South Africa, with its Great White Capital Gansbaai close to Cape Town is one of the best places in the world to dive with Great Whites. Once a month we will highlight different aspects, and surprising facts about the Great White Shark, and Cage Diving with Great Whites. Subscribe to our free and popular Editor’s Picks Newsletter to not miss these unique features. One sad fact about the Carcharodon Cracharias (scientific name for the Great White Shark), is that the shark species is surrounded by oceans of misinformation from the media and ‘Jaws’ inspired myths. Did you know that more people dieeach year because of faulty toasters than they do of Shark attacks?
We, at CapeTownMagazine.com, feel that it is vitally important to give more information about this incredible shark species that is so completely misunderstood, and with it also go for a shark dive: It’s more than ‘getting the t-shirt’; it’s about doing a good shark dive, with a good operator and for their best prices off course.
The Great White is probably one of the oldest species that we can still see in the ocean today. The Carcharodon Cracharias has been around for longer than 400 million years. That is 200 million years longer than Dinosaurs! Great White Sharks can grow up to 6.1m in length, which is measured from head to start of its tail-fin. Their weight can get up to an impressive 1.9ton (1900kilo). Males reach sexual maturity between 3.5 and 4.1 meters and females a much larger size up to 5 meters. The female gives birth to live young between 1.1 and 1.65 meter in length Sadly, today Great White Sharks are endangered and threatened by extinction because of commercial long lining poaching for jaws, teeth and fins. To experience a shark cage dive is completely mind-altering and it will change the way you think about this magnificent predator.
When you are on the boat waiting to see the Great White Shark and you have all that adrenalin pumping through your veins, a glimpse of this oceanic predator will be more then impressive. When you are in the cage and realize you are face to face with one of the ocean’s most ancient friends, it might just turn into one of the most exhilarating moments in your life. Just catching a glimpse of the Great White is enough to silence anyone (even the ones thinking they knew how it would feel to see a shark) and create total awe of this ocean giant when seeing it swim around the boat.
Entering the cage and spending ‘quality time’ so close to a Great White you could touch it (but definitely shouldn’t attempt to) is simply something you have to experience. To be able to see this predator of the sea in its natural environment is actually a wonder on its own. Now imagine how you will feel when you get into the cage and you get to see the shark face to face! It’s absolutely mind blowing.
Costs of Shark Cage Diving start from R950 to about R1150, and transport is R150. It pays to look for a good operator.
CapeTownMagazine.com selected good and responsible shark cage dive operators for you to have your tours with. Our selected best Shark Cage Dive Tours start from R1100 (own transport) and R150 extra with transport.
Simply phone our central reservations number +27(0)78 686 7505 when in Cape Town, or download our reservation form to secure your spot on this hand picked tour.
