The city of Cape Town is well regarded as a top holiday destination for several reasons. Featuring a wide array of attractions catering to various age and interest groups, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that in this region close to the ocean, you can go shark diving in multiple locations.

So you’re planning to visit the Mother City or one of the nearby regions that form part of the Western Cape. For the more adventurous types, shark diving could be just what they’re after to get the adrenalin pumping. Several areas that fall under Cape Town are found along the coast and that will give you numerous chances to see one of the world’s most noteworthy predators up close and personal.

While sharks are known to come near the mainland, you’ll have a better chance of seeing some the further you go from the coast.

One of the best places to view sharks, notably the great white kind, in the Western Cape is in the enclosure of False Bay, around Seal Island, found around 5 km off the coast of the mainland. As the name implies, this island is a popular ground for the Cape fur seal. By natural consequence, the presence of the seals on this island attracts its predator, great white sharks.

Another hotspot for viewing sharks lies outside the Cape Town municipality, but still within the Western Cape, off the coast of Gansbaai. Found between the Dyer Island Reserve and Geyser Island, is Shark Alley. Dyer Island is another area where Cape fur seals are found, among other types of wildlife including penguins, and once again it makes sense that this is one of the best places to view great white shark activity. It’s for good reason that Gansbaai is known as the Great White capital of the world.

Lastly, another spot for shark cage diving is around Cape Point where you will find the warm Aghulas current, where numerous fish swim, a natural attraction for sharks of the pelagic region (the area of the ocean between the bottom levels and the upper levels).

For the sake of your safety and consideration, there are numerous companies offering tours you can take that will take you to these shark hotspots. Here is some information on three  of them.

GoSharkDiving – Operating since 2001, GoSharkDiving is a firmly established name in the business of shark cage diving. Some of their tours (and current rates) include:

Shark Alley Express                                            R 1,350.00 (Normal Price)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    R 1,050.00 (Current Online Booking Special)

Optional extras include a personalised DVD of the trip at R 350.00.

Seal Island Express                                              R 2,300.00 (Discount, save R 200.00)

Blue Water Predator Express                            R 2,300.00
(Diving without a cage, for the
experienced and truly
adventurous)

NB – Blue Water Predator Express offers rental diving gear at R 380.00.

Transport from and to any address in the Cape Town area is offered at R 350.00 for all the trips described.

For other information regarding departure times and requirements, GoSharkDiving’s hotline is 083 431 2514.

Shark Dive Africa – Offering trips and viewings of sharks around False Bay, Gansbaai and the Cape Point, Shark Dive Africa will soon feature all tours along the Southern African coastline. Their tours and rates are:

Gansbaai Morning                                                 R 1,450.00 for 12 years and older
and Afternoon Trips                                              R 1,250.00 for children under 12 years
                                                                              

False Bay Morning Trips

High Season (1 April to 31 May)                             R 1,700.00
Peak Season (1 June to 15 August)                        R 2,400.00
High Season (16 August to 30 September)          R 1,700.00

False Bay Afternoon Trips

1 April to 30 September                                           R 1,500.00

Cape Point Pelagic Shark Trips

1 November to 15 May                                             R 1,700.00

For more information contact Shark Dive Africa at 021 556 5606.

Cape Point Route – Their passion is all about experiencing Cape Town’s south peninsula. Their service portfolio includes among other tours and activities along the Cape Point Route. Their tours and rates include:

Great White Shark Diving (Gansbaai)                   R 1,350.00 (Self drive option)                                                                                                                                                                                                                             R 1,650.00 (If making use of transport service)                                                                                                                                                                                               R 900.00 (For kids if self drive option is used)                                                                                                                                                                                                 R 1,200.00 (For kids if making use of transport service)

Great White Shark Diving (False Bay)                   R 1,600.00 – R 2,400.00 (Dependent on time of year)                                                                                                                                                                                   R 400.00 for one way transport to departure point                                                                                                                                                                                       R 450.00 for return (to and back) transport

Mako & Blue Shark Cage Diving Cape Point

November to June                                                       R 1,800.00

For more specific information Cape Point Route can be reached at 021 789 0093.

Prepare yourselves to meet one of nature’s most well known predators during your vacation in the Cape!