Overview
- The trip normally begins at 10h00 in the morning from Kleinbaai harbour, which is 2 km along the coast from the village of Gansbaai, but may vary due to the tides and expedited sea conditions. You will be personally notified, after 17:00 the day before your dive, about the time you must meet at our crew house.
- After a continental breakfast (no greasy foods), payments are undertaken and
a safety briefing held, you board our shark-chaser, Apex Predator for the 5 mile
voyage to Dyer Island or anchor spot.
- The boat normally leaves the harbor at 10:00 in the morning and returns between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm in the afternoon.
- After dropping anchor, we begin attracting Great Whites with a specially-
formulated ‘Chum’ mixture, made from completely legal ingredients, which has taken
Brian years to perfect, & is a highly-guarded trade secret. Sharks are seen 99.9% of our trips!
(MANDATE AGAINST THE USE OF SHARK PRODUCTS - Great White Shark Tours cc
do not feed the sharks nor use any part of a shark product in their ‘secret chum
mixture’ and have signed a mandate to this effect.)
- 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 travelling 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.
Safety
- Safety briefings are given and passengers must pay attention. For your own safety the skippers instructions must be obeyed at all times.
- We have a 18 year unblemished safety record
- We hold a $500million policy covering us for negligence whilst you are on the boat or in the cage.
- A certificate with substantial shark info will be handed to each participant on completion of the trip. View PDF.
The Boat – Apex Predator
- Apex Predator, Brian’s latest modern hi-tech custom-built catamaran is the envy
of every boating enthusiast. Fitted with a spacious cabin and sheltered seating,
dive platform, separate toilet. It is sleek, fast and comfortable. We can take as many as
40 passengers per trip, but you will never feel crowded.
- Apex Predator is inspected by the Department of Marine & Coastal Management
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 permits available in this part of Africa to take you down to see these giants.
- A new galvanized steel cage was recently put into service and has been inspected and
certified by a qualified engineer.
- Our friendly and experienced qualified dive masters will help you at each step of the dive.
The Boat
- Brian McFarlane of Great White Shark Tours cc is proud to announce the introduction into service of the most up to date vessel in South Africa.
- The boat was designed and built to the highest safety standards and is considered as the most comfortable available.
- Some of the features of the new boat include:
- Length: 13m
- Width: 5.1m this gives maximum stability whilst on anchor at sea.
- Engines: 4 x 200HP Suzuki 4 strokes for safety, reliability and power when required
- Viewing platform: Spacious upper level viewing platform
- Seating: Comfortable padded seats with back rests
- Storage space: Individual lockers for customer bag storage
- Toilet Facilities: Men's and Ladies with Latest flush technology
- Change rooms: Spacious areas to change into and out of wetsuits
- Water: Fresh running water [hot shower available]
- Safety Equipment: Two 25 man Life rafts
- Spray covers: Vinyl roll down sides to keep wind spray off passengers
- Wet suits: New 7mm easy to change into
- Electronic equipment: GPS/radios/depth echo sounder/Natsav
- Fuel tanks: Stainless steel tanks built to highest ISO Standardss
- Smoking: No smoking allowed on boat (ISO standard)
- The boat was designed to easily accommodate the 40 passengers she can carry.
The Shark 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 type and is custom-made to the highest quality standard with 12mm galvanized steel mesh. The sharks cannot get inside. Our viewing gap is now 230mm.
- The cage is attached to the boat at all times.
- All diving equipment is supplied. All of our wetsuits are new and leak-free. 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.
- We hold a $500million policy covering us for negligence whilst you are on the boat or in the cage.
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.
- Visibility is normally the best from March to September.
- Shark sightings are most numerous and there are more sharks in the winter months, because the water temperature is also warmer.
The Famous Great White Shark Islands
- Dyer Island is 5 miles (8 km) offshore, near the village of Gansbaai at the southern tip of Africa… only 2 and a half 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 normally anchor 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.
- As per Lonely Planet’s 2011 BEST IN TRAVEL:
The best places to go and things to do all round the world right now:
No 1 Best Underwater Experiences Diving with Great Whites, Gansbaai, South Africa.
Passenger Requirements and Equipment
- If you are prone to seasickness speak to your pharmacist to give you a pill, which must be taken prior to the trip.
- Pregnant women should consult their physician prior to their trip.
- 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 and photographed from the boat.
- All diving equipment is supplied free of charge, including towels and protective jackets for the cold and water spray. Warm clothing including a change of underwear, a cap, sun block, camera & film are essential items for the trip.
- A variety of breadrolls, cool drinks, fruit & other snacks will be provided on board.
- A DVD of the day’s activities is also available at an extra cost.
Thanks to Brandon Cole, Ian Lauder, Charles Maxwell and Rafael Fernandez for their brilliant pics. Illegal use of images is strictly prohibited.