For those of you who know anything about South Africa, you know that it is called the Cape of storms for a reason. The seas are rough and many ships have suffered as a result.

Lucky for me it means that I can see the ghosts of these ships when I dive. My favourite wreck dive is the MV Antipolis Wreck because of its proximity to the shore and its engine room. I feel like wreck diving is often in very deep water and only accessible by boat. Antipolis is a four-minute swim from the shore in a very sheltered bay.

Photo Credit: Talya Davidoff

Years of diving this wreck has taught me how to descent onto the wreck’s engine room, but fear not, one can still find it very easily as part of the wreck does stick out of the water. I make a free decent down onto the engine room, which looms over the sea floor. Because this area gets battered every winter so a lot of the softer metal has disintegrated leaving the main trusses of the engine room. This allows you to safely explore the wreck or view it from the entrance, depending on which certification you have.

This area is a marine reserve so there are numerous fish species on the site. You can see the Cape Stumpnose fish, Galjoen, and Red roman in large numbers here and if you are lucky, you may even spot a Mola Mola drifting by as well. The biggest Cape Lobster I have ever seen is also a local on the wreck, and I see him lurking in the darkness every time I go.

The wreck is not intact but is very easy to follow. I always end up staying around the engine room, as there is so much to see.

The Author: Talya Davidoff is a marine biologist, freediving champion and dive instructor.

Antipoliss Wreck