When austral summer gives way to autumn, scalloped hammerheads stack along Protea Banks Southern Pinnacles in KwaZulu-Natal, joining tiger sharks and ragged-tooth sharks on deep drift profiles launched from Shelly Beach. This is a different season from the bank's winter bull shark peak, rewarding divers who time the calendar carefully. October through December brings the heaviest hammerhead counts before numbers taper in the new year.
When austral summer gives way to autumn, scalloped hammerheads stack along Protea Banks Southern Pinnacles in KwaZulu-Natal, joining tiger sharks and ragged-tooth sharks on deep drift profiles launched from Shelly Beach. This is a different season from the bank's winter bull shark peak, rewarding divers who time the calendar carefully. October through December brings the heaviest hammerhead counts before numbers taper in the new year.
Up to 92% sighting chance in Protea Banks (South Africa). Best months: November, October, December.
Scalloped hammerheads peak on Southern Pinnacles from September through December, separate from the summer bull shark season on the same reef.
Most profiles run 25 to 40 metres as drifts along Southern Pinnacles. Advanced certification and nitrox are strongly recommended.
Southern Pinnacles is the classic hammerhead site launched from Shelly Beach. Northern Pinnacles targets ragged-tooth sharks in winter.
Two-tank boat dives from Shelly Beach typically run 2,800 to 3,800 ZAR per day (2026 prices), excluding equipment rental.
Tiger sharks and bull sharks frequently share Southern Pinnacles drifts during the autumn hammerhead window.
