SHARK
DIVING BONANZA - 8 Nights shark diving tour
of South Africa. Cape Town to Durban.
From ZAR 8 730 per
person- see currency
converter. |
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This nine day shark diving package may be linked
to any tours, packages and charters offered
by Oceans Africa. Elements from this tour can
of course be used to create your own custom
tour.
Depending on the season we can find tiger
sharks, schooling hammerheads, bull sharks and
of course the great white sharks. Few countries
in the world can offer such diversity of species
in a single tour. This eight night dive package
is specifically designed for the shark diving
enthusiast and is available throughout the year.
The tour takes you from Cape Town and the Cage
Diving centres of Gansbaai, to the magnificent
offshore reef systems of KwaZulu Natal. |
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Day 1 : Arrival and transfer - Cape Town
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We
welcome you to Cape Town, the mother city, as
you are met at International arrivals and trasfered
to your accommodation. Depending on your schedule
there are a wide range of activities available
for your afternoon and evening entertainment.
A visit to the Cape Town Waterfront is always
highly recommended. For divers the Two Oceans
Aquarium is an absolute must while the Maritime
Museum next door displays salvaged artifacts
from the troopship HMS Birkenhead which
sank off Danger Point, near Gansbaai in 1852.
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Day 2 : Shark Cage Diving - Gansbaai
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| It's
an early morning start I'm afraid but your excitement
for the day ahead and some strong coffee, should
help to wipe the sleep from your eyes. Your
transfer to Gansbaai will take approx. 1 hour
45mins. On arrival you will be fully briefed
and kitted for a full morning Cage Diving with
one of the most professional and environmentally
conscious operators in the area. Sharks are
attracted to the vessel by the use of a chum
slick and divers take turns enter the 6 man
cage while those in waiting have excellent surface
viewing opportunities. There will of course
also be the chance to view the local seal colony
and season dependant there are often sightings
of whales and dolphins. Your afternoon is left
free to explore the local area or simply to
relax. |
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Day 3 : Shark Cage Diving - Gansbaai
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| Once
again you spend the morning cage diving. This
is your opportunity to learn more about these
magnificent animals and to observe different
sharks and behaviours. Your afternoon is left
free to explore locally and we recommend you
head for Danger Point Lighthouse in time for
sundowners overlooking the ocean and the final
resting place of the British troopship HMS
Birkenhead. The Birkenhead struck
the rock that now carries her name on the 26th
Feb 1852 with the loss of 455 lives - all the
women and children were saved as the officers
and troops calmly lined up on deck to ensure
their safety. Many of the troops lost were taken
by white sharks and some locals still refer
to them as Tommy sharks for this reason. |
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Day 4 : Transfer to Durban
and Aliwal Shoal |
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Your morning transfer
to Cape Town International will ensure you have
ample time to meet your domestic flight to Durban.
From Durban airport it's just a short hop to
the town of Umkomaas and your next diving destination
of Aliwal Shoal. A relaxing afternoon can be
spent settling in to your accommodation and
planning your dives for the following day. |
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Day 5 and 6 : Umkomaas - Dive
Aliwal Shoal - 2 x dives per day |
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The
morning starts with two dives in sub-tropical
waters of KwaZulu Natal. A wide variety of different
dive sites are available to choose from. Aliwal
Shoal lies approximately 6 km offshore and is
a magnet to many pelagic species including sharks,
manta rays, turtles and game fish. Sites such
as Raggies Cave and Cathederals lie on the shoal
itself while the wreck sites of The Produce
(1974) and Nebo (1884) remain
relatively well intact on the sand and offer
excellent diving when the current allows.
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Day 7 and 8 : Shelly Beach/Margate
- Dive Protea Banks - 2 x dives per day |
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| On
day seven and eight you'll be diving two dives
a day on Protea Banks. As with Aliwal Shoal,
the winter months bring large numbers of ragged-tooth
sharks as well as the occasional blacktip and
Zambezi encounter. During the summer months
Zambezi (bull) sharks are the highlight of most
dives and sightings of tiger sharks are not
infrequent. October and November sees the start
of the hammerhead season and large schools can
be sighted periodically until the following
March. Whatever the season, Protea Banks seldom
fails to impress.
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| Day 9:
Tour end. |
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| Transfers
out are arranged according to your flight schedule.
Additional days may easily arranged with a wide
variety of activities, accomodation and transport
options to suit your individual requirements.
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Optional Extras : Cow shark dives in Cape
Town - 2 x days and 2 x dives from ZAR 1
350 pp. |
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| Spend
some additional time in Cape Town is search
of these beautiful, yet little known creatures.
Sevengill cow sharks Notorynchus cepedianus
attain 3m in length and can be found throughout
the year in shallow waters along the kelp fringes
of False Bay. Both a formidable predator and
scavenger these primative looking sharks seem
undisturbed by the presence of divers, offering
fantasic encounters and photo opportunities.
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| Optional Extras
: Tiger shark dives in KwaZulu Natal -
ZAR 900 pp per dive. |
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If
you want to increase your chances (upto 90%)
of encountering tiger sharks in the open water
then try the baited dive option. Sharks are
attracted to the boat by use of a baited drum.
As soon as there are sufficiently interested
tiger sharks around the the drum is cut loose
and the divers then drift freely with current
the sharks and the drum. More
on baited shark dives...
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Optional
Extras : Game Reserves - from as little
as ZAR 550 pp per day (inc. park fees) |
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KwaZulu
Natal once boasted some of the most productive
hunting grounds in Africa. Today vast areas
still remain in their natural state and the
combined reserves of Hluhluwe and Umfolozi,
with their varying habitats, are amongst the
finest and most rewarding. As sanctuaries for
both, black and white rhino, they also complete
the big five with elephant, buffalo, lion and
leopard amongst almost 90 other species of mammal.
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TOUR PRICES: - Guided
transfer tours include all transfers, accommodation
in selected B&B's, all entrance costs and
activities as stated - see currency
converter for international
exchange rates. |
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Guided
transfers - from ZAR 12 150 per person
sharing (incl. domestic flights)
Budget B&B accom..........................................................................
ZAR 12 150 pp
Mid to upper range B&B..................................................................
ZAR 13 650 pp
Luxury accomodation......................................................................
ZAR 14 900 pp
Self-drive - from ZAR 8 730 per
person sharing (incl. domestic
flights)
(Class B vehicle with air-con, unlimited miles
and super cover)
Budget B&B accom..........................................................................
ZAR 8 730 pp
Mid-Upper range B&B......................................................................
ZAR 9 830 pp
Luxury Accommodation...................................................................
ZAR 12 280 pp
Ask about our guided self drive options see
self-drive
tour options
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BOOK
NOW - SEND US AN E-MAIL
(with your details, dates and requirements) |
Prices
Exclude: International flights .
All meals meals and refreshments
except breakfast
. Personal expenses
. All equipment
hire .
Medical and Travel insurance .
Anything else we haven't mentioned.
Includes: All transport and
transfers .
Domestic flights where stated
. Accommodation
and breakfast
. All park and entrance fees
.
All dives as stated (tanks and weights
only)
Terms and Conditions: Accommodation
is based 2 persons sharing
. Prices are correct at time
of posting but may change at any time
without notice .
Discounted rates available for
groups on application
. Payment
in full secures booking |
© Copyright
Oceans Africa 2006. All rights reserved. |