Shark Cage Diving

Join in as we explore the beautiful town of Gansbaai which is situated in the center of a number of small bays with miles of unspoiled beaches and nature reserves, a variety of floral and fynbos vegetation, ancient Milkwood forests, rocky inlets, caves and spectacular views across Walker Bay.

It is also home to Dyer Island, a protected bird sanctuary and houses a large colony of African Penguins. In the same vicinity, you will find an abundance of seals, being the hot spot for great whites and making Gansbaai the Great White Shark capital of South Africa and many other marine species like bronze whaler sharks, stingrays, and seals.

This is a personal, face-to-face encounter with this awesome animal, guaranteed to get the adrenaline going!

Essential info

Length

Open Ended (Approx 8 hours/full day)

Start & End point

Pickup & drop off from City Bowl areas

OR

Meet in Gansbaai

(depending on booking incl. or excl. transport)

Rate

R 2 600.00 per person excl transport

R 3 200.00 per person incl transport

Departs

Everyday (Weather Dependant)

Overview
Approximately 12km offshore from Gansbaai (2hrs drive from Cape Town) we find two islands situated next to each other. Due to a number of geographical reasons ‐ one being the shallow and narrow channel that runs between these two islands ‐ Dyer Island has become known as one of only two unique areas in the world, where the chances to view the great white shark, rises exceptionally high. A colony of approximately 40000 Cape Fur Seals inhabits the smaller Island (Geyser Rock). Other wildlife species such as Cape Gannets, Cape Cormorants, African Penguins, whales and dolphins are also likely to be sighted.

Once anchored in the channel, we make use of a securely designed 5‐man steel cage, which floats on the surface. A scuba certification is not a necessity in order to dive in the cage, as we make use of snorkeling equipment 100% of the time, where the dive takes place just beneath the water surface. This makes it possible for even the inexperienced diver to enjoy a cage dive.

White sharks are indeed surface feeders, providing brilliant surface viewing from the safety of the shark‐viewing deck of the boat. The shark handlers are trained to bring the sharks close‐up against the side of the boat, with the head and the jaws clearly visible.

Here is a brief breakdown of what to expect once you arrive:
• You will receive breakfast or lunch and register your wetsuit size.
• Guests receive a pre-trip safety briefing about what to expect during the trip and a biological background on great white sharks.
• You then take a 200m stroll down to the harbour to board the boat.
• Travel time to Dyer Island is approximately 20 minutes, with the shallows being a short 10 minute ride (where the boat anchors depends on where the sharks are).
• On average, you are anchored for 2 hours, but this depends on shark activity, conditions, as well as number of divers
• Weather permitting, we take a quick trip through the infamous Shark Alley
• A debrief and a celebratory beverage to toast the occasion!

Arrangements
Duration: Open Ended (Approx 8 hours/full day).
When: 7 days a week year round, subject to availability and weather conditions. Only closed on Christmas day and New Year. Time slots are not confirmed times. Please ensure that you make the whole day available as we can only confirm times the day before, and is not negotiable.
Where: Pickup & Drop offs in City Bowl areas (if paid for transported option) OR Meet at Gansbaai (if paid for self drive option).
Weather: All trips are weather dependent.
What to Wear/Bring: Swimsuit/bathing costume, warm clothes (even in summer it can get chilly at sea), camera, sunscreen and a hat/cap in summer or a beanie in winter. A meal on arrival is provided: breakfast or lunch depending on time of trip; snacks on board; and soup and bread on return to land. You will receive a numbered bag with a wetsuit and a clean towel. Booties, masks and a weight belt will be provided. We are generally able to put masks over glasses but it is highly recommended you rather wear contact lenses if possible. We do not carry prescription masks and should you have your own, please bring it with. Cash Showers available to freshen up before departing on your next adventure. We highly recommend guests who are prone to any kind of motion sickness (or are unsure if they are) to use anti-nausea medication well in advance. Better to be prepared!
Guests or Spectators: Guests are welcome to venture into the quaint town of Gansbaai while waiting for their friends / family to come back from sea.

Requirements
Minimum Age: 0 years.
Minimum Height: 0.0 m
Maximum Height: 0.0 m
Fitness Level: No Fitness Requirement
Qualifications: Not Applicable
Minimum Weight: 150 kg
Maximum Weight: 0 kg
Certification: None Required
Experience Level: No Experience Requirement

Inclusions and Exclusions
Inclusions:
• Transport (if paid for transported option)
• Breakfast/Lunch (depending on time of trip), hot tea and coffee, snacks on the boat, and soup and bread on return to land.
• Numbered bag with a wetsuit and a clean towel, booties, masks and weight belt.
• Life jackets and waterproof jackets are also supplied.
• Cash Showers available to freshen up.
• A Shark Cage Dive / Viewing guided by a marine biologist.
• Educational information and safety briefing.
• A video link of your experience is included in the price.

Exclusions:
• Transport (if paid for self drive option)
• Sunblock and Swimwear
• Seasick/Anti Nausea tablets
• Optional USB of your personal experience, for sale after the tour

Notes
Please note that you will be contacted 24 hours before the trip to confirm final pick-up / meeting time.
No diving qualifications or experience is needed for this dive. It is a surface dive, not a deep sea dive.
Whether diving or viewing the price remains the same. We charge per head on the boat.

Best season to go
The tours run each and every day of the year, as Dyer Island is a good place to see the sharks all year round. The absolute best season is probably in the winter months, when sharks are particularly active in their feeding pattern. The following guide‐line is based on tours we have done over the past 13 years and months may overlap slightly.

PEAK SEASON: APRIL to OCTOBER (99% success rate)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED*
HIGH SEASON: NOV. and DEC. (90 – 99% success rate)
INTERMEDIATE SEASON: JAN to MARCH: (80 – 90% success rate)

Water temperatures vary between 16 and 20 degrees celsius during the high season, and between 10 and 16 degrees celsius during the intermediate and low seasons.

Booking conditions
General/Standard cancellation policy

  • Cancellation outside 14 days prior to tour date:
    100% credit as Travel Credit / 95% refund
  • Cancellation 14-8 days prior to tour date:
    100% credit as Travel Credit / 80% refund
  • Cancellation 7 days prior to tour date, late arrivals or “no show”:
    No refund / 0% Refund (Full fee charged)

* The general / standard cancellation policy applies to all products excluding specific Packages, Kruger Tours and Private/Custom made tours.

* All transaction / transfer fees and/or forex conversion costs charged by the banks during the refund process will be billed to you (client).

* Refunds and Travel 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. Refunds are usually made back to the original source of payment method.

* The Travel Credit option may be selected up till 7 days prior to your start / departure date. The travel credit should be used within a 24 month period from the issue date unless stated otherwise. Where a travel credit option is selected, payment in FULL must be made to Cape Xtreme if the booking was made through a Travel Agent. Please be advised that a travel credit is selected instead of a cancellation charge and will result in no refunds being issued. After the travel credit has been selected no further alterations can be made / no refunds will be issued should you make any changes again.

* Please be sure to read through our full terms & conditions here: www.capextreme.com/terms

EXTRA SPECIAL TERMS & CONDITIONS specific to Shark Cage Dive and sightings:
Sharks are wild animals and their presence cannot be guaranteed. In the event that there is no shark activity while on a shark cage diving tour, then a voucher will be offered. This voucher is not transferable – your name and passport number will be recorded on the voucher. If a shark has been sighted from the boat, it will be considered a successful trip. Should sea and weather conditions unexpectedly change while at sea, it may affect your time to dive in the cage. Be assured that this would be unusual as our team does regular weather checks. The transfer fee is non-refundable.