Experience the thrill of diving with great white sharks on this full-day adventure to Gansbaai, one of the most famous shark viewing hotspots in the world. Travel from Cape Town to the Kleinbaai harbour at Gansbaai, where a continental breakfast is served during the briefing.
Then we take a short boat trip to the Dyer Island area, where we anchor the custom-built catamaran for our dive. Here you climb into a safe and secure cage to get a close-up look at the great whites underwater, as well as watching these apex predators from the viewing decks on board. After your thrilling dive with the great white sharks at Dyer Island, we return to the cosy great white centre for hot soup and bread while you are debriefed. Then we transfer back to Cape Town, having experienced a rare and unforgettable great white shark adventure off the Southern Coast of South Africa.
This Shark Diving Day Tour includes a visit the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary (time allowing) in Gansbaai, and two or more of the Marine Big Five (sharks, dolphins, whales, seals and penguins) are usually spotted on the trip, along with several bird species.
This is a full-day Great White Shark Tour to Dyer Island off Gansbaai, starting and ending in Cape Town. Gansbaai is one of the top five places in the world to go great white shark cage diving and the most famous hotspot in South Africa.
This Shark Cage Diving Adventure begins with collection from central locations in Cape Town city early in the morning. We leave the Cape Town metropolitan area and travel southeast towards the fishing village of Gansbaai, located in the pretty Overberg Region of South Africa. This scenic drive from Cape Town to Gansbaai takes about two and a half hours, bringing us to our base in the quaint Kleinbaai area of Gansbaai.
Arriving at this famous little bay we enjoy a continental breakfast and some tea or coffee while being briefed about the shark cage diving experience and the great white sharks. The pre-activity brief includes information about the safety procedures and formalities for the dive. After breakfast, we take a short stroll down to the natural harbour at Kleinbaai, where we board the 46 foot (14m) long catamaran and set off for Dyer Island. This exciting boat trip in the custom-designed shark cage diving boat takes about 25 minutes. The exact anchor site, and therefore the duration of the boat trip, depends on where the sharks are on the day that you visit.
We usually spend about two hours anchored off Dyer Island for the cage dive, depending on the number of people diving, the local conditions and the shark activity. Here the secure stainless steel cage is lowered into the water, about a metre below the surface. Then it's time to get into the cage, which is secured to the boat in the water, wearing the mask, booties, wetsuit and weight belt provided.
Great white sharks are sighted off Dyer Island year-round with a 99% success rate on this trip, throughout the year. So, you are almost sure to see a great white shark up close, from the safety of the cage. The cage is stable and covered with two lids, providing a safe environment for viewing the sharks. You decide when to dip your head underwater and how long you want to stay submerged.
During the diving trip, you can relax on the boat and watch the sharks from the upper deck, which offers excellent views and photo opportunities. You can also enjoy snacks and drinks (bread rolls, chips, cold drinks and hot chocolate) onboard the boat. After your close encounter with the great white sharks, we take a quick trip through Shark Alley, weather permitting. Shark Alley is renowned for the abundance of sharks drawn to the channel to prey on the Cape Fur Seals of Geyser Rock, a breeding colony numbering around 60000 seals.
Back at the activity hub warm soup and bread is served during the debriefing about the trip and shark conservation. After the light meal and discussion beside the fireplace and heaters, you can take a warm shower (cash facility). Then we leave Gansbaai, driving back to Cape Town, where this shark cage diving adventure comes to a close.
This day tour includes a free visit to the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary in Gansbaai, time allowing. This optional visit is not guaranteed as it depends on the time available and group preferences. It takes place before or after the shark cage dive depending on the timing of your shark cage dive and group preferences.
The sanctuary is a world-class facility for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured, sick or distressed marine birds, focussing on the endangered African penguin in particular. The state-of-the-art African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary has a fully equipped lab and rehabilitation area with a vet on standby. Visitors gain insight into the plight of seabirds in the wild and find out more about marine conservation.
This trip is conducted in a custom-built shark cage diving boat that is designed for safety, stability, comfort and speed. This spacious boat features two platforms for the bait and decoy handlers to ensure the best possible viewing of sharks and other marine animals. There are also storage facilities onboard for your personal items and both male and female toilets.
The state-of-the-art shark diving cage is 4.5m long and 2.5m deep, comfortably accommodating eight divers at a time.
We recommended taking the following items on your shark diving trip:
This tour does take children.
Children of all ages are welcome on the boat if conditions allow, and children are under the complete supervision of their parents.
We will advise clients who wish to bring their children if conditions are adverse and recommend accordingly.
Our recommendation is that children of 10 years and older enter the cage, and only if the parents accompany them.
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