Cape Vidal’s bay is sheltered by a rock reef that shelves off gently, which makes it one of the friendliest places on this coast to put your face in the water. These are the southernmost coral reefs in Africa, kept alive by the warm Agulhas Current, and on a clear day the bay turns into a slow-moving aquarium of angelfish, parrotfish and the occasional turtle.

Timing is everything, and it is a safety point as much as a good-viewing one. Snorkel only in the hour before and the hour after low tide, when the currents are gentle and the water is clearest. Outside that window the rip can be strong, so always check a tide chart before you go in.