Dial Rock
Dial Rock is a rock pinnacle located in Saldanha Bay, South Africa. It is a popular spot for beginner divers due to its calm entry with low surge. To reach the dive site, divers typically do a surface swim of about 150m from the shore. One of the highlights of Dial Rock is the small kelp outcrop on its southern side.
When exploring Dial Rock, divers can expect to encounter various marine species such as rock fish, cuttle fish, octopus, sea stars, and nudibranchs. The visibility at this dive site is around 3m, and the maximum depth is 5m.
If you are looking for a beginner-friendly dive spot in Saldanha Bay, Dial Rock is definitely worth checking out. It offers a tranquil underwater experience with diverse marine life to admire.
When exploring Dial Rock, divers can expect to encounter various marine species such as rock fish, cuttle fish, octopus, sea stars, and nudibranchs. The visibility at this dive site is around 3m, and the maximum depth is 5m.
If you are looking for a beginner-friendly dive spot in Saldanha Bay, Dial Rock is definitely worth checking out. It offers a tranquil underwater experience with diverse marine life to admire.
Diving Conditions Score for Dial Rock
5.5
AverageAverage conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Dial Rock
Depth
5m
Visibility
3m
Experience Level
beginner
Weather Conditions for Dial Rock
Wave Height
1.56m
Wind Speed
2.5 m/s
Water Temp
14.1°C
Visibility
48.26km
Cloud Cover
4%
Wave Period
12.5s
Air Temperature
14.6°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Dial Rock
Alpha
Dive Score Chart for Dial Rock
Best time to dive: 17:00 with score 7.149333333333333/10. Water conditions: Waves 1.52m, Wind 0.9 m/s.Best night dive time: 21:00 with score 6.702231848852901/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Sunrise at Dial Rock: 06:00
Sunset at Dial Rock: 18:00
Optimal diving conditions at Dial Rock are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Best Overall
17:00Score: 7.1/10
Waves: 1.52m (12.5s), Wind: 0.9 m/s
Best Night
21:00Score: 6.7/10
Waves: 1.58m, Wind: 0.3 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Dial RockAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Dial Rock
The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.
Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Seasonal DiveScore Chart
This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Best Season for Dial Rock
Summer
Avg. Score: 8.5/10
Summer offers the warmest water temperatures and generally favorable conditions for all levels of divers.
Best Months for Dial Rock
July
Score: 8.7
August
Score: 8.5
June
Score: 8.4
Ideal Conditions for Dial Rock
Water Temp
17.6°C / 63.7°F
March
Visibility
12.0m / 39.4ft
May
Wave Height
1.8m / 5.9ft
February
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Dial Rock
Dial Rock follows southern hemisphere patterns with March being the warmest month (17.6°C) and August the coldest (12.2°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in February with average wave heights of 1.8m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in February with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). January is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during February to April, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.
Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 21, 2026
Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.
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