SHARK CAGE DIVING - The Heart of the Cape City Experience Tourism Industry
Humans have become fascinated by them and have a healthier mixture of fear and respect for these beautiful creatures.
South Africa, more specifically Cape Town, is without a shadow of any doubt, one of the best destinations worldwide for experiencing sharks, especially Great White sharks, at close proximity. The population of sharks is unparalleled elsewhere, and the locations are so accessible and in close proximity to land, that you are 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 now increasingly popular within the adventure tourism industry within the last decade. It's the experience of a very long time to be able to witness these magnificent animals inside their natural habitat.
Each year tens of thousands of people travel the world to see and dive with the 400 species of shark inside our oceans. Every year they undertake this adventure with apprehension and excitement and each 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 not to interfere too much with the natural behavior patterns of the sharks. The feeding of sharks is also strictly prohibited, to prevent them from associating boats having an easy meal.
Passengers on the shark cage trips are likely to experience 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 first shark appears. Once the sharks have settled down, the first group of cagers prepare to enter their cage while the rest retreat to the rear 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 an emotional, heart-stopping and truly thrilling experience.
The knowledge is not only thrilling for those in the cage. The passengers on the boat have the ability to enjoy the outer lining viewing from an unparalleled viewpoint and to observe and photograph the Great White sharks from only a few feet away. Surface viewing here is amazing as passengers get an all-round view of the sharks attacking, circling and descending.
Shark Cage Diving Locations
You will find two areas where Great White diving is performed, Gans Bay and Mossel Bay. Both these destinations can be 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 very best time of year for Great White viewing is between April and November mainly because of 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 the time, on a great day up to a dozen Great White sharks ranging between 2, 5 and 4, 5 meters may be encountered.
There are a large number of companies operating shark tours in and around Cape Town many specialising in specific sightings due to where they're based. On a lot of the tours you will have the ability to see many other areas of marine life independent of 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 ability of a life being so close in their mind and observing them in their natural habitat. Being with your 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 view them from afar, Cape Town is the perfect area for you.
Auteur
Shark cage diving is once in an eternity chance for shark lovers and adventure junkies alike regarding Cage diving. 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.