Shark Cage Diving

Tour Pricing

🚗 Transport Add-On: R1,000 per person (can be added during checkout)

⚠️ Conservation Fee: Please note that these rates exclude the compulsory R150 per person conservation fee. This will automatically be added at checkout and included on your final invoice.

Essential Details

Experience Overview

Our partner, Marine Dynamics, is an award-winning ecotourism company dedicated to providing exceptional marine experiences while championing preservation efforts. Based in Gansbaai, South Africa—often called the great white shark capital of the world—they offer captivating shark cage diving adventures.

Arrival & Preparation:
Upon arrival, you will check in for your trip and be offered either a continental breakfast or a hot lunch. Next, a detailed safety briefing will be conducted while the team prepares your necessary gear. This equipment includes a bag containing your wetsuit and booties, along with a life jacket and a weather-proof jacket.

Journey to the Dive Site:
You will then take a short walk to the boat. Once everyone is aboard, your experienced skipper will brief you on the conditions for the day. As we depart the harbour, be sure to look out for other marine life, such as whales, dolphins, and penguins, guided by our knowledgeable team.

The Dive & Deck View:
Once we are anchored at Shark Alley, you will prepare for your once-in-a-lifetime shark experience. As the sharks begin to appear, the crew will help you get into the cage, which is secured right alongside the boat. You will then dip below the surface and watch these magnificent sharks as they cruise past.
If you prefer to stay on deck, you can witness all the action in the water while enjoying hot chocolate and snacks. Throughout the trip, the onboard marine biologist will be available to help you discover and learn more about these incredible creatures.

Inclusions & Exclusions

✅ What’s Included:

• Round-trip transport (only if the transported option is booked and paid for).
• Breakfast or lunch upon arrival (depending on the time of your trip), hot tea and coffee, snacks on the boat, and hot soup with bread upon returning to land.
• A dedicated gear bag containing a wetsuit, clean towel, booties, diving mask, and weight belt.
• Life jackets and weatherproof jackets.
• Guided shark cage viewing led by an expert marine biologist, including educational briefings.
• Access to cash-operated showers on-site.

❎ What’s Excluded:

• Round-trip transport (if the self-drive option is selected).
• Compulsory Conservation Fee: R150 per person (automatically added to your invoice/at checkout).
• Personal swimwear and sunblock.
• Motion sickness / anti-nausea tablets.
• Professional video link of your experience (available as an optional extra starting from R200 per person).

What to Wear & Bring

• What to Wear: Your bathing costume (swimwear), warm clothing layers (it gets very cold on the open water when the wind blows), comfortable sneakers/tackies, and a windbreaker jacket.
• What to Bring: A camera, sunblock, sunglasses, and anti-nausea medication.
• Seasickness Prevention: We highly recommend that any guests prone to motion sickness—or those who are unsure—take anti-nausea medication the night before your trip and again two hours prior to departure.
• Prescription Glasses: We do not carry prescription diving masks. While we can occasionally fit standard masks over glasses, it is highly recommended that you wear contact lenses if possible, or bring your own prescription mask.
• Spectators: Friends or family members who do not wish to board the boat can wait at the restaurant by the Shark Cage Dive offices. The facility offers food, drinks, and a curio shop.

Cage Mechanics, Scuba Rules & Wildlife Realities

• Cage Construction & Safety: The diving cage is designed to float on the surface, leaving a freeboard of about 30 cm (1 foot). It is securely tethered to the side of the boat by two thick, heavy-duty ropes. The cage holds up to eight people at any one time.
• Time in the Cage: Depending on the number of guests onboard who wish to dive, your first cage entry will be relatively short—just long enough to ensure you see a shark. The crew rotates all guests through the cage systematically. Once everyone has had a turn, you may return for a second dive if time permits. Total cage time generally averages between 10 to 30 minutes.
• Scuba Equipment Policy: Scuba gear is discouraged because the noise and bubbles generated by regulators can keep naturally cautious sharks at a distance. Breath-holding is the preferred and most effective viewing method. However, if you are a qualified diver (minimum PADI Open Water or equivalent) and request scuba gear well in advance, a regulator may be provided only after all other guests have finished their breath-hold viewing.
• Wildlife Guarantees & Non-Sightings: Because sharks are wild animals in their natural environment, sightings can never be 100% guaranteed. If there is zero shark activity during your tour, you will be issued a non-transferable return voucher (recorded with your name and passport number). If a shark is sighted from the boat, it is officially considered a successful trip. Please note that if a trip is aborted due to changing weather while at sea, the transfer fee remains strictly non-refundable.
• Seasonal Success Rates & Temperatures:
  • Peak Season (April to October): Highly recommended with a 99% success rate. Water temperatures vary between 10°C and 16°C.
  • High Season (November to December): 90% to 99% success rate. Water temperatures range between 16°C and 20°C.
  • Intermediate/Low Season (January to March): 80% to 90% success rate. Water temperatures range between 10°C and 16°C. Sightings can decrease for several weeks during this period as cold water temperatures roll in.

Safety Rules & Participant Requirements

To ensure a secure, safe and legal operations, the following strict regulations apply:

• Indemnity Waivers: All participants must sign on-site safety waivers/indemnity to partake in the activity. Guests under 18 years old require a parent or legal guardian to sign on their behalf.
• Minimum Age: Our recommendation is that children be 10 years or older to enter the cage, and they must be accompanied by a parent. Younger children may be accommodated upon special request if they display advanced swimming proficiency for their age.
• Water Comfort: Because simple breath-holding is used to view the sharks, children must be entirely comfortable swimming and being temporarily submerged.
• Weight Limits: Minimum weight is 0 kg, and the maximum weight limit is 150 kg.
• No-Diving Qualifications Required: No scuba diving qualifications or previous experience are needed. This is a surface breath-hold dive, not a deep-sea dive. Whether you choose to dive in the cage or view from the deck, the price remains the same (charged per head on the boat).

Pick-Up & Transport Information

⚠️ Please Note: This section is only applicable to guests who have booked this activity with transport included. If you booked the self-drive option, please follow your specific arrival instructions:

• Full-Day Commitment: Due to factors like tides and collection schedules, time slots are not fixed. Please ensure you make the entire day available for this activity. Your exact pick-up time is not negotiable once confirmed.
• Pick-Up Window: Expected pick-up times for early/morning tour departures and can be scheduled anytime from 5:00 AM, or even as early as 4:00 AM. Expected pick-up times for later/afternoon tour departures and can be scheduled anytime from 10:00 AM. Please ensure the contact details you provided are fully operational in South Africa so the operator can reach you the day before
• Pick-Up Time Confirmation: Because times are highly flexible, you will be contacted directly on the day or evening before your scheduled trip to confirm your exact logistics and pickup time.
• Travel Arrangements & End Times: Because this is a scheduled group tour, there is no fixed start and/or finish time. Changing weather and traffic conditions can shift our timeline, so we strongly advise that you do not schedule flights or time-sensitive arrangements for after your tour.

Booking Terms & Cancellations

View our full Terms & Conditions online here: www.capextreme.com/terms

Cancellation / Refund Policy

SHARK CAGE DIVING CANCELLATION POLICY
Please be advised that the cancellation fee & refund percentage (%) is applicable to the TOTAL tour/activity price LESS a less 5% transaction fee in the case of online or POS card transactions made for payment. This represents a direct bank processing cost and is not a revenue-generating charge.

Cancellation or changes

• 15 days or more prior to tour date = 100% Refund
• 14-8 days prior to tour date = 80% Refund
• 7-0 days prior to tour date, late arrivals or “NO-SHOWS” = 0%/No Refund

❗️Late arrivals and/or no-shows for a tour/activity/time slot, regardless of the reason, unfortunately forfeit the full booking. Similar to booking an airline ticket; the plane will not wait for any passenger that is late. Please ensure you are on time for your booking.
❗️All transaction/transfer fees and/or forex conversion costs charged by the banks during the refund process will be billed to you (the client/booking holder)
❗️Refund and credit values are calculated in our local ZAR (South African Rand) currency. Transaction values in your own currency could be affected due to bank fees and currency exchange fluctuations.