There are a few things that one must consider when it comes to shark cage diving.
Most international visitors are faced with an issue when traveling to our beautiful coastline and often become discouraged upon finding sightings of the great white shark are unpredictable and sporadic. Given this, it might seem questionable to join a shark cage tour, however, this is far from the truth with the newcomer, the bronze whaler shark.
Can you Shark Cage Dive in Cape Town?
That’s a resounding yes! With the sightings of great whites becoming less and less, this has led to a novel emergence of an allopatric species – the bronzer whaler shark. This shark has quickly captured the hearts of many marine life lovers and it isn’t difficult to see why. They fall under the top five larger shark’s demographic, growing approximately 3.3m, having a long-rounded snout with a torpedo-like body (creating a mean tail strength), and having an eye-catching 30+ set of teeth rows. Bronzies, while ticking all the good “sharky” boxes, have the added benefit of swimming around in sizable packs being socially minded, and they do extremely well as a shark to cage dive with.
This became exceedingly apparent when I had the opportunity to join one of the cage dive tours with Apex Shark Expeditions. The sharks seem to come out of nowhere in a group of around fifteen sharks, staying close to the boat and even sharing their space with a curious seal, creating a wonderfully interactive experience. Compared to the solitary great white, who within seconds can disappear as quickly as they appeared.
Now don’t get me wrong, my love for great whites and getting the opportunity to cage dive with them continues to champion the top-tier of experiences but for many who travel to Cape Town, it’s just not the right conditions to be able to see them, leaving the bronzies a fantastic alternative for that bucket list.
Why Cape Town Cage Diving?
The diversity of the wildlife and nature along our amazing coast offers a variety of options for those looking to dive. Each region has its own complexities and as someone who has gone both diving with the great whites in Gansbaai (when the number of great whites in the area was more favorable) and recently with Apex Shark Expeditions in Cape Town with the bronze whaler sharks, the personal atmosphere on the boat ride, paired with the eco-conscious vibe that the owners have brought really outweighs the adrenaline pumped large, group tours in Gansbaai. The Cape Town shark cage diving experience offers more knowledge and other viewings of marine wildlife than any other location.
Apex Shark Expeditions offers a diverse and tailored option that caters to the seasons of nature.
Whether during the season or not, both Cape Town and Gansbaai shark cage diving, offer a spectacular activity with the bronzer whaler shark, each with its own story and perspective to showcase. Nevertheless, Cape Town shores will surely leave you with a breath-taking and educational experience for any traveler, lucky enough to voyage to our beautiful country.
