Travel bucket list idea:

Dive with great white sharks in Cape Town

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Large shark swimming past a cage full of divers in Cape Town

Last updated: 19 August, 2024

In the waters off Cape Town it’s the Great White Shark, carcharodon carcharias, that rules the roost, and admiring this remarkable predator in its natural environment – from the safety of a sturdy steel cage, of course – is a bucket list experience you’ll never forget.

Spacious speedboats leave Kleinbaai harbour (two hours’ drive from Cape Town) in the early morning, setting course for Dyer Island and the famous ‘Shark Alley’. Here, chum (fish bait) is released into the water, the cage is lowered and adventurers don their wetsuits. When a shark comes to investigate, it’s into the water you go.

Note – you don’t have to go in the water to enjoy this trip. Watching these majestic, and curious, creatures glide around from the security of the boat is also worth going for.

Note from Matt: the great whites vanished from the area following the arrival of two orcas (that prey on the great whites) in 2000. They were spotted again at the start of 2024… but check before you book to see if they are being seen on these tours. If there are no great whites, the tour operators will often take you to dive with other types of shark – still worth doing.

Logistics

Price from: £100

Minimum age: 6

Age suitable: 13+

When: All year around

Duration: 5

Getting there & doing it

A range of cage-diving operators run trips from Kleinbaai harbour, with most offering early-morning transfers from Cape Town that return in the afternoon. If you want to self-drive, Kleinbaai is a two-hour drive from Cape Town. Follow signs for Hermanus and the R43 from the N2 freeway.

Trips last roughly five hours, and operators provide a simple lunch and drinks on board. Equipment is provided, so all you’ll need is a swimming costume, towel and courage.Take seasickness tablets if you are susceptible. You’re a few hours on the ocean and there can be swell that sways the boat.

Operators have minimum age policies, ranging from 6-12 years – less if kids stay in the boat.

When to do it

Cage-diving trips run all year round, seven days a week. Morning trips depart around 7am, afternoon trips depart around 1pm.

The best sightings are to be had in winter (May to October) when the visibility is best and sharks hunt for seals around the islands. In summer (January to March) Great Whites tend to hunt inshore, away from the islands where the cage diving takes place.

Who to go with: organised tours

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Shark Cage Diving and Viewing with transport from Cape Town

Cape Town

Viator

You may think you’re a fear-defying thrill lover, but can you handle the ultimate heart-pounding experience? Find out in Gansbaai by cage diving with various shark species. This full-day shark-diving experience takes you out into the open ocean off the shore of Gansbaai and puts you in their habitat. Before jumping in, you'll learn about the sharks from the onboard marine biologist and expert guides. Breakfast, snacks and Cape Town hotel pick-up and drop-off are included.

Price ZAR 4,050

Min age 5

Rating 4.51 / 5 [554 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Half-Day White Shark Cage Diving from Gansbaai

Gansbaai

Viator

In South Africa, we are privileged to have access to great white sharks … if you know where to go, and when. Shark Cage Diving and viewing is a unique and niche experience. Exceptional professional and personalised service coupled with extensive industry knowledge make this the ideal choice for an once-in-a-lifetime experience that will captivate your imagination!

Price ZAR 2,892

Min age 0

Rating 4.62 / 5 [290 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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CapeTown: African Shark Eco-Charters Shark Cage Diving Experience

Cape Town

Viator

We are an owner operated licenced shark diving operator with an ethical approach to nature and the environment. Our small groups allow for an intimate and educational experience, and we often encounter dolphins and whales on our tours. We are the top company in Simons Town on TripAdvisor and our reputation and honesty speak for itself, which is why we have been voted into tripAdvisor's hall of fame. We offer Scuba diving and snorkelling on our trips which is just one of the things that sets us apart from other companies.

Price ZAR 3,595

Min age 9

Rating 4.48 / 5 [137 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Shark Cage Diving Cape Town

Cape Town

Viator

We operate half day shark tours in Cape Town from False Bay. The departure point, Simon’s Town, is only 45 minutes from the Cape Town city center, 15 minutes from the Cape of Good Hope and only 2 minutes from Boulders Beach Penguin Colony. The shark species found in these waters include the Bronze Whaler shark, the Seven-gill shark, the Blue and Mako shark, with the occasional sighting of a Great white shark. No matter the species – your perspective will have changed forever, way beyond your wildest imagination. Whales, dolphins, and many species of sea birds are often encountered on this adventurous expedition. As we adopt an eco-system style of operating our trips, going to sea with Apex is like going on a safari game drive and we will try to take in as much marine wildlife as possible on our trips. As trips are based on natural events every trip is different and sightings are not guaranteed.

Price ZAR 3,630

Min age 7

Rating 4.73 / 5 [103 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Shark Diving Full Day Guided Return Transfer to Gansbaai from Cape Town

Cape Town

Viator

See feared predators in a shark cage dive for the ultimate adrenaline rush or just enjoy the action from the deck, on a day trip to Gansbaai. No previous diving experience is necessary and equipment plus instruction will be provided. Avoid the crowds and explore at your own pace with a friendly, professional tour guide in an upmarket air-conditioned vehicle. We take the scenic route up Sir Lowry's Pass with a coffee stop at the top and then on to Gansbaai harbour where the boat departs. After the boat trip, we drive back to Cape Town along the picturesque Gordon's Bay sea route This round trip is a must for first time visitors to the Cape Peninsula. Drop off at your accommodation at the end of a great experience. * NB - the cost of the shark dive experience is extra (R 3100 per person). The boat trip is not private - passenger capacity approximately 30.

Price ZAR 2,600

Min age 0

Rating 4.45 / 5 [11 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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