In the last 350 million years sharks have dominated the oceans of the world. The fiercest predators in their domain, sharks have earned their reputation since the hunters of the sea. Humans have grown to be interested in them and have a healthy combination of fear and respect for these beautiful creatures.

South Africa, more specifically Cape Town, is without a darkness of a doubt, one of the best destinations worldwide for experiencing sharks, especially Great White sharks, at close proximity. The populace of sharks is unparalleled elsewhere, and the locations are so accessible and in close proximity to land, that you're virtually guaranteed to witness numerous animals participating in what these were born to do.

The Adventure of a Lifetime

Shark cage diving and surface viewing has become increasingly popular within the adventure tourism industry within the last decade. It's the ability of a very long time to be able to witness these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.

Annually a large number of people travel the world to see and dive with the 400 species of shark inside our oceans. Each year they undertake this adventure with apprehension and excitement and every time return with a passion and deep seated respect for these fascinating creatures.

Swim with the Sharks

Shark cage diving is a strictly regulated industry, with only a few operators having been granted a license to take part in this activity. Great care is taken to not interfere a lot of with the natural behavior patterns of the sharks. The feeding of sharks can also be strictly prohibited, to avoid them from associating boats having an easy meal.

Passengers on the shark cage trips are likely to see Great Whites as other sharks tend to help keep a low profile inside their territories. The Cape Coast is one of the most famous Great White territories world wide.

On boarding the boat for the trip out to sea, the passenger's anticipation is overwhelming. It can take as much as one hour of chumming before the first shark appears. After the sharks have settled down, the first band of cagers prepare to enter their cage while the rest retreat to the back of the boat or viewing platform to witness the spectacular proceedings, eagerly awaiting their turn in the cage.

The bait line is slowly drawn towards the cage. Since the bait line approaches so too does the Great White. The cage experience has been described by some as a psychological, heart-stopping and truly thrilling experience.

The ability is not only thrilling for anyone in the cage. The passengers on the boat are able to enjoy the surface viewing from an unparalleled viewpoint and to observe and photograph the Great White sharks from only a few feet away. Surface viewing listed here is amazing as passengers get an all-round view of the sharks attacking, circling and descending.

Shark Cage Diving Locations

There are two areas where Great White diving is completed, Gans Bay and Mossel Bay. Both these destinations are easily reached by land or air from Cape Town International Airport. Both destinations will also be major tourist hot spots and accommodation and restaurants are of an excellent standard.

The most effective time of the year for Great White viewing is between April and November mainly due to the mass-pupping of seals. Sharks are a little less active between December and March but aren't completely absent from the areas. During caging and viewing trips Great White sharks are encountered 95% of that time period, on a good day upwards of twelve Great White sharks ranging between 2, 5 and 4, 5 meters may be encountered.

There are certainly a multitude of companies operating shark tours in and around Cape Town many specialising in specific sightings due to where they are based. On a lot of the tours you will be able to experience a great many other facets of marine life apart from the sharks: schools of dolphins; seals; penguins; bird life and occasionally whales.

Go through the Thrill

Whether sharks intrigue, fascinate or frighten you, it's the experience of a lifetime being so close to them and observing them within their natural habitat. Being with these mighty kings of the deep is certainly one of typically the most popular activities in adventure tourism at the moment. Whether you desire to dive with Great Whites or simply just view them from afar, Cape Town is the right position for you.

Shark cage diving is once in a very long time opportunity for shark lovers and adventure junkies alike. Experience the greatest thrill whilst diving with ragged-tooth sharks, a turtle, rays and game fishes in the I&J predator exhibit at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town.