SS: Smitswinkel wrecks Traditional Cache

This cache along the shoreline at Smitswinkel Bay forms part of the Shipwreck Series. For the series methodology and more info visit SS: Shipwreck Series via the related web page link.

 You can either follow the signs down to the beach or take the left fork and keep to the north side of the stream and work your way down a path that leads to the shore skirting the houses.

The Smitswinkel Bay wrecks consist of five vessels scuttled in the bay to form artificial reefs. The diamond-prospecting vessel Rockeater was the first to be sunk in 1972, and was so successful in attracting marine life that two World War II frigates - the SAS Good Hope and Transvaal - soon followed. In 1983, two obsolete trawlers, the Princess Elizabeth and the Oratava were scuttled to make up the present complement of wrecks. The wrecks, which rest upright on the seabed, are one of Cape Town's best known winter dive sites, but due to their depth (35-38 meters) are a challenging dive.