Cape Town, Gansbaai and Mossel Bay are all centers for cage diving in South Africa. Diving with great white sharks is of course the main attraction. The cages are securely attached to the boat and extend no more than two meters below the surface so a diving qualification is not required. There are also great opportunities for surface viewing should you not wish to get your toes wet.

The industry in Gansbaai is centred around Dyer Island approx 8km NE of Danger Point - the wreck site of the troopship HMS Birkenhead (1852). White sharks are attracted to the islands seal colony and are often found cruising the nearby channel, known as Shark Alley. Gansbaai is regarded as the Cage Diving capital of South Africa with serveral excellent operators offering shark viewing charters.

Cape town itself boasts the seal island in False Bay. Famous for it's breaching white sharks, the seals are frequently ambushed from below with such force that the sharks may be seen leaving the water entirely in a spectacular explosion of predator, prey and spray.

The seal colony in Mossel Bay is another magnet for white sharks. The island is tucked inside the bay itself and lies only 2km offshore. It is therefore well sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds in winter and provides a good diving option for those travelling up the coast along the Garden Route.

In general Cape Town, Mosselbaai and Gansbaai are best dived in the winter months from April to October when conditions are most favorable and sightings are more frequent. View our dive tour pages for packages that include Cage Diving or allow us to create a custom tour for you with transfers and accommodation to suit your individual requirements.

Caged dives are a major diving attraction for South Africa and the shark tourism industry plays a vital role in shark conservation and public education. With operators adhering to strict guidelines, we believe that responsible diving with great white sharks (protected in SA since 1991), will help to dispel misconceptions and encourage a better understanding and of these most magnificent predators. More on baited shark dives...