Snorkelling and Octopus-Spotting in Simon's Town: The Complete Guide
While I have snorkelled many times on some beautiful coral reefs in the Caribbean and loved every second of every experience, I didn’t have the same desire to snorkel in the chilly not-so-blue definitely-not-so-warm and not very coral-filled waters off the coast of Cape Town in my own country. Then, considering I have texture issues to the point where the thought of eating an uncooked slice of tomato is traumatic, the idea of swimming through slimy kelp forests made it seem even less fun.
But then Netflix released their documentary ‘My Octopus Teacher’ filmed on location in the kelpy waters of Simon’s Town and my friends decided to jump on that bandwagon. By this time, I already owned a wetsuit (for surfing), a snorkel mask (from my time in the Caribbean) and a bad case of FOMO (fear of missing out) that was far more severe than my fear of monstrous icky sea plants clinging to - and possibly submerging and engulfing - my body. (Yup, giant squid are not my only irrational ocean-related fear!)
The goal of spotting an octopus was never specifically stated, but there isn’t a person on this planet who has seen that documentary, who will go snorkelling in Simon’s Town (or anywhere) and not hope to see one of those cute little molluscs. On top of that, I don’t mean to brag, but I kind of have a reputation for the super flattering #turtleselfie I took a few years ago, so I felt the pressure to please my Instagram followers with a followup #octopusselfe.
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The legendary #turtleselfie |
Octopus Spotting - Attempt 1:
We waded through the rock pools and then swam through some deeper water where you could no longer see all the way to the bottom, but reaching out of the darkness, suspended in their own buoyancy, were heads of kelp, desperately trying to reach the surface but still quite far from it. It definitely felt like a strange alien world.
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Boom! |
I left before my friends because I had somewhere to be. After I left, they swam out beyond the big rock that was sheltering us from the open sea and there they fo realzies saw an octopus!
Attempt 3
So, what did I learn from my nudibranch teacher?
Nothing!
Spoiler alert: He’s probably going to get eaten by something.
What Types of Sea-Life can you See in the Waters of Simon’s Town:
According to other people or sources, you can also expect to see shrimp, rock lobsters, seals, otters, cow sharks and pajama sharks (harmless to humans).
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Be sure to keep a 3-metre distance from the penguins. The plastic lawn ornaments, however, you can approach. |
What do you Need for Snorkelling in a Kelp Forest:
- A wetsuit: The water temperature in Simon’s Town ranges from a minimum of 14 degrees celcius (57 F) in winter to a maximum of 22 degrees in Summer (71 F). In summer it’s not too uncomfortable to swim without a wetsuit. The rest of the year, unless you would like to attempt cold water skin diving (like the guy in the documentary) or cold water immersion, a wetsuit is recommended.
- A snorkel mask (obviously)
- Water shoes (Standing on anemones is bad)
- A towel
- Bio-degradable / reef-safe sunscreen (The South African sun is harsh. You’re going to want to cover up anything that sticks out of your wetsuit/cozzie*)
Not Necessary but Helpful for Snorkelling:
- Flippers (depending on how far or deep you want to go)
- Weights (Wetsuits make you buoyant AF. If you want to take your own pic of a nudibranch get some of these.)
- Drinking water for afterwards. (Sour worms also make for a great post-snorkel treat)
- An action camera / waterproof camera
Where to get Snorkel Equipment in Simon’s Town:
Any surf shop in Cape Town usually has a selection of snorkels and water/reef shoes, in addition to wetsuits. Due to the abundance of rocks which make Simon’s Town unsuitable for surfing, there aren't any surf shops in Simon’s Town (that I know of). While a few other shops do sell snorkels, I would suggest stopping in Fishhoek on your way if you need to pick anything up: Here you can find:When to go Snorkelling in False Bay:
According to simonstown.com, visibility is usually better between June and October when the wind usually blows offshore (northwesterly)You can always stay up-to-date with the current sea conditions online, here.
How Safe is Snorkelling in Simon’s Town:
Currents and Lifeguards:Very few Cape Town beaches are manned by lifeguards. To be honest, I’ve never really paid attention, but I don’t believe any of the Simon’s Town beaches have lifeguards on duty. Riptides are also common here and can be unpredictable for people who are unfamiliar with these waters. Don’t go if you can’t swim. If you can swim but lack confidence, book a tour with an experienced guide.
Companies that offer Snorkel Tours Include:
Leaving your valuables on the beach is not recommended. It is best to leave them in your car, out of sight.
So far there have been no reported fatalities from kelp attacks.
Can I Touch an Octopus?
I put this question here because I know, based on my experiences working on US-based cruise ships, some people won't want to snorkel unless they can touch a freaking octopus! At the risk of national stereotyping, there’s that one nation of people that has to touch EVERYTHING! (You know who you are!)You’re probably hoping that there’s a tour that you can book where a whole bunch of people in matching lifejackets go out with a guide who will reach down under a rock, pull out an octopus and everyone will take turns having their picture taken with it, which will then be sold to you at an exorbitant price a few minutes later (the picture not the octopus). Kinda like they do with stingrays in the Caribbean, right?
4 comments
As much as I would love to go snorkelling, I would probably freak out if an octopus came near me. But it looks like a great experience!
ReplyDeleteThe octopi are pretty shy, it's the kelp that's scary!
DeleteHahaha that was such a fun read, Sharon! Love your selfie with the 'octopus'. 😄
ReplyDeleteThanks so much :)
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