View source for False Bay

{{Short description|Bay of the Atlantic Ocean at South Africa}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use South African English|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name=False Bay
| native_name={{native name|af|Valsbaai}}
| image=Astronaut photo of Cape Town STS081-738-23.jpg
| caption=Astronaut photo of Cape Town with False Bay
| pushpin_map=South Africa Western Cape#South Africa
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in South Africa
| coords= {{coord|34|13|47|S|18|38|43|E|type:waterbody_scale:2000000|display=inline,title}}
| rivers=[[Buffels River, Cape Peninsula]], [[Buffels River, Pringle Bay]], [[Eerste River]], [[Elsjes River]], [[Lourens River]], [[Rooiels River]], [[Sandvlei estuary]], [[Silvermine River, Western Cape|Silvermaine River]], [[Steenbras River]]
| oceans=[[Southern Atlantic Ocean]]
| countries = [[South Africa]]
| length = {{cvt|30|km}}
| width = {{cvt|30|km}}
| area={{cvt|1090|sqkm}}
| volume = {{cvt|45|km3}}
| shore= {{cvt|116|km}}
| max-depth= {{cvt|90|m}}
| islands=[[Seal Island, South Africa|Seal island]]
| cities=[[City of Cape Town]]
}}

'''False Bay''' ([[Afrikaans]]: ''Valsbaai'') is a body of water in the Atlantic Ocean between the mountainous [[Cape Peninsula]] and the [[Hottentots Holland Mountains]] in the extreme south-west of [[South Africa]]. The mouth of the bay faces south and is demarcated by [[Cape Point]] to the west and [[Cape Hangklip]] to the east. The north side of the bay is the low-lying [[Cape Flats]], and the east side is the foot of the Hottentots Holland Mountains to Cape Hangklip which is at nearly the same latitude as Cape Point. In plan the bay is approximately square, being roughly the same extent from north to south as east to west, with the southern side open to the ocean. The seabed generally slopes gradually down from north to south, and is mostly fairly flat unconsolidated sediments. Much of the bay is off the coast of the [[City of Cape Town]], and it includes part of the [[Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area]] and the whole of the [[Helderberg Marine Protected Area]]. The name "False Bay" was applied at least three hundred years ago by sailors returning from the east who confused Cape Point and Cape Hangklip, which are somewhat similar in profile when approached from the southeast.<ref name="Schirmer 1980" />

<!-- ecoregion -->
False Bay is at the extreme western end of the inshore [[Marine ecoregions of the South African exclusive economic zone#South coast|Agulhas marine ecoregion]] which extends from Cape Point to the [[Mbashe river]] over the continental shelf, in the overlap zone between Cape Agulhas and Cape Point where the warm Agulhas Current and the cooler South Atlantic waters mix. The continental shelf is at its widest in this ecoregion, extending up to {{Convert|240|km|abbr=on}} offshore on the Agulhas Bank, but is considerably narrower off False Bay. This ecoregion has the highest number of South African marine endemics, and is a breeding area for many species. The transition between the Agulhas ecoregion and the cooler Benguela ecoregion is at Cape Point, on the western boundary of False Bay.

False Bay also contains [[Simon's Town Naval Base|South Africa's largest naval base]] at [[Simon's Town]] (historically a base for the [[Royal Navy]]),<ref name="Goosen" /> and small fishing harbours at [[Kalk Bay]] and [[Gordon's Bay]].<ref name="Echo 2023" />

== Description and location ==
[[File:Cape of Good Hope Iss059e078303 lrg.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|View of City of Cape Town showing the Cape Peninsula and Cape Flats from the International Space Station]]
[[File:Satellite image of Cape peninsula.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The Cape Peninsula seen from the West, False Bay (right) and Table Bay, with [[Robben Island]] (left). Compilation produced by NASA from [[Landsat]] and [[Shuttle Radar Topography Mission|SRTM]] data. Vertical scale exaggerated.]]
[[File:FalseBayCoast-aerial.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Aerial view of the eastern False Bay coast, looking somewhat south of east: Gordon's Bay (left) to Cape Hangklip (right)]]
The western side is bordered by the [[Cape Peninsula]], and this stretch of coastline includes the smaller [[Buffels Bay, Cape Peninsula|Buffels Bay]], [[Smitswinkel Bay]], [[Simon's Bay]] and [[Fish Hoek Bay]]. At [[Muizenberg]] the coastline becomes relatively low and sandy and curves east across the southern boundary of the [[Cape Flats]] to [[Gordon's Bay]] to form the northern boundary of False Bay. From Gordon's Bay the coastline swings roughly south, and zig-zags its way along the foot of the [[Hottentots Holland Mountains]] to Cape Hangklip which is at nearly the same latitude as Cape Point. The highest peak on this side is [[Kogelberg]] at {{Convert|1269|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name="SAN 1016" />

In plan the bay is approximately square with rather wobbly edges, being roughly the same extent from north to south as east to west (30&nbsp;km), with the entire southern side open to the ocean. The area of False Bay has been measured at about {{Convert|1090|km2|abbr=on}}, and the volume is approximately {{Convert|45|km3|abbr=on}} (average depth about 40&nbsp;m). The land perimeter has been measured at 116&nbsp;km, from a 1:50,000 scale map.<ref name="sheet 3318" /><ref name="SAN 1016" />

The eastern and western shores of the bay are very rocky and even mountainous; in places large cliffs plunge into the water. Notable peaks associated with the bay include Koeëlberg ({{cvt|1289|m}}), which rises from the water itself forming the highest point of the Kogelberg, as well as Somerset Sneeukop (1590m / 5217 feet) and Wemmershoek Peak ({{cvt|1788|m}}) which are clearly visible across the bay. Some of the highest peaks visible across False Bay include [[Du Toits Peak]] near [[Paarl]] ({{cvt|1995|m}}), [[Klein Winterhoek Peak]] near [[Tulbagh]] ({{cvt|1995|m}}), [[Mostertshoek Peak]] at the Western extreme of the [[Michell's Pass]] ({{cvt|2008|m}}) and [[Groot Winterhoek Peak]] North of Tulbagh ({{cvt|2077|m}}). The northern shore, is defined by a very long, curving, sandy beach. This sandy, northern perimeter of the bay is the southern edge of the area known as the Cape Flats. The bay is 30&nbsp;km wide at its widest point.<ref name="GE">[[GoogleEarth]]</ref>

Suburbs of Cape Town stretch right across the Cape Flats from Simon's Town halfway down the Cape Peninsula to the north-eastern corner at Gordon's Bay. There are also two small towns of the [[Overberg]] region on the east coast of the bay, [[Rooiels, South Africa|Rooiels]] and [[Pringle Bay]].<ref name="Raper" />

=== Coastal landmarks ===
Coastal landmarks visible from offshore in False Bay, listed clockwise from Cape Point to Cape Hangklip:<ref name="SAN 1016" />
{{div col}}
*[[Cape Point]], {{coord|34|21|26|S|18|29|51|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the south-westernmost point of the bay, marked by the current lighthouse and the original lighthouse,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Vasco da Gama Peak (266m), {{coord|34|20|41.07|S|18|28|29.32|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the highest point nearest the mouth of the bay on the Cape Peninsula,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Rooikrans, {{coord|34|20.456||S|18|28.407||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, A cliff area with a small sea cave,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Matrooskop (109m), {{coord|34|19.576||S|18|27.834||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small local peak inshore of Buffels Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Buffels Bay, Cape Peninsula|Buffels Bay]], {{coord|34|19.123||S|18|27.650||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small bay on the west side of False Bay, with a small craft slipway,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Bordjiesrif, {{coord|34|18.876||S|18|27.782||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small, low sandstone promontory on the north side of Buffels Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Paulsberg (369m), {{coord|34|17.635||S|18|27.808||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Judas Peak (319m), {{coord|34|16.7||S|18|28.3||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}},<ref name="SAN 1016" /> the peak above the cliffs to the immediate south of Smitswinkel Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Batsata Rock, {{coord|34|16.603||S|18|28.836||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, an exposed inshore granite rock below Judas Peak near the northern boundary of the Paulsberg restricted zone, and the southern limit of Smitswinkel Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Smitswinkel Bay]], {{coord|34|16.007||S|18|28.261||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small bay on the west side of False Bay, with a few coastal houses,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Baboon Rock, {{coord|34|15.466||S|18|28.339||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a landmark indicating the southern extent of the Castle Rock restricted area,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Partridge Point, {{coord|34|15.343||S|18|28.606||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a granite corestone promontory with several large exposed inshore rocks extending about a hundred metres into the bay on the north side of Smitswinkel Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" /> 
*Finlay's Point, {{coord|34|14|56.9|S|18|28|36.5|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a smaller granite corestone promontory north of Partridge Point,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Castle Rocks]], {{coord|34|14.362||S|18|28.661||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a larger granite corestone promontory, comprising a massive and fairly high outcrop at the end of a small, low isthmus, with several large inshore exposed rocks south of Miller's Point,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Bakoven Rock, {{coord|34|14.040||S|18|29.012||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, an exposed inshore granite rock between Castle Rocks and Miller's Point, near the northern extent of the Castle Rocks restricted area,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Rumbly Bay, {{coord|34|14.020||S|18|28.489||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small cove with a small craft slipway on the south side of Miller's Point,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Miller's Point, Western Cape|Miller's Point]], {{coord|34|13.932||S|18|28.587||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a fairly large but low granite corestone promontory, with a small craft slipway on the northwest side, and several exposed and drying rocks extending to seaward,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Spaniard Rock, {{coord|34|13.030||S|18|28.017||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, an inshore exposed granite rock off Rocklands Point,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Rocklands Point, {{coord|34|12.964||S|18|27.921||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a minor granite promontory north of Miller's Point,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Swartkop (679m), {{coord|34|12.943||S|18|27.025||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the highest point on the Southern Peninsula,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Simonsberg (548m), {{coord|34|12.299||S|18|26.304||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the peak above Simon's Town,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Oatlands Point, {{coord|34|12.067||S|18|27.395||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a minor granite promontory with a large inshore exposed rock and a shoreline navigation beacon,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Fishermans Beach, <!--{{coord|34|||S|18|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}-->, a short, sandy beach north of Oatlands Point,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Froggy Pond, {{coord|34|12.219||S|18|27.418||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small cove with a small sandy beach north of Fishermans Beach separated by a low rocky promontory,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Windmill Beach, {{coord|34|12.067||S|18|27.395||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small sandy beach partly enclosed by massive granite boulders, with two small coves,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Noah's Ark rock, {{coord|34|11.533||S|18|27.231||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a conspicuous inshore exposed rock at the mouth of Simon's Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Simon's Bay]], {{coord|34|11.073||S|18|25.945||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the largest bay on the west side of False Bay, very well protected from the prevailing south westerly swell, but fairly exposed to wind and waves from the south-east,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Boulders Beach, Seaforth, {{coord|34|11.833||S|18|27.082||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a sandy beach between large scattered granite boulders,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Simon's Town Naval Base]] harbour, {{coord|34|11.317||S|18|26.283||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a man-made harbour with breakwater and sea-walls enclosing the naval dockyard,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[False Bay Yacht Club]] moorings, {{coord|34|11.427||S|18|26.015||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a floating marina protected from the south-easterly wind and waves by the naval harbour, with somewhat less protected open moorings further into the bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Long Beach, {{coord|34|11.236||S|18|25.579||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a sandy beach on the west side of Simon's Bay, usually in the lee of the harbour for south easterly winds,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Roman Rock, {{coord|34|10.877||S|18|27.606||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, an exposed rock in Simon's Bay with a lighthouse on it,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Mackerel Bay, {{coord|34|10.302||S|18|25.761||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small sandy beach north of Simon's Town,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Glencairn, Cape Town|Glencairn]], {{coord|34|9|48|S|18|25|47|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small residential suburb in a valley north of Simon's Town, with a beach in Elsebaai,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Elsebaai, {{coord|34|09.593||S|18|25.921||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small bay in the north part of Simon's Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Glencairn quarry, {{coord|34.15366|||S|18.43629|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}},<ref name="Google Earth" /> a conspicuous excavation in the side of Else Peak,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Else Peak (303m), {{coord|34|09.000||S|18|26.113||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small peak between Simon's Town and Fish Hoek,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Fish Hoek]] bay, {{coord|34.13745|||S|18.43374|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the northernmost minor bay of the west side of False Bay with a sandy beach open to the sea,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Sunny Cove, {{coord|34|08.661||S|18|26.239||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the rocky sandstone coastline on the south side of Fish Hoek bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Fish Hoek beach, {{coord|34|08.160||S|18|26.148||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a sandy beach on the east side of the Fish Hoek–Noordhoek gap, a low-lying break in the mountain range of the peninsula between False Bay and the Atlantic coast.<ref name="SAN 1016" />
* Trappieskop, {{coord|34|07.668||S|18|26.414||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the hill above Kalk Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Kalk Bay]] harbour, {{coord|34|07.698||S|18|26.986||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small commercial fishing harbour in Kalk bay, completely enclosing the tiny sandy beach,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[St James, Cape Town|St James]], {{coord|34|7|8|S|18|27|33|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the suburb to the north of Kalk Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Kalkbaaiberg (517m), {{coord|34|06.737||S|18|26.382||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the peak above Kalk Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Muizenberg (509m), {{coord|34|06.006||S|18|27.556||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the peak to the west of Muizenberg suburb, and the northernmost peak directly overlooking the west side of False Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Muizenberg]] beach (Sunrise Beach), {{coord|34.10120|||S|18.48948|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}-->, a long sandy beach along the low-lying northwestern coast of False Bay,
*Kapteinsklip, {{coord|34|04.726||S|18|37.249||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a low rocky promontory between Muizenberg and Strandfontein beaches,
*[[Strandfontein, Cape Town|Strandfontein]], {{coord|34|05.326||S|18|33.204||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, 
*[[Wolfgat Nature Reserve]], {{coord|34.0697|||S|18.6482|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small coastal nature reserve on the north coast of the bay,
*[[Swartklip, Western Cape|Swartklip]], {{coord|34|04.477||S|18|41.118||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}},<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Monwabisi]], {{coord|34.072853|||S|18.686209|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}},<ref name="Google Earth" /> a resort area on the north coast of the bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Macassar, Western Cape|Macassar]] Beach, {{coord|34.07643|||S|18.75224|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}},<ref name="Google Earth" /> a long stretch of sand beach on the north coast of the bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Eerste River]] mouth, {{coord|34|04.873||S|18|45.887||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the mouth of the largest river crossing the Cape Flats,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Helderberg Marine Protected Area]], {{coord|34|05||S|18|47||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small coastal marine protected area between the mouths of the Eerste and Lourens rivers,
*[[Lourens River]] mouth, {{coord|34|06.005||S|18|48.706||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the mouth of the river flowing through Somerset West and Strand,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Strand, Western Cape|Strand]] Beach, {{coord|34.10554|||S|18.81776|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}},<ref name="Google Earth" /> a sandy shoreline along the coast of the suburb, becoming rocky to the east,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Harbour Island, Western Cape|Harbour Island]] marina, {{coord|34| 09.097||S|18|51.356||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small craft harbour development on the north-eastern coast of the bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Gordon's Bay]] beach, {{coord|34|09.499||S|18|52.070||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small sandy beach in the north-eastern corner of the bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
* Gordon's Bay Harbour, {{coord|34|09.801||S|18|51.504||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small fishing harbour and marina,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Steenbras River]] mouth, {{coord|34|11.671||S|18|49.194||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, mouth of a river with catchment to the east of the Hottentots Holland range,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Boskloof Peak (648m), {{coord|34|12|15.12|S|18|50|20.04|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, mountain peak south of the Steenbras River mouth,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Boskloof Point, {{coord|34|13.028||S|18|49.777||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, promontory south of the Steenbras River mouth,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Kogelbaai, {{coord|34.23397|||S|18.84900|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}},<ref name="Google Earth" /> a fairly long sandy beach on the east coast of the bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Kogelberg, {{coord|34|13.880||S|18|53.253||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a mountain peak above Kogelbaai,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Rooielsberg (638m), {{coord|34|16.960||S|18|50.112||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a peak above the point to the north of Rooi-Els,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Rooi-Els River]] mouth, {{coord|34|17.848||S|18|49.20||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the mouth of the Rooi-Els river at a small sandy beach in Rooi-Els bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*The Point (Rooi-Els), {{coord|34|17|51|S|18|48|50|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, 
*Klein Hangklip (309m), {{coord|34|18|26|S|18|49|19|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small peak overlooking Rooi-Els,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Rooi-Els, Western Cape|Rooi-Els]], {{coord|34|18|05|S|18|48|59|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a small coastal residential area in the [[Overberg]] district,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Pringle Bay]], {{coord|34|20|31|S|18|49|16|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, A small, shallow bay on the south-east side of False Bay, which has a small sandy beach on the east and a rocky coastline to the south, with a small residential town along the shore,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Buffels River mouth, {{coord|34|20|20|S|18|40|47|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, the mouth of a small river, draining into Pringle Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Die Punt (Pringle Bay), {{coord|34|20|55|S|18|48|38|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, The point to the south of Pringle Bay,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*Pringle Peak (159m), {{coord|34|21|4.17|S|18|49|18.37|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, Peak at Pringle Bay,
*Hangklip (455m), {{coord|34|21.919||S|18|49.700||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, peak at the south eastern extreme of False Bay, with near vertical profile on the south side,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
*[[Cape Hangklip]], {{coord|34|21|13|S|18|49|39|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, a low promontory extending southwards below Hangklip Peak,<ref name="SAN 1016" />
{{div col end}}

=== Bottom morphology ===
[[File:Whittle rock and surrounds 181022.jpg|thumb|Multibeam sonar map of the Whittle Rock area]]
The bottom morphology of False Bay is generally smooth and fairly shallow, sloping gently downwards at about 3&nbsp;m per km from north to south, so that the depth at the centre of the mouth is about 80&nbsp;m. The bottom is covered with sediment which ranges from very coarse to very fine, with most of the fine sediment and mud in the centre of the bay. The main exception is a long ridge of sedimentary rock that extends in a southward direction from off the Strand, to approximately level with the mouth of the Steenbras River. The southern tip of this ridge is known as Steenbras Deep.<ref name="sheet 3318" /><ref name="SAN 1016" />

There is one true [[island]] in the bay, Seal Island, a barren and stony outcrop of granite about 200&nbsp;m long and with an area of about 2&nbsp;ha. It is about 6&nbsp;km south of Strandfontein and is less than 10&nbsp;m above sea level at its highest point. There are also a number of small rocky islets which extend above the high water mark, and other rocks and shoals which approach the surface. The largest of these, and the most significant navigational hazard in the bay, is [[Whittle Rock]], a large outcrop of granite about halfway into the bay and a quarter of the way across from the Cape Peninsula ({{coord|34|14.846||S|18|33.714||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}), which is about a kilometre in diameter and rises from a fairly flat sand bottom at about 40&nbsp;m to within 4&nbsp;m of the surface. There are smaller outlying granite reefs scattered to the south, east, and west of Whittle Rock, and more smaller granite reefs to the northwest. Most of these reefs on the western side of the bay are granite of the Peninsula pluton, but east of Seal Island they are generally sandstone, either of the Table Mountain series, or of the underlying Tygerberg formation.<ref name="sheet 3318" /><ref name="Compton 2004" /><ref name="SAN 1016" /> Whittle Rock reef can refract large south easterly storm waves, increasing their size in the vicinity of Kalk Bay harbour.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

Other shoal areas include the granite reefs at Roman Rock in Simon's Bay, hard sedimentary or metamorphic rock at York shoal and hard sandstone at East shoal, and several isolated granite outcrops which are too deep to be navigational hazards in the western part of the bay.<ref name="SAN 1016" /> The palaeo-drainage of the bay is split between the western side of the bay and the eastern side by the relatively durable contact zone between the Peninsula granite and the Tygerberg sediments, with deep valleys cut into the bedrock during the glacial maximum, which have since been filled with sediments. The drainage of the west side passed to the west of Seal Island, Whittle Rock and Rocky Bank. The east side was drained by a valley between Seal Island and East Shoal, and another valley to the east of Steenbras Ridge, which joined east of Rocky bank and exit the bay between Rocky bank and Hangklip Ridge.<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 1" />{{rp|Ch2}}

Outside the bay, but influencing the wave patterns in it, is {{visible anchor |Rocky Bank}}, an extensive area of relatively flat sandstone reef between 20 and 30&nbsp;m depth on the top, sloping down on all sides, but mostly to the south and east, where the depth can exceed 100&nbsp;m.<ref name="sheet 3318" /><ref name="SAN 1016" /> A long underwater sandstone ridge sweeps across the eastern side of the mouth from Cape Hangklip towards the southwest, that is believed to affect water circulation in the bay. On the west side, a relatively shallow area of granite reef extends beyond the Cape Peninsula, with one major navigational hazard at Bellows Rock and a lesser one somewhat closer inshore at Anvil Rock.<ref name="SAN 1016" /><ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

===Bathymetry===
{{see also|Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area#Bathymetry}}
[[File:False Bay Bathymetry from Council for Geoscience.png|thumb|upright=1.5|False Bay Bathymetry from SA [[Council for Geoscience]]]]
[[File:Dive sites of the Whittle Rock area Hi-Res for mobile.png|thumb|Bathymetry of the Whittle Rock reef]]
The bathymetry of False Bay differs in character from the west side of the Cape Peninsula. The west coast seabed tends to slope down more steeply than in False Bay, and although the close inshore waters are also shallow, the 100&nbsp;m contour is mostly within about 10&nbsp;km of the west coast, while the entire False Bay is shallower than about 90&nbsp;m.<ref name="GARMAP" /> The bottom of the bay slopes down relatively gradually from the gently sloping beaches of the north shore to the mouth, and has a fairly even depth from east to west except close to the shorelines, with three major features disrupting this gentle slope. These are [[Seal Island, South Africa|Seal Island]], [[Whittle Rock]], and the Steenbras ridge. Just outside the bay, there is a large shoal area at [[Rocky Bank]], and a large ridge extending south-west from Cape Hangklip, which channels cold, nutrient-rich water into the west side of the bay during upwelling events.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

===Geology===
{{main|Geology of Cape Town}}
The three main rock formations are the late-[[Precambrian]] [[Malmesbury Group]] (sedimentary and metamorphic rock), the [[Cape Granite suite|Peninsula granite]], a huge batholith that was intruded into the Malmesbury Group about 630&nbsp;million years ago, and the [[Cape Fold Belt#Table Mountain group|Table Mountain group]] sandstones that were deposited on the eroded [[peneplain]] surface of the granite and Malmesbury series basement about 450&nbsp;million years ago. The sand, silt and mud deposits were lithified by pressure and then folded during the Permian–Triassic [[Cape Orogeny]] to form the [[Cape Fold Belt]], which extends along the western and southern coasts of the Western Cape. The present landscape is due to prolonged erosion having carved out deep valleys, removing parts of the once continuous Table Mountain group sandstone cover from the Cape Flats and leaving high residual mountain ridges.<ref name="Compton 2004" />

[[File:Quaternary Coastlines A5.gif|thumb|450px|The Cape Peninsula shoreline in the case of (left) a 25m higher sea level that occurred around 5 and 1.5 million years ago, and (right) a 125m lower sea level at the time of maximum ice build-up during cold periods – the most recent being 20 000 years ago (after John S. Compton 2004)]]
At times the sea covered the Cape Flats and Noordhoek valley and the Cape Peninsula was then a group of islands, and False Bay and the Cape Flats a strait. During glacial periods the sea level dropped to expose the bottom of False Bay to weathering and erosion, the last major regression leaving the entire bottom of False Bay exposed. During this period an extensive system of dunes was formed on the sandy floor of False Bay. At this time the drainage outlets lay between Rocky Bank and Cape Point to the west, and between Rocky Bank and Hangklip Ridge to the east.<ref name="Compton 2004" /><ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 1" />{{rp|Ch2}}

===Waves, tides, water circulation and temperature===
<!-- Waves -->
[[Swell (ocean)|Swell]] entering the bay is predominantly the product of the westerly winds blowing over the Southern Ocean. The prevailing swell is about 12 to 25 second period from the southwest with average height of about 3&nbsp;m. It impinges directly on the east coast of the bay, amplified by refraction over [[Rocky Bank]] in the region near the [[Steenbras River]] mouth, where [[rogue wave]]s may occur. Further west the swell refracts and diffuses around a fairly large shoal area around Cape Point, and is moderately to severely attenuated by the time it reaches the western shores.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

Waves along the north coast of the bay between [[Macassar, Western Cape|Macassar]] and [[Muizenberg]] generally break by [[Spilling breaker|spilling]] as the slope is gradual. In summer, strong south-easterly winds blow over a fetch partly limited by the width of the bay and generate short period [[wind wave]]s of around 6 seconds and 2&nbsp;m height, and produce multiple lines of breakers along the north shore. Where the slopes are steeper rip currents may occur which are a hazard to swimmers.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

Northward propagating long period waves are focused in the northeast and northwest parts of False Bay by [[Wave shoaling|refraction effects]] over the shoal waters of Rocky Bank in the mouth of the bay, with measured heights of waves in the area between Steenbras mouth and Kogelbaai being up to twice the height of the waves in the Muizenberg to Strandfontein region for the prevailing southwesterly open ocean swell.<ref name="Shipley 1964" /> The focusing effect is mostly on swells with a period of 13 seconds or more, and a direction between 210° and 245° true.<ref name="Salonen and Rautenbach 2021" /> The smaller and shallower reef at Whittle Rock towards the west side of the bay has a similar but lesser effect, and can focus longer period south-easterly waves on Kalk Bay. This is unusual and associated with a [[Cut-off low|cut-off low pressure system]] causing the south-easterly winds to blow for an unusually long time over enough [[Wind fetch|fetch]] to develop a sea sufficiently for it to be refracted by the shoal area.<ref name="Brundrit 2009" />{{rp|App3}} Wave height of southwesterly swells decreases from west to east along the north coast of False Bay from around Macassar to Gordon's Bay due to the effects of refraction and friction of the wave base on larger areas of offshore reef before reaching the shoreline.<ref name="Brundrit 2009" />{{rp|16}}

<!-- Tides -->
[[Tide]]s are regular, [[semi-diurnal]], and relatively weak, and there are no strong tidal currents. Maximum tidal range at Simon's Town is 2.0&nbsp;m at highest astronomical tide, with minimum range of about 0.56&nbsp;m at mean neap tides.<ref name="SAN HO-2 2019" /> When large waves break at Macassar on a high tide the beach is known to be dangerous for swimming and [[coastal erosion|beach erosion]] is increased.<ref name="Brundrit 2009" />{{rp|16}}

<!-- Circulation -->
The circulation patterns of False Bay are variable over time, with seasonal and longer term cycles. There are cold-water upwelling events associated with south-easterly winds in summer, and periodic intrusions of warm water eddies from the Agulhas Current of the south coast, both of which contribute to the biodiversity.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

Four main surface circulation patterns have been observed in False Bay.<!-- <ref name="de Vos et al 2021" /> --> Wind is the dominant forcing influence on surface circulation, with tidal and inertial currents of secondary importance, mainly when the winds are weak.<ref name="de Vos et al 2021" /> Gordon's Bay is in the wind shadow of the Hottentots-Holland Mountains for south easterly winds, and this causes a semi-permanent anticyclonic eddy and associated anticlockwise gyre, in the opposite direction to the usual cyclonic circulation of the main part of the bay.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

A clockwise rotation driven by the south-easterly winds mostly occurs during summer. This circulation is partly set up by west-north-westerly flow south of the bay splitting at Cape Point. The northerly component sets up flow towards the equator on the western shores. South-easterly winds cause this clockwise pattern to dominate. North-westerly winds cause an anti-clockwise circulation, with an eastward current flowing south of the Bay and entering at Cape Hangklip.<ref name="de Vos et al 2021" /> When there is no strong wind forcing, tidal forcing can occur on the incoming and outgoing tides. A fairly uniform northward flow occurs during flooding tides, and southward during ebbing tides, with bathymetry affecting the flow direction in shallow areas. These currents are most noticeable along the coastline and in the shallow northern parts of the bay between Simon's Town and Gordon's Bay.<ref name="de Vos et al 2021" />

In the deeper areas of the mouth of the bay, tidal and inertial currents appear to contribute to the variability of the deeper part of the water column, along with the effects of wind forcing.<!-- <ref name="de Vos et al 2021" /> --> Wave energy focused by the various shoal areas outside and inside the bay is a driver of nearshore currents, particularly in the northern parts of the bay.<ref name="de Vos et al 2021" />

<!-- Water temperature -->
[[File:Sea surface temperatures False Bay.png|thumb|upright=2.2|Charts of sea surface temperature in and near False Bay in summer and winter]]
In summer False Bay is thermally stratified, with a vertical temperature variation of 5 to 9˚C between the warmer surface water and cooler depths below 50&nbsp;m, while in winter the water column is at nearly constant temperature at all depths. The development of a thermocline is strongest around late December and peaks in late summer to early autumn.<ref name="Coleman 2019" />{{rp|8}} In summer the south easterly winds generate a zone of upwelling near Cape Hangklip, where surface water temperatures can be 6 to 7&nbsp;°C colder than the surrounding areas, and bottom temperatures below 12&nbsp;°C.<ref name="Coleman 2019" />{{rp|10}}

In the summer to early autumn (January–March), cold water upwelling near Cape Hangklip causes a strong surface temperature gradient between the south-western and north-eastern corners of the bay. In winter the surface temperature tends to be much the same everywhere. In the northern sector surface temperature varies a bit more (13 to 22&nbsp;°C) than in the south (14 to 20&nbsp;°C) during the year.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

Surface temperature variation from year to year is linked to the [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation]]. During El Niño years the South Atlantic high is shifted, reducing the south-easterly winds, so upwelling and evaporative cooling are reduced and [[sea surface temperature]]s throughout the bay are warmer, while in La Niña years there is more wind and upwelling and consequently lower temperatures. Surface water heating during El Niño increases vertical stratification. The relationship is not linear.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

<!-- Water density and salinity -->
Water density dynamics are mostly temperature dependent, with only weak influences from salinity. The major influence on temperature distribution is wind driven upwelling and advection of cold water, which is most notable north-west of Hangklip, and less marked near Gordon's Bay, due to strong south-easterly winds, with insolation as a secondary effect, mostly in the shallow waters of the northern and north-easterly regions. Waves may have more influence on nearshore temperature than wind. Upwelling outside the bay along the coast east of Hangklip can also supply cold water to the bay<ref name="de Vos et al 2021" />

===Rivers and drainage===
{{See also|Cape Peninsula#Drainage|Cape Flats#Drainage|Helderberg#Drainage}}
Drainage into False Bay can be considered from four watersheds: The east-flowing streams of the southern Cape Peninsula, the Cape Flats, the Helderberg basin, and the south-westwards drainage of the Hottentots-Holland mountains of the Overberg, extending south as far as Cape Hangklip.<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 1" /><ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 2" />

The eastward draining rivers of the Southern Peninsula are generally fairly short and steep, and some, such as the Silvermine and Elsje rivers, have valley bottom wetlands at the coast.<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 2" />{{rp|Ch15}} The Buffels River flows from a small spring to its mouth in Buffels Bay, the Klawersvlei River<ref name="King 1983" /> flows northwest from behind the mountains above Miller's Point over the plateau behind Simon's Town, before turning east over the escarpment and a high waterfall, entering the bay near the Simon's Town railway station, the Elsjes River<ref name="King 1983" /> flows from the Red Hill plateau to enter False Bay from the Glencairn valley, and the Silvermine River,<ref name="King 1983" /> originally known as the Esselstein Rivier, drains the valley south of the Steenberg mountains and flows east across the Steenberg Plateau, then south through the Silvermine Valley before crossing the coastal Fish Hoek plain to enter False Bay at Clovelly on the north side of Fish Hoek Bay. Between these short and fairly steep streams, rainwater runoff generally flows directly down the mountainside into the bay.<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 2" />

The Sandvlei catchment drains the east side of the mountains north of Muizenberg and south of the Liesbeek catcment into False Bay:<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 2" />{{rp|Ch13}} Sandvlei (Zandvlei) is the largest of eight estuaries on the False Bay coastline, with an area of about 155 hectares. It is fed by the Westlake, Keysers and Sand rivers. The Diep River<!-- there are two Diep Rivers in Cape Town, this is the smaller, southern one --> flows from the mountains above Constantia to Little Princessvlei, which is drained by the Sand River, which flows into the northeast of Sandvlei. The Westlake River, also known as the Steenberg or Raapkraal River, originates on the slopes of the Steenberg and flows through the Kirstenhof wetlands into the north west of Sandvlei, and the Keysers River and its tributaris, the Grootbosch, Spaanschemat and Prinseskasteel rivers rise on Constantiaberg. The upper reaches of the Spaanschemat River are known as the Glen Alpine Stream, which originates below Constantia Nek and is joined by the Eagles Nest Stream.<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 2" />

Historically the Cape Flats was partly covered in wetlands, particularly during winter, and retained much of its rainfall. Many of these wetlands have been destroyed by canalisation and infilling to provide residential space. Many of the remaining perennial [[vlei]]s are at the southwest side of the region.([[Zeekoevlei]], [[Rondevlei]], [[Zandvlei]] etc.) and drain into the bay at Muizenberg through the estuary at Zandvlei. There is also groundwater seepage through the sand along the north coast of the bay. The [[Elsieskraal River]] and the [[Black River (Cape Town)|Black River]] catchment drain to the northwest into Table Bay, and do not affect False Bay. <ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 1" />{{rp|Ch9}} The [[Diep River]] catchment drains into Zandvlei,<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 1" />{{rp|Ch11}} and Zeekoevlei and its catchment also drain to Zandvlei at times.<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 2" />{{rp|Ch12}} 

The [[Eerste River]] and its tributary the [[Kuils River]], drain into False Bay on the north coast, west of the Helderberg basin watershed. They drain part of the Cape Flats, but most of the catchment of the Eerste River is in the Stellenbosch district, between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch Mountains, and the Jonkershoek Valley.<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 2" />{{rp|Ch18}}<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 2" />{{rp|Ch16}}

The catchment of the Lourens River is in the Helderberg region. It is the largest river of the region. The source is in Diepgat Ravine, in the Hottentots Holland Mountains. It is joined by minor tributaries from Landdroskloof and Sneeukopkloof in its upper reaches, The river flows in a south-westerly direction between the Helderberg and Schapenberg through Somerset West and Strand to a small estuary on the coast of False Bay. Its overall length is about 20 kilometres.<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 2" />{{rp|Ch19}}

The Soete River is a small river that may have originally been part of the Lourens River system, diverting floodwater through an alternative route to the bay.<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 2" />

Sir Lowry's River drains the south side of Schapenberg and west side of the Hottentots Holland south of Schapenberg. It enters the bay in Gordon's Bay.<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 2" />

The Steenbras River catchment is to the east of the Hottentots Holland mountains, and almost all of its water is retained by the upper and lower [[Steenbras Dam]]s, which are a significant part of the municipal water supply to the City of Cape Town. Steenbras River mouth is south of Gordon's Bay.<ref name="Steenbras IMP" />

The Rooiels River enters False Bay at Rooiels beach. It drains a small catchment area in a nature reserve in the mountains of the southwest of the Overberg district.<ref name="Rooiels EMP" />

=== Water quality ===

The nutrient contribution to False Bay surface waters by upwelling appears to be greater than that of terrestrial sources by runoff and groundwater seepage, but pollutants from terrestrial sources can be persistent and can have adverse effects on coastal ecosystems and recreational activities. Mixing with offshore water has a significant effect on surf zone and inshore water quality, but the effects of microbial processes on inshore water quality and the relative contribution of anthropogenic sources of nutrients remains unknown, but likely to be increasing.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

== History ==
[[File:CapeHopeDetail.png|thumb|right|Map showing the locations of False Bay and [[Table Bay]]]]

In pre-colonial times False Bay along with most of the Southern African coast provided sustenance to the Khoisan or Khoekhoen tribe who collected seafood from the shores and deposited the shells in middens along the coast which indicate usage over some 10 000 years.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" /> [[Bartolomeu Dias]] in 1488 first referred to the bay as "the gulf between the mountains".<ref name="Schirmer 1980" /> The name "False Bay" was applied early on (at least three hundred years ago) by sailors who confused the bay with [[Table Bay]] to the north. According to Schirmer, the confusion arose because sailors returning from the east (The [[Dutch East Indies]]) initially confused Cape Point and Cape Hangklip, which are somewhat similar in form. Hangklip was known to the early Portuguese seafarers as Cabo Falso, or False Cape, and the name of the bay derived from the cape.<ref name="Schirmer 1980" /> Commercial fishing was started in the late 17th century soon after settlement by the Dutch.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

In 1672 the Dutch warship ''Goudvinck'' was stationed at the Cape and was instructed to survey False Bay, but it is not known how much was done before they were recalled. [[Simon van der Stel]], appointed commander of the station in 1679, sailed False Bay in November 1687 on the [[galiot]] ''De Noord'', took the earliest recorded soundings, and described the islands, reefs and shoreline of the bay. By the end of the 17th century the general bathymetry was known.<ref name="Grundlingh and Largier 1988" /><ref name="Willis 1961" />

The Whittle Rock reef is named after a lieutenant Whittle of the Royal Navy, who surveyed parts of False Bay after [[HMS Indent|HMS ''Indent'']] was damaged off Miller's Point soon after the [[Invasion of the Cape Colony|first British occupation of the Cape]] in 1795.<ref name="Stibbe and Moss 1998" />

Commercial fishing has been practiced in False Bay since the late 1600s. Over time a range of fishing methods have been prohibited in False Bay. Demersal trawling, purse seining and gillnetting were introduced in the 19th century, but have been stopped as they were depleting stocks, conflicting with other fisheries and users, and damaging the environment. Illegal gillnetting is still a problem.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

[[African penguin|Penguin]] eggs were collected until 1968, whaling operations took place until 1975, seals were hunted for fur until 1984, and guano was collected until 1991. All of these activities had a severely detrimental effect on the targeted populations and are now illegal. Commercial [[Haliotis midae|abalone]] diving has been severely restricted as the resource was overfished but illegal exploitation of the resource continues. Recreational abalone extraction has been discontinued.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

There have been symposia, in 1968 and 1989, on the socio-ecological importance of False Bay, with reviews of the oceanography and biology of the bay and human impact on it.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

=== Shipwrecks ===
Over the years, a number of ships have been wrecked in False Bay, due to weather, war, errors in navigation, other accidents, or intentional scuttling. These include:<ref name="Rawe and Crabtree 1978" />

Shipwrecks:
* Ship ''Robert'', sprang a leak and was beached without loss of life near Gordon's Bay on 12 February 1847. (Cape of Good Hope Almanac, 1852, p105)
* Dutch East India schooner ''Catwyk aan Rhyn'', driven ashore in a gale in Simon's Bay without loss of life on 7 October 1786.<ref name="Theal 1922" />
* French frigate ''Penelope'' 16 October 1788<ref name="Theal 1922" />
* Dutch ship ''Drietal Handelaars'' 16 May 1789<ref name="Theal 1922" />
* Britush turret steamer [[Clan Line#Ships of the Clan Line|SS ''Clan Stuart'']] ran aground at Glencairn, 21 November 1914<ref>Cape Times, 5 May 1972</ref><ref>Cape Times, 3 May 1963</ref> {{coord|34|10.303||S|18|25.842||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
* [[Waterloo (1815 Sunderland ship)|''Waterloo'']] wrecked at Fish Hoek on 25 October 1821<ref> {{cite book |editor-last=Theal |editor-first=George McCall |year=1903 |title=Records of the Cape Colony from August 1822 to May 1823 |volume=15|publisher=Government of the Cape Colony|page=255}}</ref><ref>Cape Town Gazette, 3 November 1821, sales notices</ref> 
* ''Cockburn'' wrecked on Muizenberg beach in 1823<ref>Owen, 1833, Narrative of voyages, vol. 1, p243</ref><ref>Fairbridge Index, 6 April 1823, Simon's Town</ref>
* French whaler ''Le Protee'' wrecked at Strandfontein on 10 January 1839<ref name="Good Hope Almanac 1852, p. 101">Cape of Good Hope Almanac, 1852, p 101</ref>
* Barque ''Admiral Cockburn'' wrecked at Muizenberg beach on 27 July 1839<ref name="Good Hope Almanac 1852, p. 101"/><ref>Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette, 9 August 1839</ref>
* Schooner ''Felix Vincidor'' wrecked at Muizenberg beach on 28 July 1841<ref>Cape of Good Hope Almanac, 1852, p. 102</ref>
* Slaving barque ''Rowvonia'' wrecked in Simon's Bay on 13 January 1850<ref>Cape of Good Hope Almanac, 1852, p. 106</ref>
* Dutch warship ''Bata'' (HNMS ''Bato''?), burned and sank in Simon's Bay in 1803 at{{coord|34|10.998||S|18|25.560||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
* Portuguese warship ''Sarpine'' wrecked near Hottentot's Holland in 1691<ref>Africana Notes and News, March 1949, Volume 6, page 49</ref><ref>L.G. Green, "Beyond the City Lights", p65</ref>
* Sloop ''Benjamin'' lost with all hands at Gordon's Bay on 20 September 1800<ref>L.G. Green, 1964, "South African Beachcomber", Chapter 2</ref><ref>Cape Town Gazette, 4 October 1800</ref>
* Dutch East Indiaman ''Hollandia'' Caught fire and sank in Simon's Bay c.1720
* HMS ''Trident'' struck Whittle Rock and sank<ref name="Green 1965" >L.G. Green, 1965, "Almost Forgotten, Never Told", p. 31</ref>
* British East Indiaman ''Euphrates'' struck Whittle Rock and sank<ref name="Green 1965" /> in about 1810<ref> Van Den Bosch </ref>
* Brig ''Camille'' wrecked at Muizenberg beach on 18 October 1816<ref>Almanac 1839</ref>
* ''Benefactress'' wrecked at Lourens River mouth, The Strand, in November 1870<ref>Cape Argus, 19 November 1870</ref>
* Prussian barque ''Johanna Wagner'' wrecked at Zandfontein near Muizenberg on 16 July 1862<ref>Cape Argus, 29 July, 13 August and 13 September 1862</ref>
* Schooner ''Nukteris'' (Nuchteris?) wrecked at Buffels Bay just north of Cape Point on 9 August 1897<ref>Cape Argus</ref>
* ''Padang'' (Padarig?) wrecked in Simon's Bay on 29 June 1828<ref>Almanac 1828</ref><ref>Gazette, 4 July 1828</ref>
* ''Parana'' (Panama?) Wrecked in Simon's Bay on 9 October 1862
* ''Phoenix'' wrecked at Phoenix shoal off Boulders Beach, Simon's Town on 19 July 1829<ref>Gazette, 24 July 1829</ref> at{{coord|34|11.388||S|18|26.898||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
* Frigate ''Revolutionnaire'' wrecked in Simon's Bay on 29 July 1816
* ''Vrouw Ida Alida'' wrecked at Muizenberg in 1818<ref>Cape Town Gazette, 28 November 1818</ref>
* ''Zebra'' wrecked in Simon's Bay on 29 July 1816
* ''Rex'' wrecked in the vicinity of Fish Hoek in 1903
* British East Indiaman ''Colebrooke'' wrecked south of Steenbras River mouth on 25 August 1778<ref name="Theal 1922" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=show_ship&id=14242 |title=British Merchant east indiaman 'Colebrooke' (1770) |website=threedecks.org |access-date=21 May 2024 |archive-date=9 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209075822/https://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=show_ship&id=14242 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* English East Indiaman [[Brunswick (1792 EIC ship)|''Brunswick'']] wrecked at Long Beach in Simon's Bay on about 2 September 1805,<ref>''Publications of the Navy Records Society'' (1902), "Journals of Thomas Addison". Vol. 20. (Navy Records Society)</ref> at {{coord|34|10.880||S|18|25.607||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}

Scuttled:
* MV ''Rockeater'' scuttled as an artificial reef in Smitswinkel Bay on 15 December 1972 at {{coord|34|16.127||S|18|28.890||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
* [[SAS Pietermaritzburg|SAS ''Pietermaritzburg'']] scuttled as a recreational dive site just north of Millers Point at {{coord|34|13.303||S|18|28.465||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
* [[SAS Good Hope|SAS ''Good Hope'']] scuttled as an artificial reef in Smitswinkel Bay at {{coord|34|16.054||S|18|28.850||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
* SAS ''Fleur'' scuttled in central False Bay north of Whittle Rock at {{coord|34.1805|||S|18.5649|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
* SAS ''Transvaal'' scuttled as an artificial reef in Smitswinkel Bay at {{coord|34|16.005||S|18|28.761||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
* [[HMSAS Bloemfontein|SAS ''Bloemfontein'']] scuttled in central False Bay at {{coord|34.2443|||S|18.6659|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}} 
* MFV ''Princess Elizabeth'' scuttled as an artificial reef in Smitswinkel Bay at {{coord|34|16.068||S|18|28.839||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
* MFV ''Orotava'' scuttled as an artificial reef in Smitswinkel Bay at {{coord|34|15.998||S|18|28.774||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
* Muizenberg Trawler wrecks, ST ''Bulby'' and ST ''Iolite'' scuttled off Muizenberg at:
** Western trawler wreck: {{coord|34|07.006||S|18|31.219||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
** Eastern trawler wreck: {{coord|34|06.996||S|18|31.360||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
* ST ''Godetia'' scuttled as an air-force training exercise off Macassar at about {{coord|34.1|||S|18.73|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, 
* [[HMS Thames (1885)|SATS ''General Botha'']] scuttled in central False Bay east of Whittle Rock by gunfire from a battery at Simon's Town at {{coord|34|13.679||S|18|38.290||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}

== Climate ==
{{see also|Cape Town#Climate}}
The climate is [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]], with warm, dry summers and cool, damp winters. In winter, gales and storms from the northwest are common and can be ferocious. False Bay is exposed to southeasterly winds in summer and its waters are approximately 6&nbsp;°C warmer than those of [[Table Bay]], owing to the influence of the warm [[Agulhas Current]]. The La Niña phase of the [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation]] cycle tends to increase rainfall in this region in the dry season (November to April).<ref name="Carlowicz 2021" />

===Winds===
The winds have a strong influence on the waves and water circulation and through it the sea surface temperature. The wind follows a characteristic pattern, which shifts in latitude with the seasons and follows the [[Rossby wave]]s as they move eastwards over the southern ocean. A southwesterly wind follows the passage of a [[cold front]] as the anticyclone moves east and merges with the [[South Atlantic High]], producing strong south-easterly winds. The high pressure cell moves further over the tip of Africa and splits off the South Atlantic high, with weakening south easterly winds, followed by a coastal low with north-westerly wind before the next cold front, bringing cool, wet westerly wind which passes around Table Mountain and converges as a northerly wind over the bay.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

The South Atlantic high shifts latitude with the seasons, following the sun, and this causes a large variation in the wind pattern over the passage of the year. In summer it moves south and the south-easterly winds dominate, and on average are strongest during January and February. During winter the northward shift allows the fronts to extend further north with stronger north-westerly winds and more frequent and heavier rain. The winter winds tend to be strongest in June and are generally northwesterly. The transition periods are April and September.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" /> 

The [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation]] (ENSO) affects the winds and rainfall over this region. Sea surface temperatures off the west and south coasts of South Africa are affected by ENSO via changes in surface wind strength.<ref name="Nhesvure 2020" /> During El Niño the south-easterly winds driving upwelling are weaker which results in warmer coastal waters than normal, while during La Niña the same winds are stronger and cause colder coastal waters. These effects on the winds are part of large scale influences on the tropical Atlantic and the [[South Atlantic High]]-pressure system, and changes to the pattern of westerly winds further south. There are other influences not known to be related to ENSO of similar importance. Some ENSO events do not lead to the expected changes.<ref name="Nhesvure 2020" />

Local variations in wind direction and strength are caused by interaction with the mountains on both sides of the bay. South-easterly winds are accelerated northwest of Cape Hangklip, and a distinct wind shadow can develop in the lee of the Kogelberg mountain. Northwesterly winds accelerate over Table Mountain and approach the bay from varying directions depending on the local topography. Temperature differences between land and water can also produce diurnal variations of wind speed and direction, particularly in summer.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

== Ecology and marine life ==
{{see also|Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area|Marine ecoregions of the South African exclusive economic zone}}

False Bay is at the extreme western end of the inshore [[Marine ecoregions of the South African exclusive economic zone#South coast|Agulhas marine ecoregion]] which extends from Cape Point to the [[Mbashe River]] over the continental shelf, in the overlap zone between Cape Agulhas and Cape Point where the warm Agulhas Current and the cooler South Atlantic waters mix. The continental shelf is at its widest in this ecoregion, extending up to 240&nbsp;km offshore on the [[Agulhas Bank]], but is considerably narrower off False Bay. This ecoregion has the highest number of South African endemics, and is a breeding area for many species. There are several important commercial fisheries in this region. The transition between the Agulhas ecoregion and the cooler [[Benguela ecoregion]] is at Cape Point, on the western boundary of False Bay.<ref name="Sink et al 2004" />{{rp|103}}<ref name="NBA 2011 vol 4" />

There are two [[marine protected area]]s in False Bay: The [[Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area]] (TMNPMPA) lies on both sides of the Cape Peninsula, so is partly in False Bay,<ref name="Gazette 26431" /> and the [[Helderberg Marine Protected Area]] is off Macassar on the northern shoreline of the bay.<ref name="Declaration" />

There are concerns as to the effect the disappearance of great white sharks in False Bay will have on the local ecosystem, as the sharks serve as the main predator of the local population of [[Cape fur seal]]s. A government appointed panel has reported that the appearance of orcas, [[commercial fishing]], and [[climate change]] are likely the major contributing factors to the mass exodus of the sharks.<ref name="ABC" />

===Reef ecosystems===
Six feeding groups have been identified among the common suprabenthic fish species of False Bay, based on a comparison of diets. These are generalised benthic carnivores. carnivorous benthic browsers, herbivorous benthic grazers, midwater predators on small invertebrates, benthic macro-predators, and predators on small benthic invertebrates. These groups appear to eat mostly reef-dwelling prey, with the small amount of sand-dwelling prey assumed to be from areas adjacent to the reef. Feeding occurs mostly when water temperatures exceed 13°C. There is some overlap of diet between species, but in most cases each species has a dietary niche of preferred food, which reduces competition for food between the species within the assemblage.<ref name="Lechanteur and Griffiths 2003" />

=== Habitat types ===
The benthic habitat types listed for False Bay in the National Biodiversity Assessment are:<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />
{{div col}}
*[[Estuary|Estuaries]] 
*Estuarine shore
*[[Dissipative shore|Dissipative]] sandy coast
*Dissipative-intermediate sandy coast
*Intermediate sandy coast
*[[Reflective shore|Reflective]] sandy coast
*Mixed shore
*[[Boulder]] shore
*Sheltered rocky coast
*Exposed rocky coast
*Very exposed rocky coast
*Sandy [[inshore]] 
*Sandy inner [[Continental shelf|shelf]] 
*Hard inshore
*Hard inner shelf
*Hard outer shelf
*[[Reef]] 
*Island buffer zone, and 
*Harbour
{{div col end}}

=== Fauna ===
{{main|List of marine invertebrates of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay|List of marine vertebrates of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay}}
The marine animals of False Bay are diverse and varied. The more popularly known species which are a tourist draw include white sharks, abalone, African penguins, snoek, yellowtail, and many over-exploited linefish species, west coast rock lobster, and abalone. Besides the resident species and several known migrants, the waters of the MPA are occasionally visited by vagrants carried in by the eddies of the Agulhas Current, which can bring tropical and subtropical specimens normally resident thousands of kilometres away.<ref name="Zsilavecz 2005" />

*[[Great white shark]]
*[[Cape fur seal]]
*[[Cetacean]]s
**[[Southern right whale]]
**[[Humpback whale]]
**[[Bryde's whale]]
**[[Pygmy right whale]]
**[[Heaviside's dolphin]]
**[[Dusky dolphin]]
**[[Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin]]
**[[Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin]]
**[[Long-beaked common dolphin]]
**[[Killer whale]] (orca)
* [[African oystercatcher]]

=== Seaweeds ===
{{Further|List of green seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay|List of brown seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay|List of red seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay}}
[[Seaweed]]s are thousands of species of [[Macroscopic scale|macroscopic]], [[Multicellular organism|multicellular]], marine algae of varied taxonomic classification. The term includes some types of ''[[Rhodophyta]]'' (red), ''[[Brown algae|Phaeophyta]]'' (brown) and ''[[Chlorophyta]]'' (green) macroalgae.<ref name="Red book" />

The seaweed ecology is unusually varied for an area of this size, as a result of the meeting of two major oceanic water masses near [[Cape Point]], comprising two coastal marine [[Bioregion|bioregions]]. The ecology of the west or "Atlantic Seaboard" side of the Cape Peninsula is noticeably different in character and [[biodiversity]] to that of the east, or "False Bay" side. Both sides are classified as temperate waters, but there is a significant difference in average temperature, with the Atlantic side being noticeably colder on average.<ref name="Red book" />

=== Algal blooms ===
{{see also|Algal bloom|Red tide}}

False Bay has a high incidence of [[dinoflagellate]] blooms that may produce toxins or accumulate as red tides. The water retention and stratification of late summer and autumn produce the environment most conducive to harmful algal blooms. Algal blooms tend to propagate clockwise with the circulation, and may become trapped in the Gordon's Bay eddy for more extended periods.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

Brown discoloration in the surf zone along the north shore is frequently due to persistent blooms of the non-toxic diatom ''[[Anaulus australis]]'', which is provided with nutrients from groundwater seepage through the sand bottom and river outfalls containing waste water from the nearby sewage purification systems.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

===Marine protected areas===
{{see also|Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area|Helderberg Marine Protected Area}}
The Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area is an inshore [[marine protected area]] around the [[Cape Peninsula]]. It was proclaimed in Government Gazette No. 26431 of 4 June 2004 in terms of the [[Marine Living Resources Act, 18 of 1998]].<ref name="Gazette 26431" /> The MPA is of value for [[conservation (ethic)|conservation]] of a wide range of [[Endemism|endemic]] species, and has considerable economic value as a tourist destination. It encloses a large number of [[recreational dive sites]] visited by local residents and tourists from further afield. The shark and [[whale watching]] tourist industries are also represented, and there are several popular [[Surfing|surf breaks]]. The MPA is mainly a controlled zone where extractive activities are allowed under permit, with six small no-take zones. The MPA is administrated by the [[Table Mountain National Park]], a branch of [[South African National Parks|SANParks]].<ref name="Fielding 2021" />

The marine ecology is unusually varied for an area of this size, as a result of the meeting of two major oceanic water masses near [[Cape Point]], and the park extends into two coastal marine [[bioregion]]s. The ecology of the west or "Atlantic Seaboard" side of the park is noticeably different in character and [[biodiversity]] to that of the east, or "False Bay" side. Both sides are classified as temperate waters, but there is a significant difference in average temperature, with the Atlantic side being noticeably colder on average.<ref name="MPA Forum" /> This MPA contains culturally significant fish traps, historical wrecks and traditional fishing communities, and is also important for commercial fisheries. Part of the West Coast rock lobster industry takes place within the MPA – as well as recreational and subsistence fishers, and an illegal poaching industry mostly targeting abalone, rock lobster and territorial linefish from the no-take zones.<ref name="MPA Forum" />

The Helderberg Marine Protected Area is a small marine conservation area on the north-eastern side of False Bay between the mouths of the [[Lourens River]] in the [[Strand, Western Cape|Strand]], and the [[Eerste River]] in [[Macassar, Western Cape|Macassar]]. The Helderberg MPA is in the warm temperate Agulhas bioregion. The shoreline is sandy beach with mobile dunes, and the seabed is low sandstone reef with kelp beds and sand sediments. The areas nearest to the river mouths are in relatively poor condition due to pollution of the river water. The beach inside the MPA is the most pristine part of the north shore of False Bay. The MPA is administrated by the City of Cape Town.<ref name="WWF Helderberg" /><ref name="WWF" />

== Economic value ==
The harbours and slipways support the South African Navy, a small fishing industry, and a larger recreational boating community, including yachts, recreational fishing boats and recreational diving boats.

There are harbours at:
*Simon's Town
**Simon's Town naval base, with [[dry-dock]] and [[synchrolift]] facilities<ref name="Schirmer 1980" />
**False Bay Yacht Club ([[marina]] and club trailer and [[travelift]] slipways, NSRI station 10)
*Kalk Bay (commercial fishing harbour, with rail slipway for repairs)<ref name="Echo 2023" />
*Gordon's Bay (commercial fishing harbour, yacht club marina, NSRI station 9, and public trailer and rail slipways)<ref name="MMP Gordon's Bay" />
*Harbour Island marina (recreational boating marina and public trailer slipway)

===Navigation===
False Bay is not on any commercial navigational routes, but is adjacent to one of the major trading routes of the world, in a region notorious for storms, and it can provide shelter from wind and sea from most directions, with good anchoring ground in Simon's Bay that is sheltered from westerly winds and seas common in winter. It is occasionally used for shelter by smaller vessels or large vessels that have been damaged, but there are no commercial facilities for repair. There have been several occasions where large damaged ships sought refuge in the bay.<ref name="Sheard 1994" />

=== Other slipways ===
*Buffels Bay (public trailer slipway inside the TMNP)
*Miller's Point (public trailer slipway for recreational and commercial ski-boats)<ref name="Marine access points" />
*Rumbly Bay (public trailer slipway for recreational ski-boats<ref name="Marine access points" />
*Rooiels (private trailer slipway for local ratepayers)<ref name="Slipways" />

===Jetties for public use===
There are three public jetties in False Bay managed by the City of Cape Town:
*The Strand Jetty was built in 1934 alongside the Strand slipway at {{coord|34|7|6|S|18|49|39|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}<ref name="Marine access points" />
*The Harmony Park jetty is part of the Harmony Park resort and is used by visitors to the resort, at {{coord|34|8|21|S|18|50|46|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}<ref name="Marine access points" />
*The Simon’s Town Jetty is between the False Bay Yacht Club and the west section of the naval dockyard. It is accessible to the general public and used by eco-tourism operators (boat based whale watching, white shark viewing and site-seeing boat tours) and for refuelling small craft, at {{coord|34|11|32|S|18|26|0|E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}E<ref name="Marine access points" />

=== Extractive exploitation of resources ===

The only current commercial fisheries remaining in False Bay are linefishing for pelagic [[Thyrsites|snoek]] and [[Seriola lalandi|yellowtail]] and demersal species [[Hottentot (fish)|hottentot]], [[Argyrosomus|kob]], [[white stumpnose]], [[geelbek]] and [[Roman seabream|roman]], trapping of [[Jasus lalandii|West Coast rock lobster]], and beach-seine fishing (treknet). There are experimental fisheries such as for octopus, but this has been controversial due to entanglement of whales in the trap recovery lines. The demersal shark longline fishery also occasionally operates on the southeastern side of the bay.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

Commercial line-fishing remains mostly [[hand-line fishing]] using baited lines. In the mid 1980s regulations and a licensing system were introduced. In the last decade of the 20th century linefish catches along the South African coast declined to the extent that emergency measures were declared to protect the remaining stock. Licensing systems were revised in an attempt to establish a sustainable commercial boat based fishery, restricted to 316 boats between [[Port Nolloth]] and [[Cape Infanta]]. Catch limits on most species apply, with the exception of snoek, which is now by far the largest part of reported catch. Catches have become relatively stable since the early 2000s, though white stumpnose have continued to decline.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

Recreational fishing is the largest and most economically important fishery in the bay. It includes boat based angling and shore angling both from the rocky coast and from sandy beaches, and angling in estuaries, spearfishing and cast netting. In the first part of the 20th century most shore angling was for reef fish from the rocky east and west coasts of the bay, but a decline in the targeted species on the shoreline reefs and availability of four-wheel drive vehicles led to a move towards beach angling from the northern shore and targeting kob, [[white steenbras]] and [[Umbrina ronchus|slender bellman]]. Catches have declined and elasmobranchs are increasingly targeted by sports fishers. There has also been a move towards catch and release, and recent limitations on catch and closed areas in marine protected areas have slightly relieved the pressure, but stock of the top five target species have continued to diminish.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

The [[beach-seine]] or ''treknet'' fishery has provided fish for over 300 years. For much of that time it has been in conflict with other fisheries, some of which have been discontinued. Before 1975 there were more than 100 licensed operators, but this number has been reduced and as of 2019 stands at only five. Despite claims that the fishery is detrimental to stocks, large quantities of juveniles and other bycatch are affected, and the nets damage the benthic ecosystem, an investigation found that the licence holders had a right to continue targeting traditional species and that the impacts on the ecosystem are insignificant. Traditional fishing communities account for a large part of the traditional line-fish, lobster, and beach-seine fisheries, as crew or rights-holders, or by [[illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing|illegal fishing]]. Snoek and [[Harder (fish)|harder]] are an important part of the informal trade system in the traditional fishing communities, and contribute towards local food security.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

[[Chondrichthyan]]s were traditionally a minor component of the catch or were often bycatch, but have recently become target of the demersal shark longline fishery, and are now more likely to be retained in other fisheries, which has led to concern whether the exploitation levels are sustainable.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

The commercially important West Coast rock lobster fishery was historically concentrated on the west coast, but catches east of Cape Point have increased since 1990, partly due to eastward shift of the lobster population, and partly due to declines in the west coast stock due to over-exploitation and habitat degradation, but the portion caught in False Bay remains a small part of the total catch. The population has recovered slightly, but the long-term survival of the resource is compromised by extensive illegal fishing and excessive allocations by the authorities.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

The [[abalone]] fishery was historically concentrated east of False Bay, and a high level of poaching and ecological side effects of the lobster population shift have caused severe reductions in the abalone stocks, which led to the commercial fishery being closed between 2008 and 2009. The recreational lobster fishery has been severely reduced and the recreational abalone fishery closed altogether since 2003.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

Other invertebrates that are harvested in the bay under the permit system include mussels and clams, [[Turbo sarmaticus|giant turban shells]] (alikreukel) and various limpets. Experimental fisheries have included whelks, crabs and octopus.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

The sea bamboo kelp [[Ecklonia maxima]] is harvested as whole kelp, kelp fronds, and stranded drift, for use as feed for farmed abalone and as a plant growth stimulant, in quantities considered far below the [[sustainable yield]]. No other seaweeds are harvested commercially in False Bay.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

All of False Bay, inside a line between the lighthouse at Cape Point and the lighthouse at Cape Hangklip is closed to trawling, purse seining, longlining and the use of lobster traps.<ref name="Fielding 2021" />

=== Recreational pursuits and tourism ===
[[File:Falsebay.JPG|thumb|Surfers Corner; A popular surfing spot at [[Muizenberg]] in the northwest corner of False Bay]]
Fishing can be good in False Bay and at times there are large schools of [[Thyrsites atun|snoek]], an oily, [[barracuda]]-like fish that is much sought after locally, and [[Seriola lalandi|Yellowtail]]. [[Angling]] from the rocky shores to either side of the bay is very popular, but can be dangerous. The shape of the seabed at the mouth of the bay creates interference patterns in the swells that come in from the [[Southern Ocean]] and these patterns occasionally combine to cause "killer waves" to rise up without obvious warning and to sweep the sandstone ledges well above the high tide mark.<ref name="Shipley 1964" /> A number of rock anglers have been swept away and drowned over the years, but this seems to have done little to dampen enthusiasm for the sport.

[[Sailing]] is also a popular recreational activity in False Bay. The sailing clubs in False Bay include False Bay Yacht Club in Simon's Town, Fish Hoek Beach Sailing Club at the main beach in Fish Hoek, Gordon's Bay Yacht Club in the [[Gordon's Bay Harbour]], and Hottentots Holland Beach Sailing Club in [[Strand, Western Cape|Strand]]. The moorings at the False Bay Yacht club are well protected from south easterly waves as they are in the lee of the naval base harbour, and are in the lee of the peninsula for westerly waves, and the water is relatively deep. The marina at [[Harbour Island (Gordon's Bay)|Harbour Island]] in Gordon's Bay is protected against swells from all directions, but the entrance and inshore approaches are exposed to large south-westerly seas. Gordon's Bay harbour is largely silted up by sand, and access by keeled sailing yachts is limited by draught and tide.

There is a small granite island in the bay called [[Seal Island, South Africa|Seal Island]], which is one of the main breeding sites for the [[Cape fur seal]]. The seals attract many [[great white shark]]s and some of the biggest sharks ever seen have been spotted in these waters. These sharks are famous for the manner in which they breach the surface of the water while attacking seals, sometimes jumping entirely out of the water. Despite this, swimming, surfing, sailing, [[recreational diving|scuba diving]] and [[freediving]] are popular pastimes around the bay, at centres such as [[Muizenberg]], [[Kalk Bay, Cape Town|Kalk Bay]], Smitswinkel Bay, [[Strand, Western Cape|Strand]] and [[Gordon's Bay]]. Shark attacks are uncommon but not unknown, with two deaths since 2010.<ref name="Shark" /> Sightings of great white sharks have decreased in recent years; it is believed that competition between the sharks and a population of [[Orca]] in the region may be responsible.<ref name="Mail and Guardian" /><ref name="Bloomberg 2020" />

Tourism relating to False Bay makes a significant contribution to the region's economy, providing revenue from whale watching, shark-cage diving and other water sports.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

==== Beaches ====
{{main|Beaches of Cape Town#False Bay}}
{{Excerpt|Beaches of Cape Town|False Bay}}

==== Surfing ====
{{further|Surfing|Surfing in South Africa|Cape Town#Surfing}}
False Bay is open to the south, and the prevailing open ocean swell arrives from the southwest, so the exposure varies considerably around the coastline. The inshore bathymetry near Cape Point is shallow enough for a moderate amount of refraction of long period swell, but deep enough to have less effect on short period swell, and acts as a filter to pass mainly the longer swell components to the Western shores, although they are significantly attenuated. The eastern shores get more of the open ocean spectrum, and this results in very different swell conditions between the two sides at any given time.

The fetch is generally too short for southeasterly winds to produce good surf.
<section begin=Surfing breaks/>
List of named breaks in False Bay, clockwise from Cape Point to Hangklip:
* Buffels Bay: Right hand [[Surfing#Headland (point break)|point break]]. Works in very large open ocean swell. Suddenly jacks and barrels along a shallow reef for about 200&nbsp;m.<ref name="Wavescape" /> 
* Black Rocks: Right-hand [[Surfing#Reef break|reef break]], which also needs a large open ocean swell<ref name="Wavescape" />
* Glencairn: Left-hand break, which also needs a large open ocean swell<ref name="Wavescape" />
* Fish Hoek:
* Clovelly: A short left-hand reef break that works at low tide with a clean 0.9 to 1.2&nbsp;m swell<ref name="Wavescape" />
* Kalk Bay Reef: Hollow left-hand reef break.<ref name="Wavescape" />
* Kalk Bay Backdoor: Hollow right-hand reef break on the other side of Kalk Bay reef.<ref name="Wavescape" />
* Danger Reef:
* St James:
* Bailey’s Reef: A short, hollow right-hand reef break.<ref name="Wavescape" /> 
* Surfers’ Corner:
* Rivermouth:
* Sunrise: [[Surfing#Beach break|Beach break]].<ref name="Wavescape" /> 
* Cemetery:
* Nine Miles Reef:
* Monwabisi:
* Pipe:
* Bikini Beach: Left-hand point break off Gordon's Bay harbour wall.<ref name="Wavescape" /> 
* Caves (Koeël Bay): Beach break on a shifting sandbar. Tends to close out.<ref name="Wavescape" />
* Koeël Bay Beach:
* Paranoia:
* Off the Mountain:
* Pringle Bay:
* Moonlight Bay:
<section end=surfing breaks/>

==== Recreational scuba diving ====
{{See also|Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area#Scuba diving}}
[[File:The gully east of the Bus Stop overhang P6230236.jpg|thumb|Recreational scuba diving at Whittle Rock reef]]
Most of the [[recreational dive sites]] of False Bay are in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area. A permit is required to scuba dive in any MPA in South Africa. These permits are valid for a year and are available at some branches of the Post Office.<ref name="Gazette 26431" /> Temporary permits, valid for a month, may be available at dive shops or from dive boat operators who operate in an MPA. A personal recreational scuba diving permit is valid in all South African MPAs where recreational diving is allowed. The business permit to operate recreational scuba business operations in an MPA is restricted to a specific MPA. Diving for commercial or scientific purposes is also subject to permit.

===== Named dive sites =====
{{see also|Recreational dive sites}}
[[Image:Dive sites of Cape Town.png|thumb|upright=1|Map showing the distribution of most of the wreck and reef dive sites of the Cape Town local area]]
False Bay has a large number of rocky reef and wreck recreational dive sites which have been identified by position and named.<ref name="iNaturalist sitelist" /> Some of them are listed here for the west coast of the bay from north to south (within the TMNPMPA), for offshore parts of the bay, and for the east coast of the bay, also from north to south, roughly following the coastline where relevant:

{{div col}} 
False Bay west:<ref name="iNaturalist sitelist" />
{{Excerpt|Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area|False Bay west|templates=.*}}

False Bay offshore:<ref name="iNaturalist sitelist" />
*Seal Island: {{coord|34.138|||S|18.580|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, ([[shark cage diving]])
*Drop Zone: {{coord|34.1427|||S|18.7638|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}} 
*East shoal: {{coord|34.1483|||S|18.6464|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Moddergat: {{coord|34.1525|||S|18.8275|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*York shoal: {{coord|34.156|||S|18.593|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*SAS ''Fleur'' wreck: {{coord|34.1805|||S|18.5649|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Steenbras Deep North pinnacle: {{coord|34.2023|||S|18.7595|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Steenbras Deep South pinnacle: {{coord|34.2107|||S|18.7583|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*[[SATS General Botha|SATS ''General Botha'']] wreck: {{coord|34.2280|||S|18.6382|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Blue Flame Pinnacles{{coord|34.210617|||S|18.555933|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*[[HMSAS Bloemfontein|SAS ''Bloemfontein'']] wreck: {{coord|34.2443|||S|18.6659|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Off-Whittle Ridge: {{coord|34|14.364||S|18|34.847||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Whittle Rock reefs:
**Kelly's Anchor: {{coord|34|14.687||S|18|33.612||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Riaan and Sven's anchor: {{coord|34|14.735||S|18|33.590||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}<!-- estimated -->
**East Ridge North Pinnacle: {{coord|34|14.742||S|18|33.843||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**North-west corner pinnacles: {{coord|34|14.750||S|18|33.482||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**September anchor: {{coord|34|14.762||S|18|33.575||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Whittle Rock North-west Pinnacle: {{coord|34|14.765||S|18|33.622||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Euphrates anchors: {{coord|34|14.776||S|18|33.801||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, {{coord|34|14.783||S|18|33.790||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}} and {{coord|34|14.783||S|18|33.795||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Billy's anchor: {{coord|34|14.777||S|18|33.734||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}<!-- estimated -->
**JJ's anchor: {{coord|34|14.781||S|18|33.720||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}<!-- estimated -->
**Little anchor: {{coord|34||14.785|S|18|33.666||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Criss-cross Cracks: {{coord|34|14.830||S|18|33.879||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Whittle Rock West Pinnacle: {{coord|34|14.844||S|18|33.682||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Whittle Rock (Shallowest pinnacle): {{coord|34|14.846||S|18|33.714||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, about 8&nbsp;km offshore
**Whaleback Pinnacles: {{coord|34|14.850||S|18|33.508||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Whittle Rock Western Reef Pinnacle: {{coord|34|14.856||S|18|33.269||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}, inside the TMNPMPA
**Marc's anchor: {{coord|34|14.856||S|18|33.716||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Whittle Rock South-east Pinnacle: {{coord|34|14.887||S|18|33.775||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Whaleback Rock: {{coord|34|14.900||S|18|33.635||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**South east pinnacle chain (Neptune's bath plug): {{coord|34|14.917||S|18|33.753||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Flash pinnacle: {{coord|34|14.931||S|18|33.718||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Georgina's anchor: {{coord|34|14.935||S|18|33.784||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**M&M Tower (the Spark plug): {{coord|34|14.943||S|18|33.549||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Cave Complex reef: {{coord|34|14.943||S|18|33.616||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Bus Stop (the Gnarly wall): {{coord|34|14.945||S|18|33.573||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Wreckless Rock and the Little Labyrinth: {{coord|34|14.949||S|18|33.707||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Table Top pinnacle: {{coord|34|14.968||S|18|33.668||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Mossie's Cave and pinnacle: {{coord|34|14.972||S|18|33.420||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Grant's Spike (South-western pinnacles): {{coord|34|14.991||S|18|33.450||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Labyrinth: {{coord|34|15.004||S|18|33.580||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Labyrinth South Pinnacle: {{coord|34|15.048||S|18|33.606||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
**Deep South Pinnacle: {{coord|34|15.103||S|18|33.603||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Bruce's Mark {{coord|34.248000|||S|18.581333|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Deep South Whittle Reef{{coord|34.273567|||S|18.566817|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}

False Bay east:<ref name="iNaturalist sitelist" />
*Bikini Beach: {{coord|34.1654|||S|18.8582|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Ledges: {{coord|34.1699|||S|18.8454|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Vogelsteen: {{coord|34.1715|||S|18.8396|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Cow and Calf (Koei en Kalf): {{coord|34.1726|||S|18.8377|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Stone Dog: {{coord|34.1726|||S|18.8364|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Pinnacle: {{coord|34.1745|||S|18.8330|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Lorry Bay: {{coord|34.1826|||S|18.8219|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Phil's Bay: {{coord|34.1867|||S|18.8189|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Noble Reef: {{coord|34.1889|||S|18.8187|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Rocky Bay: {{coord|34.1921|||S|18.8160|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Blousteen East: {{coord|34.2718|||S|18.8372|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Blousteen: {{coord|34.2743|||S|18.8352|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Blousteen Ridge: {{coord|34.2750|||S|18.8321|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Whirlpool Cove: {{coord|34.2828|||S|18.8258|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Percy's Hole Cave: {{coord|34.2866|||S|18.8249|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Percy's Hole: {{coord|34.2881|||S|18.8224|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Kruis (Crosses): {{coord|34.2898|||S|18.8213|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Rooi-els Point: {{coord|34.2952|||S|18.8127|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Coral Gardens, Rooi-els: {{coord|34.3020|||S|18.8123|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Andre se Gat: {{coord|34.3042|||S|18.8127|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Balcony: {{coord|34.3074|||S|18.8147|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Ankers: {{coord|34.3084|||S|18.8124|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Mike's Reef: {{coord|34.3123|||S|18.8126|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
*Container Bay: {{coord|34.3128|||S|18.8170|||E|display=inline|region:ZA_type:landmark}}
{{div col end}}

====Shark and whale watching====
Shore and boat-based tourism activities involving ecologically responsible observation of great white sharks and various cetaceans are a small local industry.

The shark watching industry was centred on boat trips to Seal Island by licensed operators, in the hope of seeing [[breaching predation]] of seals by great white sharks. Since the major reduction in the shark population attributed to orcas, particularly the two large males named [[Port and Starboard (orcas)|Port and Starboard]], the shark watching industry in the bay has declined. Before 2015, False Bay was well known for its large population of great white sharks but by 2020 sightings were reduced to nearly zero.<ref name="Burke 2020" /> The [[tourist attraction]] of [[shark cage diving]] has ceased in recent years without the appearance of great whites, impacting the local economy.<ref name="Sguazzin 2020" />

== Naval base at Simon's Town ==
[[File:9 inch Cannon 04.jpg|thumbnail|A historic [[RML 9 inch 12 ton gun|9 inch gun]] overlooking False Bay installed at Simon's Town in the 1800s by the [[British Empire|British]] to defend the bay]]
The famous [[Naval Base Simon's Town|naval base]] of [[Simon's Town]] is in Simon's Bay, about halfway down the length of the False Bay coast of the [[Cape Peninsula]]. During the [[Second World War]] many heavy guns were mounted in concrete bunkers at various points along the mountainous shores of False Bay in order to deter attacks on Simon's Town. The firepower and defensive situation of these weapons were formidable and no attack was ever mounted. Although some of the guns were removed decades ago, a few large guns are still emplaced on the hillsides near the Redhill road. Lower North battery at the bottom of Redhill road is used for naval gunnery training and has a few examples of currently used weapon systems for this purpose.<ref name="Goosen" />

==Rescue services==
There are three [[National Sea Rescue Institute]] stations, Station 9 at Gordon's Bay, Station 10 at Simon's Town, Station 16 at Strandfontein, and Station 45 at Strandfontein (Matzikama).<ref name="Base finder" />

== Development and human impact ==
Although urban development of the coast is intense along some parts of False Bay, much of the shoreline remains relatively wild and unspoiled. The bulk of the development is residential; there is little heavy industry. There are a few exceptions, however: one of the largest [[dynamite]] factories in the world used to lie near the beach in a sparsely inhabited region towards the eastern end of the bay. The [[nitroglycerine]] plant at this installation blew up twice in the second half of the 20th century and sent massive shockwaves across the bay, breaking windows and rattling walls on the distant shores.<ref name="Hegde" /> False Bay is poor in natural harbours. Almost all protection for shipping and smaller vessels has been created by extending the small naturally protected bays by artificial means (e.g. at Kalkbaai, Simon's Town and Gordon's Bay).

During the critical water shortage of the 2018 [[Cape Town water crisis]] two [[reverse osmosis]] [[desalination]] plants were installed at [[Strandfontein, Cape Town|Strandfontein]] and Monwabisi resort on the north coast of the bay. They were all operating by August 2018,<ref name="EWN" /> but there have been problems and shutdowns since then due to algal blooms, a natural phenomenon quite common in the area.<ref name="CTetc" /> The locations were at least partly chosen for proximity to the suburbs of the [[Cape Flats]], which could have been severely affected if the supply of piped water had failed.

The population of Cape Town has more than doubled since the 1980s, and pollution has followed suit. Over-fishing has caused major reductions in stock and catches of commercially and recreationally targeted fish and invertebrates, and poaching is widespread. A number of alien invasive species have spread into the bay.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

The [[environmental impact of recreational diving]] in False Bay has not been studied, but is estimated to be low, partly due to the relatively resilient temperate subtidal reef ecosystems, and partly due to the relatively low numbers of divers visiting each site, as there are a large number of sites available for both shore and boat access.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

==Climate change==
Winds that cause upwellings have increased, causing a cooling of the water in the bay, and possibly nutrient enrichment. The ecosystem has shifted as a result, with typical west coast species like kelp and rock lobsters expanding their ranges and populations eastwards. [[Sea level rise]] and exposure to more frequent storm surge has increased the erosion of low lying sandy shores, and increased risk to coastal developments.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

The rising sea level is cutting back the coastline near Macassar beach during high swell events at a rate in the order of 2&nbsp;m per year. The sea level is estimated to have been rising at about 1.9&nbsp;mm per year since 1958.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

==Research==
Early oceanographic and biological research in the region tended to be top-down sector based, but this trend has changed since the last decade of the 20th century to systems-orientated research for integrated [[coastal management]] and ecosystem based conservation. Recent research has included the effects of climate change, population growth, and related issues of over-fishing and coastal development.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

On 25 September 1968, and again, 21 years later, on 11 and 12 September 1989, symposia on the environmental assessment of False Bay were held under the auspices of the Royal Society of South Africa in Cape Town. The proceedings of both symposia were published as dedicated issues of the Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa.<ref name="Symp1968" /><ref name="Symp1989" /> Subsequently, in 1991, the Society published the proceedings of the 1989 symposium in book form.<ref name="Book1991" />

A review paper published in August 2019 lists 310 relevant papers published on False Bay.<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" />

==See also==
*{{annotated link|List of bays of South Africa}}
*{{annotated link|Cape Peninsula}}
*{{annotated link|Cape Town}}
*{{annotated link|Helderberg Marine Protected Area}}
*{{annotated link|Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area}}

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="ABC" >{{cite web |last1=Hamilton |first1=Jessica |title=False Bay's great white sharks have vanished, and the answer may be in our fish and chips |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-02/false-bay-great-white-sharks-australian-fish-and-chips-flake/12172090 |website=abc.net.au |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)]] |access-date=30 April 2021 |date=1 May 2020 |archive-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506100231/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-02/false-bay-great-white-sharks-australian-fish-and-chips-flake/12172090 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Base finder" >{{cite web |url=https://www.nsri.org.za/rescue/rescue-bases/ |title=Rescue base finder |website=www.nsri.org.za |access-date=3 December 2020 |archive-date=17 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117230627/https://www.nsri.org.za/rescue/rescue-bases/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Book1991">{{cite book |title=False Bay: an Environmental Assessment |location= Cape Town |publisher= Royal Society of South Africa |year= 1991 |isbn=0-620-16083-7 }}</ref>

<ref name="Bloomberg 2020" >{{Cite news |date=16 November 2020 |title=Orca Attacks Likely Caused Great White Sharks to Vanish Off Cape Town, Experts Say |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-16/orcas-blamed-by-panel-for-absence-of-white-sharks-off-cape-town |access-date=23 October 2021 |archive-date=23 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023124300/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-16/orcas-blamed-by-panel-for-absence-of-white-sharks-off-cape-town |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 1" >{{cite report |url=https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/TT-376-08_Part%201.pdf |title=Rivers and Wetlands of Cape Town (Part 1) |pages=1–178 |editor1-first=Cate |editor1-last=Brown |editor2-first=Rembu |editor2-last=Magoba |publisher=Water Research Commission |work=Project No: K5/1691 |date=2009 |first1=Tony |last1=Murray |first2=Cate |last2=Brown |first3=Evan |last3=Dollar |first4=Jenny |last4=Day |first5=Hans |last5=Beuster |first6=Candice |last6=Haskins |first7=Charlie |last7=Boucher |first8=Jane |last8=Turpie |first9=Julia |last9=Wood |first10=Martin |last10=Thompson |first11=Steve |last11=Lamberth |first12=Lara |last12=van Niekerk |first13=Dean |last13=Impson |first14=Rembu |last14=Magoba |first15=Chantel |last15=Petersen |first16=Denis |last16=Davey |first17=Mandy |last17=Noffke |first18=Rowena |last18=Hay |first19=Chris |last19=Hartnady |first20=Justine |last20=Ewart-Smith |first21=Marius |last21=Burger |first22=Emily |last22=Fairburn |first23=Geordie |last23=Ractliffe |first24=Liz |last24=Day |first25=Mike |last25=Luger |first26=Katy |last26=Lannas |first27=Tovhowani |last27=Ndiitwani-Nyamande |access-date=4 June 2022 |archive-date=16 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616054856/https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/TT-376-08_Part%201.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
<ref name="Brown and Magoba 2009 part 2" >{{cite report |url=https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/TT-376-08_Part%202.pdf |title=Rivers and Wetlands of Cape Town (Part 2) |pages=179–380 |editor1-first=Cate |editor1-last=Brown |editor2-first=Rembu |editor2-last=Magoba |publisher=Water Research Commission |work=Project No: K5/1691 |date=2009 |first1=Tony |last1=Murray |first2=Cate |last2=Brown |first3=Evan |last3=Dollar |first4=Jenny |last4=Day |first5=Hans |last5=Beuster |first6=Candice |last6=Haskins |first7=Charlie |last7=Boucher |first8=Jane |last8=Turpie |first9=Julia |last9=Wood |first10=Martin |last10=Thompson |first11=Steve |last11=Lamberth |first12=Lara |last12=van Niekerk |first13=Dean |last13=Impson |first14=Rembu |last14=Magoba |first15=Chantel |last15=Petersen |first16=Denis |last16=Davey |first17=Mandy |last17=Noffke |first18=Rowena |last18=Hay |first19=Chris |last19=Hartnady |first20=Justine |last20=Ewart-Smith |first21=Marius |last21=Burger |first22=Emily |last22=Fairburn |first23=Geordie |last23=Ractliffe |first24=Liz |last24=Day |first25=Mike |last25=Luger |first26=Katy |last26=Lannas |first27=Tovhowani |last27=Ndiitwani-Nyamande |access-date=24 August 2022 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809110102/https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/TT-376-08_Part%202.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Brundrit 2009" >{{cite report |url=https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Phase%205%20-%20SLRRA%20Full%20assessment+vulnerability%20Section_1_2_combined.pdf |title=Global Climate Change and Adaptation: City of Cape Town sea-level rise risk assessment |volume=Phase 5: Full investigation of alongshore features of vulnerability on the City of Cape Town coastline, and their incorporation into the City of Cape Town Geographic Information System (GIS) |first=Geoff |last=Brundrit |date=December 2009 |access-date=21 August 2019 |archive-date=11 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211052025/https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Phase%205%20-%20SLRRA%20Full%20assessment+vulnerability%20Section_1_2_combined.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
<ref name="Burke 2020" >{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=Jason |title=Great white vanishing act: where have South Africa's famous sharks gone? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/08/south-africa-return-great-white-sharks-disappearance-species-marine-biologists-eco-tourism |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=30 April 2021 |date=8 July 2020 |archive-date=21 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521112731/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/08/south-africa-return-great-white-sharks-disappearance-species-marine-biologists-eco-tourism |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Carlowicz 2021" >{{cite web |url=https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/149201/la-nina-returns-for-a-second-winter |first=Michael |last=Carlowicz |title=La Niña Returns for a Second Winter |website=earthobservatory.nasa.gov |date=1 December 2021 |access-date=16 December 2021 |archive-date=15 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215235434/https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/149201/la-nina-returns-for-a-second-winter |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Coleman 2019" >{{cite thesis |title=The Development and Validation of a Hydrodynamic Model of False Bay |last=Coleman |first=Fawaaz |date=April 2019 |publisher=University of Stellenbosch }}</ref>

<ref name="Compton 2004">{{cite book |last=Compton |first=John S. |title=The Rocks & Mountains of Cape Town |location= Cape Town |publisher= Double Story |year= 2004 |isbn=978-1-919930-70-1 }}</ref>

<ref name="CTetc" >{{cite web |url=https://www.capetownetc.com/water-crisis/two-cape-town-desalination-plants-go-offline/ |title=Two Cape Town desalination plants go offline |first=Aimee |last=Pace |date=11 December 2018 |website=capetownetc.com |access-date=22 August 2019 |archive-date=22 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822095413/https://www.capetownetc.com/water-crisis/two-cape-town-desalination-plants-go-offline/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Declaration" >{{cite book |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/MPA-various.pdf |title=Declaration of areas as Marine Protected Areas: Government Notice R1429 in Government Gazette 21948 |date=29 December 2000 |via=Centre for Environmental Rights |access-date=19 January 2019 |archive-date=19 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174530/https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/MPA-various.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="de Vos et al 2021" >{{cite journal |last1=de Vos |first1=M. |last2=Vichi |first2=M. |last3=Rautenbach |first3=C. |title=Simulating the Coastal Ocean Circulation Near the Cape Peninsula Using a Coupled Numerical Model |journal=J. Mar. Sci. Eng. |date=26 March 2021 |volume=9 |issue=4 |page=359 |doi=10.3390/jmse9040359 |editor-first=Yannis N. |editor1-last=Krestenitis |doi-access=free |bibcode=2021JMSE....9..359D |hdl=11427/35254 |hdl-access=free }} CC-by 4.0 </ref> 

<ref name="Echo 2023" >{{cite news |url=https://www.falsebayecho.co.za/news/celebrating-110-years-of-kalk-bay-harbour-95103577-55dc-42c9-a020-0a737a61032d |title=Celebrating 110 years of Kalk Bay Harbour |work=False Bay Echo |date=27 June 2023 |first=Erin |last=Carelse |access-date=26 May 2024 |archive-date=26 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526132931/https://www.falsebayecho.co.za/news/celebrating-110-years-of-kalk-bay-harbour-95103577-55dc-42c9-a020-0a737a61032d |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="EWN" >{{cite web |url=https://ewn.co.za/2018/08/03/all-3-of-ct-s-desalination-plants-finally-up-and-running |first=Graig-Lee |last=Smith |title=All 3 of CT'S Desalination Plants Finally Up and Running |publisher=Eyewitness News |access-date=22 August 2019 |archive-date=22 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822095413/https://ewn.co.za/2018/08/03/all-3-of-ct-s-desalination-plants-finally-up-and-running |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Fielding 2021" >{{cite report |url=https://www.nairobiconvention.org/clearinghouse/sites/default/files/MPA%20Outlook_South%20Africa.pdf |last=Fielding |first=P. |date=2021 |title=Marine & Coastal Areas under Protection: Republic of South Africa |pages=133–166 |work=UNEP-Nairobi Convention and WIOMSA. 2021. Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Outlook: Towards achievement of the Global Biodiversity Framework Targets. |publisher=UNEP and WIOMSA |location=Nairobi, Kenya |isbn=978-9976-5619-0-6 |access-date=24 July 2021 |archive-date=17 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717170341/https://www.nairobiconvention.org/clearinghouse/sites/default/files/MPA%20Outlook_South%20Africa.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="GARMAP" >{{cite map |title=Garmin Mapsource BlueChart Atlantic V5 |publisher=Garmin |date=2003 }}</ref>

<ref name="Gazette 26431" >{{cite journal |url=https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/library/mpa_gove_note.pdf |date=4 June 2004 |title=Government Notice 695: Marine Living Resources Act (18/1998): Notice declaring the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area under section 43 |journal=Government Gazette |pages=3–9 |access-date=6 June 2019 |archive-date=4 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204230934/https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/library/mpa_gove_note.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Google Earth" >{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/maps/ |title=Google Maps |publisher=Google Earth Pro |accessdate=3 February 2021 |archive-date=24 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724200237/https://www.google.com/maps |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Goosen">{{cite book|title=South Africa's Navy - the first Fifty years|publisher=W. J. Flesch & partners|author=Goosen, C|year=1973|pages=131–132|isbn=0-949989-02-9}}</ref>

<ref name="Grundlingh and Largier 1988" >{{cite journal |journal=South African Journal of Science and Technology |title=Fisiese Oseanografie in Valsbaai: 'n Oorsig |volume=7 |issue=3 |year=1988 |pages=133–143 |issn=0254-3486 |last1=Gründlingh |first1=M.L. |last2=Largier |first2=J.L. |doi=10.4102/satnt.v7i3.914 |language=af |url=https://journals.satnt.aosis.co.za/index.php/satnt/article/view/914/1902 |doi-access=free |access-date=25 July 2019 |archive-date=25 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725141042/https://journals.satnt.aosis.co.za/index.php/satnt/article/view/914/1902 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Hegde" >{{cite book |title=A brief History of Great Inventions |first=P.D. |last=Hegde |publisher=K.K. Publications |date=9 September 2021 |pages=232–233 |chapter=54. Dynamite }}</ref> 

<ref name="iNaturalist sitelist" >{{cite web |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/13804-standard-positions-for-seakeys-dive-sites |title=Standard positions for SeaKeys dive sites: Dive sites of the Cape Town region |website=iNaturalist.org |date=21 January 2018 |access-date=6 February 2019 |archive-date=1 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201013353/https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/13804-standard-positions-for-seakeys-dive-sites |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="King 1983" >{{cite thesis |url=https://open.uct.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11427/23262/King_Geomorphology_Cape_1984.pdf?sequence=1 |title=Geomorphology of the Cape Peninsula |first=W.B. |last=King |website=open.uct.ac.za |date=1983 |accessdate=27 May 2022 |archive-date=12 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612135259/https://open.uct.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11427/23262/King_Geomorphology_Cape_1984.pdf?sequence=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Lechanteur and Griffiths 2003" >{{cite journal |last1=Lechanteur |first1=Y.A.R.G. |last2=Griffiths |first2=C.L. |date=2003 |title=Diets of common suprabenthic reef fish in False Bay, South Africa |journal=African Zoology |volume=38 |pages=213–227 }}</ref>

<ref name="Mail and Guardian" >{{Cite web |date=19 January 2021 |title=Why great white sharks are disappearing from South Africa's coastline |url=https://mg.co.za/environment/2021-01-19-why-great-white-sharks-are-disappearing-from-south-africas-coastline/ |access-date=23 October 2021 |website=The Mail & Guardian |archive-date=23 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023124300/https://mg.co.za/environment/2021-01-19-why-great-white-sharks-are-disappearing-from-south-africas-coastline/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Marine access points" >{{cite report |url=https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Project%20and%20programme%20documents/Chapter%2015%20-%20Marine%20Access%20Points.pdf |title=Chapter 15: Marine Access Points. A. Public Boat Launch Sites: Operational Management Plan for Miller's Point Northern and Southern Slipways |author=((Peninsula Permits cc. Envirocentric)) |date=May 2004 |access-date=26 May 2024 |archive-date=26 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526132933/https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Project%20and%20programme%20documents/Chapter%2015%20-%20Marine%20Access%20Points.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="MMP Gordon's Bay" >{{cite report |url=https://sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/default/files/additionaldocs/509310_Gordon%27s%20Bay%20Site%20Specific%20MMP_with%20appendices.pdf |title=Gordon's Bay Proclaimed Fishing Harbour Maintenance Management Plan |publisher=SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd |access-date=26 May 2024 |date=August 2017 |first1=Sharon |last1=Jones |first2=Jessica |last2=du Toit |archive-date=26 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526132931/https://sahris.sahra.org.za/sites/default/files/additionaldocs/509310_Gordon%27s%20Bay%20Site%20Specific%20MMP_with%20appendices.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="MPA Forum" >{{cite web |url=http://mpaforum.org.za/portfolio/table-mountain-national-park-mpa-2/ |title=Table Mountain National Park |author=<!--not specified--> |website=MPA Forum South Africa |access-date=26 May 2018 |archive-date=26 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526191913/http://mpaforum.org.za/portfolio/table-mountain-national-park-mpa-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="NBA 2011 vol 4" >{{cite report |url=https://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/mar/ebsa-sio-01/other/ebsa-sio-01-southafrica-03-en.pdf |last1=Sink |first1=K |last2=Holness |first2=S |last3=Harris |first3=L |last4=Majiedt |first4=P |last5=Atkinson |first5=L. |last6=Robinson |first6=T |last7=Kirkman |first7=S |last8=Hutchings |first8=L |last9=Leslie |first9=R |last10=Lamberth |first10=S. |last11=Kerwath |first11=S |last12=von der Heyden |first12=S |last13=Lombard |first13=A |last14=Attwood |first14=C |last15=Branch |first15=G. |last16=Fairweather |first16=T. |last17=Taljaard |first17=S. |last18=Weerts |first18=S. |last19=Cowley |first19=P. |last20=Awad |first20=A. |last21=Halpern |first21=B. |last22=Grantham |first22=H |last23=Wolf |first23=T. |date=2012 |title=National Biodiversity Assessment 2011: Technical Report |volume=4: Marine and Coastal Component |publisher=South African National Biodiversity Institute |location=Pretoria |pages=325 |access-date=6 June 2019 |archive-date=25 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225113624/https://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/mar/ebsa-sio-01/other/ebsa-sio-01-southafrica-03-en.pdf |url-status=live }} Note: This is the full document, with numbered pages.</ref>
 
<ref name="Nhesvure 2020" >{{cite report |last=Nhesvure |first=B. |date=2020 |title=Impacts of ENSO on coastal South African sea surface temperatures |publisher=UCT Faculty of Science, Department of Oceanography |hdl=11427/32954 |url=http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32954 |access-date=10 March 2024 |archive-date=21 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521112740/https://open.uct.ac.za/handle/11427/32954 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Pfaff et al 2019" >{{cite journal |title=A synthesis of three decades of socio-ecological change in False Bay, South Africa: setting the scene for multidisciplinary research and management |first1=Maya C. |last1=Pfaff |first2=Renae C. |last2=Logston |first3=Serge J.P.N. |last3=Raemaekers |first4=Juliet C. |last4=Hermes |first5=Laura K. |last5=Blamey |first6=Hayley C. |last6=Cawthra |first7=Darryl R. |last7=Colenbrander |first8=Robert J. M. |last8=Crawford |first9= Elizabeth |last9=Day |first10=Nicole |last10=du Plessis |first11=Simon H. |last11=Elwen |first12=Sarah E. |last12=Fawcett |first13=Mark R. |last13=Jury |first14=Natasha |last14=Karenyi |first15=Sven E. |last15=Kerwath |first16=Alison A. |last16=Kock |first17=Marjolaine |last17=Krug |first18=Stephen J. |last18=Lamberth |first19=Aaniyah |last19=Omardien |first20=Grant C. |last20=Pitcher |first21=Christo |last21=Rautenbach |first22=Tamara B. |last22=Robinson |first23=Mathieu |last23=Rouault |first24=Peter G. |last24=Ryan |first25=Frank A. |last25=Shillington |first26=Merle |last26=Sowman |first27=Conrad C. |last27=Sparks |first28=Jane K. |last28=Turpie |first29=Lara |last29=van Niekerk |first30=Howard N. |last30=Waldron |first31=Eleanor M. |last31=Yeld |first32=Stephen P. |last32=Kirkman |journal=Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene |year=2019 |volume=7 |issue=32 |doi=10.1525/elementa.367 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2019EleSA...7...32P |hdl=2263/75633 |hdl-access=free }} Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0)</ref>

<ref name="Raper" >{{cite book |last=Raper |first=P.E. |title=Dictionary of Southern African Place Names |url=https://languagecentre.sun.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/SaPlaceNamesDictionary1987.pdf |access-date=25 May 2024 |archive-date=15 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615131737/https://languagecentre.sun.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/SaPlaceNamesDictionary1987.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Rawe and Crabtree 1978" >{{cite book |first1=J. |last1=Rawe |first2=A. |last2=Crabtree |title=Shipwrecks of the Southern Cape |publisher=Atlantic Underwater Club |location=Cape Town |date=1978 }}</ref>

<ref name="Red book">{{cite book |last1=Stegenga |first1=H. |last2=Bolton |first2=J.J. |last3=Anderson |first3=R.J. |date=1997 |title=Seaweeds of the South African West Coast |publisher=Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium, University of Cape Town |isbn=0-7992-1793-X }}</ref>

<ref name="Rooiels EMP" >{{cite report |url=https://www.westerncape.gov.za/eadp/sites/eadp.westerncape.gov.za/files/atoms/files/004_Rooiels%20EMP__October%202019_final%20delivered.pdf |title=Rooiels River Estuarine Management Plan |date=2019 |publisher=Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning |access-date=24 May 2024 |archive-date=25 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525134658/https://www.westerncape.gov.za/eadp/sites/eadp.westerncape.gov.za/files/atoms/files/004_Rooiels%20EMP__October%202019_final%20delivered.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Salonen and Rautenbach 2021" >{{cite journal |title=Toward nearshore, bathymetry induced wave amplification in False Bay, South Africa |journal=AIP Advances |volume=11 |issue=7 |page=075209 |date=6 July 2021 |doi=10.1063/5.0055734 |first1=Nicholas |last1=Salonen |first2=Christo |last2=Rautenbach |bibcode=2021AIPA...11g5209S |s2cid=237801083 |doi-access=free }}</ref> 

<ref name="SAN 1016" >{{cite map |title=SAN 1016 - Valsbaai |publisher=SA Navy Hydrographic Office |location=Cape Town |date=1978 }}</ref>

<ref name="SAN HO-2 2019" >{{cite report |title=SAN HO-2 South African Tide Tables |publisher=The Hydrrographer, South African Navy |location= Cape Town |date=2019 }}</ref>

<ref name="Schirmer 1980" >{{cite book |last=Schirmer |first=P. |date=1980 |title=The concise illustrated South African Encyclopaedia |publisher=Central News Agency |location=Johannesburg |edition=First}}</ref>

<ref name="Sguazzin 2020" >{{cite web |last1=Sguazzin |first1=Antony |title=Orca Attacks Likely Caused Great White Sharks to Vanish Off Cape Town, Experts Say |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-16/orcas-blamed-by-panel-for-absence-of-white-sharks-off-cape-town |website=bloomberg.com |publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] |access-date=30 April 2021 |date=16 November 2020 |archive-date=30 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430163021/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-16/orcas-blamed-by-panel-for-absence-of-white-sharks-off-cape-town |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Sheard 1994" >{{cite report |title=The distressed ship, her right of refuge, and the coastal state |first=Clive H. |last=Sheard |date=February 1994 |location= Cape Town |work=A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town, for the degree of Master of Philosophy}}</ref>

<ref name="sheet 3318">{{cite book |last1=Theron |first1=J.N.|last2=Gresse |first2=P.G. |last3=Siegfried |first3=H.P. |last4=Rogers |first4=J. |title=Explanation sheet 3318 – The Geology of the Cape Town Area |publisher=Geological Survey, Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs, Government Printer |location=Pretoria |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-621-14284-6 }}</ref>

<ref name="Shark" >{{cite web |title=The complete South African Shark Attack Related Incident Record |url=http://www.stopsharkcagediving.com/south_africa_shark_attack_file.htm |access-date=23 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421005505/http://www.stopsharkcagediving.com/south_africa_shark_attack_file.htm |archive-date=21 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Shipley 1964" >{{cite journal |journal=South African Journal of Science |volume=60 |issue=6 |date=June 1964 |title=Some aspects of wave refraction in False Bay |first=A.M. |last=Shipley |pages=115–120 |via=Sabinet |url=https://journals.co.za/docserver/fulltext/sajsci/60/6/1695.pdf?expires=1564137650&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=49EC803EAC2A91040C4940D7CCCEF92C}}</ref>

<ref name="Sink et al 2004">{{cite report |work=South African National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment 2004: Technical Report Vol. 4 Marine Component DRAFT |date=October 2004 |pages=97–109 |title=Appendix 1. South African marine bioregions |first1=K. |last1=Sink |first2=J. |last2=Harris |first3=A. |last3=Lombard |url=http://sanpcc.org.za/pssa-old/articles/includes/NSBA%20Vol%204%20Marine%20Component%20Oct%2004%20Appendices.pdf |access-date=6 June 2019 |archive-date=26 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526041217/http://sanpcc.org.za/pssa-old/articles/includes/NSBA%20Vol%204%20Marine%20Component%20Oct%2004%20Appendices.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Slipways" >{{cite report |url=https://mapservices.westerncape.gov.za/AGOL_Hyperlink_Docs/DEADP/BoatLaunchSite_PDFs/OBD01.pdf |work=W. Cape Launch Site Review 2010 Overberg District |title=OBD01 - Rooiels |publisher=Anchor Environmental |date=2010 |access-date=26 May 2024 |archive-date=26 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526132933/https://mapservices.westerncape.gov.za/AGOL_Hyperlink_Docs/DEADP/BoatLaunchSite_PDFs/OBD01.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Steenbras IMP" >{{cite report |url=https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies,%20plans%20and%20frameworks/Steenbras_IRMP_Jun2011v02_Final.pdf |title=Integrated management plan – Steenbras Nature Reserve |date=June 2011 |editor1-first=Adele |editor1-last=Pretorius |publisher=City of Cape Town |access-date=24 May 2024 |archive-date=25 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525134701/https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies,%20plans%20and%20frameworks/Steenbras_IRMP_Jun2011v02_Final.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Stibbe and Moss 1998" >{{cite book |url=https://gosouth.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/A-Traditional-way-of-life.pdf |title=A Traditional Way of Life – The story of the Kalk Bay Fishermen |first1=George R. |last1=Stibbe |first2=Iain |last2=Moss |page=5 |isbn=0-620-22706-0 |publisher=G.R. Stibbe |location=Cape Town |date=1998 |access-date=14 July 2020 |archive-date=23 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423204231/https://gosouth.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/A-Traditional-way-of-life.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Symp1968" >{{cite journal |journal=Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa |volume=39 |issue=2 |date=1970 |title=Symposium on False Bay, 25 September 1968, University of Cape Town |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ttrs20/39/2?nav=tocList |access-date=21 July 2020 |archive-date=31 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731065734/https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ttrs20/39/2?nav=tocList |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Symp1989" >{{cite journal |journal=Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa |volume=47 |issue=4 and 5 |date=1991 |title=Symposium on False Bay, 11 and 12 September 1989, Cape Town |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ttrs20/47/3?nav=tocList |access-date=21 July 2020 |archive-date=31 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731043031/https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ttrs20/47/3?nav=tocList |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Theal 1922" >{{cite book |last1=Theal |first1=George McCall |title=The History of South Africa |date=1922 |publisher=Unwin Brothers, The Gresham Press |location=Woking & London, Great Britain |volume=4 |page=260 }}</ref>

<ref name="Wavescape" >{{cite web |url=https://www.wavescape.co.za/spots/spots-by-region/false-bay.html |title=False Bay |website=www.wavescape.co.za |accessdate=4 February 2021 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027024116/https://www.wavescape.co.za/spots/spots-by-region/false-bay.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
<ref name="Willis 1961" >{{cite journal |url=https://simonstown.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Vol-1-No2_WM.pdf |title=Simon van der Stel Survey of False Bay in 1687 |journal=Simon's Town Historical Society Bulletin |date=July 1961 |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=9–15 |first=H.C. |last=Willis |access-date=21 May 2024 |archive-date=21 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521112733/https://simonstown.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Vol-1-No2_WM.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="WWF" >{{cite web |url=http://mpaforum.org.za/marine-protected-areas/ |title=Marine Protected Areas |author=<!--not specified--> |publisher=World Wildlife Fund |access-date=24 May 2018 |archive-date=24 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524222138/http://mpaforum.org.za/marine-protected-areas/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="WWF Helderberg" >{{cite web |url=http://mpaforum.org.za/portfolio/helderberg/ |title=Helderberg |author=<!--not specified--> |publisher=World Wildlife Fund |access-date=21 January 2019 |archive-date=21 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121175206/http://mpaforum.org.za/portfolio/helderberg/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Zsilavecz 2005">{{cite book |last=Zsilavecz |first=Guido |year=2005 |title=Coastal fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay: A divers' identification guide |publisher=SURG |location=Cape Town |isbn=0-620-34230-7 }}</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links |wikt=no |commons=Category:False Bay |b=no |n=no |q=no |s=no |v=no |voy=Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay |species=no |d=no |display=Wikivoyage travel guide: Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay}}
[https://wrecklessmarine.com/whittle-rock-2/ Multibeam sonar images of Whittle Rock and other reefs of False Bay]

{{Cape Town|natural}}
{{Recreational dive sites|reereg}}

[[Category:Geography of Cape Town]]
[[Category:Bays of South Africa]]