Pelagic Shark Trips – South Africa
In addition to working with Great White sharks Scuba South Africa also offer various trips to see other sharks and marine animals at different times of the year.
These trips include our Pelagic Shark trips where our target species are the magnificent mako and blue sharks as well as the massive yellowfin tuna that they hunt.
Whilst not as big and bulky as the great white, the mako certainly does not stand back as it is the fastest shark in the sea and coupled with its beautiful blue and silver coloring is a truly magnificent creature, aptly described by Peter Goadby as “Blue dynamite”
These trips take place during our summer and autumn months and a variety of shark species are seen as well as being one of the best areas in the world to see pelagic birds.
To find these animals we head out into the warm Agulhas current off Cape Point and it is this warm current and multitude of fish species that attract the great predators of the deep.
Here the emphasis is on free diving but if you prefer, a great time can still be had viewing these beautiful sharks from the boat as they are very curious and often swim up and alongside the vessel.
To view these sharks we use sophisticated low frequency sound equipment to attract them. Once they are around the boat and conditions permitting you will then have the chance to dive with them or simply watch them cruise around the boat at your leisure.
Many who have cage dived with white sharks have actually said that this open water free dive with the pelagic sharks was the real highlight of their trip. Expect the unexpected.
The Vessel:
All of our expeditions are run from custom built high powered 28ft catamarans equipped with two new 140hp low emission 4 stroke engines and are capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots. These vessels are safe, fast and reliable, and offer a well designed lay out suitable for photography, filming, diving and general surface observation.
We also have access to a larger 36ft catamaran for larger groups where necessary.
As sharks are entirely wild animals with no boundaries Scuba South Africa does not guarantee any sightings at any time of the year, however, there are certainly better times than others.
High Season –Dec-June (90%)
Feb-June being best with Apr & May as our favorites
Intermediate season –Oct, Nov, (65%)
Low season – July-Sept (weather usually too bad offshore)
Other animals that have been seen on the Pelagic Shark expeditions:
Dozens of pelagic birds including 5 species of Albatross, terns, shearwaters, petrels, prions, skuas, gulls, penguins and others. Adult Smooth Hammerheads, Thresher sharks, Bronze whaler sharks; Yellowfin , longfin and skipjack tuna. Sunfish. Common, Dusky, Humpback, Bottlenose &Striped dolphin; Humpback, Brydes, Pilot, False Killer, Melonheaded , Minke,Sperm & Southern Right whales. Cape Fur Seals.
Other animals that have been seen on the Great White Shark expeditions:
Cape Fur Seal colony of 60 000 , breeding African penguin colony , 3 species of cormorant nesting incl Bank cormorants numbering less than 6000 worldwide; common & dusky dolphin; Bryde’s ,Southern right, humpback, & Minke whales. Variety of sea birds including Cape Gannets.
Cost of Pelagic Shark Trip:
R1500-00 per person per day
Includes lunch, snacks and refreshments as well as all dive gear.
Maximum group size 5 pax Minimum 2 pax
Exclusive boat rate available upon request
Departure times around 05h30 depending on the time of sunrise, returning 17h00 onwards.
Departure from Simon’s Town.
Sharks Of Southern Africa Safari
Scuba South Africa also offer a Sharks of Southern Africa Safari where we head up the East coast of South Africa to a few undisclosed localities to dive with dozens of smooth hammerheads, bronze whalers, ragged tooth and spotted gulley sharks. We keep these areas secret to avoid the decimation of these stocks as has happened elsewhere along our coast line.
In addition to this you can also see mako and blue sharks during the Cape Town part of these expeditions.
We run these trips in Feb & March and have a 100% success rate in showing at least one species of shark per sea going day with an average of more than 10 sharks per day often comprising 3 different species.
Cost of Sharks of Southern Africa Safari:
R1500-00 per day (minimum stay 7 days)
Includes all meals and accommodation, as well as transport and transfers.
Maximum group size 5 pax
Exploratory Expeditions
Also on offer from Scuba South Africa, for the real shark aficionado, are Exploratory Expeditions to various very remote offshore localities in Africa to dive with various species of large shark. Most of these localities are unexplored from a shark point of view and many others that we have explored have delivered spectacular results. Target species include Tiger sharks, Great & Scalloped Hammerheads, Oceanic White Tips, Bull sharks, Galapagos sharks, whale sharks and massive Silver tip sharks. These trips are extremely well researched before hand and every effort is made to ensure the best chances of finding our target species. As the areas are remote and often unexplored there is however no guarantee other than that it will be a great adventure.
These trips are seasonal and are run from live aboard catamarans, mostly in the western Indian Ocean and are aimed at the serious shark enthusiasts who want to be part of discovering new shark sites or seeing large numbers of sharks in very remote and untouched areas. If you are interested in such an expedition please enquire and we will give you full details of planned expeditions.
Exploratory Trips and Other Remote Destinations
Each year Scuba South Africa run at least two exploratory trips each lasting 14-21 days for a maximum of 6 guests who need to apply for these limited spaces.
Candidates are required to have diving experience, be comfortable on boats for long periods and be willing to involve themselves in the daily workings on a yacht as well as helping in all aspects of shark work.
Each trip is carefully planned and sites that offer the best potential based on all available information and past experiences in similar areas are selected. If you are interested a questionnaire will be sent to you to assess each candidate’s suitability for that particular expedition. Each and every expedition has different costs and itineraries. Details will be supplied upon completion of each expeditions planning
Other animals that have been seen on the various expeditions
Example -Mozambiquean channel Oct 21-Nov14 2003-Search for Oceanic White Tip sharks.
Shark Species seen-Tiger, Scalloped Hammerhead, Oceanic White Tip, Silky, Galapagos, Silvertip, Grey Reef and Blue shark.
Large fish species dived with- Marlin, Tuna, Giant Kingfish and 4 other kingfish species, Rainbow runner, various species of reef fish over 100lbs and hundreds of different reef fish species.
Also seen, two species of turtle, 4 species of cetacean as well as three unidentified species incl beaked whales. Also seen where many species of tropical pelagic birds and multiple species of coastal birds.
Water temp 29C, average visibility 20m, average day temperature 27C
Booking and cancellation Policies
Trips are offered subject to availability and are also subject to weather.
In the event of a trip cancelled due to weather alternative dates will be offered or a full refund will be given excluding any accommodation costs.
Confirmation of bookings is subject to a 25% deposit.
Cancellations within 60 days of departure date will receive a 95% refund.
Cancellations between 30-60 days will receive a 50% refund.
No refund will be offered for bookings cancelled within 30 days.
Recommendations and requirements.
Guests suffering from nausea or motion sickness are advised to take precautionary measures prior to each days scheduled departure.
Warm waterproof clothing is recommended and during summer and autumn months sunscreen and a hat are advised. Any persons wishing to cage dive with white sharks need to have entry level scuba qualifications and any persons wishing to dive with mako and other pelagic sharks are required to be experienced and comfortable in the water and diving will be done at the dive masters discretion.
All divers free diving will be accompanied by qualified staff members.
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Or email us info@scubasouthafrica.co.za |
