Top activities in Cape Town
Explore Cape Town and beyond
Trip Inspiration
Book online or call: (888) 651-9785
Are you interested in?
Shark Cage Diving and Viewing from Cape Town
Badge of ExcellenceCape Town Central, South Africa
Likely to Sell Out
From US$203.61
Select Date and Travelers
Reserve Now & Pay Later
Secure your spot while staying flexible
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Cape Town Tours
Attractions
Recommendations
- 10 hours (approx.)
- Hotel pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Spend time watching one of the world’s most feared fish on this 4-to-6-hour cage diving experience in Cape Town. Travel to the ocean off the coast of Gansbaai for a full-day tour. Learn about great white sharks from your marine-biologist guide, and then dive into the water in a cage to observe sharks in their natural habitat. Breakfast, snacks and hotel-pick up and drop off are included.
- Full-day shark-diving tour from Cape Town
- Journey into the open ocean from Gansbaai, a fishing village known for its dense population of great white sharks
- Enjoy breakfast at the Great White House
- Learn about the sharks in their natural habitat from an onboard marine biologist
- Jump into a cage as your lowered into the water, which is the natural habitat of great white sharks
- Bring home a video of your experience (own expense)
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Light refreshments
- Professional guide
- Gratuities
Meeting And Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Pick-up from hotels, guesthouses, backpackers, vacation rentals, AirBnB's and any other points within Cape Town city centre. Please specify your pickup address. We can inform you if it is possible. Please note that the timeslot selected is an estimated time for when the Shark Cage Diving boat will launch. Pickup time will be earlier to allow enough travel time from Cape Town to arrive for pre-trip briefing at the Great White House in Gansbaai. These are only estimated times and exact times can only be confirmed a day prior, after a detailed weather and tide check. Please allow a full day in your itinerary for this activity.
What To Expect
This exciting shark experience begins from your central Cape Town hotel.
Start at the Great White House, Gansbaai’s shark diving center, where you’ll eat breakfast, and meet your guides for the day. After eating, get fitted into the appropriate diving gear.
Climb into the specialized diving boat, complete with a shark diving cage, for the 20-minute trip into the ocean. Your captain heads for Dyer Island, choosing an ideal place to stop for the dive.
The cage is secured to the side of the boat, and during the cage dives it stays a few feet (meters) below the surface of the water. This means it’s easy for you to get out of the water at any point when you want to.
The boat stays anchored in this diving spot for roughly two hours, depending on shark activity. During that time, there are drinks and snacks for you aboard the boat. After the boat returns to Gansbaai, enjoy light refreshments back at the Great White House. You can choose to buy a professional video of your shark cage diving experience (own expense).
Your experience concludes with a drop-off at your hotel in Cape Town.
Start at the Great White House, Gansbaai’s shark diving center, where you’ll eat breakfast, and meet your guides for the day. After eating, get fitted into the appropriate diving gear.
Climb into the specialized diving boat, complete with a shark diving cage, for the 20-minute trip into the ocean. Your captain heads for Dyer Island, choosing an ideal place to stop for the dive.
The cage is secured to the side of the boat, and during the cage dives it stays a few feet (meters) below the surface of the water. This means it’s easy for you to get out of the water at any point when you want to.
The boat stays anchored in this diving spot for roughly two hours, depending on shark activity. During that time, there are drinks and snacks for you aboard the boat. After the boat returns to Gansbaai, enjoy light refreshments back at the Great White House. You can choose to buy a professional video of your shark cage diving experience (own expense).
Your experience concludes with a drop-off at your hotel in Cape Town.
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Minimum age is 8 years
- You must contact the local service provider to confirm your exact pickup time
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
about cancellations.
Traveler Photos
See more
Traveler Tips
Layer up as it gets very windy on the boat!
I'd also add maybe extra clothes depending what you're wearing.
Reviews
4.5
396 reviews
Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 396 reviews
Must do - a very memorable experience!
Jekaterina_S, Mar 2023
This was by far my favourite thing we did in South Africa - the company is eco friendly and take conservation efforts very seriously, the drive & transport were super smooth, we got good food before and after the dive, and the best part- the diving! We didn’t see any great white sharks unfortunately but plenty of bronze whaler sharks plus stingrays, birds, fish, and even penguins. Would definitely do again. The view from the cage is amazing and the feeling is beyond incredible.
Cool experience, take lots of motion sickness pills
Bojan_P, Mar 2023
The staff were very kind and helpful with the safety precautions before going on the boat, as well as when on the boat with getting into the cage, getting wet suits on, and when people became seasick. We didn't see great whites but we saw 3-4 bronze sharks. It was also easier to see the sharks from the boat more than in the water as the water was so rough. We don't usually get seasick but the waters were very choppy (even after taking motion sickness meds) and so the experience was less enjoyable as a result of that; however, the staff were great. They said we would get breakfast before, but it was really just cheese and not enough croissants for everyone. Afterwards we were given soup, which was delicious and very much needed after being in the extremely cold Atlantic Ocean. Overall, it is a cool experience but I would never do it again.
Shark Diving, My best experience
Chikondi_J, Mar 2023
Seeing sharks in real life in water was the best highlight of the trip.
The team is very professional and they were very helpful in their guidance and preparation for all the people. I was also impressed by their love for nature and I have to find a way of contributing to their conservation drive.
Awesomely fantastic
Lee_e, Mar 2023
Obviously we wanted to see a great white but that’s the dream. Great trip seeing copper sharks over 3m long inches from your face. Superbly organised by great staff in a fantastic location. Can’t wait until I do it again.
The dive is only 2h you...
Maarten_H, Feb 2023
The dive is only 2h you loose a lot of time driving to the Harbour. Not mentioned, that is a pity. The dive was great
1 traveler found this review helpful
Very nice experience, the...
Lukas_K, Feb 2023
Very nice experience, the guides were fantastic, thanks a million for your care of us and of sharks 😃
1 traveler found this review helpful
Sharks!
Bri_H, Feb 2023
We had so much fun on our shark diving tour! We learned a lot about sharks, and saw four on our tour. The crew was very helpful, and they gave us hot coco and a warm shower after our dive. Two light meals were also provided.
Great experience
Mumbi_M, Feb 2023
Went solo but didn’t feel it at all. Everyone was so nice & friendly. The tour its self was great. It’s a long drive to Gansbaai but the shuttle was comfortable & Wi-Fi enabled which helped a lot. The shark cage diving was great but the crazy in me would have wanted a no cage experience 😜. Maybe next time !!!
Great experience, lovely...
Tomini_F, Jan 2023
Great experience, lovely and welcoming staff. Would have appreciated more clarity with regards to the possibility of seeing Great White Sharks beforehand. Whole team is wonderful though! Would do it again
A Day We'll Remember
Nicole_J, Jan 2023
An extraordinary experience start to finish. From our on-time pickup at our AirBnb, through the diving and return trip, everything was so adeptly and smoothly orchestrated that I wish I could leave more than 5 stars.
Transportation: The van was spacious and modern with AC - we managed to sneak in naps both ways. The driver stopped once on each trip around the halfway point at beautiful little markets that really added to the overall experience.
Once in Gansbaii, we were escorted to a light breakfast (fruit, yogurt, croissants, coffee) at the Great White restaurant. After getting settled, our boat's marine biologist did a safety debrief and also educated us on the sharks we would hopefully see that day. We then walked as a group to the harbor. It was a short distance that would not be prohibitive to those with mobility concerns.
We were on the Slashfin. The way out was a bit choppy, but it was a short ride. If you are prone to motion sickness, the lower level feels less movement.
Everyone was broken into four smaller groups to take their turn in the cage. I believe there were 8 of us at once in the cage. There was plenty of room to move. Everyone is outfitted with a 5mil wetsuit, diving shoes, a face mask, and a weight belt. You are not given a snorkel or oxygen. Hold your breath and brace yourself using a foot rail near the bottom of the cage.
We were SURROUNDED by bronze whalers (copper sharks). They came close enough to (theoretically) touch and even slapped the cage with their tail fins. Exhilarating! My husband was hesitant and mildly anxious about the entire outing. He is now a convert. If he can do it, so can you.
After the dive and a hot hose-off, you change back into your clothes and watch the sharks from the upper deck. There were snacks available as well.
One of our friends experienced seasickness later in the day. The staff made him comfortable near the front of the boat and was very caring when checking in, without drawing attention to him.
Back at the restaurant we were given soup and rolls. You can also buy a video of your dive for R200, which is very reasonable compared to what we've been charged for similar elsewhere.
The staff was so informative and engaging, from our driver to the marine biologist on board, and the boat crew. The focus on conservation was also very moving.
Truly one of the best experiences I've booked. If the Great Whites return to Dyer Island, I'll be back, too.
1 traveler found this review helpful
...
Questions?
Product code: 5659SHARKCAGE
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Nature and Wildlife Tours
- Shark Diving
- Extreme Sports
- On the Water
- Outdoor Activities
- Cape Town
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Western Cape
- Shark Diving - Western Cape
- Extreme Sports - Western Cape
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Stellenbosch
- Shark Diving - Stellenbosch
- Extreme Sports - Stellenbosch
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Port Elizabeth
- Shark Diving - Port Elizabeth
- Extreme Sports - Port Elizabeth
Attractions in Cape Town Central, South Africa
- Khayelitsha Township Tours & Tickets
- Silvermine Nature Reserve Tours & Tickets
- Swartland Wine Route Tours & Tickets
- Sir Lowry's Pass Tours & Tickets
- Iziko Museums Slave Lodge Tours & Tickets
- Imizamo Yethu Township Tours & Tickets
- Signal Hill Tours & Tickets
- Robben Island Tours & Tickets
- Boulders Beach Tours & Tickets
- Bo-Kaap Tours & Tickets
- Heart of Cape Town Museum Tours & Tickets
- Chavonnes Battery Museum Tours & Tickets
- South African Jewish Museum (SAJM) Tours & Tickets
- Iziko South African Museum Tours & Tickets
- Company's Garden Tours & Tickets
- Noon Gun Tours & Tickets
- Lion's Head Tours & Tickets
- District Six Museum Tours & Tickets
- Greenmarket Square Tours & Tickets
- Two Oceans Aquarium Tours & Tickets
© 1997-2023 Viator, Inc.