African Watersports

If you feel sad leaving a place it means they made a damn good job! We had a memorable time and dives with Walter and his team in Umkomaas. Special thanks to Jason and Rudy. We always felt safe during the shark dives, surrounded by bulls and oceanic black tips. We'll definitely be back!

What a wonderful place to go and just chill. Lovely gardens, clean rooms and a self catering flatlet for 2 or 4 people to share. One can go diving with the Sharks, which my son did. He said it was the most amazing experience he ever had. He also went off road riding with Walter, the owner. First picture l took of the sun starting to rise at 4.30am, but, the sun had to climb a huge cloud before it was visible. A short clip from the top deck, where one can have a nice braai and entertain some friends. We spent Christmas and New Year there and left today 2Jan 2026. I put these photos on my family group and my cousin in NZ, asked if l was on a tropical island🏝 😊 😀

Walter and his team helped me break my fear of sharks. It was my first encounter and it won't be the last. It was a breathtaking experience, knowing that you are in the best hands, they know what they are doing, very helpful and super nice and hospitable. Thank you African Watersports, we are already planning our next visit.

As a dive instructor committed to responsible and safe diving practices, I wholeheartedly recommend African Watersports. Having experienced multiple shark diving operators and with many dive professional friends in the shark diving industry, African Watersports stands out as the most respectful and safety-conscious operator I've encountered. Their comprehensive briefing on proper and safe interaction with sharks, coupled with the unique use of teeth-safe bait crates/balls, and that they don’t hand feed the sharks, allows for a truly authentic appreciation of the sharks' natural beauty and behaviours. If your preference lies with operators who hand-feed sharks to provoke dramatic displays or whose briefings heavily emphasize redirecting sharks (operators I strongly advise against diving with), then African Watersports may not align with your goals. However, if you aim to observe sharks cruising and scavenging naturally, exhibiting their normal behaviours in a respectful environment, then this is the operator to choose. Diving with both Walter and Jason is an absolute pleasure. Walter, the pioneer of shark diving in Umkomaas with over 40 years of experience, and Jason, with his 20+ years in the field, create an environment where you feel exceptionally safe while simultaneously gaining invaluable knowledge. Their willingness to answer any questions about sharks further enhances the experience. This company genuinely prioritizes the well-being of sharks, actively striving to educate divers and contribute meaningfully to shark conservation initiatives. For anyone seeking a safe, responsible, and educational shark diving experience, I highly recommend African Watersports.

Dive with the shark diving legend Walter Bernardis. African Watersports is a complete dive vacation operation that can tailor room and board with your diving needs. Walter pioneered diving with Oceanic Black Tip sharks which are normally very hard to locate and dive with. With his knowledge and experience you can now dive with them regularly. You can also join him on reef dives and the famous Sardine Run yearly.

We did ten days of the best diving we've ever experienced with African watersports. Really professional dive company, felt very safe with the sharks and on Aliwal Shoal with really clear dive briefings every time. Accomodation was excellent, had free use of the pool and easy access via a safe walk to the beach. Breakfast every day was also really nice. Massive thanks to Jason, Walter, Sandy, Rudi, Tash, Emma, Tuns, Jeff and all the other staff for making this trip the best. We felt like we were friends staying rather than guests. Will definitely be back!

Hey Jason, Just a quick note to say a huge thank you for today. You, Drew, and Fiona made such an awesome team. I'm already getting excited to plan again for next year. And thanks for taking care of my baby sister - she's over the moon, even though she skipped the second dive. She absolutely loved the first one. I really appreciate you looking after her and will definitely spread the word about you guys. African Watersports is an fantastic diving center. Thanks a bunch

Best place to dive near Durban, Walter is super great , his team is amazing, super place to dive to see sharks , one of the best dives that I have done !