Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ's
Delve into the depths of knowledge with Marine Dynamics. From the intricacies of shark behaviour to the logistics of our shark cage diving experience, we’re here to provide comprehensive answers to your most pressing questions, ensuring you’re fully prepared to embark on an unforgettable journey with us.
No, anyone can do this – we have divers as young as 2 and as old as 100.
Underwater visibility varies depending on the time of the year, where we are anchored, sea conditions, algae bloom, etc. It can be limited in summer (0.5-2m) which often makes for a dramatic appearance of a shark. On very rare days during the austral winter, we can get much better visibility.
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 includes great white, bronze whaler or sevengill sharks. 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 to 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.
We are generally able to put our masks over glasses but we highly recommend you rather wear contact lenses if possible. We do not carry prescription masks and should you have your own, please bring it with.
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).
No. This is one of the great advantages with sharks in that they are very active at the surface, and can be observed from the boat without having to go into the shark cage. Actually, surface viewing from the boat is always better than from the cage, as the underwater visibility is often limited (3-6 metres on average, on very rare days during the austral winter, we get 10+ metres visibility, but during the austral summer months, visibility is often less than 2 metres), plus you do not get cold and wet! You will always be able to see more from the boat than from the cage. Surface viewing is great and provides you with the best opportunities to capture these amazing and beautiful animals on camera!
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.
Yes, please discuss with our reservation team. Our crew can assist with access into the cage, and our facilities are wheelchair friendly.
We do not recommend that a woman who is at any stage of pregnancy does a shark cage dive or goes to sea, in general. For guests who do still wish to take the plunge, we can help plan their trip for the best weather conditions, but this must be made known to our booking agent in advance.
The ride on Slashfin generally takes between 20 and 30 minutes from the small harbour of Kleinbaai to our anchor location in Shark Bay (September – March) or around Dyer Island (April – September) depending on the season. This time will also vary depending on the sea and weather conditions, as strong seas and/or strong headwind conditions can lengthen this time considerably.
No. We cannot guarantee that you will see White Sharks from the surface or from the cage. Wildlife can never be guaranteed, nature is unpredictable. The low Shark season takes place some time during the months of January through March. That low season corresponds generally to the lowest water temperatures, and the number of Sharks in both Shark Bay and Dyer Island areas can decrease dramatically for several weeks during some years in this period. Please see our cancellation policy for more.
We generally launch between 08h00 and 10h00 in the morning, depending on the moon phase, which affects the tidal range and limits our ability to launch Slashfin from the small and very shallow harbour of Kleinbaai. The time we spend on the ocean depends mostly on the Sharks . . . sometimes we get Sharks very quickly while the very next day, we might be waiting several hours for the first Shark to appear. Moreover, Sharks present different personalities, and although curious by nature, they are generally very cautious, and while some Sharks will sometimes stay around the boat for hours, most Sharks only remain around the boat for 5 to 15 minutes. All these factors will decide how long we spend at sea . . . and of course, you and the other guests will ultimately decide when we go back to shore, unless the skipper decides to return to shore for safety reasons due to adverse weather conditions. We generally return to shore between 3 to 4 hours after leaving the harbour.
Slashfin is the name of the 46 feet or 14-metre long catamaran vessel that Marine Dynamics is operating for their Shark excursions around Dyer Island. This boat was built in 2010 specifically for the purpose of working, viewing and diving with Great White Sharks in the stormy waters of the Western Cape. The boat carries all the necessary safety equipment and is certified by SAMSA, the authorities responsible for maritime safety in South Africa, on an annual basis. Slashfin is powered by four large four-stroke 300hp outboard engines, and is equipped with the best electronic equipment to navigate the area. The boat carries a seven-person cage, offers a large cabin where you can safely store your personal belongings and a large top deck that offers a bird’s eye view over the Sharks and the action in the water. This is the ideal boat to discover Great White Sharks!
Many diving magazines and books have wrongly inferred that Shark Alley is the main location to anchor and see Sharks in Gansbaai throughout the year. However, various factors play a part in where we choose to go and ‘look for Sharks’.
The two main criteria we consider when launching are:
a) Weather conditions, which ultimately affect client comfort and safety on board;
b) Where the sharks have been sighted previously. Shark sightings are seasonal in the area and their presence can fluctuate between an inshore reef system and various spots around Dyer Island.
If conditions allow us to safely enter Shark Alley, we will make a journey through there after/before a cage dive to view the seal colony. However, this narrow stretch of water is a very delicate marine environment and certainly not the only – or ‘best’ spot to see White Sharks in the area.
The cage remains afloat and about 30 centimetres of the cage floats above the water at all times. The cage is also solidly attached to the boat with two thick ropes that further prevent it from sinking or drifting away from the boat. The bottom of the cage is lying about two metres below the surface.
Again, unfortunately, we can not give any definite answer to that question. We believe that White Sharks present different personalities, probably the result of previous experience. One shark might come up to the lure, have one quick look and not feel confident about the situation, and leave after only a few seconds, while the next Shark might be much more relaxed, and remain around the boat for hours. Remember that White Sharks are curious animals, but their caution is a much stronger instinct! Sharks appeared between 400 – 500 million years ago, and they have survived through the ages, not because they are mindless predators, but because of their inherent caution which has taught them to avoid potential danger. Since White Sharks are not resident in the area, however good the smell might be in the water, they are not used to these large boats and cages. Generally, the time any particular White Shark will remain around the boat is between 5 and 10 minutes on average, but this is completely unpredictable and we cannot guarantee the length of any viewing period. This is wildlife watching at its best, and we are always very happy to see at least one White Shark for a few seconds.
In most conditions, we prefer not to use scuba equipment that produces a lot of noise and bubbles under the water, which often keeps the Sharks from coming close. You will have a better chance of seeing the Sharks if we can point out the direction to look, especially when the underwater visibility is poor.
Yes, but we recommend that you do not use scuba equipment in the cage due to the potential negative effect that the bubbles and noise create, keeping the naturally cautious Sharks at a distance. In clear underwater visibility conditions, this becomes less of an issue, but when the visibility is reduced, we discourage the use of scuba equipment in the cage, until everyone else has seen the Sharks underwater by breath-holding.
Yes. The cage is designed to float at the surface, leaving a free board of about 30 cm or 1 foot. But the cage is always solidly attached to the side of the boat with two thick ropes that prevent the cage from drifting away.
The cage can accommodate eight to ten guests.
Yes, our Shark cage has a solid lid which will be closed once everybody is safely in the cage. The lid is there to prevent any uninvited extra passenger in the cage! Although this scenario has never happened before in the industry, White Sharks are very active near the surface, and this is what makes them such a great subject to view from the boat. Their sheer strength and power can propel them out of the water at speeds of up to 50 km/h, resulting in the Shark breaching and flying far out of the water. It is not inconceivable that one active Shark may one day land on top of the cage, in which case, the lid will prevent injuries and save your life.
This will mostly depend on the number of people on the boat and especially the number of people who wish to go into the cage. Eight people can enter the cage at a time. Your first cage dive will be relatively short, just long enough for you to see a White Shark. We will then alternate all the people who wish to dive in the cage, and once everyone has had a chance to see the Sharks from the cage, you can return for a second dive, if time allows. You should get 10 to 30 minutes in the cage.
Yes. 100 % safe. The Shark cage is constructed from galvanized steel, equipped with many independent flotation devices to keep it aloft, attached to the boat with solid ropes and closed by a solid lid. Any reports or images that you may have read about, or watched involving White Sharks attacking cages, have all been triggered by the crew on the boat, and are the result of unnatural provocation. Marine Dynamics strives to respect the Sharks and will not provide you with thrills like these in order to give you a false JAWS experience. The cage, although attached to the boat, is free floating, so should a Shark charge the cage at full speed (which would never happen in a normal unprovoked situation), the cage will just bounce off and absorb the impact force. Sharks have a sixth sense, the Ampullae of Lorenziniare sensory organs spread mainly throughout the snout and head of Sharks, and allow the Sharks to sense magnetic fields to find potential or hidden prey in darkness, or murky conditions. The Shark cages and boat engines being metallic objects and connected to batteries will generate a magnetic field to which the Sharks are sometimes drawn by curiosity. The Shark will generally mouth the cage or engines in a gentle testing manner. The cage is indestructible and you will be 100% safe from the Sharks, but the cage can be a potentially dangerous object from other aspects: if the crew decides that the sea conditions are too rough for cage diving, it will not be without reason, and you should respect their decision in not risking your life and health. You should also feel comfortable in the water, and preferably have some snorkelling experience. The cage can be a strange and intimidating environment, and the knowledge that Great White Sharks are swimming in close proximity might also enhance any anxiety. Thus, the main potential risks involved in the Shark cages are from injuries climbing in or out of the cage, and swallowing water or drowning. Make sure that you get used to a mask and ensure that you feel comfortable before entering the cage.
Children of all ages are welcome on the boat if conditions allow, and children are under the complete supervision of their parents. We will advise clients who wish to bring their children if conditions are adverse and recommend accordingly. Children are prone to get seasick as do adults, but the effect of seasickness on children is pronounced, with quicker dehydration. Sea sick shuttles do not always operate and, when they do, can be very costly. Legal guardians will be asked to sign additional liability waivers for those under 18 years old.
Our recommendation is that children of 10 years and older enter the cage, and only if the parents accompany them. However, younger children will be accommodated on special requests and if they have advanced swimming proficiency for their age, but again, only if the parents accompany them for the dive. A simple breath hold is required to view sharks, thus children should be comfortable swimming/being submerged before attempting this in the cage. Legal guardians will be asked to sign additional liability waivers for those under 18 years old.
Hopefully not, but unfortunately, seasickness may be part of the experience. Read our few tips below. You may have spent some time on boats before and believe that everything will be fine, but you probably have never spent time on an anchored boat, and that is where the problem may occur. The dangerous time to get seasick is during the waiting period until we get Sharks, as your mind wanders into boredom once the anticipation wears off. So please read and observe the few tips below to avoid any adverse situation and condition. If you get seasick and cannot bear the feeling, we can organise for a shuttle to collect you from Slashfin and bring you back to shore. This shuttle is, however, run by an independent company, and a surcharge will be added to your bill. This surcharge is independent of the number of people returning to shore – there is a fixed price for the shuttle.
There is no general rule to avoid this terrible feeling, but here are some tips which can help to prevent it:
a) Do not consume any alcohol the evening before your excursion, or at least drink with moderation. Alcohol and hangovers are a near guarantee for seasickness.
b) Take an anti-motion sickness tablet the evening before your excursion, and another one in the morning an hour before boarding the boat (these are available at any pharmacy without prescription). You may also want to wear the wristbands during your excursion (these are available from the Great White House where we meet in the morning).
c) Do not think about it! If you have ever been seasick, you will remember it, and some seasickness is psychological. Convince yourself that you will be fine, and forget about seasickness.
d) During the excursion, stay outside of the cabin, remain in the fresh breeze, and avoid the toilet. Keep your eyes on the horizon from the start, and try not to look through your camera’s view finders for too long (most compact digital cameras offer a screen – use this option). If the sea is choppy, avoid going on the top deck where the boat’s movements are accentuated. Wear comfortable and loose clothing items, or just make yourself as comfortable as possible by unfastening buttons or belts.
Yes. We offer a light lunch pack and snacks, as well as cold drinks and water that are conveniently on display throughout the trip. All the refreshments are included in our price. We can also organise specific food depending on your dietary requirements or preferences, but this need to be organised and booked in advance and may carry additional costs.
No. Slashfin is a non-smoking boat. This is for the comfort of all passengers, as well as for safety hazard reasons due to the amount of petrol carried on the boat.
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
White shark behaviour has proved less predictable since 2017, post Orca predations and sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, Bronze Whaler and Broadnose Sevengill sharks, can be encountered throughout the year.
We certainly can organise transport and accommodation for your excursion or visit to Gansbaai. We can arrange for a shuttle to pick you up in the morning in Cape Town, drive you to Gansbaai and then drive you back to your accommodation in the city in the afternoon. These shuttles are run by independent companies and they charge between 350 ZAR per person return. We would, however, recommend that you stay at least one night in Gansbaai, preferably the night prior to your excursion, as the drive from Cape Town to Gansbaai is fairly long (approximately two hours or 200 km’s) and our trips launch early. We can also arrange a rental car, and we can recommend this option – especially if you are not travelling alone – as this might be cheaper than taking the shuttle. Car rentals start at 200 ZAR per day, but make sure to take insurance coverage and unlimited mileage as distances in South Africa are rather large.
We can also organise a variety of accommodation tailored to your needs and budget. Gansbaai offers many options – from back packers, guesthouses and B&Bs to exclusive lodges, and we have selected different alternatives that present the best quality and price ratio. Prices range from 200 ZAR to 2800 ZAR per person per night. The Great White House also offers two self-catering cottages, housing up to four people each for 350 ZAR per person per night which includes breakfast (optional).
Only you will be able to find the answer to this question . . . Some of our crew members have worked with these Sharks for nearly a decade, and they still get excited and happy to observe White Sharks today! Great White Sharks are intelligent animals presenting very different behavioural patterns and attitudes. They display different characteristics; some being very shy or extra cautious, while others are seemingly playful and curious in the extreme. Every day is different at sea, and we can never forecast what the conditions, situations or encounters will be like. If you just want to see a Great White Shark, then one day should be enough, although you might regret spending only one day with these amazing animals once you have encountered them. If you are a Shark lover, then we would highly recommend that you spend at least three or more days to get a better feel for the variety of White Sharks. You should also schedule more than one day during the austral winter months (April through September) to avoid any disappointments due to bad weather conditions. We would recommend that serious Shark enthusiasts stay in Gansbaai for 4 to 6 days at least, and go to sea for at least 3 days.
Sharks are wild animals and their presence cannot be guaranteed. 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. We can guarantee a marine biologist on board who will educate you on our favourite apex predator and other shark species seen. Remember that YOUR CHOICE MAKES A DIFFERENCE and you can be assured that by booking with us you are assisting in the research and conservation of the great white shark. Should sea and weather conditions unexpectedly change while at sea, it may affect your time to dive in the cage. Be assured that this would be unusual as our team does regular weather checks. The transfer fee is non-refundable.
No. Our guests pay for the space on the boat, whether they remain on the boat or decide to go into the Shark cage. We only have one price.
Yes, our boats can accommodate 40 to 50 passengers each, making them ideal for larger groups or corporate outings. Additionally, we have access to partner vessels, allowing us to accommodate up to 150 passengers. We’re happy to discuss the best options for your group to ensure a memorable experience.
Gansbaai is located about 175 kilometres or 120 miles southeast from Cape Town towards Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of the African continent. From Cape Town, take the N2 highway in the direction of Somerset West, continue over Sir Lowry’s Pass onto the mountains past Grabouw until the N2 drops down to Botrivier, where you turn off the N2 onto the R44 towards Hermanus. In Hermanus, just follow the Gansbaai signs, but basically just drive straight through Hermanus and you will reach Stanford and then Gansbaai.
The Great White House is located in Kleinbaai, a small suburb of Gansbaai. It is within walking distance of the slipway from where our boats Slashfin (Marine Dynamics) and Whale Whisperer (Dyer Island Cruises) will launch to Dyer Island and Shark Bay. Once you arrive in Gansbaai, continue past the three 4-way stops in the main road, leave the town behind driving past the industrial area on the left, until you reach a fifth 4-way stop, where you turn right towards Kleinbaai and the ocean. Follow this road until you see the large sign for the Great White House, turn right again until you reach a stop sign where you turn left. The Great White House is located just next to the petrol station. Find Marine Dynamics on Google Maps.
Once a sleepy fishing village ignored by most maps, Gansbaai has become a booming tourist coastal town during the past few years. The town of Gansbaai stretches along over 20 kilometres of coastline from De Kelders to Pearly Beach, and offers some amazing walks along the rocky shore of De Kelders, or along the beautiful beach of Uilenkraalsmond. De Kelders offers some amazing shore based whale watching from June through December, and Dyer Island Cruises offers the boat-based whale watching option which gets you closer to Southern Right Whales than you ever thought possible. Walks in the unique Fynbos Biome can also be undertaken, but a guided tour is highly recommended so that you can learn something about the hundreds of indigenous plant species. Gansbaai is definitely a place where you can get in touch with nature, and if the city-slicker in you awakens, then the larger town of Hermanus is only 50 kilometres away.
This is the subject of a heavily discussed controversy which started in 1998 when 13 Shark bites occurred in South Africa alone. In our society, we need to be able to put the blame on something or someone, and in this case, the cage diving industry was targeted. What the media forgot to mention is that Shark bite statistics during that year were higher on a worldwide scale, not just in South Africa. Unfortunately in their basic statement, the media have used the usual tropical Shark diving experience and transposed it onto the White Shark cage diving industry. There are some very important differences between Shark diving in the Bahamas and cage-diving with White Sharks at Dyer Island:
a) White Sharks are not resident around Dyer Island and only remain in the area for a couple of weeks on average, whereas in tropical waters, many species of Sharks are sometimes resident to a reef system for periods of several years. This allows them to learn to associate boat engine noises with food, for example.
b) In South Africa, the cage-diving industry is not allowed by law to feed the Sharks. Marine Dynamics is also committed to avoiding feeding the Sharks for ethical and general conservation reasons. In the Shark dives in the Bahamas, pieces of fish are thrown constantly over the side of the boat, feeding the reef Sharks and hence programming their feeding habits. In South Africa, the pieces of fish are attached to a float and a rope and pulled away from the White Sharks. This bait is used solely as a lure, but, White Sharks will sometimes take the bait. It is important to remember that in order to train animals, consistent positive reinforcement is needed.
c) We do not believe that chumming and baiting activities, provided they are conducted responsibly and reasonably, are in any way linked to any Shark incidents. Marine Dynamics is however, dedicated to ensuring that any potential reinforcement is kept to an absolute minimum, by ensuring whenever possible that Sharks are not fed.
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.
“Both Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Cruises are dedicated to conservation and the protection of the environment and wildlife. Wilfred Chivell, owner of Dyer Island Cruises and Marine Dynamics, is certainly the most knowledgeable person about the ecosystem and varied wildlife found on and around Dyer Island. He established the Dyer Island Conservation Trust in 2006 and his care and dedication to the health of this sensitive ecosystem has led to the launch of various conservation projects for the area:
– The ‘Faces of Need’ housing project for the endangered African penguin has grown over the last ten years with more than 2000 penguin homes placed at various colonies. This project continues to look at the best model home in consultation with scientists and penguin colony managers.
– In 2015 the Trust opened its own seabird rehabilitation facility in Gansbaai – the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary known as APSS. With a fully equipped lab and a vet on standby birds can immediately be treated thereby increasing their survival rate and released close to their home colony, Dyer Island.
– The seas around Dyer Island have one of the densest populations of great white sharks in the world creating a rare opportunity for the marine biologists of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust to conduct invaluable research from their dedicated research vessel, Lwazi, which means ‘seeking knowledge’. With reliable sightings all year round, research activities include tagging and tracking of great white sharks, behavioural surveys, wound healing, environmental parameter monitoring as well as daily observational data that includes fin identification for population studies.
-The unique fishing line bin project and marine pollution efforts.
– The team attend to all marine animal strandings in the area as well as whale and dolphin entanglements.”
According to Wikipedia, ecotourism is defined as follows:
“Ecotourism essentially means ecological tourism, where ecological has both environmental and social connotations. It is defined both as a concept-tourism movement and as a tourism (specifically sustainable tourism) sector.” Born in its current form in the late 1980s, Ecotourism came of age in 2002, when the United Nations celebrated the “International Year of Ecotourism”. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people”. However, this is a vibrant, new movement and there are various definitions.
Ecotourism focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on our vulnerable planet. It is typically defined as travel to destinations where the flora, fauna and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Responsible ecotourism includes programmes that minimise the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, initiatives by hospitality providers to promote recycling, energy-efficiency, water re-use and the creation of economic opportunities for local communities, are an integral part of ecotourism.
Many global environmental organisations and aid agencies favour ecotourism as a vehicle to sustainable development. Ideally, true ecotourism should satisfy several criteria, such as:
a) conservation (and justification for conservation) of biological and cultural diversity, through the protection of ecosystems;
b) promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity, by providing jobs to local populations;
c) sharing of socio-economic benefits with local communities and indigenous people by having their informed consent and participation in the management of ecotourism enterprises;
d) increase of environmental & cultural knowledge;
e) minimisation of tourism’s own environmental impact;
f) affordability and lack of waste in the form of luxury;
g) local culture, flora and fauna being the main attractions.
Both Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Cruises are certified by Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa, and follow the guidelines of ecotourism as described in the above definition. We strive to provide you with environmentally friendly excursions, minimising all possible impacts on the sensitive local ecosystem and wildlife. We provide presentations that will introduce you to the excursions, and especially the Sharks and general wildlife. We are committed to education to both our guests and also to train local guides, providing local communities with new job opportunities that will represent the importance of their environment.
Yes. Marine Dynamics is dedicated to respecting the Sharks above and beyond any other consideration (except our guests’ safety, of course!) We strive to show you the real and true Great White Shark, not the image all too often used in magazines, newspapers, documentaries or movies. White Sharks are very curious animals, which can lead to some amazing moments and emotions when you look directly into the intelligent dark blue eyes of a passing White Shark swimming with his/her head above the water . . . but they are also extremely cautious animals, which are a good thing for their own survival, and we respect this behaviour. White Sharks also have very distinctive personalities, and this trait is what makes every encounter with a White Shark so special. No two Sharks are alike in their behaviour, and you can easily distinguish White Sharks by the characteristic notches and pigmentation patches present on their dorsal fin, and the markings and scars they present on their body. We will NOT show you the Shark from the movie JAWS! We will not trigger unnatural and teased reactions for your viewing fantasies.
We vouch to do our best not to feed the Sharks (by law we are not allowed to intentionally feed the Sharks, and our ethical dedication prevents us from conducting this practice).
We vouch to do our best to avoid any contact between the Sharks and the boat or the cage to prevent any accidental injuries to the Shark.
We vouch to respect the regulations in place, which do not allow the opening of a Shark’s mouth or the free diving practice.
We vouch to show you the real Great White Shark in its natural environment and minimise any impact we may have in interacting with these amazing, wonderful and captivating animals.
- We vouch to do our best not to feed the Sharks (by law we are not allowed to intentionally feed the Sharks, and our ethical dedication prevents us from conducting this practice).
- We vouch to do our best to avoid any contact between the Sharks and the boat or the cage to prevent any accidental injuries to the Shark.
- We vouch to respect the regulations in place, which do not allow the opening of a Shark’s mouth or the free diving practice.
- We vouch to show you the real Great White Shark in its natural environment and minimise any impact we may have in interacting with these amazing, wonderful and captivating animals.
In order to be able to observe and cage dive with Great White Sharks, we need to attract these Sharks to the boat and the cage. Chumming is the process in which we create a chum slick also known as odour corridor that will guide the Sharks to the boat. Chum usually consists of minced tuna meat, mashed sardines, and/or fish oil, which are mixed with seawater in a drum on board Slashfin. This potent fish smelling mixture is then ladled back into the ocean, and will slowly drift away from the boat, creating the chum slick. Once this process has started, it is all a game of patience and luck until we get a Shark . . . we wait for a Shark to swim across our chum slick drifting down current from the boat ever further away. Once the Shark enters the chum slick, it will smell the dead fish smell and track it back to its source, the boat. The Shark enters a scavenging mode and usually swims in a zigzag pattern up the chum slick, a strategy that prevents missing any drifting pieces of potential carcass. Once the Shark is close to the boat, we use a bait and a decoy lure to attract the Shark to the surface and closer to the boat.