Shark Cage Diving in and near Cape Town

African Shark Eco Charters

Shark cage diving is truly a wonderful way to get up close and personal with one of the most magnificent ocean creatures, the Great White Shark. The great white shark is a very curious animal and will often circle and ... more

Sharks are fascinating animals and many people dream of the opportunity to get close to these amazing sea creatures. Now, thanks to shark diving operators in South Africa, this dream can become a reality.

Attached to breathing equipment, and safe in a metal, shark-proof cage, visitors are given the opportunity to share the waters with these magnificent creatures and look them in the eye. Most certainly not for the faint hearted, shark cage diving is one of the most popular activities for adventure tourists to South Africa.

The area near Dyer Island off the coast of Gansbaai in the Western Cape is lovingly known as “shark alley”. With a huge population of seals, the Great Whites' main prey, it is where the majority of South Africa's shark divers operate from. It is also the only place in the world where sharks breech the surface while on the attack, making for some magnificent photographs if you are lucky enough to catch it on film.

“Chum”, a mixture of fish and other material is poured into the water to attract sharks and the cage is lowered once the animals have been spotted. If you do not want to dive, the sharks can also be viewed up close from the safety of the boat and this can be almost as thrilling as seeing them in the cage. Shark cage diving tours also operate out of Hermanus and Cape Town.