Cape Town Great White Shark Cage Diving @ Dyer Island / Gansbaai >>> South Africa

COME WITH US AND SEE WHAT LIES BENEATH

We value each and every enquiry into a day with the Great White Sharks! Only by bringing awareness to the world of these wonderful animals and bringing you personally into their private mysterious world, can we dispel any doubts you have of why such an apex predator is of utmost importance to us!!

A DAY WITH US

"Come face to face with the Greatest Predator on earth - The Great White” (of course in a cage!)

Experience long days on beautiful oceans, a rustic stone harbour, and large Black Sophie the treacherous rock named by the shark men. When Black Sophie spews white frothy water, and the jutting rocks are visible at the mouth of Kleinbaai harbour, we stay home and wait for the sea to rest again so we can launch in safety. Just 5 nautical miles out to sea the Great Whites Swim, and on route we plough through the pounding surf around Dyer Island and Geyser Rock, covered in Cape Fur seals and incredible marine bird wild life. Remains of old wrecks have found their way to rest on the "The Rock", and form a ghostly backdrop behind the "boiling water" of seal life. We throw anchor near the channel named "Shark Alley".
We chum and wait, the gentle lolling of the boat, the only sound next to the wind and noise from the seals, when 'suddenly' the first dorsal fin cuts through the water slicing it brilliantly and flipping over, showing us its white belly before it surfaces… We gently lower the cages into the water whilst you quickly don your wetsuits. Now we slowly lower you into the cage. The moment of truth arrived. As you face this graceful, awesome creature you enter a new dimension of solitude and for that moment in time all pre-conceived ideas of what is and what was disappear as you come face to face with one million years in the making......
Whether on board viewing or in the cage, this is a spiritual and breathtaking experience.

ITINERARY

Pick up at hotel in Cape Town at 07h00.

1.	Enjoy a two-hour scenic drive to Gansbaai with our professional tour Guide.
2.	Have a nice breakfast at our lodge…mmm.
3.	As we reach Kleinbaai harbour the dive master of the day gives you briefing on cage emergency procedures.
4.	You done your life jackets and climb on board. If rainy weather each person is issued with a waterproof jacket.
5.	Boat leaves at 10h00 for shark trip. Depending on the tide it might be earlier. It takes about 20 minutes to get to our spot!
6.	Within minutes we are ploughing out of the harbour and heading five nautical miles out to sea on our quest for Great Whites.
7.	We make our way around Dyer Island and Geyser Rock, which boasts A large Cape Fur Seal colony.
8.	The time has come to throw anchor.
9.	We chum and wait…
10.	When the first sharks arrive, we lower the cages into the water…
11.	You climb in and….ADRENALIN!
12.	We throw bait into the water to keep the sharks around the boats and cage.
13.	Lunch, snacks and drinks served on board Shark Team.
14.	Depending on how many sharks we see, the boat returns to shore between 14h00 and 15h30.
15.	A certificate is issued to those who dared the cages!
16.	The exhausted, exhilarated divers and viewers return to Cape Town all in one piece… A spirit of adventure!!!

TIME

We prefer to leave the dock by the latest 10h00, so if driving from Cape Town, please leave no later than 07h15.
Should you decide on the self-drive package, please make sure you arrive on schedule, as we must LEAVE the harbour on time due to the tide. We would unfortunately have to leave without you should you not phone or keep contact with us in the unfortunate event of you running late. Y

ALSO

You would need at least an hour to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Very important!

PLACE

We run the trips from Klein Bay, which is just outside of Gansbaai (approximately 165 km from Cape Town). The area in which we locate the sharks is around Dyer Island. Dyer Island is 5 nautical miles from the dock and the trip to the island takes about 20 minutes. Shark Alley lies between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock. Other wildlife species that you can spot and photograph from the boat are Cape Fur Seals, Cape Gannets, Cape Cormorants, Jackass penguins, dolphins, and during the warmer months we have even had the beautiful Southern Right Whale in all it's majesty swim right up to our boats.

THE CAGE

Once anchored in the channel we make use of a specially designed, secure two man steel cage, which floats on the surface. Our divers are never more than 1m below the surface.
We begin chumming the water with a mixture of crushed sardines and fish oils, forming what we call an "odour corridor" attracting the sharks to the boat. Once they arrive we keep them interested with large pieces of bait attached to bolts. Our staffs are highly experienced in manipulating the sharks for photography and documentaries. TV channels like Discovery, National Geographic and BBC, just to mention a few, would look no further when wanting to film the Great Whites.

DIVING EQUIPMENT

We provide all diving equipment; wet suits, booties, gloves, mask and hood. The oxygen is fed from the boat, by regulator.

HOW MANY DIVES WILL WE HAVE

Diving takes place on a rotational basis, and on good diving days it is possible for each diver to take more than one dive. The duration of each dive depends on the diver and the activity of the sharks, but could be up to half an hour per dive.

WILL NON-DIVERS SEE ANYTHING

The great white (Carcharodon Carcharias) is a surface feeder, the viewer from the boat will be spellbound as they watch the great white lift its head right out of the water to take the bait, sometimes breaching in all its splendour. Only the more fortunate gets to see this spectacular display. Out in shark alley we see and hear the seals frolicking near the island, and you will take back photographs normally never taken from the shore.
Our non-divers have a great opportunity to view the feeding sharks from the safety of the boat, as exhilarating photographs and video footage can be captured at close range

THE BOATS

We have comfortable twin hull boats, with lockable toilets on board. They are fully licensed to SA safety standards and have comfortable seating. The vessels are each equipped with radio, radar equipment, navigation equipment, depth finder, echo sounder, medical first aid kit (including oxygen and fluid replacement), current safety equipment life jackets and waterproof jackets for all passengers. Our vessels and cages are inspected on an annual basis, ensuring maximum safety for all our passengers. The Marine and Coastal Management and Harbour Master carry out regular spot checks allowing no margin for error at all times. A step-by-step emergency flow chart is available inside the cabin of our vessel.

SEASICKNESS

If you are not sure whether you suffer from the above or motion sickness, you MUST take seasickness tablets. These are available upon request in all pharmacies. As you drive through Hermanus you will find 2-3 pharmacies, and one in Gansbaai It is however better that you buy the pills and patches the day before, and take them an hour BEFORE you board. Taking them only when you start feeling nauseas, will be to late.
We have a wonderful facility; our harbour master will come out and take people back to shore should seasickness prevail.

LEGAL SHARK CAGE DIVING OPERATING PERMIT

We have a valid cage diving permit and a permit to dive and lie within the world-renowned waters and conservation area of "Shark Alley".

ARE YOUR CREW QUALIFIED

Yes our crew are qualified, but over and above any other operator’s one thing we have is time spent both on and in the water with the sharks. We studied and noting the behaviour of the great whites as our main interest is in the field of shark attack. You will leave us with ten fold more knowledge than when you started your day, as we shall inform you throughout the day of what we are doing. You will play an active part in us pointing out all the markings we take down for field research and identifying the sexes.
Our crewmembers are highly qualified boasting many years experience with white sharks. We have been featured in various documentaries too many to name, (but a full list is available from our administration offices in Cape Town). Live time coded footage and photographs of Craig Ferreira free diving with the Great Whites can be purchased per minute upon request. This unique footage has premiered worldwide. We are known for the nose touch, heads up, the shark kiss and free swimming with the Great Whites. Crew qualifications consist of commercially licensed skippers, guides and Dive Masters.

INSURANCE

We also have comprehensive insurance on both our vessels and passenger liability.

MEALS

You will tuck into a hearty village breakfast at our Lodge in Kleinbaai. Our picnic lunch on board consists of scrumptious rolls, savoury snacks, sweets, cold drinks and mineral water

TRANSPORT

On the way back to Cape Town your driver will take the scenic route around Hermanus where you (between July and January) might sight the magnificent Southern Right Whales

WHEN DO WE COME HOME

We stay on the water until about 15h00, weather permitting. We do not have set times, as we have to work according to the weather and sharks. Should the sharks appear early, we would then return at around 16h00. Should the sharks however only arrive at 14h00 we will stay longer to enjoy them.

SIGHTINGS AND GUARANTEES

Sharks are wild animals and highly nomadic and therefore are not resident around Dyer Island. We have about 90% success rate of encountering the sharks and a 70% chance of diving with them. We cannot guarantee that we will find the sharks, but this is part of the adventure and the mystery. We do our very best to include you into the spirit of the search for sharks. We would want you to feel that you had a part in finding the sharks.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Due to unpredictable weather conditions and shark activity, diving may not always be possible and is therefore not guaranteed.

DAY TRIP

Should we arrive in Gansbaai based on a good weather CHECK by the skipper and Dive Master of the day, and the weather suddenly changes preventing us from going to sea, a 10% service fee will be charged for stand-by and preparation costs

TRANSPORT COST IS SEPARATE AND PAYABLE IN FULL: R100

However, a 10% discount would be allowed should the tour be taken at another time. Due to the fact that we rely on weather conditions and the tide, time related itinerary's are a guideline and may change, therefore we insist that a "weather check" is always done the evening prior to your outing or dive! Normally our offices contact your hotel, BUT…should we not contact you (for some unknown reason, i.e. you are out of your hotel etc) you MUST contact us before 8 pm on the evening prior to your dive. Should this trip be booked from another country we request that you, on your arrival in South Africa, please call us without delay and let us know where you can be contacted. Should our boats be completely booked up or out of the water for a certain period (due to maintenance or any other reason), we would continue to run our tours by chartering another vessel with a valid permit.

SEA

The sea around Dyer Island can be rough, but fortunately there are many reefs and kelp beds, which offer substantial protection from the sea.

WATER TEMPERATURES

The water temperature ranges from 12 to 18° C.

WHAT TO BRING

Please bring sun block, hats, and towels if you are going to dive a warm jacket, comfortable clothing and shoes. Seasickness tablets are to be taken 1 hour prior to launch. All your dive gear is included! If you are a particularly small or extremely large size please let us know before the time

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET THERE

Approximately 180 km from Cape Town - 2 hour drive

DIRECTIONS TO GET THERE

From Cape Town you drive on the N2, past Somerset West. Turn off onto the R43, which leads through Hermanus. Continue to Gansbaai which is approximately 40 Km. When you get to Gansbaai drive right through the town out the other side for about 500 metres and watch for a small sign that says Kleinbaai. Turn right at the sign and follow this road all the way to the harbour. You cannot miss it. Kleinbaai literally means 'small bay'

BEST SEASON

We run tours all-year round, the best season of the year is in our winter months (April - August) when the sharks are particularly active in their feeding patterns. Even though you still have a good chance of seeing the sharks during the other months, their feeding patterns are more inconsistent and may therefore differ from day to day.

STATISTICS TAKEN FROM 2006

HIGH SEASON: April to Aug. (98% success rate)
LOW SEASON November to March (75 to 85% success rate)

CANCELLATION OR NO SHOW!

Should you cancel your trip less than 12 hours prior to tour departure, an 80% cancellation fee will be applicable, and taken off your credit card details.

NOTA BENE (NB)

"HOWEVER: SHOULD OUR DRIVER ARRIVE TO COLLECT YOU ON THE MORNING OF THE TRIP AND WE HAVE PROOF OF BOTH CONTACTING YOUR HOTEL AND LEAVING A VERBAL AND WRITTEN MESSAGE OF WEATHER CHECK AND PICK-UP TIME WITH RECEPTION, OR THE CONCIERGE, YOU OR THE HOTEL WILL BE LIABLE FOR FULL PAYMENT OF THE TRIP AS WE ONLY TAKE 8 - 10 CLIENTS PER DAY. YOU WOULD HAVE LOST THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY, NOT TO MENTION BREAKFAST AND LUNCH ETC, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR YOU FOR THE ENTIRE DAY"

PRICING

R1 500 per person with transport to and from your accommodation in Cape Town
R1 200 per person without own transport

To book your shark cage dive, mail us or call +27 76 245 5880 and qoute www.capetown.tv
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