South Africa Guide
KwaZulu-Natal
Watersports
Given Durban's seafront location, watersports are extremely popular, none more so than surfing. Night surfing competitions draw enormous crowds, as does the annual Mr Price Pro (formerly the Gunston 500), which, after the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Australia, is the world's longest-running professional surfing competition, and is held in Durban every July. The favourite spot for surfers is North Beach, while a good place to pick up gear is the Safari Surf Shop, 43 Brickhill Rd ( 
031 337 2176), where Spider Murphy, South Africa's top board-shaper, will custom-build a world-class board for much less than a comparable order would cost in Europe or North America. Beach & Bush Adventures, 281 Florida Rd, Morningside ( 031 313 3333, 
www.beachandbush.co.za ), offers surfing lessons with experienced instructors (R150 per hour, plus R50 for board rental).
Scuba diving is an obvious and pleasurable activity in KwaZulu-Natal's subtropical waters, but is somewhat limited immediately around Durban, where the best diving sites are Vetches Pier, at the southern tip of the beachfront, and Blood Reef at the tip of the Bluff (opposite the Point). Scuba diving courses can be arranged through Underwater World, 251 Point Rd ( 031 332 5820); a full six-day internationally recognized NAUI or PADI course costs R1850, including use of the main gear you'll need.
An outfit called 180 Degrees Adventures ( 031 566 4955, www.180.co.za ) offers ocean kayaking (1hr; R150), where there's a good chance you'll see dolphins; the same operator also organizes dolphin-spotting boat excursions led by a knowledgeable skipper (1hr; R175).