Blue & Mako Shark Viewing in Cape Town

Diving with Mako & Blue Sharks

Take 11 hours off and enjoy all that nature has to throw at you. Board the boat in Simons Town harbour and head off at sunrise to the depths of the warm blue waters of the Indian Ocean. On the journey out you will not be sleeping but looking at all of the scenery and wildlife along the Cape coastline all the way along to Cape Point and beyond. Where we head is approximately 20-40 miles off Cape Point in the rich Pelagic Tuna Fishing waters. Unlike with other operators in other parts of the world Apex Expeditions and African Shark Eco-Charters do not use cages when diving. This is a real treat with raw nature and with the fastest shark in the Ocean, the Mako Shark. Most of the time snorkeling with these majestic sharks is suitable as they come to feed on the surface. Yes Blue Sharks and Mako Sharks are considered dangerous but then so is crossing the road. If you are cautious in what you are doing and listen to the advice of the dive masters you will have an amazing experience with minimal risk. The crews have learnt much about the sharks over the last few years and can read their behaviour and know exactly what to do in the water when up close with the Blue & Mako Sharks.

Mako Shark are known to leap up to 20 feet out of the water and are seen as the athletes of the shark world and this is a real sight to see.

This is also the grounds of the massive Yellowfin Tuna and to dive near one of these huge fish is a real experience to remember.

Both Chris Fallows and Rob Lawrence run their operations from Simons Town between the South African summer months of October – May. Other wildlife that can be seen on the trip is: dolphins or whales on 50% of the trips as well as huge Tuna and other fish often investigating you during dives. For bird lovers this trip is a must with Albatross, Skuas , Petrels, Shearwaters, Prions and many others sighted on virtually all trips.

Shark Diving Central Bookings

There are currently 2 white shark operators in False Bay and both run Pelagic Shark trips from Cape Town. We have developed a relationship with these operators 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.

Blue & Mako Sharks: October - May R1500 - Max 4 on boat – No Cage

Apex Expeditions

In the months of October – May the White Shark Activity is very slow in False Bay and Apex Expeditions focus on Pelagic Shark trips. The trip consists of cruising out to 20-40 miles off Cape Point into the deep warm crystal clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean. There they attract Blue and Mako sharks to the boat and clients have the opportunity to snorkel with thee beautiful animals. Their interest in the Mako shark has grown exponentially after each encounter ,the first of which was 6 years ago and hundreds of others since. These are the masters of the blue desert, which is the pelagic zone. Here the Mako is king. Like it’s inshore relative, the Great White, the Mako controls what goes on out here. In terms of their tolerance of humans in their environment they appear to be undecided of what to make of us.

Also

White Sharks: June – September R1500 - Max 6 on boat – No Cage Diving

Blue & Mako Sharks: October - May R1500 - Max 4 on boat – No Cage

African Shark Eco-Charters

From October to May each year the warm Agulhas current sweeps along the east coast of South Africa bringing with it its clear blue water that teems with life. It is when this clear blue warm water arrives that we head off in search of our blue water predators. Not only the Sharks, but also large Yellow Fin Tuna (that we have successfully dived with) as well as their smaller relatives the Long Fin Tuna.

For naturalist wanting a bit of everything this is a must, from the moment we get out of False Bay we start to see wildlife that land lovers will never see, a multitude of pelagic birds can been seen including Skuas, Terns, Shearwaters, Petrels, Penguins as well as the possibility of seeing up to six different species of Albatross. Whales and Dolphins of many species are also regular visitors on our run out into the deep.

Using the latest high-tech sound equipment emitting low frequency sounds, we attract these masters of the deep right up to our vessel. Here you will have the opportunity to view these animals gracefully swimming around our boat or if you want to dive and are qualified to do so you will be accompanied by one of us into there world. Other shark species that have been spotted include Thintail Threshers smooth as well as Great Hammerhead sharks, these species are rare and should not be expected on a regular basis. Mako sharks have the ability to make prodigious leaps out of the water and this can been observed if you are lucky.