Guest Comment: “Best way to spend a 16th birthday! Amazing experience and very helpful staff. Would definitely recommend.” – Andrew + Yvonne + Leah (Happy birthday Leah!)
“Very informative- made the experience one of a kind and memorable. Saw 7 different great white sharks! Crew was amazing and so helpful.” – Kyle + Loren
“8 different sharks- what a day! Staff and crew were fabulous! Thank you!” – Angel + Raega
16/10/2016
Location: Joubertsdama
Water Temperature: 17.0’C + 17.1’C + 17.2’C
Depth: 8.9 m + 9.4 m + 10.8 m
Visibility: 1.0 m + 1.0 m + 0.5-1.0 m
Number of Sharks: 8 + 7 + 10
Conditions: A constant breeze with small swells that caused some choppiness.
Trip 1
Every day proves to be different from the last, and today every trip proved to be different from the next. Our first trip began with just a quick 30 minute wait before the first shark arrived, a 2.8 meter white shark with a notch missing from its dorsal fin. It was shortly followed by a larger, 3.8 meter female with a rosie on her dorsal fin. The third shark was much smaller, at about 2 meters in length. It had a fresh wound to its cheek, possibly from another shark biting it. The fourth shark was a 3.6 meter female who has a very dark coloration and a mark on her dorsal fin that looks as if it might be from a clamp tag or camera. Another dark female approached, this one about 3.3 meters long. We were visited by 3 other small sharks, a pale 2.2 meter white shark, a 2.5 meter female, and a recent favorite- the 3.2 meter male that Dyer Island Conservation Trust tagged about a month ago. He was a great ending to a great trip.
Trip 2
Our second trip was an exclusive trip with a lovely couple on board. We were lucky to see 7 different white sharks! The first came within 10 minutes and was a 2.6 meter white shark. It was quickly followed by “Paisley,” a 3.5 meter female white shark that was also tagged at the end of 2015 by the Dyer Island Conservation Trust. She’s a very active and curious white shark, white quick precise movements. We also had a visit from the fiesta tagged male from the first trip, a 3.0 meter female covered in white marks, and a 2.8 meter shark with a white mark on the left side of its caudal. The last 2 sharks differed greatly in size. The first was a 1.5 meter juvenile white shark, and the other was a mature 3.7 meter white shark. Watching the differences in their personalities was an amazing site to see!
Trip 3
Our last trip began with the tagged male white shark circling the boat during the briefing. Everyone quickly began to get dressed, meanwhile another shark appeared. This was a 2.7 meter white shark that did 2 passes then disappeared. Our divers got into the water and waited. And waited. After 40 minutes a small 2.1 meter white shark made a few passes before it left as well. After another 20 minute wait with no sharks spotted, we decided to move. We didn’t move far, and within 5 minutes of anchoring, a 3.4 meter white shark with white spots on its right side of its gills appeared. It was quickly followed by several more sharks. A 2.1 meter white shark swam by with a piece of what looked like a white plastic bag or paper looped over its left pectoral fin. It made a few quick passes and the trash was gone. Litter affects more than just the amazing views that the beaches provide. It affects that animals that live in the oceans. The small shark was accompanied by a large 3.8 meter female white shark with scratches all over her face. She had a very peculiar behavior, seemingly pacing back and forth in front of the cage, turning very close to the boat and cage. Most sharks that we see, once they’ve passed the cage, they tend to circle the boat, go under it, or circle away from the cage and boat. This was a very interesting site to see! We were also lucky enough to see “Paisley” on this trip, acting like her usual active self. She was followed up by 2 sharks, a 2.8 meter white shark with a white “u” shape on the top of its head, and a very active and dark 3.7 meter female. They were the perfect end to a long awaited experience!
If you are looking to get up close and personal with the great white shark then Cage Diving in South Africa, and more specifically with Marine Dynamics, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you won’t want to miss. Book and pay online with us and get a free video of your encounter with the world’s apex predator.
