Every birthday, I try to do something that pushes me just a little outside my comfort zone and to tick off an activity that’s lived on my bucket list for years. Last year, I finally ticked off one I’d been thinking about for a long time: scuba diving at the Two Oceans Aquarium.
Now, here’s the important part: I am terrified of the open ocean. Sharks? The thought of not knowing what’s beneath me? Absolutely not. The ocean has always fascinated me, but I’ve much preferred admiring it from dry land. This, on the other hand, felt like a much safer and more comfortable option.
Two Oceans Aquarium dive experience?
The Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School offers several scuba diving experiences for certified divers (Open Water certification or equivalent).
You can choose between:
- Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit – swim alongside ragged-tooth sharks, with no cage between you and the animals.
- I&J Ocean Exhibit – home to stingrays, shoals of fish and other incredible marine life in the aquarium’s largest display.
- Kelp Forest Exhibit – a calmer, uniquely South African underwater landscape filled with towering sea bamboo.
If you haven’t been diving in more than six months, you’ll need to complete a refresher course before your dive.
The staff could not have been kinder. They patiently explained every step, answered every question and made sure everyone felt comfortable before entering the water. At no point did I feel rushed or pressured. You always know exactly what’s happening next, and there are experienced dive professionals with you throughout the experience.
Under pressure
As someone who’s also quite claustrophobic, I expected the biggest challenge to be the diving equipment. It wasn’t. It was getting used to the pressure.
Then there was the floating. You spend years learning that water makes you float, only to suddenly discover that scuba diving asks you to do almost the opposite. Finding the right buoyancy felt surprisingly unnatural at first, but once I relaxed and listened to my instructor, it slowly started making sense.
If you’re a first-time diver (or just a nervous one) know that it’s completely normal for it to take a few minutes before everything feels natural.
Is it safe?
One of the reasons I finally committed to doing this was because it felt like a safe way to experience scuba diving. The aquarium environment is carefully managed, the dive team is with you throughout, and every part of the experience is well organised.
Whether it’s helping you adjust your equipment, checking you’re comfortable or guiding you through the exhibits, you’re never left wondering what to do next. For anyone who’s curious about diving but intimidated by the ocean, this is a wonderful introduction.
More adventures from the Dive School
The adventure doesn’t stop inside the aquarium. The Dive School also offers guided snorkelling trips in Cape Town’s waters, where you’ll explore kelp forests, rocky reefs and the incredible marine life that makes the Cape coastline so special.
All equipment is provided, and the team selects the best location based on weather and sea conditions. Water temperatures typically range between 10°C and 17°C, with visibility varying depending on the day. It’s another fantastic option if you’d like to spend more time in the water without committing to scuba diving.
If you’re looking for a birthday adventure, want to conquer a fear or simply try something completely different, I can’t recommend scuba diving at the Two Oceans Aquarium enough.
For more info or to book, click here.
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