Sharkcage Diving

Tours - South Africa

HOME (English) / South-Africa / South-Africa-Tours

introduction

Perhaps the biggest question you have to ask yourself concerning going/ not going on a tour “Shark Cage Diving’ is whether this is all so natural and is good for the animal you are about to see. I have doubted this for a long time and the fact that it is always a different animal that swims along the cage made me conclude (perhaps naive and wrong) that it is not harmful to the big shark in question. In fact - perhaps the white often misunderstood shark (after the exaggerated films from the 70s - Jaws) is going to be approached in a more positively way.

It can therefore work (positive) educational. The bait that is used is not food (the sharks are not fed) - it is a soup of dead penguins and seals that does not contain "real" food but the smell that makes the sharks arrive close to the boat. The boats and staff are very strict and regularly checked. Practical other things that made me realize that it was pricey but not unaffordable. This will probably change in the future.

Of course it is only possible in places where the great white shark is present and I do not know if I will ever go back to OF Mexico, OR South Africa OR Australia where you can also to this kind of cage-dives. Talking in other words this was an opportunity and I took it. Unfortunately, it is true that since the shark diving has become more popular, the number of shark attacks (among others on humans) has also increased and maybe there is a connection between the two.

options:

Places to go SCD in South-Africa: at Mosselbay, Hermanus and Gansbaai (you can also arrange it already in Cape Town);
Group: 20 to 25 people;
Costs: 995R p.p.;
Best time: May - September (best view in the water);
Time indication: 6 hours
Transport: 100R (return from Hermanus to Kleinbaai) - 45 minutes each way;
Includes: Lunch (2x), snacks, guide, boat and all diving equipment.

Possibilities to rent an underwater camera, buy a (large) towel and the film of the (half) day that is made by the crew. You get a wetsuit, water shoes and a diving mask - there is no need for a diving license or experience because you take dips underwater in the cage.

Don’t leave without:

Towel (big);
Warm clothing (it can get chilly on the boat);
Slippers/ flipflops or something like it;
Headgear, sunglasses and sunscreen;
Money (you pay there);
Camera (underwater);

Additional info: www.greatwhitsharkdiving.co.za

resume

There are 3 to 4 groups per day and you will be told at what time and in which group you are classified. The trip is canceled in bad weather (most of the time when there is too much wind). If you do not see any sharks, you will receive a voucher which will give you a lot of discount on a second attempt.

After you have been picked up from you’re hostel and arrive at the office (where the boat is situated), you get a lunch and the paperwork is arranged (among other things the payment). You get also a short briefing. After that you get on the boat and sail to the place where the cage is (already in the water) in about 25 minutes. Here you change into a wetsuit and the cage is attached to the boat. A second briefing takes place.

Then the first participants take part in the cage (5 people at a time in a row next toe ach other) and the upperpart of the cage is closed. You stay in the water for about 15 to 20 minutes, after which another group enters. When a shark keeps circling the group circulates faster till everybody has gone at least once/twice in the cage. During the whole time, video-recordings are made and this DVD can be purchased later (200R). After about 2 hours on the water the boat sails back. Everybody changes back into his own gear. You can shower quickly (at the office on land) if you want and then everyone gatheres for a hot lunch. The film is shown during the meal. Then you will be neatly returned to the hostel.

Shark-Cage-Diving-Boat-Ventures-South-Africa-Cage

Sharkcage Diving

Tours - South Africa

introduction

options:

resume

see also:

LANDEN: