SHARK CAGE DIVING - The Heart of the Cape City Adventure Tourism Market

[SamMichan]

Within the last 350 million years sharks have dominated the oceans of the world. The fiercest predators inside their domain, sharks have earned their reputation whilst the hunters of the sea. Humans have become fascinated with them and have a healthy combination of fear and respect for these beautiful creatures.

South Africa, more specifically Cape Town, is without a shadow of a doubt, one of the finest destinations worldwide for experiencing sharks, especially Great White sharks, at close proximity. The people of sharks is unparalleled elsewhere, and the locations are so accessible and in close proximity to land, that you will be virtually guaranteed to witness numerous animals participating in what they certainly were born to do.

The Adventure of a Lifetime

Shark cage diving and surface viewing is becoming increasingly popular within the adventure tourism industry within the last decade. It is the knowledge of a very long time being able to witness these magnificent animals inside their natural habitat.

Annually 1000s of people travel the globe to see and dive with the 400 species of shark in our oceans. Annually they undertake this adventure with apprehension and excitement and every time return with an interest and deep seated respect for these fascinating creatures.

Swim with the Sharks

Shark cage diving is just a strictly regulated industry, with just a few operators having been granted a license to engage in this activity. Great care is taken never to interfere a lot of with the natural behavior patterns of the sharks. The feeding of sharks can be strictly prohibited, to stop 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 within their territories. The Cape Coast is one of the very most famous Great White territories world wide.

On boarding the boat for the trip out to sea, the passenger's anticipation is overwhelming. Normally it takes up to an hour or so of chumming before the very first shark appears. After the sharks have settled down, the first group of cagers prepare to enter their cage while the others 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. Whilst the bait line approaches so too does the Great White. The cage experience has been described by some as a mental, heart-stopping and truly thrilling experience.

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

Shark Cage Diving Locations

You can find two areas where Great White diving is performed, Gans Bay and Mossel Bay. Both these destinations are often reached by land or air from Cape Town International Airport. Both destinations are also major tourist hot spots and accommodation and restaurants are of an excellent standard.

The best season for Great White viewing is between April and November mainly due to the mass-pupping of seals. Sharks are a little less active between Shark research volunteers 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 an excellent day well over several Great White sharks ranging between 2, 5 and 4, 5 meters may be encountered.

There are certainly a large number of companies operating shark tours in and around Cape Town many specialising in specific sightings because of where they're based. On all the tours you will have a way to have a number of other aspects of marine life in addition to the sharks: schools of dolphins; seals; penguins; bird life and occasionally whales.

Go through the Thrill

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

Shark cage diving is once in a very long time chance for shark lovers and adventure junkies alike. Experience the best 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.