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 | Adults (13+ years) R 3355.00 per person Transport @ additional R 1000.00 per person |
Departs |
Daily (weather dependant) |
Description
Marine Dynamics, our shark cage dive operator, is an award-winning ecotourism and marine company committed to offering exceptional marine experiences and the preservation of the marine environment. Based in Gansbaai, South Africa, the great white shark capital of the world, they offer captivating shark cage diving experiences.
When you arrive, you will check-in for you experience and be served a continental breakfast or hot lunch. A detailed safety briefing will then follow while the team organises your gear and equipmen - including a bag with your wetsuit and booties as well as a life-jacket and weather-proof jacket.
You then take a short stroll down the road that will lead you to the boat. Once you have boarded, the experienced skipper will prepared you for the conditions on the day. After departing the harbour, guided by our knowledgeable and experienced team, be sure look out for other marine life such as whales, dolphins and penguins along the way.
Once anchored at Shark Alley you will gear up for a once-in-a-lifetime shark experience. As the sharks begin to arrive you will be assisted in getting into the cage (set alongside the boat). You the dip below the surface and watch as the sharks cruise by. From the deck you can witness all the action in the water below while enjoying hot chocolate and snacks. The onboard marine biologist will help you discover and learn more about these magnificent creatures.
Arrangements
Duration: Open Ended (Approx. 8 hours/full day).
When: Daily (weather dependant) except Christmas day and New Year's day.
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.
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
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.
Exclusions:
• Transport (if paid for self drive option)
• Compulsory conservations fee (R100 pp) - will be added at checkout
• Sunblock and Swimwear
• Seasick/Anti Nausea tablets
• A video link of your experience (from R200 per person).
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.
More Information
Note: 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.
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!
Best season to go?
The tours run throughout the year. 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
Will I scuba dive in the cage or just be breath-holding?
In most conditions, it is preferred not to use scuba equipment that produces a lot of noise and bubbles under the water, which often keeps the Sharks from coming close. You will have a better chance of seeing the Sharks if we can point out the direction to look, especially when the underwater visibility is poor. But if you insist on using scuba equipment, and if, and only if, you are a qualified scuba diver, a regulator to dive in the cage can be provided once everyone else has had their share. (This is only available on request, so if you want to use scuba gear for your dive, you should pre-arrange this long in advance.)
Am I allowed to scuba dive in the cage having just a PADI Open Water diving certification?
Yes, but it is recommended that you do not use scuba equipment in the cage due to the potential negative effect that the bubbles and noise create, keeping the naturally cautious Sharks at a distance. In clear underwater visibility conditions, this becomes less of an issue, but when the visibility is reduced, we discourage the use of scuba equipment in the cage, until everyone else has seen the Sharks underwater by breath-holding.
Is the cage attached to the boat?
Yes. The cage is designed to float at the surface, leaving a free board of about 30 cm or 1 foot. But the cage is always solidly attached to the side of the boat with two thick ropes that prevent the cage from drifting away.
How many people can go into the cage?
Up to eight people can go into the cage at any time.
How long can I stay in the cage?
This will mostly depend on the number of people on the boat and especially the number of people who wish to go into the cage. Eight people can enter the cage at a time. Your first cage dive will be relatively short, just long enough for you to see a White Shark. We will then alternate all the people who wish to dive in the cage, and once everyone has had a chance to see the Sharks from the cage, you can return for a second dive, if time allows. You should get 10 to 30 minutes in the cage.
Do you allow children in the shark cage?
Our recommendation is that children of 10 years and older enter the cage, and only if the parents accompany them. However, younger children will be accommodated on special requests and if they have advanced swimming proficiency for their age, but again, only if the parents accompany them for the dive. A simple breath hold is required to view sharks, thus children should be comfortable swimming/being submerged before attempting this in the cage. Legal guardians will be asked to sign additional liability waivers for those under 18 years old.
Can you guarantee White Sharks?
No. We cannot guarantee that you will see White Sharks from the surface or from the cage. Wildlife can never be guaranteed, nature is unpredictable. The low Shark season takes place some time during the months of January through March. That low season corresponds generally to the lowest water temperatures, and the number of Sharks in both Shark Bay and Dyer Island areas can decrease dramatically for several weeks during some years in this period. Please see our cancellation policy for more.
Do I get a refund if we do not see any Sharks?
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.
Shark Cage Dive Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation 15 days or more prior to tour date = 100% refund
- less 4% in the case of online or POS card transactions - Cancellation 14-8 days prior to tour date = 80% refund
- less 4% in the case of online or POS card transactions - Cancellation 7-0 days prior to tour date, late arrivals or “no show” = No refund / 0% Refund (Full fee charged)
* 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.
