Diving & Travel Guide to Wild Coast – Port St. Johns & Coffee Bay

About Wild Coast – Port St. Johns & Coffee Bay

The Wild Coast is South Africa's most remote and adrenaline-charged diving destination, serving as the epicentre of the annual Sardine Run from June to July. Port St Johns is the gateway to extraordinary pelagic encounters where millions of sardines attract oceanic blacktips, tiger sharks, bull sharks, schooling hammerheads, dolphins, and whales in spectacular feeding frenzies. Beyond the Sardine Run, the region offers untouched rocky reefs at Coffee Bay with drift diving through pristine marine environments, baited shark dives at Shark Rock with large pelagics, and seasonal sardine madness at Mbashe River mouth. The Wild Coast's combination of genuine expedition-style diving, minimal tourism infrastructure, and raw natural beauty creates an authentic adventure diving experience unlike anywhere else in South Africa. This is diving at its most elemental – strong currents, big predators, remote locations, and extraordinary marine spectacles.

Highlights

• ✓Epicentre of the Sardine Run – the greatest marine spectacle on Earth
• ✓Baited shark dives with oceanic blacktips, tigers, and bulls
• ✓Schooling hammerheads and dolphins in massive feeding frenzies
• ✓Untouched rocky reefs at Coffee Bay with minimal diving pressure
• ✓Remote expedition-style diving in pristine environments
• ✓Seasonal whale and marlin encounters during sardine season

Getting There

Fly to Port Elizabeth (PLZ) and drive 4-5 hours north, or fly to Mthatha Airport (UTT) and drive 1-2 hours to the coast. Most dive operators provide transfers from airports.