great white shark breaching tours south africa

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• ​Great White Shark diving & breaching Tour

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By Devryn Panaino

Safari Travel Planner

See the spectacular breaching behaviour of great white sharks as they hunt for Cape fur seals in False Bay, or go cage diving to get up close.

Great white shark diving and viewing expeditions operating out of Simon’s Town harbour on the Cape Peninsula are designed to show you some of the most spectacular behaviour seen anywhere in the animal kingdom, and to educate you on the white shark behaviour you’ll see at Seal Island. Seal Island has become world-famous for its breaching great whites that hunt some of the 64,000 Cape fur seals that live there.

You can also go cage diving to see the sharks up close.

All companies and boats comply with all safety requirements. They take small groups of 6–12 people to enhance your experience of seeing great white sharks and in an uncrowded environment. The crews can interact easily with guests and share their knowledge.

Note that these excursions are seasonal and weather dependent.

Great white shark morning trip The main focus of the morning tour is on a natural interaction with the sharks. We try to treat these animals with the respect they deserve and to share our passion for them with you.

Great white shark afternoon trip As with trips offered at Gansbaai, the sole focus of this afternoon trip is cage diving and surface viewing. Although you stand a chance of seeing the natural predation and breaching, this behaviour mostly takes place in the early morning so your chances of viewing this aren’t as good as on the morning excursion. But cage diving and surface viewing are more than enough to get you excited.

Season: February to September

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Shark Breaching Tour

Shark watching , camps bay.

You will be picked up this morning from your hotel and transferred to the launch site in False Bay. Collection is at 06:00 with launch at 07:00. You will join your skipper, a qualified shark expert for a briefing before setting off for Seal Island. Scientists have acknowledged that great white sharks behave differently in False Bay at Seal Island to anywhere else along the South African coastline. This is mostly due to the ideal topographical structure around the island, allowing for stealth and attack and therefore "flying" out of the water after their prey.

On arrival at the island around sunrise you will spend the first 1 - 1.5 hours watching the natural predation activity and trying to get the sharks to breach on the decoy seal. Breaching is spectacular and involves the Great White Shark launching its body clear out of the water to attack fleeing Cape Fur Seals. From around half 9 to 12:00 we will anchor the boat at the island and you will have the opportunity to cage dive should you so wish. You will return to the harbour around 2pm. Refreshments are served on board the boat. You will be transferred back to your hotel in Cape Town.

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Activities similar to Shark Breaching Tour

Shark Cage Diving

Get eye to eye with a great white shark.

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Shark Cage Diving, Breaching & Natural Predation

Witness the spectacular phenomenon of great white shark breaching in South Africa A.K.A "Flying Sharks".

Seal Island in False Bay is located 30km south of Cape Town and is by far one of the best places in the world to see this highly unusual behaviour. Occurring here with more frequency than anywhere else, it's an experience not to be missed.

Shark Breaching is a form of the hunting technique that the great white shark uses to surprise and kill its prey. They surface with such force and explosive energy that it propels the shark right out of the water.

An unforgettable sight and great photo opportunity, if you are able to capture the moment.

The Shark Cage Diving, Breaching and Natural Predation / Air Jaws Morning Trips are run 7 days a week  May to mid September and is strictly weather dependent and subject to availability.

Early mornings is also when the great white’s natural predatory interaction with the Cape Fur seal is at its most intense, so we recommened that you book this tour well in advance (2 - 3 weeks) to secure your seat on the boat.

Return Transfers from central Cape Town can be arranged upon request.  Cost:  R600.00 per person , minimum 2 passengers.

Find out more about the Trip

A b % what to expect, a b l m what's included, about the trip:.

You start the day by meeting at the Simon's Town Pier where you will be met by the crew.

Once on board you'll receive a boat safety briefing, a short introduction on the Great White Shark hunting behaviour and what you can expect with regards to the Cage Dive.

The Predatory Event:

On entering great white territory the crew will try to get the boat as close to the predatory event as possible. Every effort will be made to avoid blocking the seal’s escape path to the Island ensuring our environmental impact on this extraordinary event is minimal.

Not every breach leads to a successful kill. If the great white shark misses the seal, then the chase is on. It is a game of cat and mouse of epic proportions as you root for the seal and its getaway, all the while being conflicted by the prospect of a successful hunt.

Once the predation activity quietens down the crew will then use the decoy, a fake cut out “dummy seal" made of soft cushion which will be towed behind the boat in an attempt to get the great white shark to breach. The decoy is soft and will not harm the shark in any way and will only be done for a limited period to allow for that perfect photo opportunity.

The Cage Dive:

The crew will then anchor the boat, drop the cage into the water and start chumming to get the sharks closer to the boat. Guests will then be allowed in the cage if they wish (2 - 3 at a time) with each diver having approximately 20-30 minutes underwater with these magnificent creatures. This is dependent on shark activity.

Food and Drink:

Light lunch, snacks and cool drinks will be available on board the boat.

Return to Shore:

After approximately 5 - 5.5 hours spent out at sea, you will return to the pier in Simon's Town.

The Trip includes:

• Shark Cage Diving, Surface Viewing plus Breaching & Natural Predation
• Light lunch, drinks and snacks on board
• All dive gear

a b & What to Bring

A b $ optional extras, what to bring with you:.

• Hat, Sun block & Towel
• Swimsuit or Swimming Trunks for under wetsuits
• Warm jacket or jumper as it can sometimes get chilly on the boat
• Sea / Motion Sickness Tablets

Optional Extras:

• Drinks and Meals not specified.
• Return Transfer to Cape Town can be arranged upon request.  Cost R500.00 per person, minimum 2 passengers.

a b + = Safety

A b ' accommodation.

The safety of our customers on every Cage Diving Trip is of utmost importance to us.

The Operators we deal with have an unblemished Safety Record and carry out regular safety checks. Shark Cage Diving with Great Whites has become an important part of Eco-Tourism in South Africa so ensuring your safety also ensures the continued survival of the Great White Shark.

No Current Info

a b ! Itinerary, Location & Directions

Note that the schedules below are a mere guideline and can change at any time due to sea / tidal and weather conditions.

Morning Schedule: (May to Mid September only)

Please give yourself an hour to make it on time.

• From Cape Town, take the N2 towards Somerset West/Cape Town International Airport.
• Stay on the N2 until you see signs for Muizenberg (M3).
• Remain on the M3 until you reach exit 23, take the M42 towards Steenberg Rd/Muizenberg.
• At the traffic lights, turn left. Stay on Steenberg Rd, until you reach another set of traffic lights then turn right onto Main Road (M4).
• Continue on the Main Road all the way along the coast, passing through Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay and then Fishhoek.
• At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Simon's Town Road, which then becomes Main Road then St Georges Street until you see the Central Hotel on your right hand side.
• Take the first left onto Wharf Street.

What can I expect to see on my shark diving trip? We are fortunate to encounter sporadic great white sharks, copper sharks and even stingrays on our trips.

Shark cage diving in South Africa by Great White Shark Tours

We invite you to join us onboard our boat, Apex Predator ,  for the ultimate great white shark cage diving and surface viewing adventure tour in South Africa.

Gansbaai is known as the great white shark capital of the world and is only a two-and-a-half hour scenic drive from Cape Town. It is here that Great White Shark Tours will make your dreams come true! The experienced crew will share their vast knowledge of the water world where they operate when they take you to view great white sharks from the surface or underwater from a cage. This marine wonderland is the closest place in the world where you can safely see these apex predators in their natural environment.

Our boat launches from Kleinbaai , only 12km from the coastal fishing village of Gansbaai , on an exhilarating 20-minute boat ride to where we will start looking for our first sharks. During the summer months, the sharks keep closer to shore and during winter they move to Shark Alley , a nearby channel created by two islands. Dyer Island with its endangered African Penguins and migrating bird colonies and Geyser Rock with its resident colony of 60 000 Cape Fur Seals. This is great white shark diving with added value!

Depending on the weather, our boat departs every day of the year and offers fantastic value-for-money shark cage diving and surface viewing adventure trips. When looking for shark cage diving trips in South Africa , book with a licensed shark cage operator and you will be sure to create memories to last a lifetime!

OUR SHARK TRIP RATES

ADULTS R2200.00 per person

CHILDREN UNDER 12 R1500.00 per person

EXCLUSIVE CHARTERS FOR THOSE WISHING PRIVACY. RATES EXCLUDE TRANSPORT.

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Air Jaws: Encounters with the Great White Sharks of South Africa

Published on: April 14th, 2014

Last modified: January 13th, 2017

Research into the notorious great white shark has revealed an intelligent animal quite different from the fearsome killer we’ve come to imagine, but despite the misrepresentation of the white shark, witnessing its incredible breaching technique in South Africa’s False Bay serves as an awesome reminder as to the sheer might of this highly adapted predator…

The great white shark needs little introduction. Forged into a symbol of fear by Hollywood films such as Jaws , and hardly helped by its unnervingly deadly appearance, the great white shark is actually not quite the terrifying, ruthless killer than many might think – even if you’d rather not happen upon one unexpectedly.

New research has found the sharks to be quite uninterested in humans as prey; we’re too bony for sharks, who generally seem to prefer the rich blubber of seals. Research has also revealed many more interesting aspects to these incredible creatures – and one of these things is breaching, a behavioural trait that seems largely restricted to the waters around  South Africa .

One of the most fascinating characteristics of the great white is its breaching behaviour: a surprise attack in which the sharks launch themselves at their prey from beneath, reaching speeds of over 25 miles (40 kilometres) an hour, propelling themselves clean out of the water.

False Bay’s Seal Island, 45 minutes from Cape Town , is the best place in the world to watch this awesome spectacle.

Researcher Chris Fallows is one of the world’s leading authorities on white sharks, and he was the first photographer to capture breaching on camera. In 2000, Chris – who has been tagging great whites since the late 1980s – and his wife Monique set up Apex Shark Expeditions , the first tour company to allow visitors to witness white shark breaching. Apex have been featured in many white shark documentaries, including the Discovery Channel’s Air Jaws .

Why do great white sharks breach?

Breaching is a great white shark hunting technique, designed to surprise their prey (in the instance of False Bay, the fur seals) and hit them with such force that they’re incapacitated. Apex have found that over the past eighteen years, the success rate of a breach is around 47% – a figure that has declined slightly over the past five years, from 51%. If the seal manages to avoid the clutches of the shark’s jaws, then the chase is on!

Seal Island

Around Seal Island, breaching seems to be far more prevalent than anywhere else in the world. The sharks are attracted in the first place by the 64,000 Cape fur seals that live on Seal Island.

Experts suggest that one reason sharks breach in False Bay is because of the size of the fur seals, which are not big enough to hurt the sharks when they make contact, but are sizeable enough to grab mid-launch. Another factor is thought to be because there is a steep drop-off just off the island, and the water in which the seals suddenly find themselves is deep enough for sharks to approach undetected.

Most of the sharks that breach around Seal Island are ‘teen’ sharks (around three to four metres long), still agile enough to leap, and without the bulk of adult sharks.

Tours allow companies like Apex to fund important research. Chris and Monique’s tour groups are the smallest in False Bay, and visitors will benefit from the couples’ expert knowledge and obvious dedication to protecting the sharks.

Some companies are guilty of excessive chumming of the water to attract sharks, but Apex don’t use lots of bait to attract sharks to the area, instead relying on their daily observations over the past years.

When is the best time to watch the sharks breaching?

The shark breaching season at False Bay (when the white sharks visit these waters) is from May to September, with June, July and August being the best months for activity. There is a chance of seeing some breaching activity outside these months, but it’s not as common.

Early morning is the best time of day to catch the sharks hunting, without having to rely on a decoy to encourage an attack.

Watching the white sharks breach is a great way to see these finely tuned animals in their natural environment, providing a more ‘authentic’ experience than cage diving. Apex offer long trips out to False Bay where you can watch natural predation and cage dive, too: an essential part of any adventure or wildlife enthusiast’s Cape Town itinerary. 

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Sun-soaked coasts

Air jaws: leaping great white sharks.

G G reat white shark s breaching – leaping high in the air before smash ing back down into the water – has been witnessed almost exclusively around Seal Island in False Bay, south-east of Cape Town . T his spectacular form of hunting – by a species currently listed as ‘vulnerable’, one step away from ‘endangered’ – is now a tourism drawcard .   

The first f ootage of great whites breaching took the world by storm. For some , though, this premeditated hunting behaviour made the shark an even more formidable predator than they had imagined. S adly, t he cliché that ‘any publicity is good publicity’ has never applied to great white sharks – not since the horror film  Jaws .  

More than 40 years after the worst – and most inaccurate – publicity campaign any wild creature has endured , great white sharks ’ vulnerable status is an indication that they are still struggling to shed their reputation as man-eating predators prowling the ocean s maliciously .  

On a boat tour to see the shark s breaching in False Bay, you’ll discover that quite the opposite is true . I f you are extremely fortunate, you’ll get to see a shark as long as 3.8m – that’s the combined height of two tall men – launch out of the water as it deploys its unique hunting technique .  

B B aby Cape fur seals are the food source that cause these remarkable aerial gymnastics at dinner time . Located about 5km offshore, Seal Island is home to more than 60 000 seals. In winter, when game fish are scarce, seal pups become the great white’s meal of choice . The shark’s lunge out the water is part of a surprise attack that starts deep beneath the surface .  

Seal Island appeals to sharks for more than its ‘all-you-can-eat’ buffet during the pupping season . A sharp 25m drop-off from the island gives the predators the perfect launch pad for their attack. Camouflaged against the sea bottom by its colouration (great whites have a white belly and grey back), the shark swims in a rapid upward trajectory with speeds often exceeding 40km/h.  

It ’ s the final lunge that takes the shark somersaulting out of the water, sometimes as high as 3 m etres into the air. In about half the attacks, though, the shark doesn ’ t catch the seal : many pups escape using their incredible underwater agility .  

If you’re interested in marine wildlife and you’re in Cape Town at the right time of year, taking a boat tour to watch the great whites feeding – and perhaps treating you to an aerial display – is an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience.    

Be aware, though, that in the past few years the number of great white sharks feeding around Seal Island, and the frequency of their visits, has declined; scientists are not yet sure why. As a result, encounters with these magnificent but threatened creatures are never guaranteed.  

T T ravel tips & Planning  info  

Who to contact 

Apex Shark Expeditions   Tel: +27 (0) 21 786 5717   Email:  [email protected]  

Simon’s Town T ourism O ffice   Tel: +27 (0)21 786 8440   Email:  [email protected]      

How to get here  

From the airport, take the N2 (Cape Town) turn-off. Take the M3 (Muizenberg) turn-off to the right, and head south for about 20km. At the T-junction, turn right towards Ou Kaapse Weg . Cross one set of traffic lights and take the Simon’s Town/ Ou Kaapse Weg road left. This road will take you over the mountain, past the train station and into the centre of Simon’s Town.  

Best time to visit  

The best time to see great whites at Seal Island – although sightings are never guaranteed, especially in recent years – is from mid-April to mid-September , when baby Cape fur seals are abundant .  

Get around 

You can reach Simon’s Town by car or by train. If you do not have a hire car, metered taxis or Uber will get you from your accommodation to the harbour for your tour .  

Around the area  

Being the primary base of the South African Navy, all things maritime are popular in Simon’s Town. Visit the beach, the harbour and the museums, sail, dive, fish, sea kayak, whale watch and don’t leave without visiting the town’s cutest residents: the African penguins of Boulders Beach.  

Tours to do 

There are museum tours, harbour tours, historic walking tours and even a mine tour in Simon’s Town.  

What will it cost? 

Shark encounter tours cost f rom approx imately R2 6 00 p er person.  

What to pack  

All your dive gear is supplied as well as a light lunch and beverages. Wear flat shoes with a good grip, and take a warm, weatherproof jacket for the boat ride. False Bay seas can be choppy, so if you suffer fro m sea-sickness , take the necessary medication prior to your trip .  

Where to stay  

Tours depart from Simon's Town harbour, so make this quaint fishing village and naval base your home from home. Cho ices range from camping, caravan parks and backpackers to 4 -star hotels .  

What to eat  

Seafood restaurants with fabulous views abound in Simon’s Town, but for something special visit the Boulders Beach Restaurant and feast on Pacific-rim cuisine just metres from the famous Boulders penguin colony; or dine onboard a museum ship, the CS Cable Restorer. There’s a wicked patisserie in town too.  

Best buys 

Souvenir hunters will find naval-themed art, shells and gemstone s at Mineral World.  

Related l inks  

• Simon ’ s Town Tourism  
• Cape Town T ourism  

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Shark Diving Packages

Choose from a range of shark cage diving tours in South Africa. Shark Bookings is a dive specialist countrywide and many international destinations. Find all information in one place, and most importantly bookings are in real time with instant confirmation .

Choose from a range of shark cage diving packages in South Africa.

Gansbaai Packages

Our Gansbaai packages will have you diving with Great White Sharks & Whales in no time.

Sardine Run Packages

The sardine run is an incredible, not to be missed natural phenomena from June – July

Cape Town Packages

Stunning combination of White Shark Breaching in Cape Town with White Shark Cage Diving in Gansbaai

Sardine Run, Flying Great Whites, Great White Shark Cage Diving, Shark Diving ... African Safaris & Adventures

DIVING SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa Dive Resorts

• Thonga Beach Lodge

South Africa Dive Tours

Sardine Run: • Sardine Run 2024 Great White Shark Diving: • AIRJAWS Shark Breaching Trip • Flying Great White Sharks • Flying Great White Sharks - One Day Tour Flying Great White Sharks & Safari in Kruger --> • Great White Shark Cage Diving, Gansbaai • Great White Shark Cage Diving, Seal Island - False Bay Tiger Shark, Black Tip Shark Other Shark Diving: • Shark Diving in Aliwal Shoal, 7 Night Reef / Wreck and Shark Safari Diving and Safari: • Reef Diving & Safari Package

DIVE DESTINATIONS

Africa Africa -->    • Madagascar    • Malawi    • Mozambique    • São Tomé and Príncipe    • South Africa    • St Helena Island    • Tanzania Atlantic Ocean    • Portugal Caribbean    • Costa Rica    • Cuba    • Dominica    • Dominican Republic Central & Western Pacific    • Australia    • Fiji    • French Polynesia - Tahiti    • Micronesia    • Papua New Guinea    • Philippines    • Solomons    • Tonga    • Vanuatu Eastern Pacific    • Cocos Islands    • Galapagos    • Guadalupe    • Malpelo Island    • Mexico    • Socorro Indian Ocean    • Indonesia    • Malaysia    • Maldives    • Seychelles      • Alphonse Island    • Sri Lanka    • Timor-Leste Others    • Arctic & Antarctica Djibouti -->    • Red Sea - Egypt - Sudan Sharks, Whales, etc    • Sardine Run    • Shark Diving        • Mozambique        • South Africa        • South Australia        • Farallon Islands, USA        • Guadalupe, Mexico    • Whale Watching

ADVENTURE DESTINATIONS

Africa    • Active Africa    • Ethiopia    • Morocco Asia    • India    • Myanmar in Focus South America    • Argentina    • Brazil    • Chile    • Ecuador    • Guyana & Suriname    • Peru Others    • Italy    • New Zealand

Scuba Diving South Africa

Sardine run, flying great whites, great white shark cage diving, shark diving ....

Sardine Run

Every year the world's greatest marine migration takes place off the South African Wild Cost. Millions of sardines follow the cold winter currents moving north toward the warm Indian Ocean, bringing with them thousands of predators: dolphins, sharks, whales, seals and marine birds.

Location : Transkei, Wild Coast South Africa

Great White Shark Breaching

The great whites of Seal Island are now world famous for their highly athletic breaches that they make in pursuit of Cape fur seals which they hunt in the area. We can take you to Seal Island's world famous flying great whites. This is the most talked about natural phenomena worldwide. This is not just for film crews but can also be witnessed by you.

Location : Simons Town, Western Cape

Dates : High season May - Sept (95%) | Intermediate season April & Oct (65%) | Low season Nov - March (55%)

" My first time at Simon's Town, Cape Town, South Africa after several day of team shark not wanting to play. On the very last day at sea I got the event I have been waiting for. Well worth the flight and time ... would do it again!!!"

-- David Greenwald

Photo taken with Nikon D3s 300mm 2.8 lens shutter speed 1200

Great White Shark Cage Diving

South Africa is best known for big action, shark diving and it's the most popular place to encounter the enormous, elusive and intimidating Great White Shark. We recommend cage diving with this fellow, but they have been known to make an occasional presence here and there while free diving. Yikes!

Best Time: Great White Cage Diving is seasonal. The best time for great white shark cage diving is from June thru September.

Ragged Tooth Sharks And Tiger Sharks

The South Coast of KZN is blessed with two vast offshore reef systems. Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks (5 and 8km offshore respectively). These reefs attract sharks of all shapes and sizes so if you are looking for the big stuff outside of the cage - this is where it's at. These are both scuba diving locations, so no cages at all.

Aliwal Shoal: With its many caves, gullies and pinnacles, this dive spot provides a seasonal residence for hundreds of ragged-tooth sharks. From June to October it is not unusual to find yourself in the presence of several, large and fully mature specimens, with many of them circling a sandy Amphitheatre shaped depression known as The Cathedral. 40 minutes from Durban, accommodation near here is limited but can easily be reached from Durban hotels. Diving depth is about 25 metres and manageable for Open Water 1 divers.

Protea Banks: known for its Zambezi sharks and recent baited dives on Protea have seen as many as twelve Zambezi (Bull) sharks mixing freely with divers. Hammerhead, ragged-tooth, black tip and tiger shark sightings are also a highlight. Due to its depth and current, divers must hold Advanced certifications with a minimum of 20 logged dives to dive safely on Protea Banks. About 90 minutes from Durban, there are some accommodation options near to the dive site.

Information about ragged tooth & tiger sharks and dive seasons courtesy of New Frontiers

OUR FAVORITES

• AIRJAWS Shark Breaching Trip • Flying Great White Sharks - One Day Tour • Great White Shark Cage Diving, Gansbaai • Great White Shark Cage Diving, Seal Island - False Bay • Sardine Run • Safaris

AFRICAN TRIP REPORTS

• My 21 day run through South African and Mozambique, April 27-May 18 2016 Trip Report • Best of Zimbabwe & Chobe River in Botswana, May 9-21 2015 Trip Report • Best of Zimbabwe and Botswana, May 12 - 25 2014 Trip Report

See All African Trip Reports

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TRIP STATUS

In south africa 10 - 15 june 2024, especially for shark week fans.

Since its premiere in 1998, the Discovery Channel has made waves in a week-long TV programming event dedicated to sharks, now an iconic week in popular culture. This Shark Week expedition in South Africa is designed for Shark Week fans and lovers of Great white sharks who want to visit and explore the historical sites associated with these amazing shark documentaries. The four famous Great white shark hotspots in South Africa are False Bay, Gansbaai, Mossel Bay and Robberg. Under the expert guidance of Apex Shark Expeditions, co-host and narrator of many of the Air Jaws documentaries and other shows seen on Shark Week, we’ll take you to the locations for a behind the scenes tour. Meet the Great white shark* and the shark whisperers* who have starred in these shows over the last two decades.

* Subject to availability.

• Location Land based on the Cape Coastline – South Africa
• Guides Apex Guide
• Transport Included
• Duration 5 days
• Guest Numbers 8 guests
• Diving We use breath- hold or snorkel. No Experience needed for either method Air for certified divers in False Bay upon request
• Age Restriction 12 years old
• Water Temperature 53 – 68 ºF
• Water Visibility 7 – 65 feet
• Includes Accommodation Light breakfast, tea/coffee, snacks and refreshments Dive gear Educational book

Historical Shark Week Tour

• You will arrive in Cape Town the day before the start of the expedition. Should you require additional accommodation before or after your expedition, we will gladly book it for you
• The expedition consists of 5 days of shark trips
• Transfer to your guest house in Simon’s Town, one hour from the airport. The guest house is where the Shark Week Discovery Channel crew have stayed when filming at Seal Island
• Today is your first of 2 shark cage diving morning trips to Seal Island in False Bay.  We see a variety of shark species and these can include the Sevengill shark, Blue shark, Mako sharks and the Great White shark. In 2000, producer Jeff Kurr of Discovery’s Shark Week, travelled to South Africa hoping to capture the incredible breaching technique of the Great white sharks that breached off Seal Island in False Bay. Recording this behaviour was a television first. In the afternoon, we’ll take you behind the scenes of shark week by viewing the first vessel ever used to shoot a breaching shark and to see some of the props used in the filming of the Air Jaws series
• Early morning shark cage diving trip to Seal Island or Cape Point.  See the Ring of Death (where the sharks circle the island) first hand, so called as it has been shown that if the seals enter the “Ring of Death” on the surface instead of at the murky bottom, they are more likely to be picked off by the faster and more aggressive sharks. We’ll depart for Mossel Bay at lunchtime. It is a 5 hour drive
• We’ll start the day off with a shark cage dive in Mossel Bay before heading to Robberg to spot patrolling Great white sharks off the cliffs. Robberg was the set for Air Jaws Strikes Back – Shark Week 2019
• A sunrise breaching trip is scheduled for this morning. We will tow the decoy to illicit this behaviour however there is never a guarantee. After breakfast, we will depart for Gansbaai, the Great White Shark Capital of the World which is approx. a 3 – 4 hour drive. Check into the Saxon Lodge Guest house where yet again, the Discovery channel crew have stayed when filming in this location. Have a drink in the Saxon Arms where many an interview on Shark Week has taken place
• Over the next day, meet and chat to the personalities behind Shark Week and the Shark Cage Diving industry in Gansbaai dating back to the early 1990’s. Personalities are subject to availability (according to busy schedules) but could include Andre Hartman who is in  Great White Sharks: Uncaged , Dickie Chivell who featured on Shark Week from 2016 – 2020 and Alison Towner, who has featured on many shark week shows over the years
• Morning Great white shark trip. We’ll depart for Cape Town hereafter with an ETA of 18H00. Your drop off at the airport or Cape Town and surrounds is included in your package

Seal Island In False Bay

Seal Island is a small island located 3.5 miles off the northern beaches of False Bay, near Cape Town, in South Africa. The island is so named because of the great number of Cape fur seals that occupy it. It is home to Cape and Bank Cormorants and a few African penguins. A radar mast was built on the island during World War II by a crew who lived in prefabricated huts for the duration of the construction but this tower gradually succumbed to corrosion and was blown over in a winter storm in 1970. All that remains of it is rusty, twisted metal. Some rock inscriptions made by sealers in the 1930s are still evident.

The dense population of seals at certain times of the year attracts the seal’s main predator, the Great white shark.  What makes Seal Island and the adjacent waters famous is it provides rare opportunities for those who wish to witness attacks by Great white sharks on the Cape fur seal and to observe social interactions amongst creatures of both species. The island is well known for the interesting way the sharks grab their prey: a shark launching an attack will come up from underneath and hurl itself out of the water with the seal in its mouth. The last couple of years has seen a decline in Great white shark in this area however when we are not seeing Great White sharks, we are seeing other species of shark including the Sevengill shark.

Mossel Bay is a coastal village and harbour on the world famous Garden Route, some 400km from Cape Town. The origin of the name Mossel Bay (the Bay of Mussels) has to do with the ascendancy of the Dutch shipping merchants in the late 16th and the early 17th Centuries. Seal Island is just 2km off the harbour. It’s a natural island where the seals are protected from culling. The island is only 100m long and 50m wide and there are about 4 000 seals living there currently. The adult seals generally move from this tiny island towards the west coast in search of more food. This location delivers good breaching behaviour as well as cage diving with Great white sharks.

Robberg Peninsula, Plettenburg Bay

Eight kilometres from Plettenberg Bay, a pretty peninsula named the Robberg points like a finger into the ocean. On its western flanks wave’s pound like fists against rugged rust-coloured cliffs while on the eastern side the sea is mostly calm. The nearby sounds of waves, gulls and seals enhance an atmosphere already heavy with magic. Here whales like to play, as do dolphins, seagulls, seals and of course, Great white sharks. We’ll stand atop Robberg and peer down to the Great white sharks as they patrol in search of seals. We may be fortunate to witness a predatory event.

Dyer Island is the largest of a group of islands about 5 miles offshore from Gansbaai and less than that from Danger Point peninsula. It is named after Samson Dyer, an emigrant from the USA to the Cape Colony in 1806, who lived on the island collecting guano which he sold to mainlanders as fertilizer. The island is home to a declining colony of African Penguins (ca. 5000 individuals in 2015).

Geyser Rock is a smaller island nearby, and is home to around 60,000 Cape fur seals.

The shallow channel between the two islands is famously known as “Shark Alley”. Many a shark documentary has been shot in this location with the likes of Andre Hartman and another well know personality, Mike Rutzen. Mike has spent more time free diving with Great white sharks than possibly any other person and is one of the few people in the world that understands and responds to Great white shark behaviour and body language. Both Andre and Mike still live in the small town of Kleinbaai close to Shark Alley This location is usually good for cage diving with Great white sharks.

Close to the Sharkiest Oceans

False Bay In Simon’s Town

Located on the mountainside of Simon’s Town, the Grosvenor Guest House offers guests 4 Star accommodations with stunning views across the bay and harbour. A short walk into town gives you access to our shark centre and launch site.

Each guest will have their own on-suite room. Facilities include Wi-Fi, Satellite TV, a safe, laundry services and a well equipped kitchen.

Mossel Bay on the Garden Route

Mossel Bay’s Point Village Hotel is located a few meters from the Indian Ocean, at the end of Mossel Bay’s peninsula, and 1 km from Mossel Bay harbour and town centre. The spacious rooms offer partial bay views.

All accommodation options include a flat-screen TV. Standard rooms have a small kitchenette, and the self-catering apartments have a fully equipped kitchen.

Gansbaai in the Overberg Region

Situated above the Gansbaai Harbour, the 4 star Saxon Lodge offer guests uninterrupted views of Walker Bay and the Hottentots Hollands Mountains and the opportunity to observe a working harbour in action as trawler boats leave and return with their catch.

The rooms are luxury on-suite with an on-site pub and restaurant, splash pool, communal lounge and Wi-Fi.

Accommodation options are subject to availability.

Both The Grosvenor and Saxon Lodge are home to Shark Week crew when they have been filming on location.

Live Shark Week just as the film crew do.

• Species Great white shark, Sevengill shark, Mako Shark, Blue Shark, Cape Fur Seals, African Penguins, Brydes Whales, Southern Right Whales, Common Dolphin and a variety of sea birds
• Number of participants We need a minimum of 6 guests for this trip to depart and a maximum of 8. The expedition will default to a custom package should the minimum number of guests not be met. Should the guests wish to visit all the locations, they will need to pay extra for the transport costs
• Diving The diving is on breath-hold or snorkel and no previous diving experience is needed. If you are SCUBA certified, air is available in False Bay only
• Dive Gear We have 5mm wetsuits from small to 6XL, as well as booties and hoodies. We do have masks and snorkels, but if you are able to bring your own, then do so
• Weather affected days Should inclement weather prevent us from proceeding with a trip, an excursion will be arranged at no additional cost. There are no refunds for bad weather days.  Excursions could include: Cape Point Nature Reserve – The world’s richest floral kingdom Boulders Beach Penguin Colony The Cape’s famous Wine Route Table Mountain Botlierskop Game Reserve – Mossel Bay
• Sightings We are dealing with wild animals, and even though we offer this expedition in our peak shark season, sightings cannot be guaranteed. Refunds are therefore not considered in the event of non-sightings. Due to variable weather conditions and shark activity, diving may not be possible
• The same can be said for the shark week personalities. We will do our best to get you in front of the people who have starred in Shark Week, however this is subject to availability and no one person can be guaranteed
• Itinerary  This is a 5 day jam packed itinerary. There is a fair amount of travel covered via road

Cost upon request

Cost includes

• Airport transfers
• Road transfers pertaining to the expedition
• Accommodation
• Daily shark trips
• Snacks and refreshments on board all trips
• Diving gear

Cost excludes

• Breakfast, lunch & dinner
• Transfers not pertaining to the expedition
• A 50% non-refundable deposit upon booking, with balance due 120 days before the start of the expedition.

Cancellation policy

• Less than 120 days before start date: 100% of the fee.
• No show: 100% of the fee.
• No credits will be given for cancellations beyond our control.

Wildlife Sightings Cannot Be Guaranteed.

We Will However, Give You Realistic Expectations before Making A Booking.

The First Choice Shark Cage Diving Operator For:

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Tuesday 27 June 2023

Next trip 28 June 11h45

*Trip status updated daily at 16h00 SAST