Protea Banks shark diving adventure with Dive South Africa

Friday 3 September, 2010

» Description
Great White Shark cage diving is strictly regulated by the authorities and conducted in an ethical way in accordance with international standards. It is absolutely safe and you need not have any diving experience at all, only a short course on safety and the use of the equipment.

There are two areas where Great White diving is done, Gansbaai and Mosselbaai. Both these destinations are easily reached by land or air from Cape Town International Airport.

Great White Shark cage diving at Gansbaai:
Daily shark diving/sighting tours (weather permitting) are done off Gansbaai, a mere stone-throw away from the most southern tip of the African Continent. Approx. 12km offshore from Gansbaai (2hrs drive from Cape Town) there are two islands situated next to each other.

Due to a number of geographical reasons - one being the shallow and narrow channel that runs between these two islands - Dyer Island has become known as one of only two unique areas in the world, where the chances to view the great white shark, rises exceptionally high. Other wildlife species such as Cape Fur Seals, Cape Gannets, Cape Cormorants, Jackass penguins, whales and dolphins are also likely to be sighted.

Gansbaai is little holiday and fishing village situated a 160km from Cape Town. The area has several attractions for the nature lover with whale watching being the most popular. Accommodation may be taken in any of the Bed & Breakfast establishments and the few restaurants offer good quality food. The shark dives are launched from the neighboring Kleinbaai.

Great White Shark cage diving at Mossel Bay:
The Mediterranean style seaside town of Mossel Bay is situated on a spectacular sun washed peninsular embraced by the Indian Ocean. The Guinness Book of Records features the town as having the mildest year round climate in the world, second only to Hawaii. Mossel Bay is a very rich area with its abundant sea life of diverse fish, seals, whales, penguins and other sea birds, dolphins, the occasional orca and of course a plentiful supply of the Great White shark.

Mossel Bay is not an industrial town but a delightful place with beautiful north facing beaches, good surfing, sailing, windsurfing, hiking trails, dive spots, bungi jumping and is central to the Garden route with an abundance of things to do and see. There is accommodation to suit all pockets, with a variety of restaurants available.

International travellers can fly into Cape Town International Airport. From here car hire and transfers can be arranged.

No diving experience is needed.

NOTE:Prices quoted below are based on standard accommodation rates with breakfast and does not include gear hire, transfers, lunches or dinners. These packages can be upgraded to luxury accommodation to include all the luxuries you require or similarly be downgraded to backpacker accommodation to suite your budget. Pricing will change should you wish to upgrade or downgrade a package or if you want to include optional extras such as lunches, dinners, gear hire, transfers, etc. Please contact us for more options at maryka@divesouthafrica.co.za

» PACKAGE OPTIONS - 1-Cage Dive

» PACKAGE OPTIONS - 1-Night/1-Cage Dive

» PACKAGE OPTIONS - 2-Nights/2-Cage Dives

» Price - ZAR1,200.00 per person

» Includes:
Breakfast
One cage dive
Full gear, snacks and drinks on the boat

» Excluded:
Transfers to and from Gansbaai

» Price - ZAR1,620.00 per person

» Includes:
One night accommodation (sharing)
Breakfast
One cage dive
Full gear, snacks and drinks on the boat

» Excluded:
Dinners (A la carte restaurant)
Transfers to and from Gansbaai

» Price - ZAR3,240.00 per person

» Includes:
Two nights accommodation (sharing)
Breakfasts
Two cage dives
Full gear, snacks and drinks on the boat

» Excluded:
Dinners (A la carte restaurant)
Transfers to and from Gansbaai

» SAMPLE ITINERARY AT GANSBAAI

» SAMPLE ITINERARY AT MOSSELBAAI

On a typical day we meet the skipper early in the morning and then head out for about 2 to 6 hours at sea. Depending on the conditions, wind direction and currents you proceed to one of numerous holes, put down anchor and set out the bait. Only bait that forms part of the animal's natural diet is used.

We then wait for the Great Whites to find us. This can take anything from minutes to several hours. In the meantime every one is briefed on the procedures, and the cage is put into the water. The cage is securely attached to a platform on the back of the boat and the top of the cage floats about 23cm above the water. It is constructed of steel bars and is closed off at the top by means of a gate.

Once the first shark is spotted the bait lines are drawn in towards the boat so that everybody has the opportunity to view and admire this magnificent predator. The first cager enters the water and the lines are drawn slowly towards the cage to lure the shark. This is an emotional and heart stopping experience.

It must be remembered that these are wild animals, and no guarantees can be given that they will be sighted on a particular day. It is therefore advisable to budget for at least two consecutive days diving. Statistics kept of sightings over the last five years in Mosselbaai help to pick the best possible time of the year being April to July and September to November.

In Gansbaai the best time of the year is in our winter season (April - September), when the sharks are particularly active in their feeding patterns (80-99%). Even though you still have a chance of seeing the sharks during the other months (October - February), their feeding patterns are different and they tend to have inconsistent feeding behaviour by feeding actively the one day and less active on other day's. However, due to breeding season amongst the seals on Dyer Island during the months November to January natural feeding predations are often seen in the area. Sighting rate in the low season is approx. 60%.

A typical day of Great White diving is as follows: You will meet with Roy and Jackie, the extremely amiable and efficient team who owns the only boat licensed to operate in Mossel Bay, at the White Shark Info Center. This is where the indemnity forms are signed and any gear that is required is obtained.

You then proceed by dinghy to the boat, which is moored in the Mossel Bay harbor. Depending on the condition of the sea, wind direction and currents you then proceed to one of numerous holes, put down anchor and bait.

You then wait for the Great White to find you. This can take anything from minutes to several hours. In the meantime the cagers are briefed about caging procedures and the cage is put down into the water. The cage is very securely attached to a platform on the back of the boat and the top of the cage floats about 23cms out of the water. The cage is constructed from heavy steel bars and is closed off at the top by means of a gate.

Once the first shark is spotted the lines with the bait are drawn in towards the boat so that everybody has the opportunity to view and admire this magnificent predator of the sea. The first two cagers then go into the cage and the lines are once again drawn in slowly towards the cage followed of course by the Great White. This is an emotional and heart stopping experience. Once the first two cagers have clearly seen the Great White they come out and the next two cagers go down. The process is repeated until all the cagers on deck had an opportunity to cage.

In a typical session you will work with numerous Great Whites and if lucky you will have more than one Great White working the cage. The record number of sightings was 14 different Great Whites in September 1996 and seven in July 1996. These days were exceptional though and you must understand that there are days that no shark is sighted at all. Roy and Jacky have however the proud record of some 95% of seeing the Great White in the sea and 80% in successful caging.

Transfers can be arranged from Cape Town International Airport to Gansbaai from ZAR700.00per person (one way) or ZAR350.00 for two or more.

Notes:
» Minimum fee for one person - ZAR750.00
» Minimum fee for two or more persons - ZAR350.00

General
» All travel costs to and from South Africa are excluded.
» C-cards and Log Books must be presented.

Terms
» Discounts available for groups.
» 25% non refundable deposit to secure booking.
» Balance payable 14 days before arrival.
» No refunds for bookings cancelled within 14 days of arrival date.
» A 10% administration fee is charged to cover costs.
» All rates are subject to change without notice.
» All prices are per person sharing.