There are no words to accurately describe the feeling you get when you swim with sharks for the first time. It’s an adrenaline rush like no other, with only metal bars separating you and one of the world’s most deadliest creatures.
Shark cage diving is one of the closest things to ‘near death’ that one voluntarily chooses to experience. With one of the densest marine populations of sharks in the world, Gansbaai is inarguably the ‘great white shark capital.’ So where better to dive in the deep blue with the Great Whites than South Africa.
Just 5 miles (8km) from the shore sits Dyer Island and the smaller Geyser Rock. Known as ‘Shark Alley’, the shallow waterway between these two enclaves attracts thousands of adrenaline junkies to its waters each year. It is here that shark cage diving takes place.
For those brave enough, shark cave diving is relatively simple, with no diving certificates required. An average dive lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, and in this time, guides promise you are almost certain to get up close and personal with a Great White.
For those happy to be onlookers, there’s plenty of marine action above water, too. As surface feeders, many of the Great White’s main activities all occur at the water’s edge, and Gansbaai is also famed for its whale-watching. Keep a lookout for wildlife including Cape Gannets, Cape Cormorants, Jackass penguins, Southern Right whales and dolphins who also inhabit the area. Making their home at Dyer Island, Cape Fur seals are also expected to make an appearance during your trip.
Whatever you fancy, shark cage diving is a once in a lifetime experience not to be sniffed at.
