Shark cage diving or shark watching from a boat

(in combination with Cape of Good Hope & penguin colony or vineyard) Shark Cage Diving in Simons’ Town

The crew welcomes you to the Expeditions Center in Simons’ Town, just 45 minutes from Cape Town’s city center. Tea, coffee, rusks, and biscuits are served upon arrival, along with a short introduction.

On board, you’ll receive a safety briefing and information about potential shark sightings before the trip begins. The tour takes you to False Bay, with the crossing taking approximately 25 minutes depending on weather and sea conditions. Weather and schedule permitting, there will be a short stop at the famous Seal Island. Afterward, you’ll continue to the anchorage, where the crew will begin attracting sharks to the boat.

The shark cage is lowered into the water and remains securely attached to the boat. Before the dive, you’ll receive a safety briefing on how to use the cage and information about shark behavior around the boat. Once a shark approaches, bait is held in the water to keep it close long enough for identification and observation. Those who wish can then take the opportunity to cage dive.

The crew uses modern, non-invasive methods to monitor, document, and observe local shark populations. They also study the interactions of sharks with other marine life, such as seals, dolphins, whales, fish, and seabirds. The collected data is incorporated into scientific projects for the conservation of sharks and marine wildlife.

Cage diving is not required to see the sharks. There is usually excellent visibility from the boat’s observation deck. After the tour, the boat returns to the Simon’s Town harbor.

The total time at sea is approximately three to four hours, depending on weather conditions and shark activity. Back at the Shark Center, tea and coffee are available. There, you’ll also find a selection of unique, shark-themed souvenirs and a “Wall of Fame” featuring well-known faces.

For those who would like to freshen up after their adventure, showers are available outside the center. Please let us know when booking if you would like to use them.

The first transfer departs between 5:45 and 6:30 a.m., the second between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. (departure times around 7:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.). Meeting points may change depending on weather and sightings. If your stay in port is limited, we would request the later departure time.

 

Sighting opportunities:
Bronze Whaler Shark
The bronze whaler shark can be spotted year-round on shark diving excursions. It is a large, powerful predator that can grow up to 3.3 meters long and weigh around 305 kilograms. These sharks are extremely fast swimmers.

They can react aggressively when they sense food or prey nearby. They are usually solitary, but when it comes to hunting, they sometimes form groups to make their kills more efficient.

Their diet consists of cephalopods such as squid, cuttlefish, and octopus, as well as bony fish such as catfish, salmon, tuna, sardines, and anchovies. Cartilaginous fish such as spiny dogfish, rays, and sawfish are also part of their prey.

Although they do not usually hunt marine mammals, they occasionally feed on dolphin carrion. In South Africa, bronze whalers follow the famous “Sardine Run” every winter when millions of sardines migrate across the ocean. This attracts numerous predators, including many shark species.

When prey is particularly plentiful, the sharks gather in groups and herd the sardines into dense “bait balls.” They then take turns swimming through them with their mouths open to feed.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the bronze whaler shark as “near threatened” globally, but its conservation status varies by region.

Seven-gill cow shark (broad nose seven-gill shark)
The seven-gill cow shark is primarily seen during the winter months and is considered one of the “primeval predators of the seas.” It can grow up to 3 meters long and has a disproportionately large head with strongly serrated, hexagonal teeth.

There are only a few places in the world where you can observe this shark in relatively shallow water with good visibility. False Bay is one of these special places. Shark tours in False Bay offer a good chance of seeing this fascinating shark.

Great White Shark
Over the past eight years, sightings of Great White Sharks in South Africa’s well-known hotspots have become increasingly unpredictable and rare. This is primarily due to overfishing and increased orca activity, which threatens the species. The Great White Shark is now critically endangered, and neither this nor any other operator can currently offer reliable tours specifically for Great White Sharks.

Blue Shark & ​​Mako Shark
The open ocean is a world few people ever venture into. Two impressive shark species inhabit this deep blue expanse: the Blue Shark and the Mako Shark.

On your journey there, you’ll pass the Cape of Good Hope and the Cape of Storms. With a bit of luck, you might spot your first albatross before heading further out into the open ocean.

These sharks are curious, sometimes bold, and absolutely fascinating. They are among the top predators of the open sea.

Common Dolphin
From March to July, groups of common dolphins are often seen hunting for fish. Bottlenose dolphins and dusky dolphins are also occasionally spotted.

Southern Right Whale
Between August and November, up to 3,500 southern right whales migrate to the South African coast to mate and give birth. Humpback whales are also sometimes sighted.

Bryde’s Whale
These whales can be found in the region year-round. However, they are very shy and usually keep their distance.

African Penguin
A colony of approximately 3,500 African penguins lives at the famous Boulders Beach. This colony is passed on the way to the Cape of Good Hope.

Sometimes you can even spot groups of penguins hunting for fish. A small group even lives on Seal Island – an unusual sight, as they are surrounded by thousands of seals.

Cape Fur Seal (South African Seal)
Seal Island is home to approximately 64,000 Cape fur seals. Weather permitting, you can get very close to this largest seal colony in Africa. You can also observe various seabirds such as Cape cormorants, bank cormorants, and black-backed kelp gulls.

Important Note
Please remember that all sightings mentioned are only estimates and can never be guaranteed. Sharks are wild animals, and every excursion is a unique experience!
Final confirmation of the tour, as well as the shark species that will be seen, always depends on the weather. The tour will only take place if the weather cooperates – not depending on which shark species are sighted.

Price per person including transfer to and from the port/hotel

Combination of shark diving with Boulders Beach and Cape of Good Hope:
A shark tour including a visit to Seal Island, the penguin colony at Boulders Beach, the Cape of Good Hope (Cape Point), and a guided tour along Chapman’s Peak.
Your full-day excursion begins with pickup from your hotel or the cruise terminal in Cape Town.

The itinerary depends on the time of your shark tour. If you have booked a morning shark tour, the land tour follows in the afternoon. If your shark tour is in the afternoon, the day begins with the land tour. You will be notified of the exact times the day before.

Price per person including transfers to and from the port/hotel

Minimum 2 people

Shark Diving with Winery Combination:
A shark diving tour including wine tasting and a visit to Cape Town wineries
Your full-day excursion begins with pickup from your hotel or the cruise terminal in Cape Town.

After the exhilarating shark diving experience, you can relax with a wine tasting at Groot Constantia – South Africa’s oldest winery. Enjoy five exquisite wines of your choice amidst the picturesque Constantia Winelands. A Spiegalau crystal glass souvenir is included. Return at 5:00 PM.

Price per person including transfers to and from the port and a wine tasting

Minimum 2 people

Looking for a ride-share: Cape Town’s city sights on November 20, 2025

We have received an inquiry from guests who would like to visit Cape Town’s main attractions on November 20, 2025, before departure and passport control. Depending on time and traffic, the tour will include Bo-Kaap, Greenmarket Square, Camps Bay, and the Botanic Gardens. The goal is to experience as much of Cape Town’s sights as possible on this day.

Depending on your departure time for passport control (usually around 12:00 PM), the tour will start as early as 7:00 AM, giving you at least 4 hours.

The price depends on the number of participants.

We would be happy to arrange the excursion with a German-speaking guide.