Whale & Sharks

Whale

About the Whale Watching Trip:

Your boat-based Whale Watching experience starts with you being collected from a central address in Cape Town . Collection times to be confirmed one day prior to the date of the tour. After an approximate 1.5 hour journey you'll arrive in Hermanus.

Tours leave from the New Harbour in Hermanus. On arrival you will recieve a boat and safety briefing. All passengers will be required to sign indemnity forms prior to boarding.

The Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus can last anything between 1.5 hrs to 3 hrs dependingon sea conditions, whale activity and where the whales are located but is on average 2 hrs long.

Whales are observed within 50m of the boat (permit and animal safety regulations apply) but being naturally curious, often approach the boat giving you spectacular photo opportunities.

Enjoy some light refreshments while listening to the on-board commentary as the whale specialist and guide provides valuable insight to their behaviour and migratory patterns.

Marine Life You Can Encounter:

Bryde's Whales (all year round) Southern Right Whales (June - November), Humpback Whales (June to September), a variety of Dolphin species, Cape Fur Seals, Marine Birds including the African penguin

Sharks

About the Trip:

Your Shark Cage Diving experience starts with you being collected from an address in Cape Town. Departure times to be confirmed one day ahead of the trip.

After an approximate 2 and a half hour shuttle bus journey from Cape Town you will arrive in Gansbaai where you will be met by the crew and be given a brief orientation on the day's activities. You will then be required to complete the necessary Shark Cage Diving indemnity forms while you enjoy a light breakfast before embarking on this thrill seeking Shark Diving Adventure.

After breakfast you will take a short walk down to Kleinbaai harbour where all the diving boats are based. Once on board get ready for the ultimate adrenaline rush of your life. Nothing quite compares to Shark Diving in Cape Town.... it will leave you on a high for days.

Where We Dive and Best time to Go:

A 10-15 minute boat ride will take you out to Shark Alley (between Gyser Rock and Dyer Island, home to one of the largest seal colonies in Southern Africa), renowned as one of "the best" Shark Diving Sites in Gansbaai.

Winter time (Apr - Oct) is considered to be the best time to go Shark Cage Diving in South Africa with visibility being better than in the summer however, Great White Shark Diving can be done all year round!

Time at Sea:

Boats stay out at sea for around 2 - 4 hours depending on weather and sea conditions. Once anchored, the crew will immediately begin to chum the water with fish based products, like tuna and fish oil to attract the Great White Sharks. With the chum in the water all you can do is wait for the first shark to show up and hope that this happens quickly.

Once the first shark makes its appearance you will kit up and get into the cage where you can get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures. One to five Great Whites can be encountered in a day but if you are exceptionally lucky, you may see more.

Dive Equipment:

All dive gear including wetsuits and mask are provided so that you can enjoy the Shark Cage Dive in comfort.

Once in the cage all you need to do is lower yourself under the water using a simple breath-hold technique where you will be able to view the Great White Sharks lurking in the depths below.

Shark Diving is safe and very educational. You also don't need any dive certification to go Shark Cage Diving here in Cape Town.

The Dive:

For your 1st Dive you get about 20 - 30 minutes in the cage. Subsequent dives are then rotated amongst the divers to ensure everyone gets a chance to view the Great White Sharks. You can sometimes get 2 - 3 dives per trip if the weather, sea conditions and shark activity is good. The cage takes between 5 - 6 people at a time so there is plenty of time to cage dive. Numbers are limited to ensure maximum shark cage diving time.

For those of you who would prefer not to get in the cage, no problem, these fantastic apex predators can be viewed from the boat. Being surface feeders, it's almost as good as being in the water with them as everything happens pretty close to the surface, giving you exceptional views and fantastic photo opportunities of them circling and descending deeper into the depths below.

Conditions:

The water temperatures can vary between 55 - 65°F (12-18°C) when you go Great White Shark Diving in Cape Town. Visibility is usually around 6-8 meters but can go up to 12-15 meters on a good day or down to 2-3 meters on a bad day.

The Return to Shore:

On return to shore after your exhilarating Shark Cage Diving experience you will be invited to view the Shark Diving video of the day (available at an additional cost) while you enjoy a light lunch.

Following lunch, you will be transported back to Cape Town.

Whale

The Trip includes:

• Return Transfer from Cape Town
• Boat Based Whale Watching Tour (2 hrs on average)
• Experienced Whale Watchign Skipper & Crew
• Whale Guide and Specialist
• Bottled water on board

Sharks

The Trip includes:

• Shark Cage Diving & Surface Viewing (1 Trip)
• Boat & Cage Dive Safety Briefing
• An experienced Dive Guide & Boat Skipper
• All dive gear including wetsuits and mask

Meals:

• A light breakfast on arrival
• Drinks & Snacks on board the boat
• A light lunch on your return to Kleinbaai Harbour

Transport:

• A Return Shuttle Bus Transfer from a central address in Cape Town

Whale

What To Bring with You:

• Warm jumper or jacket (the wind can sometimes get cold on the boat)
• Hat & Sun-block
• Camera/Camcorder
• Binoculars

Sharks

What To Bring with You:

• Warm clothing for after the dive.  Waterproof / Windproof Jacket, it can sometimes get a bit chilly on the boat
• Hat & Sun block
• Swimming costume for underneath wetsuits (if diving)
• Towel
• Camera
• Disposable underwater cameras are also available at the harbour curio shop or at most camera stockists
• Sea / Motion Sickness Tablets

Whale

Optional Extras:

• Footage of the trip may be available for purchase on the day.
• Accommodation can be arranged upon request.
• Any drinks or meals not specified

Sharks

Optional Extras:

• A DVD of the day's activities will be available for purchase. 
• Fancy taking a scenic drive and driving there yourself see our Self Drive Option. Car Hire can be arranged on request.
• Want to spoil yourself why not try our Helicopter Charter Option.

Whale

Safety:

The safety of our customers on every Whale Watching Tour is of utmost importance to us.

The Operators we deal with have an unblemished Safety Record and carry out regular safety checks.

Sharks

Safety:

The safety of our customers on every Cage Diving trip is of utmost importance to us.

The Operators we deal with have an unblemished Safety Record and carry out regular safety checks. Shark Cage Diving with Great Whites has become an important part of Eco-Tourism in South Africa so ensuring your safety also ensures the continued survival of the Great White Shark.

Whale

Itinerary:

Note that the times below are a mere guideline and can change at any time. Your confirmed collection time will be provided one day prior to your tour date.

Boat Departure Times: June to end November at 09h00 | 12h00 | 15h00

Sharks

Itinerary:

Note that the schedules below are a mere guideline and can change at any time. Your official collection time from a central address in Cape Town will be confirmed a day prior to departure. During high season there may be as many as two or even three dive Trips available per day depending on the Operator.

Morning Trip Schedule:

Afternoon Trip Schedule: (only available if there are enough clients to run two trips)