South Africa’s coastline is very long, but also very wild, with few natural harbours, strong currents and little available water. There are many deserted beaches away from the towns, some of the best surfing conditions in the world, and marine reserves where scuba diving and snorkeling will reveal the wonderful undersea world.

The east coast of South Africa has a warm current moving south west (the Aghulhas current) and the west coast has a cold current (the Benguela current) heading north. The two currents meet off Cape Aghulhas (not Cape Town!) which is the most southerly point of South Africa.

The main harbours include Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mossel Bay, Ngqura, Port Elizabeth, Port Nolloth, Richards Bay, and Saldanha Bay.