Getting out on (or into!) the water provides a refreshing escape from routine, offering not only a reprieve from daily stress but also an opportunity for diverse recreation. Whether it’s stand-up paddle-boarding, swimming, kayaking, surfing or simply splashing around, these activities promote physical fitness and boost mental well-being. The dynamic nature of water-based activities adds an element of unpredictability, creating moments of joy, laughter, and shared memories, making them a delightful and entertaining pursuit for individuals and groups alike.
SUP Cape Town
Hop on board for an enjoyable paddling experience
SUP Cape Town offers comprehensive Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boarding experiences, including introductory lessons to get you started. Their exciting party packages at the canals and Clifton Beach offer a fun activity to make memories that will last a lifetime.
Thrill-seekers can secure board rentals and long-term rentals for holiday trips. Don’t miss out on their incredible open ocean tours during the summer months, offering a breathtaking journey along Cape Town’s serene coastline. Depending on the time of year it’s possible to spot dolphins, majestic sunfish, and have occasional visits from seals and otters.
Lessons are an hour long and include water safety, stability, balancing, and paddling strokes. Rentals vary in duration and include all the necessary equipment as well as a short lesson. No experience required.
Cost: From 280pp | Ocean SUP Guided Tour from R600| SUP Birthday Parties 2hrs from R4850
When: 8am to 6pm Summer months
Where: Battery Park (V&A Waterfront)
Waterfront Charters
Take a trip out to sea with pure luxury and elegance
For the most elegant water-based activities, Waterfront Charters offer a series of amazing boat cruises aboard multiple vessels and luxury yachts for a sightseeing trip around the Atlantic seaboard.
The Waterfront Charters Sunset Cruise is a captivating experience that allows guests to immerse themselves in the beauty of Cape Town’s coastline while enjoying a breathtaking sunset. This cruise is a perfect blend of relaxation, adventure, and natural beauty, making it an ideal choice for both locals and tourists alike.
Guests can also venture on the Enigma Private Charter, Serenity One Private Charter and the Sea Princess Private Charter – all which boast unique on-board attractions and vantage points spanning the Cape. Try out the fun boat private charters aboard the Southern Cross Private Charter, where you have a more intimate experience while taking in the sights and cruising along with family and friends.
The Clifton Cruise is a 3 hour party cruise. An unforgettable yachting experience with music pumping in the background, onboard entertainment and chilled drinks to seal the deal. The Coastal Cruise and Three Course Lunch at Sevruga is a unique cruise and dine package that includes a one-hour ocean cruise followed by delicious meal offerings.
Waterfront Charters has many kids activities lined up too – teaming up with Hamley’s toy store in the V&A Waterfront to offer a boat trip and a ride on the Toy Train. The combo includes a ride on the Hamleys Train, taking kids around the V&A Waterfront, followed up by a half-hour Harbour Cruise aboard the famed Southern Cross boat. You can also try out the The Seal Snorkeling trip which includes a speed boat ride to the Cape fur seal colony at Oudekraal, past Camps Bay. During this ride, guests might see whales, penguins, sunfish and seabirds.
Cost: Various
When: Depending on time slots available | please visit waterfrontcharters.co.za
Where: Shop 5, Quay 5, V & A Waterfront 8002 Cape Town
SEE MORE WATERFRONT CHARTERS EXPERIENCES HERE
Freediving Cape Town
Take up a new hobby
Learn to freedive with Cape Town Freedivers and experience the magical world below the waves of Cape Town’s oceans. Developed and refined right here in Cape Town, the freediving course is a chance to reconnect with nature and discover the ocean depths.
A simple snorkelling lesson is often a good place to start. Then the beginner course in freediving teaches the theory and techniques of the form, and also offers guided practice in exploring the beautiful kelp forests and marine fauna and flora with confidence and panache.
For those wanting to push themselves a little further sports courses are available in competitive freediving. Regardless of the skills level of their students, Cape Town Freedivers has both the equipment and the professional abilities to make something daunting into a skill that will bring you joy for life.
Cost: 2 Full Days: R3300 | 3 Full Days: R4400 | Half day experience R770
When: Mon to Fri: 9.30pm to 5pm | Sat to Sun: 9.30am to 4.30pm
Where: 20 Main Rd, Muizenberg, Cape Town
Surf Emporium
Learn to surf like a champion
Surf Emporium is internationally recognised as one of South Africa’s most popular surf destinations. With more than 18 years of experience, they offer an SSA accredited Surf School, high quality surf equipment rental hub, a Vida e Caffè and retail section offering leading surf brands, all under one roof.
When going to Surf Emporium for a private surf lesson or to rent gear, you’ll quickly come to know that Surf Emporium is a place of energy and enthusiasm. If you’re new to surfing, Surf Emporium’s experienced surf instructors will guide you through the basics and make sure that you begin your surfing journey on the right foot.
Cost: Various
When: Daily 7.30am – 5.30pm
Where: Surfers Corner, 70 Beach Rd, Muizenberg, Cape Town
Cape Kayak Adventures
Paddle-along fun and scenic water routes
Cape Kayak Adventures (“Guiding nature lovers to sea since 1995”) offers fun kayaking for all water sport enthusiasts.
They have the perfect location to reconnect with nature and enjoy the incredibly diverse beauty of Cape Town while paddling along the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area. This is an adventure that requires no previous experience, just an appetite for fun in the wild, slightly wet wilderness.
The guides are passionate about the ocean and love nothing more than to share what they have learnt and love about the sea. If you want to find the perfect balance of relaxation and exhilaration, book with them now.
Cost: From R550
When: 6.30am to 5pm | Bookings are essential
Where: Cape Kayak Adventures, 179 Beach Road, Mouille Point, Cape Town
Visit a Tidal Pool
Unwind in a fun and safe sea environment
Spend some quality time at one of Cape Town’s many tidal pools, where you can enjoy taking a dip in a safe swimming environment, in water that is not only calmer but often a little warmer than the surrounding ocean.
Camps Bay Tidal Pool – the large tidal pool at the southern end of Camps Bay – is one of the most popular tidal pools along the Atlantic Seaboard. and offers two beaches and stunning views of Lion’s Head to the north, and the Twelve Apostles side of Table Mountain to the east as well as Camps Bay’s famously beautiful sunsets.
You can also check out one of Cape Town’s most iconic tidal pools, St James, which is easily recognised by the coloured beach huts that sit against the edge of the waters. The backdrop offered by these multi-coloured changing rooms adds a bright splash of colour to the perfect seaside picture.
Other tidal pools include Maiden’s Cove Tidal Pools 1 & 2, Saunders Rock Tidal Pool, which is pool built into a rocky crevice next to Saunders Beach. The granite rocks create a wind barrier, giving it shelter on windy days. Dalebrook Tidal Pool is hidden between St James and Kalk Bay, while Glencairn Tidal Pool is particularly popular amongst swimmers, snorkelers and sunbathers, and holds a portion of the beach within its walls.
There’s a host to choose from to enjoy the Summertime with family, friends and best for the kids and their safety.
SEE MORE TIDAL POOLS HERE
Sea Point Pavilion
An Art Deco destination
Sea Point Pavilion on Beach Road offers swimming pool facilities where you can take a dip in any season. It makes for a great family outing that requires nothing but your swimming gear and good vibes to enjoy an alternative to the sea.
The popular Sea Point Swimming Pool complex consists of an Olympic-sized pool, springboard diving pool and two splash pools for children. A lawn area, great facilities, and a choice of vendors and kiosks, make it the perfect spot to spend a hot summer’s day with the family.
This is a perfect stop for adults and especially for the kids to swim in a safe space. It has many attractions around it in Sea Point, such as restaurants and ice cream parlours, there are also many activities nearby with many sightseeing routes too. Patrons can also tuck into delicious food offerings along the Sea Point area and settle down to eat after swimming.
Cost: R33 Adults | R19 Children and pensioners for free
When: Daily 7am to 6.45pm
Where: Lower Beach Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town
Simon’s Town Boat Company
A close encounter with nature’s marine life
Simon’s Town Boat Company invites you to share the most beautiful bay in the world. They operate two custom-designed vessels, skippered by highly qualified crew and all tours are accompanied by an expert commentary.
Hop on board for Whale & Dolphin watching in False Bay. A calm, sheltered haven for some of the most fascinating ocean giants on our planet: Southern Right whales, Humpback whales and Bryde’s whales. Whilst Bryde’s whales are all-year-round residents, it’s the migratory Southern Right and Humpback whales that are the stars of the whale watching tours.
Simon’s Town Boat Company is the only licensed whale watching company in Simon’s Town that is permitted to approach and interact with whales alongside the boat.
You can also try out the Seal Island ECO cruise and the Cape Point ECO cruise. The ‘real’ seal island is situated at the northern centre of False Bay, 8 nautical miles from Simon’s Town. It is home to a thriving population of around 75 000 Cape fur seals and a large variety of endangered sea birds, including a small population of penguins. The Cape Point ECO cruise offers an ocean-based adventure along the majestic and unspoiled Cape Peninsula coastline, very much the same today as it was when first discovered by the early mariners.
Cost & Times: Various | Please visit Bookings for more information
Where: Simons Town Boat Company, 2 Wharf St, Simon’s Town, Cape Town
Cape RADD
Snorkelling and scuba diving for science
Cape RADD (Research and Diver Development) facilitates SCUBA and freediving training courses for individuals who want to learn more about the marine environment, conservation and research through hands on field experience and diver development. The Eco Trips include snorkeling with seals, snorkel for science, scuba diving and a False Bay expedition activity, teaching participants more about the sea and the life that lie on the seabed.
Courses include training in multiple data collection and field operation techniques, and theoretical workshops and presentations from field biologists and dive experts.
Projects and activities include shark abundance, diversity and movement assessments, endemic fish and shark snorkel surveys, kelp forest sampling, shark tagging and tracking workshop and practical.
Cost: From R700pp
When: Various
Where: 117 St George’s St, Simon’s Town, Cape Town
Kaskazi Kayaks
Gear up for a Kayaking adventure
Kayak with Kaskazi Kayaks and Adventures offers an introductory kayaking course. The contents of the course cover paddling and manoeuvring techniques as well as safety protocols. No experience is required. Flotation devices provided by instructors.
Guests are encouraged to wear lightweight attire keeping the weather conditions in mind.Booking is essential and all trips are weather dependent.
Cost: From R500 – R1500
When: 7am to 5pm (booking required)
Where: Three Anchor Bay, Cape Town
Orca Industries
For the veteran sea traveller or beginner to take up the challenge
Orca Industries offers beginner courses, including all gear, to teach the basics and build confidence in those venturing out into the sea for the first time. For the more experienced, there are also a number of speciality courses including wreck diving, night diving and drift diving.
The range of PADI certified courses are recognised internationally so Orca Industries’ graduates can keep diving and exploring all along South Africa’s coast, and all over the world.
Its outdoor adventure shop also offers diving equipment and gear repair as well as apparatus for hiking, climbing and camping for all adventure needs.
Cost: Various
When: Mon to Fri: 8.30am to 5.30pm | Sat: 8.30am to 1pm
Where: 3 Bowwood Rd, Claremont, Cape Town
Atlantic Surf
Suitable for all ages to have fun on water
Atlantic Surf Club offers specific surf lessons for children, women, and groups. Each lesson is adapted to the learners surfing level and confidence in the ocean. Courses are divided into beginner and intermediate.
Stand-up paddleboard (SUP) lessons focus on understanding the basics of standing and handling a SUP board. Lessons cover balance, paddling, and controlling the SUP. For those with more experience, attention is shifted to a focus on the more technical and niche aspects that are to be taken into account when going out to SUP.
Cost: Surf R350pp | SUP R450pp
When: Times vary according to bookings
Where: Cnr Marine Circle and Coral Rd, Table View, Cape Town
High Five Kite Surfing
A high flying activity to grab some airtime
High Five Kitesurf School is the only IKO Certified Kitesurfing School in Cape Town. They offer kitesurfing lessons right in front of the school in Blouberg and in the Langebaan Lagoon when necessary. Book your kitesurfing lesson with them and get ready to immerse yourself in Mother Nature’s ultimate playground.
Guests can have fun and book a private kitesurfing lesson, group lesson and there is also an advanced kitesurfing lesson with all gear supplied.
Whether you are a complete beginner or are looking to improve your riding, High Five Kitesurf School will help you every step of the way. With their IKO Certified Kitesurf Instructors running daily lessons in Blouberg, they will have you up and riding safely in no time.
Cost: From R200 for rental | Private lesson R1000 | Various Group costs
When: 8am to Sunset
Where: 68 Beach Boulevard, Blouberg, Cape Town
Into the Blue
A fun and intimate scuba diving experience for all skill levels
A scuba diving centre which offers a range of courses from beginner to advanced, Into The Blue offers an experience with marine life in Cape Town, no matter the level of experience or appetite for adventure.
Into the Blue leads explorations of reefs and wrecks, interactions with seals and even takes people to dive with great white sharks. If diving doesn’t appeal, or you don’t have your diving certificate yet, the wonders and wildlife of the ocean can still be enjoyed by snorkel.
Whether you’re a beginner, need a refresher, or are looking to advance your diving skills, Into The Blue have a PADI certified open water or pool option to suit your needs.
Cost: Various packages
When: 9am to 5pm
Where: 88 Main Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town
