Read our daily blogs to stay updated with recent sightings. South Africa is one of the few places in the world, to view white sharks in their natural environment. Historically, we had two distinct seasons. April through to August/September, we would see white sharks around Dyer Island and Geyser Rock, home to a Cape fur seal population. During the remaining months of September to March, the sharks spend more time close to shore, an area we call the shallows. However, we are not seeing such distinct seasons anymore and spend more time in the shallows. White shark behaviour has proved less predictable since 2017 and sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Patience is one of the most important prerequisites to see wildlife, but this is especially true with marine wildlife. There are no resident white sharks as they are a highly migratory species. Sharks are transient, visiting the area for a few days to a few weeks only, hence we observe new sharks on a regular basis while the ones we observed yesterday may have moved on already. Sometimes we wait a few minutes, while at other times, we wait several hours after anchoring, and it can happen that we do not see any sharks. We also cannot control their behaviour and time they spend at the boat.
Nature and wildlife are unpredictable, and large top predators like the great white shark are elusive and cautious creatures.

No. The sharks are often very active at the surface and can be observed from the boat without having to go into the shark cage. Surface viewing is great and provides you with great opportunities to capture these amazing and beautiful animals on camera!

No, anyone can do this – we have divers as young as 4 and as old as 100. We do not use scuba equipment in the cage due to the potential negative effect that the bubbles and noise create, which may affect the shark behaviour.

Underwater visibility varies depending on time of the year, where we are anchored, sea conditions, algae bloom, etc It can be limited in summer (1-2m) which often makes for a dramatic appearance of a shark. On very rare days during the austral winter, we can get much better visibility.

Gansbaai is located in the meeting place of two current systems: the warm Agulhas current from the Indian Ocean and the cold Benguela current from the Antarctic Ocean. The predominant winds in the region vary during our austral winters (mainly north-westerly) and summers (mainly south-easterly), hence pushing the colder / warmer waters closer to shore or further offshore. As a result, the water is generally warmer during our austral winters (generally 15-20 degrees Celsius or 59-68 degrees Fahrenheit) than during our austral summers (generally 10-15 degrees Celsius or 50-59 degrees Fahrenheit).

In the event that there is no shark activity while on a shark cage diving tour with Marine Dynamics, then a voucher will be offered. This voucher is not transferable – your name and passport number will be recorded on the voucher. If a shark has been sighted from the boat, we will consider that a successful trip. The transfer fee is non-refundable. (refer our Terms & Conditions for more information).

The South African cage-diving industry is regulated by a Code of Conduct and regulations from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Apart from incidents related to carelessness on the boat or cage, and seasickness and dehydration, no shark-related injuries or accidents to guests have been recorded on our boat since 2005.

Yes, if it is done properly, with respect towards the sharks, the other wildlife in the area and the general ecosystem according to the regulations in place. Marine Dynamics ethical commitment toward the sharks and their conservation determine our every decision, and we will not in any way jeopardise the wildlife and ecosystem. Our mission through our educational excursions is to change people’s mindset and attitudes towards sharks, in particular great white sharks, and to educate them about all our marine species. This change in the public’s perception is vital to establish an appreciation of, and thus conservation of this wonderful species. White shark cage diving also plays a critical role in daily monitoring in South Africa which enhances our understanding of white sharks and in turn supports conservation policy. Please see www.dict.org.za for a list of research publications.

You should also schedule more than one day during your holiday to avoid any disappointments due to bad weather conditions, especially during the austral winter months (April through September). Every day is different at sea, and we can never forecast what the conditions, situations or encounters will be like. If you are a marine enthusiast and want to spend more time with our sharks, then we recommend spending more time in Gansbaai and doing more than one trip. You may also want to do Marien Big 5/whale watching trip with our sister company Der Island Cruises

Yes, please discuss with our reservation team. Our crew can assist with access into the cage, and our facilities are wheelchair friendly.