If life seems boring and everyday does look like a bit of drag, I think it is time for some action. Time for a wildlife holiday. I am not talking about a ranch trip and a day on a back of a well tempered horse. No, it`s gonna be I little more thrilling than that. Get ready for a close encounter with one of natures wild ones – The Great White Shark.
Just to get you excited, here are some facts first: The Great White Shark is one of the world’s most dangerous predators growing to a length of twenty feet, and weighing up to five thousand pounds the great white is the terror of surfers around the world after many have been attacked by the sharks. It is not that the sharks are after humans but, seen in the sharks eye, a surfer lying on a board paddling just looks to the shark like its favourite meal – a sea lion. While all this seems rather brutal, we have to remember that it is us invading the sharks territory in which he is simply following his instincts.
But still, inspite of the obvious dangers there is an option to see the great white in his own element face to face. While the shark is found in all the world’s oceans there is one place where the chance of actually getting in touch with the great white is almost certain – the coastal waters of South Africa. Here are so many great whites off the coast of Cape Town that a business has sprung up offering cage diving with the sharks. In order to maintain a high level of safety for the divers only eight operators have permits for cage diving with sharks from the South African Government. So be sure to check that you are using a licenced operator.
Gansbaai, South Africa is the place for great whites and particularly Dyer Island, and the nearby Geyser Rock. This area is home for a colony of fifty thousand Cape Fur Seals, which means plenty of food for the great white, and an almost one hundred per cent chance that you will get to swim amongst them.
The trip starts at Kleinbaai harbour, 2km from Gansbaai, 44 km from Hermanus & 160 km from Cape Town. You need to be on the dock in Kleinbaai at 10 am. A safety briefing is held aboard the boat before a five mile run out to Dyer Island or a similar hot spot. While mooring over the site the crew will begin to throw chum over board, a mixture off dead fish and blood, to attract the sharks. No prior diving experience is necessary, as you will not be diving using pressurised tanks. All equipment required will be provided by the boat including wet suits, and even towels. Make sure to bring your own underwater camera though to get some close up photos of these fantastic creatures.
The cage is self-floating, and attached to the boat at all times and is easy to climb into, and out off. As the trip normally takes between five and six hours, be prepared to take off a whole day for this experience. If you suffer from seasickness play it safe, and get a Dramamine tablet, or a patch that can be worn behind the ear from a pharmacy, and remember to take or apply at least one hour prior to boarding the boat.
Getting to South Africa is an easy one. Simply check the sites of the airlines. There are direct flights from the States or make little stop over in London and catch a next days flight down to Cape Town. Once arrived, there are plenty of options to spend the nights. Cape Town offers plenty of choices including Five Star Plus Resorts or mid range hotels as well as budget accommodation. You will have no troubles at all finding just the right place as basecamp for your new adventure.
Got yourself hooked to the idea of doing something worth remembering for the rest of your life? Then get your speedos and bikinis out and prepare yourself for the adventure of a lifetime.
