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.