Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Miller's Point slipway

S34°13'58.58" E018°28'26.46" (Main gates)

S34°13'49.63" E018°28'25.12" (Slipway ramp)

About 7.7 km south of central Simon's Town, and 48 km from central Cape Town by road.

The position of the slipway and a short breakwater provide good protection from waves from most directions. Launching and recovery are possible in most weather conditions, but can be a little tricky in a strong north-wester. The water at the slipway is shallow at low tide, with a sand bottom at the slip but there are some submerged rocks near the end of the breakwater. Tricky at low tide for large boats.

The concrete jetty to the side of the slipway is suitable for loading, unloading and boarding the boats, and has a few small cleats where the boat can be tied off for a short period

Diving charters seldom operate from this slip if a strong South-easter is forecast, as diving conditions will usually be poor and the ride uncomfortable.

The Rumbly Bay slip has no breakwater, but is partly protected from southerly swells by a rocky reef and some huge boulders to the south. The slipway has dense kelp and shallow rocks on both sides, and some local knowledge is useful to avoid hitting them by accident. This slipway does not extend very deep, and larger boats can not use it at low tide. The end of the concrete ramp is damaged in places and there is a bit of a step, so occasionally trailers get stuck when taken in past the end of the ramp. There is no jetty for loading and unloading: either you are in the boat for launch and recovery, or you jump out and wade.

Open 7 days a week 24 hours a day (in theory). There is a boom at the gate to the trailer parking area, but it is probably not locked.

Parking for trailers is extensive, but occasionally filled. The trailer parking area is gravel and there are no marked bays. Trailers are normally parked attached to the tow vehicle. There is a loading zone at the side of the tarred road opposite the gate and steps leading to the lower parking area. This is where dive boats are usually loaded before launching, and unloaded after the dive.

The slipway is a concrete ramp 9m wide, 6° slope, in good condition with a tarred access road in good condition, and a turning area above the ramp.

There is a 12m long concrete jetty to the side of the slipway where boats can tie up to load and unload passengers and drop off the driver to fetch the trailer. Rubbish bins are provided at several places.

A separate parking area is provided for vehicles without boat trailers which has been adequate most of the time. It is paved (tarred) but there is loose dirt on the surface and it can be muddy in winter when most dive trips from this ramp are made.

There are public toilets at the turning bay at the top of the ramp, but they are behind a fence. You have to go around the end of the fence nearest the ramp.

No public telephone, and cellphone reception is poor. You may have to walk around until you find a spot where reception is workable. If all else fails, the lawn in front of the Boat Club usually has workable reception.

A launching fee of R70 (September 2010) is charged for boats.

A parking fee may or may not be charged for parking. It is a fairly small and arbitrary amount, and it is not predictable on which occasions the gate guard will charge the fee. If he or she does, pay it and get the receipt. The receipt may or may not have the correct amount marked on it. This is also not predictable.

Security of parked vehicles is unreliable. Your valuables should be locked in a place where they can not be seen. When there are divers in the parking area, it is unlikely that your vehicle will be molested by humans, but baboons may invade your vehicle if they smell food. They have learned to open car doors, so it is necessary to lock if there is food inside. Sometimes the dive clubs or charter boats will hire a security guard to look after the parked vehicles, but don't rely on this. The gate attendants do not appear to be required to provide security.

The slipway is not the place to learn to reverse with a trailer. On a busy day drivers who are unable to get their trailer into the water quickly may be heckled by boat owners waiting to use the slipway. Also try to make sure your motors will start, so you do not block the jetty facility unnecessarily.