Oct 27, 2024
Great South Africa shark cage diving - Responsive and qualified staff; perfectly organised activities and schedules; good value for money. I managed to do both shark cage diving in Gansbaai. I would highly recommend them if you are looking for sea adventures in South Africa.
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Oct 26, 2024
Out of this world - Was amazing to see the sharks. Staff are very helpful and friendly. U get plenty of time watching the sharks.
Going to see whales was amazing too.
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Oct 12, 2024
An amazing and unexpected experience - A fantastic experience. I would not have imagined being able to see so many dolphins, whales, sea lions and of course sharks from the cage. A very professional team. Highly recommended activity.
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Oct 8, 2024
Absolutely Fantastic!! - What an amazing day! We were picked up at our hotel in cape town for a drive to Gansbai by a very friendly driver who chatted to us all the way with very interesting facts and information.
In the morning we took part in the cage diving. After the safety briefing we took a short exhilarating boat ride to dive site. Bronze whaler sharks appeared and into the cage we went. As a 62 year old lady I was a bit worried about climbing in and out of the cage but the crew were brilliant and helped me achieve a bucket list experience. The whole experience was fantastic.
In the afternoon we were taken by our lovely driver to the harbour for the whale watching. I've been whale watching before off Monterey CA and have been disappointed so I wasn't expecting much. To my utter amazement the huge whales allowed us to get really close where they swam around and under the boat. The whales were everywhere! The crew gave us very knowledgeable information as we watched.
The whole day was frankly beyond words! Great company cannot praise highly enough..thank you 😊
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 3, 2024
Well looked after in every aspect! - Can’t fault the experience. Great pickup service. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Well looked after and felt entirely safe throughout. Highly recommended.
In terms of what we saw, things were more mixed, but that’s wildlife for you. No great whites but blessed to see 8x Copper sharks. Unfortunately the water visibility on the day was near zero but seeing the sharks approach on the surface was still special.
Whale watching seemed doomed at the beginning, with nothing to see after the first hour (to be fair, I knew I was very early in the season). However the team persevered and found us a Bryce Whale, and 3x Humpbacks for a prolonged period afterwards. All in all a great day and some amazing memories.
The only thing I would have liked was to visit the infamous shark alley and Dyer Island en route, which we didn’t on the day. Next time!!
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Dec 1, 2023
A dream - A daydream !
Great welcome, smiles and good humor
15-20 min boat trip to quickly see a group of 8-10 sharks With cage descent
2nd trip, what can I say, except a ban of 150 dolphins, yes 150! Whales, seals and all that in good humor and sunshine!
Full box, thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 17, 2023
Great experience - I thoroughly enjoyed this excursion just 2 hours outside Cape Town. Clint, our driver and excursion ambassador, exceeded expectations. His punctuality, friendliness, and detailed explanations heightened the overall experience. The shark cage diving, with a quick check-in, light breakfast, and insightful briefing, offered a fantastic encounter with bronze sharks. We even had two opportunities in the shark cage. Returning to shore, a delightful lunch awaited.
With time before whale watching with Ivanhoe, Clint took me to a nearby town for shore-based whale watching.
Next I checked in at Inanhoe for an informative whale-watching briefing. The boat ride led to a whale sanctuary area. Witnessing mother whales instructing their young in breaching and tail and fin slapping was truly majestic. The staff's expertise on the whales added to the overall educational experience.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this excursion!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 17, 2024
Amazing Shark Dive, but Poor Organization and Facilities - The shark cage diving experience itself was incredible—an unforgettable adventure that I’d highly recommend to anyone looking to get up close with these magnificent creatures. The thrill of being in the water with sharks was unmatched, and it’s clear that the company values marine conservation, which I deeply respect.
However, there were several organizational and facility issues that detracted from the overall experience, especially considering the high price point:
Combo Package Issues: We had purchased the whale-watching combo, which caused us to arrive after the rest of the shark diving group had already had breakfast and likely received a briefing about the dive and shark conservation. We were rushed through payment, barely had time for a sip of coffee, and missed the breakfast included in the package.
Lack of Information: As a result of the rush, we weren’t given much information about the sharks we were about to see or the conservation efforts. This was disappointing, as I was looking forward to learning more about these incredible animals.
Disorganization on the Boat: The boat felt chaotic. With 18 people on board, there was no system for managing belongings or changing into wetsuits. Clothes and backpacks were everywhere, and there wasn’t enough seating or space. Only one crew member seemed to be doing all the critical tasks (organizing people into the cage, handling wetsuits, and setting up equipment), while others stood idle. This made the experience unnecessarily messy and uncoordinated.
Wetsuit Quality: The wetsuits had noticeable holes and filled with water almost immediately upon entering the ocean. For the price paid, I expected better-maintained gear.
Post-Dive Facilities: After the dive, the facilities were inadequate. There was only one shower for everyone to use and one toilet per gender, which felt insufficient for a group of 18 people, especially after being soaked in saltwater.
Overall, while the shark dive itself was an amazing experience, the poor organization, outdated equipment, and lack of adequate facilities made the experience feel overpriced. With some attention to these issues, this could easily become a 5-star adventure.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 24, 2024
Sadly, do not recommend. - 10 of us brooked the shark diving (hookah) and whale watching tour. We were collected by a lovely driver in Cape Town at 415am for the 2.5 hour drive to Gansbaai. Breakfast was prepared for arrival & whilst waiting a while for safety briefing. I feel breakfast is unnecessary as those who ate got terribly sea sick and was unable to eat the lasagne they offer afterwards. (The waters are super choppy). We were aware that the great white’s non-existent now, so we’re not suprised when we didn’t spot any. Sadly, the whole experience was poorly managed. We were collected 415am for the 2.5hr drive and waited around an hour upon arrival. The dive lasted 1 hr, before we were took back to watch the video they sell. We had 15 minutes each (groups of 4) in the water but later realised we should have had 2x15 mins sessions. Most of the group found it took around 10 min to become familiar with the hookah. There was apparently loads of bronze whaler sharks but I was unable to see any, the waters are very murky. The skippers were rushing the whole time and quite frankly uninterested in us. My husband and daughter didn’t even get to take the wetsuit off before they started heading back. Whale-watching was then arranged for 1230. Meaning we had 2 hours sitting outside a closed whale watching facility (I am unsure of the company name to leave a review for them separately) . After being collected at 4:15am it was honestly a waste of time. I am a very positive person - see my other reviews- but this was the worse thing we done during our time in South Africa (and most expensive). We paid £230 pp (totalling around £2300 for the group). We contacted the company yesterday afterwards and they refunded us (£30pp) after admitting the waters were decent conditions and there was plenty of sharks so there was no reason to return early. Sadly, I do not recommend- especially for those travelling from cape.
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May 2, 2024
you have to take the excursion to see the whales and seals - the water is super cold and we see one or two brown sharks...it doesn't justify the price. On the other hand, we then took the excursion to see the whales, the seal island and the penguin island and there it was magnificent: we saw thousands of seals, penguins but also hundreds of dolphins and a whale!
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