives, shark tours and much more.
Fishing in Durban
An ideal way to relax and appreciate the tranquillity of the ocean is with a day of fishing in Durban. There are a number of different species to hook on your line depending on the time of year you visit, but with a basket of cold beers and a rod in your hand what you catch will be secondary. Be prepared to find yourself up against blacktail, barracuda and, if you’re lucky, sharks.
Check out these fishing trip organisers in Durban:
Allure Charters
Amanzimtoti 4125, Tel: +27 (0)87 802 8434, Email: fish@allurecharters.com
Allure Charters offers big game fishing, marine fishing and deep sea fishing from their two large boats
Big Whiskey Sea Charters
13 Hullett Street, Durban, Tel:+27 31 461 3554
Big Whiskey Sea Charters has everything from glass bottom boat rides to shark fishing
Lynski
Mount Edgecombe, Durban, Tel: +27( 0)31 539 3338, Email : tom@lynski.com
Lynski is a friendly outfit specialising in shark fishing
Surfing and kitesurfing
South Africa is one of the best places in the world for surfing and kite surfing and with the city’s Golden Mile and the warm Indian Ocean, surfing in Durban is quite a pastime. Durban leads the pack when it comes to hosting surfing competitions and if you’re lucky you might catch one while in town. The waves are consistently good here and rivalry is fierce, so it might be a good idea to get some practice before you hit the beaches.
You can rent boards and wetsuits here and many companies also offer surfing lessons and kite surfing lessons in Durban. If you’re not brave enough for the sea, however, you can also get some practice in first by surfing the artificial waves at Gateway Shopping Centre in Palm Boulevard, Umhlanga Ridge. New Pier is a good spot for real surfing but it is very crowded and competitive. North Beach, Cave Rock and Dairy Beach are also good surfing beaches in Durban.
Check out these surf schools in Durban:
Learn 2 Surf
uShaka Marine World, 1 Bell Street, Durban, Tel: :+27 (0)83 4140 567, Email: info@learn2surf.co.za
Learn 2 Surf offers surfing lessons, kayak lessons, body boarding lessons and hosts corporate events
Secret Spot
Shaka’s Rock Main Road, Shakas Rock, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)32 525 5479, Email: info@secretspot.co.za
Secret Spot are a laid-back Durban surf school with onsite accommodation
East Coast Water Sports
Mercy Bay. Tel: +27 (0)83 387 2510, Email: info@eastcoastwatersports.co.za
East Coast Water Sports mainly specialise in kite surfing in Durban but they also do diving, trips and tours
Dolphin Dreams
North Durban 4319, Tel: +27 (0)84 4 711 907, Email: dolphindreams@telkomsa.net
Dolphin Dreams rent equipment and teach surfing in Durban as well as and kite surfing. They also run trips and eco-tours
Boat trips in Durban
A good use of time while away is to take advantage of the many boat trips in Durban. From harbour cruises to wild speed boat rides on the open ocean, there is no finer way to see Durban’s skyline than from the water. Many companies also offer dinner cruises in Durban and independent boat charters in Durban will allow you some privacy and romance on the seas.
Check out these companies offer boat trips in Durban:
The Allen Gardiner Harbour Cruise Restaurant
Leaves from Wilson’s Wharf, Boatman’s Road, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)84 456 4000 , Email: info@allengardiner.co.za
The Allen Gardiner offers breakfast lunch and dinner harbour cruises in a nice restaurant setting
Starlight Cruises
Starlight Manor, 33 Claribel Rd, Morningside, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)860 11 44 11, Email: info@starlight.co.za
Starlight Cruises offers a range of cruises all over South Africa
Durban Boat Hire
Durban Port, Tel: +27 (0)74 149 0606, Email info@durbanboathire.co.za
Durban Boat Hire offers romantic cruises, overnight stays, fishing trips and private charters
Durban Boat Charter Association
Durban Marina, Victoria Embankment, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)31 301 1115
Durban Boat Charter Association has a large fleet of vessels available for hire
African Queen
72 Dawncliffe Road, Westville, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)31 464 1880, email: peterva@axxess.co.za
African Queen is a Durban guesthouse with its own boat. They run harbour and sea cruises as well as whale and dolphin spotting tours
Hakuna Matata Charters
Durban Marina, Victoria Embankment, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)83 566 6431, Email: enquiries@hmcharters.co.za
Hakuna Matata Charters have two luxury catamarans that hold up to 60 people
Isle of Capri
14-18 Boatman’s Road, Wilson’s Wharf, Durban, Tel: +27 (0) 31 305 3099, Email: bfjvr@mailbox.co.za
Isle of Capri offer educational tours and special event parties such as weddings and birthdays
Air activities
Sky diving and helicopter rides: what better way to see Durban then from a bird’s eye view? If you’re a real adrenalin junkie and keeping your feet on the ground just isn’t good enough, why not try sky diving in Durban or helicopter rides in Durban. The sky diving schools in Durban all offer full training before jumps and have qualified instructors.
Check out these air activity centres in Durban:
Skydive Durban
Pietermaritzburg Airport, Tel: +27 (0)72 214 6040, Email: vernon@skydivedurban.co.za
Skydive Durban offer parachute jumps in Durban followed by a post-jump barbeque where you can watch the DVD of your conquest.
SkydiveKZN
Cato Airfield, Eddie Hagen Drive, Cato Ridge, Tel: +27 (0)83 793 7055
SkydiveKNZ offers courses and tandem dives.
Sky Adventures
Angels Way Farm, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)73 334 7911, Email: info@skyadventures.co.za
Sky Adventures offers hot air balloon rides, helicopter rides as well as sky diving.
NAC Helicopters Unlimited
Hangar No 4, Virginia Airport, Tel: +27 (0)31 564 0176
NAC Helicopters Unlimited offer helicopter rides around the Durban area.
Eco-tours and safaris
Wildlife in Durban and around the Kwazulu Natal province is plentiful, with more than 600 bird species alone in the region. The purple Crested Louire, the Mangrove King Fishers and the Palmnut Vulture are among the rarest species of birds in Durban, and if you hang around the mangrove swamps or the Durban North Garden for long enough, you might just catch a glimpse of one.
There are also many nature reserves, wetlands, forests and game parks in and around Durban and experienced local specialists run eco-tours all around the city if you need some guidance. Safari tours are great fun and give you a chance to see the wild animals of South Africa up close and in their natural surroundings.
Check out these eco-tours in Durban:
Avian Eco Tours
Tel: +27 (0)31 262 8984 or 082 570 4582, Email: info@avianeco.co.za
Avian Eco Tours offers full and half-day eco-tours in Durban’s surrounding countryside
Eco Tours
13 peak street, Chatsworth, Tel: +27 (0)31 403 2565, Email: mail@eco-tours.co.za
Eco Tours run a variety of excursions all over South Africa
Trekweni Eco Tours
Tel: +27 (0)31 332 0575, Email: info@tekweniecotours.co.za
Trekweni Eco Tours offers safaris, other wildlife tours and cultural tours
Africa Safari Tours
Shop 1, 20 Forest Drive, Forest Hills, Kloof, Tel: +(0) 27 31 762 2421, Email: tours@africansafaritours.travel
Africa Safari Tours are based in Durban but run a number of great safaris and holiday trips all over South Africa
Golf in Durban
Golf courses in Durban are in abundance and there are plenty and challenging championship course to choose from. Many private clubs allow guest players on certain days and you can rent equipment for reasonable low prices.
Check out these Durban golf courses:
Kloof Country Club
26 Victory Rd, Kloof 3610, Tel : +27 (0)31 764 0555
Kloof Country Club has an 18-hole course and a nice clubhouse called the Halfway House
Durban Country Club
Walter Gilbert Road, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)31 313-1777
Durban Country Club has two championship golf courses in a nice setting
Royal Durban Golf Course
Royal Durban Golf Course, 16 Mitchell Crescent, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)31 309 2581
Royal Durban Golf Course is home to a flat but fun championship course in the Greyville horse racing track
Mount Edgecombe Country Club
1 Umhlanga, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)31 539 5330
Mount Edgecombe Country Club has two championship courses and two clubhouses
Amanzimtoti Golf Course
Golf Course Road, Prospecton, Amanzimtoti, Tel: +27 (0)31 902 1166
Visitors are always welcome at Amanzimtoti Golf Course. Management is very friendly and it’s a fun course to play
Maritzburg Country Club Golf Course
Duncan Mckenzie Drive, Pietermaritzburg, Tel: +27 (0)33 396 2356
Dating from 1886, Maritzburg Golf Course is one of the oldest in South Africa. It has 18 holes and a great clubhouse
Prince’s Grant Golf Course
Stanger, North Coast, Durban, Tel: +27 (0)32 482 0041
Prince’s Grant Golf Course has amazing views of the Indian Ocean and is located in indigenous coastal bush just 75kms from Durban
Zimbali Golf Course
Port Zimbali, Ballito, Dolphin Coast, +27 (0)32 538-1041
Zimbali Golf Course is well known as it boasts stunning views from its world-class course
