In the water

South Africa has ocean on three sides and it's no surprise to find plenty of water based activities along the coastline. We have compiled a few activity ideas in one place, ranging from the gentle to the more extreme. Below you will find marine wildlife spotting cruises (including whale focused), pleasure cruises, snorkelling, kayaking and shark diving.

V&A Marine Tour - one and a half hours on an eco-tour spotting marine wildlife

Pre-sunset cruise - enjoy a one hour trip from the V&A out into the Atlantic

Shark dive - head out to Gansbaai from either Cape Town or Hermanus and enter a shark cage for a close up encounter

Cape Town Marine Big 5 Cruise - from the V&A spend ninety minutes looking for sea creatures

Plettenberg Bay Whale Cruise - a guided trip lasting two hours

Plettenberg Bay Swim with Seals - after a boat ride spend thirty minutes snorkelling among the seals

Knysna Whale Cruise - two hours at sea in search of whales

Knysna Lagoon Cruise - seventy five minutes on a guided cruise in the lagoon and to the Knysna Heads

Hermanus Whales and Dolphins - spend two hours at sea with a specialist guide on board

Cape Town cruise with prosecco - a ninety minute cruise from the V&A into Table Bay

Gansbaai Marine Big 5 Cruise - transport from Cape Town or Hermanus, then a full day at sea

Cape Town sea forest snorkel - a guided tour of the Great African Sea Forest for two hours

Cape Town Kayaking - head into Hout Bay for a two hour guided trip

St. Lucia lake cruise - to hours on the water in a lake with a huge hippo population as well as crocodiles.

Hoedspruit Blyde River Canyon Cruise - cruise through the stunning canyon for ninety minutes