Diving with tiger sharks in South Africa is rapidly becoming a primary focus of many dive tours to the country and once again South Africa earns it's place amongst the worlds top shark dive destinations. Baited tiger dives are conducted without cages. The sharks are attracted to the area by the use of a baited drum and on most dives, the divers enter the water on scuba to drift freely with the current, the sharks and the drum.

Baited dives with tiger sharks were first attempted some seven years ago on Aliwal Shoal. The area just south of the Eel Skin site on Aliwal Shoal is now well established as a tiger baiting venue, boasting more than an 80% chance of a successful tiger shark encounter.

The best months for tiger shark sightings are from November to July, however sightings are now proving to be year round as a typical baited dive on Aliwal Shoal can attract between two and five different tiger sharks and as many as fifty blacktips (C. limbatus) - this increase in shark activity is perhaps a reflection of the increase in diver activity as baited dives become ever more popular.

Baited dives are now also available off Protea Banks and Oceans Africa have been fortunate enough to work with African Dive Adventures in developing the techniques and protocols necessary to conduct these dives in the area. More about Protea Banks...

Whilst Protea Banks is less frequently baited, baited dives in the area do offer an altogether different experience. As well as the tiger sharks, Protea Banks often provides divers with the chance to witness more complex interactions between different shark species. The Zambezi (bull) sharks for which Protea is famous, tend not to be interested in the drum itself, they are however, often attracted to secondary activity in a baited environment - game fish, other sharks and excited divers can stimulate their curiosity and suddenly the whole focus of the dive changes as the bull sharks take charge. Other species successfully attracted to a baited situation include scalloped hammerhead, dusky sharks (C. Obscurus), bronze whaler and of course the blacktip sharks. More about sharks...

Diving with sharks in a baited situation offers divers a privileged opportunity to observe and study sharks and shark behavior at close quarters for an extended period of time. Ever cautious the sharks will often begin a lengthy assessment process, closely investigating the divers and providing excellent photographic opportunities, before approaching the baited drum. Despite the sometimes deceptively slow movements of the larger sharks it must be remembered at all times that these animals are in a highly stimulated state. Diving in a baited situation is high energy shark diving! See tour report...

Visit our dive tour pages for packages that include baited dives or allow us to create a custom tour for you with transfers and accommodation to suit your individual requirements.