Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay
This dive site in South Africa is a popular choice for both students in courses and beginner divers. With its ledges and swim-throughs, it offers a diverse and exciting underwater experience for everyone. The topography of the site includes expansive sand gullies to explore, as well as rocky outcrops and small caves where you can find shoals of Sweepers hiding. The site is only accessible by boat, adding to the sense of adventure.
The average depth of the dive is 9m, with a maximum depth of 12m, making it an ideal location for beginner divers to gain experience and confidence in their skills. The visibility in the area is excellent, reaching up to 15m, allowing for clear and stunning views of the underwater world.
When exploring this dive site, you can encounter a variety of marine life. Keep an eye out for the mesmerizing bluespotted ribbontail rays, colorful nudibranchs such as chromodoris sp., and inquisitive honeycomb moray eels. Lionfish, loggerhead turtles, redfang triggerfish, emperor angelfish, and yellow-edge lyretail are also common sightings in this area.
Located close to Sodwana Bay, in The Big Five False Bay Local Municipality, Umkhanyakude District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, this dive site offers both an immersive underwater experience and a beautiful coastal setting. Whether you are a beginner diver or a seasoned enthusiast, this site has something special to offer.
The average depth of the dive is 9m, with a maximum depth of 12m, making it an ideal location for beginner divers to gain experience and confidence in their skills. The visibility in the area is excellent, reaching up to 15m, allowing for clear and stunning views of the underwater world.
When exploring this dive site, you can encounter a variety of marine life. Keep an eye out for the mesmerizing bluespotted ribbontail rays, colorful nudibranchs such as chromodoris sp., and inquisitive honeycomb moray eels. Lionfish, loggerhead turtles, redfang triggerfish, emperor angelfish, and yellow-edge lyretail are also common sightings in this area.
Located close to Sodwana Bay, in The Big Five False Bay Local Municipality, Umkhanyakude District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, this dive site offers both an immersive underwater experience and a beautiful coastal setting. Whether you are a beginner diver or a seasoned enthusiast, this site has something special to offer.
Diving Conditions Score for Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay
5.6
AverageAverage conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay
Depth
14m
Visibility
15m
Experience Level
beginner
Weather Conditions for Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay
Wave Height
1.5m
Wind Speed
14.7 m/s
Water Temp
24.3°C
Visibility
30.2km
Cloud Cover
0%
Wave Period
11.25s
Air Temperature
17.7°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay
Alpha
Dive Score Chart for Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay
Best time to dive: 6:00 with score 5.997333333333334/10. Water conditions: Waves 1.58m, Wind 14.9 m/s.Best night dive time: 3:00 with score 5.630921985815601/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Sunrise at Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay: 06:00
Sunset at Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay: 18:00
Optimal diving conditions at Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay 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
6:00Score: 6.0/10
Waves: 1.58m (12.5s), Wind: 14.9 m/s
Best Night
3:00Score: 5.6/10
Waves: 1.52m, Wind: 14.1 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Four Buoy, Sodwana BayAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay
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 Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay
Summer
Avg. Score: 8.8/10
Summer offers the warmest water temperatures and generally favorable conditions for all levels of divers.
Best Months for Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay
July
Score: 9.0
June
Score: 8.7
August
Score: 8.7
Ideal Conditions for Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay
Water Temp
22.1°C / 71.8°F
March
Visibility
12.0m / 39.4ft
June
Wave Height
1.4m / 4.6ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay
Four Buoy, Sodwana Bay follows southern hemisphere patterns with March being the warmest month (22.1°C) and June the coldest (18.4°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 1.4m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in January 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). June is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during January to March, 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 23, 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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