Shark Cage Dive South Africa (May 2005) by Tracy Crump

The sun laces a million diamonds over the vast blue sea. The sky is without a cloud and there is nothing in the distance but the sea lapping ferociously around us.

Stuart and I are longingly scouring the waters around us in the hope of catching a glimpse of a great white in the seas off Gansbaii, two hours away from Cape Town in South Africa.

We had only booked up the trip the day before and were among newly-found friends aboard Barracuda with just one goal in mind - our first sighting of a great white.

It took 45 minutes of silence… anticipation…I hate to say it, baited breath, watching on as two men poured chum and fish parts into the sea before its shiny grey body was lured from the ocean and it took its first swipe at the tuna head.

It wasn’t long before the first six people were putting on their dive hoods, a weight belt over one shoulder and donning their mask and snorkel to get a close-up of the 4m long male shark.

After 20 minutes it was our turn. We finished kitting up and one by one climbed down the ladder by the side of the boat and carefully stood on the bars at the top of the cage. We then took hold of these to lower ourselves in, clinging on to keep our heads above water.

Not being allowed to wear dive gear we had to hyperventilate and claw our way down the cage to stay down long enough to watch the sleak shark move graciously past. With one quick flick of its tail it disappeared into the green murky water.

It was soon followed by another two… and then a younger one, which launched an attack on the bait and wouldn’t let go zigzagging with it, pulling the rope it was attached to. Every time the crew shouted ‘down’ our heads bobbed under the water as another shark glided past. It really was an incredible experience.

Once we were docked back at Gansbaii we were lucky enough to meet Michael Rutzen. He is known all over the world following his appearances on many TV programmes covering his shark scientific research work from DNA sampling to tagging.

Mike freedives with great whites and tags them with acoustic pinger tags, which emit a sound frequency every time they pass near a base station. The sound is recorded and the data reveals shark migration patterns. One shark surprised even him when it migrated from Gansbaii to Western Australia and back again.

Whether you agree with shark cage diving or not it is with Mike’s help and the money from this tourism that is helping to highlight their plight and fund the fight for their conservation. Hopefully they will continue to grace the seas off California, South Australia and South Africa and also sometimes Japan, the Med and the east coast of the USA for many years to come.

We dived with Shark Diving Unlimited aboard Barracuda, a 12.5m Lee Cat, built with a twin hull to reduce sea sickness!

For more information check out www.sharkdivingunlimited.co.za or call

Tel No: 028 384 2787