Great White Shark Diving in South Africa

Great White Shark Cage Diving

This is possibly the greatest thrill that you will ever experience. Just imagine pulling up on the boat in 'Shark Alley', the open stretch of water between the mainland and Dyer Island off Gansbaai, South Africa referred to as the White Shark Diving capital of the world. The wonderful thing about shark diving in Gansbaai is that you only have to take a 20 minute boat ride to Dyer Island. In the winter time we can even see sharks before the shark chum is dropped into the water and it is clear to see why Gansbaai is named as being the most densely populated area for Great White Sharks in the World. We get White Sharks here along the coast all year round but Winter is the best time to come and see these beautiful animals.

The beauty is that in Gansbaai you do not have to be a qualified diver to see the Great White Sharks from the boat or cage. As the cages are mounted next to the boat and floated on the surface it is very easy for inexperienced divers to jump in and take a good look at the Great Whites as they cruise past the cage. For most of the year the divers do not use air or snorkels in the cage as the bubbles tend to make the Great White Sharks nervous and very cautious. We want the shark to be comfortable with the boat and people diving in the cages so that they will come as close as possible. It is not uncommon for a shark’s pectoral fin to glide just into the gap in the cage as it swims past.

Great White Shark Surface Viewing

It is important to stress that you do not have to dive in the cage to see the Great White Sharks. The boat based viewing all year round is exceptional and there are many people who just take the trip to see the Great White Sharks from the boat. Unfortunately there is no difference in price to just view the sharks from the boat. The costs involved are virtually the same with the Chum, Bait, Catering, Crew, Fuel and Environmental taxes. It is simply a bonus if you decide when out there to slip on a wetsuit and jump in the cage to have a closer look.

Meet Our Great White Sharks

The sharks patrol the deeper water as well as the edges of the kelp fields in the area. This is where the seals play and they offer an easy meal for the great whites. The seals stay in the kelp as it offers them a safe haven from the patrolling predators but one wrong turn and they are out in the grasp of natures ultimate killing machine. The boats position themselves according to the water current, wind, swell, and marine environment. All of the white shark diving operators have been running for a long time now and are highly experienced when positioning themselves to attract the sharks.

Shark Diving Central Bookings

There are currently 8 white shark cage diving operators in Gansbaai, all operate around Dyer Island, Geyser Rock or in Shark Alley depending on the conditions. We have developed a relationship with the top operators in the area and are able to bring you an unrivalled and fair choice when deciding on a tour with 0% commission added to the price. To find out more about what each operator has to offer please see the following summaries of the operators.
Our Operators

Shark Diving Unlimited

Price Per Head : R1100 Per Person per day R700 for Children under 12 Years Old R1350 including shuttle Boat Charter : R18,000 for 4-5 Hours

Shark Diving Unlimited is a family run great white shark cage diving operation with over 10 years of experience. Their crew is very knowledgeable and will do their best to take you the shark lover out for your dream encounter with the Great White Shark.

Shark Diving Unlimited have worked with the BBC, Animal Planet, National Geographic, Discovery Channel and countless photo-journalists to create visually stunning images of great white sharks. Shark Diving Unlimited has also been the company of choice for Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, the King of Jordan and HRH Prince Harry!

White Shark Diving Company:

R1100 - Max 12 on boat – 4 Man Cage - (R1450 incl. shuttle from Cape Town)

This is a great operator with an excellent crew which work well with the sharks. The boat is a large comfortable boat with ample space to move around. It has a large upper deck which is great for viewing the sharks and spotting them from a distance. The cage is a sturdy rectangular 4 man cage which is very spacious when only 2 divers go in at a time.

There is a Videographer on the boat for each trip and you will have the opportunity of buying a DVD of the day following your trip.

White Shark Projects:

R1100 p/p - Max 17 on boat - 4 Man Cage - (R1350 for the shark diving including return shuttle from Cape Town) - R600 for Children under 16 Years Old

There is a Videographer on the boat for each trip and you will have the opportunity of buying a DVD of the day following your trip.

This is a fine operator with much experience. White shark Projects have won awards for education and research and always strive to educate people about the Great White Shark. The boat is large and has a large upper deck which proves excellent for boat based viewing of the sharks. They use a 4 man cage. There is a Videographer on board every trip to film the experience. Following your trip you will watch the footage (Under water & above water) and have the option to purchase this on DVD / VHS.

White Shark Adventures:

R1100.00 p/p - R1350.00 p/p including return transfers from Cape Town - We can take 40 passengers - 6 man cage - No Children Allowed under the age of 14

Video of the day option is not available with this company.

White Shark Adventures is the only operator to run from Gansbaai harbour. They have a 57 foot motorised catamaran that was built especially for shark viewing and cage diving and provides the ultimate stability at sea. Diving takes place on a rotational basis and on good diving days, it is possible for each diver to take more than one dive.

Marine Dynamics:

R1100.00 p/p - R720.00 p/p Whale watching - We can take 19 passengers - 5 man cage

Video of the day option is not available with this company.

Marine Dynamics, a diving operation specialising in encounters with the Great White shark in possibly the best place in the world to view these magnificent predators, a channel aptly named "Shark Alley".Six nautical miles away is Dyer Island, possibly the best place in the world to view these magnificent predators. The island is a bird sanctuary and a breeding site for the African penguin and many other coastal birds.

Great White Shark Tours:

R1100 pp - Max 40 on boat – 8 Man Cage - (R1350.00 for shark diving including transport from designated pickup points in Cape Town) - No Children Allowed under the age of 14

Video of the day option is not available with this company.

Brian (The owner) is a good entertainer and after many years doing this is still passionate about the White sharks and giving clients a good experience. One drawback is the number of people on the boat but Brian Reassures us that clients get full attention and plenty cage time. The boat has an upper deck which is great for boat based viewing. They pride themselves on using the freshest of bait and use plenty of chum to draw the sharks to the boat.

Shark Lady Adventures:

R1250 per person (R1200 cash) - Shuttle R250 per person (2 or more) R450 for a single transfer from Cape Town - R600 for children under 10 Year Old - Max 13 on boat – 4 Man Cage .

A fine operator with knowledgeable crew. The boat is large but they insist not to fill the boat to its capacity of 16. They reduce the numbers to 13 so to give the clients the best chance of having the experience they have been dreaming about for long. The boat does not have an upper deck so you will not have the opportunity to take aerial photographs. In winter months (April - September) there will be option offered to dive in the famous crystal (Perspex) cage as seen on TV. The price is R1900.00 and will include a metal cage dive as well as the crystal cage. If the lexan is not diveable they will refund R700.00

The Video of the day option is not available with this company unless exclusively booked.

White Shark Ecoventures:

R1125 - Max 25 on boat – 6 Man Cage - (R1375 incl. shuttle from Cape Town)

White Shark Ecoventures were one of the first operators to start the shark diving. They have a large boat with upper and lower deck. The cage is a 6 man cage with rounded ends for maximum space and comfort for divers. The boat also has a separate wet deck on the back separated from the main part of the boat for maximum comfort for clients that are not cage diving. There are also 2 fresh water showers on the wet deck available for you to rinse off after the dive.

There is a Videographer on the boat for each trip and you will have the opportunity of buying a DVD of the day following your trip. (postal delivery up to 6 weeks)
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PADI White Shark Speciality Course:

Shark Diving Unlimited is proud to announce a world exclusive - the PADI Great White Specialty Course - available only to qualified divers.

Over 3 days you will cage dive with the great white shark at least twice and scuba dive with seals in the infamous Shark Alley - Don't worry our crew has intimate knowledge of the Dyer Island ecosystem and can guarantee your complete safety whilst you dive amongst the clowns of the ocean!

The course is hosted by Michael Rutzen - owner of Shark Diving Unlimited and world famous for free-diving with the great white shark! Michael is one of the few people in the world who has interacted with the great white shark outside the limits of a safety cage!

When To Visit the Great White Shark

Winter – April - September

In winter it usually doesn't take long to for the first sharks to arrive, however this is nature and the shark is the boss and not the diver or tour operator. Patience is vital, as with all things in nature, but when waiting, just remember that you are in the white shark diving capital of the world! The chances of seeing a great white shark are higher here than anywhere else. White Sharks so far have not been able to survive captivity so this may be your only chance to see one in the flesh (excuse the expression). During these months the operators work around Dyer Island as the sharks are there hunting for Cape Fur Seals. The weather is unpredictable during these months so please allow for a few days spare following your booked trip in the event that your trip is cancelled due to high seas.

Summer – October - March

In the summer months the water is surprisingly, much colder than the winter. Due to Gansbaai's geographical location being on the Atlantic ocean but close to the Indian ocean, there are huge differences in water temperature depending on currents and weather systems. The Sharks are by the beach during these months hunting for Game Fish and not by Dyer Island. Sightings are still good but the water visibility is not great (1-5 meters) The Shark activity is generally slower and it is more difficult to attract the sharks to the boats. It is advisable to allow for a few days to increase your chances of seeing a Great White Shark. On record, February & March are the worst times to come as the Shark activity is normally very slow but we have had a few good summers in a row so things are looking good.

Eco Adventures – Gansbaai

Eco Adventures is the hub of adventure activities in the Gansbaai area and offers exciting trips and experiences for all. Gansbaai is world famous for it's Great White Sharks and little else. For a long time people have overlooked Gansbaai for what it is. This is a truly stunning little town and it has SO much to offer! You have not really experienced the South African coastal areas without stopping over in Gansbaai and enjoying the surroundings. We are blessed with:

4x4 Mountain Tours

Join us on a 4x4 mountain adventure to view Gansbaai and the stunning coastline from the sky.

Sea Kayak Tours

Join us on a leisurely kayak along the stunning cliff edges along De Kelders (the best land based whale watching spot in the world)

Historic Caves

Take a tour in the oldest caves in South Africa. Swim and take a drink from the miracle mineral waters that run through the caves.

For more information please go to our site: www.eco-adventures.co.za

Call Us:

Phone (Mobile) +27 (0)82 466 4519

Landline (UK) 0871 474 1821
Fax (South Africa) +27 (0)28 384 1723