Four men are expected to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Tuesday for the illegal possession of abalone.
A spokesperson for police Colonel Priscilla Naidu says the alleged poachers were arrested by the K9 unit who responded to a call for assistance from the anti-abalone poaching unit.
She says at about noon on Monday the unit observed suspicious activity at Noordhoek Beach in Marine Drive and called the K9 unit for assistance.
A diver went into the water and retrieved two large bags containing fresh abalone from the water.
Naidu says the 481 units have an estimated street value of a million rand.
Police also confiscated diving equipment and a vehicle belonging to the suspects.
The men aged between 32 and 51 are expected to appear in court on Tuesday.
