Shark Cage Diving inclusions:
A light lunch or breakfast included before the trip, as well as homemade soup and bread after the trip. Snacks and drinks provided on the boat trip.
Free visit to the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary.
Possibility to see our beautiful Bronze Whaler/Copper Sharks, Seven Gill Sharks and visiting Great White Sharks
Life jackets, wet weather gear, clean diving wetsuit and gear, towels, blankets, hot chocolate and amazing crew!
Early Morning Shark Cage Diving in Gansbay (Near Hermanus)
Driving Distance estimated 2.5 hours – Activity duration estimated 3 to 3.5 hours from Cape Town
Come face-to-face with the ocean’s apex predators on a thrilling shark cage diving experience. Embark on a journey that blends adrenaline and discovery, as you encounter these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, leaving you with a deeper appreciation for these incredible marine animals
The Dive Experience An Expert Crew
The combination of an experienced company, purpose-built vessels and well-designed cage, professional crew, and high-quality gear creates an environment where individuals can appreciate the awe-inspiring beauty of sharks while feeling secure in the hands of experts who prioritise safety and comfort.
Trip Briefing
The adventure begins at our Great White House in Kleinbaai where you will enjoy a breakfast or lunch depending on your trip time. Our team will assist in registering and choosing your correct wetsuit size and other gear needed. You will then meet your marine biologist who will run through a pre-trip safety briefing, what to expect when you are out at sea as well as what shark and other species are likely to be spotted. Once you have your life jacket on, we take a short stroll down to the harbour to board our vessel.
The Journey To Dyer Island
The travel time to Dyer Island is roughly 20 minutes. It will then take about 10 minutes to find the best spot on the shallows to anchor. Here we will settle in and distribute the wetsuits in anticipation for entering the cage.
What you will see & Experience – The Sharks Of Dyer Island
We have various species of sharks that visit the boats. Bronze whaler sharks, great white sharks, and possibly even Broadnose sevengill sharks. We are also often visited by stingrays, and you may see other marine species on the way to and from the dive site. Bronze whaler sharks grow up to 3,3m (10ft) and are very active around the boats. Great white sharks are a more solitary species, and we see sharks from 2m (6ft) to over 5m (16ft). Note that whilst we know the best places to view these sharks, we are working with wildlife and sightings can vary.
The Shark Cage Experience
On average, we anchor for roughly two to three hours, but this depends on shark activity, sea and weather conditions, as well as number of divers. We do not time the exact period spent in the cage, but aim to give everybody the same experience, so your time is completely dependent on the shark activity for the day. We don’t use scuba gear or snorkels in the cage as it is always above the water. Pay close attention to the bait handler who will advise from which side the shark is approaching and he will instruct you as to which side to face as you go under the water. Then hold your breath as you come face to face with these apex predators as they swim past the cage.
Viewing From The Boat
If you are not fond of the water and don’t see yourself getting in the cage, you can still enjoy views from the deck. We have a few deck positions that offer incredible views and opportunities to get some great photographs of the sharks. We will take a wetsuit along in case you decide you want to get a closer look.
An Ethical Interaction
Great white sharks are almost impossible to see without attracting their attention. The method we use to attract sharks to our vessel is by using a mixture of fish oils or fish by products, known as chum. This is mixed with sea water and then put back into the ocean. This produces a scent trail extending from our boat that sharks in the area pick up on and will then start to approach. Our chum is premixed to ensure it is not too offensive to our guests. Once the sharks are around the boat, we use a bait or decoy to keep the shark’s attention.
Please note there is no feeding of the sharks. Provisioning or feeding of great white sharks has never been permitted within the code of conduct for South African white shark diving activities. There are many natural sources of chum in the ocean such as by products from seal colonies or dead animals. When doing research scientists also use chum to bring sharks close to vessels to view or to tag.
Educational and informative – marine biologist on board – Discover The Secrets of Sharks
Our trips are fun and educational with our onboard marine biologist sharing knowledge about sharks that will entertain and inspire you. Learn about our research and what it means for the conservation of sharks in South Africa. While aboard our marine biologists will be taking fin identification photos and collecting other data. This is added to our extensive database and contributes to our scientific studies on white sharks. They also write a daily blog that sums up the day’s shark trip and share our favourite photos of the day
Heading Back
Great white sharks are almost impossible to see without attracting their attention. The method we use to attract sharks to our vessel is by using a mixture of fish oils or fish by products, known as chum. This is mixed with sea water and then put back into the ocean. This produces a scent trail extending from our boat that sharks in the area pick up on and will then start to approach. Our chum is premixed to ensure it is not too offensive to our guests. Once the sharks are around the boat, we use a bait or decoy to keep the shark’s attention.
Please note there is no feeding of the sharks. Provisioning or feeding of great white sharks has never been permitted within the code of conduct for South African white shark diving activities. There are many natural sources of chum in the ocean such as by products from seal colonies or dead animals. When doing research scientists also use chum to bring sharks close to vessels to view or to tag.
What to bring:
Swimsuit/bathing costume
Warm clothes
Sunscreen
Sun hat & sunglasses in summer
Anti-nausea medication
*take at least two hours before the boat departs. Please note that we are not allowed to provide medication.
Camera
Prescription masks
(if needed) – our masks fit over glasses but we recommend contact lenses)
Beanie & scarf in winter
