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Great White Shark Cage Diving |
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The Trip
- The trip normally begins at 10h00 in the morning from Kleinbaai, which is 2 km along the coast from the village of Gansbaai.
- After a continental breakfast, payments and a safety briefing by Brian, you board our shark-chaser, Apex Predator for the 5 mile voyage to Dyer Island.
- After dropping anchor, we all begin attracting Great Whites with a specially-formulated 'Chum' mixture, made from completely legal ingredients, which has taken Brian years to perfect, and is a highly-guarded trade secret. Sharks are seen 99.9% of our trips!
- Once the Great Whites arrive, you will have the opportunity to photograph these awe-inspiring animals feeding at the surface, right alongside the boat. This is when you enter the cage!
- It is recommended that you book well in advance and allow at least 2 days diving in case of adverse weather conditions. Passengers are exposed to the open sea while traveling to and from the islands. At the islands the boat is anchored off the lee sides and protected bays.
- Vinyl side curtains give additional protection from the wind and water spray.
- The boat normally leaves the harbour at 10h00 in the morning and returns between 3 and 4 in the afternoon.
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The Boat
- Apex Predator, Brian's new (2007) hi-tech custom-built catamaran is the envy of every boating enthusiast. Fitted with a spacious cabin and sheltered seating, dive platform, toilet and wash basin ... It is sleek, fast and comfortable.
- We can take as many as 40 passengers per day, but you will never feel crowded.
- Apex Predator is inspected by the Department of Transport annually. Our boat and entire operation have been diligently scrutinized by the controlling bodies of the South African government and have been awarded one of only 8 licenses available in this part of Africa to take you down to see these giants.
- The boat was designed and built to the highest safety standards and is considered as the most comfortable available.
- The boat was designed to easily accommodate the 40 passengers she can carry.
Some of the features of the new boat include:
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Length: |
13m |
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Width: |
5.1m this gives maximum stability whilst on anchor at sea. |
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Engines: |
4 x 200HP Suzuki 4 strokes for safety, reliability and power when required |
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Viewing platform: |
Spacious upper level viewing platform |
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Seating: |
Comfortable padded seats with back rests |
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Storage space: |
Individual lockers for customer bag storage |
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Toilet Facilities: |
Men's and Ladies with Latest flush technology |
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Change rooms: |
Spacious areas to change into and out of wetsuits |
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Water: |
Fresh running water [hot shower available] |
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Safety Equipment: |
Two 25 man Life rafts |
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Spray covers: |
Vinyl roll down sides to keep wind spray off passengers |
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Wet suits: |
New 7mm easy to change into |
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Electronic equipment: |
GPS/radios/depth echo sounder/Natsav |
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Fuel tanks: |
Stainless steel tanks built to highest ISO Standards |
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Smoking: |
No smoking allowed on boat (ISO standard) | |
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The Cage
- No experience is required if you want to go down in the cage.
- Sometimes the water will be extremely rough or far too murky to use the cage; viewing from the boat is still an awesome experience, with excellent photo opportunities.
- The cage is of the floating-variety and is custom-made with 12mm galvanized steel mesh.
- The sharks cannot get inside, and they don't try.
- The cage is attached to the boat at all times.
- All diving equipment is supplied. All of our wetsuits are new and leak-free…just like our boat.
- The new 7mm wetsuits are easy to get into.
- The cage floats right next to the boat and is easy to access, so you can climb out at any time.
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Viewing Season
- The Great Whites are in 'Shark Alley' all year round, but the best viewing months for clear water are from March to September.
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The Islands
- Dyer Island is 5 miles (8 km) offshore, near the village of Gansbaai at the southern tip of Africa... only 2 hours from Cape Town.
- Nearby, Geyser Rock supports a colony of 40,000 Cape Fur Seals....these guys are the reason the Great Whites stay here.
- Shark Alley is the channel between the 2 islands, and is protected from the worst of the Southern Atlantic's weather...this is where we park the Apex Predator.
- The islands, and Shark Alley itself are teeming with life. Cape Fur Seals, Jackass Penguins, and a wide variety of sea birds are commonly seen from the boat. From July to November, Southern Right Whales are spotted almost every day as well! Dolphins are sometimes sighted.
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Passenger Requirements and Equipment
- Cage diving with us does not require a scuba certification. Minimal experience is needed to go down in the cage.
- Everyone is welcome for surface viewing of the White Sharks as they are surface feeders and can be observed closely from the boat.
- All diving equipment is supplied free of charge, including towels and protective jackets for the cold and waterspray. Warm clothing, a cap, sun block, camera & film are essential items for the trip.
- A light lunch, cool drink, fruit & other snacks will be provided on board.
- A DVD of the day's activities is also available at an extra cost of R350.00.
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Cost: |
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R1 450 per person
R750 - Children under 12
Transport R300 (Per Person Return) from Cape Town and R200 (Per Person Return) from Hermanus.
You must be up early to leave CapeTown, it is at least a 2.5 hour drive to Gansbaai.
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©2005 Xtreme Trex
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