We operate a half day tour 45 minutes from Cape Town to see a variety of shark species throughout the year according to the seasons, weather, water temperature and other factors. We operate half day shark tours to either Seal Island or Cape Point as both offer very different opportunities and visibility. Possible shark species can include Seven gill cow sharks, Mako Sharks, Blue sharks and Great white sharks. The location for the day will be determined by the best shark activity and sea conditions and will be confirmed with you the day before your trip. One of our areas, Seal Island, False Bay is famous for the predation of Great Whites on Cape Fur seals The area and this behavior have been featured on many documentaries including Air Jaws on the Discovery Channel with Chris Fallows, our owner, as co-host. Reasons to Choose Apex as your shark cage diving operator - We are an official licensed Shark Cage diving Operator with crew certified specifically for this industry - We provide SCUBA for certified divers on request – however NO experience is required for breath hold - We offer the smallest group size of any shark diving operation in South Africa by 50%. ( 12 pax only) - We have achieved the Five star excellence certificate from TripAdvisor 6 years in a row Whales, dolphins and many species of sea birds are often encountered on this adventurous expedition. As we adopt an eco style of operating our trips, going to sea with Apex is like going on a safari game drive and we will try to take in as much marine wildlife as possible on our trips As trips are based on natural events every trip is different and sightings are not guaranteed. OUR BOAT Our vessel is a 36 foot catamaran, specifically built for cage diving and viewing the sharks from the surface. A dry cabin, soft cushioned seats and a flush toilet ensure your comfort at sea. Our vessel complies with all safety requirements and Great white shark permit conditions. We send the boat for annual safety inspections at the South African Maritime Safety Authority. Safety equipment includes life jackets, first aid kit, radio and cellular phone. Children rates do not apply. Children aged 10 and up are allowed on the boat and children 12 and up are alloed in the cage CAGE DIVING A small group of guests on board allows for better viewing opportunities and a longer cage dive. The cage accommodates four guests comfortably. It is fixed to the boat and sits just above the water surface. NO DIVING EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED. For those who are scuba certified, AIR is available upon request. This needs to be confirmed when booking your trip. Please add this request under ‘notes’. Safety is a priority. All shark cage diving is done under the auspices of experienced crew who have first Aid & oxygen management, scuba & commercial skippers’ qualifications and have expert knowledge of the behaviour of sharks around the cage.

Described by Sir Francis Drake as the finest cape in the circumference of the world & we’re sure you’ll agree after the trip! We depart from Simon’s Town. The first stop is at Boulders penguin sanctuary to view the African penguins from the seaward side. Next we visit a small Cape Fur seal colony at Partridge Point and onto exploring the cliffs & caves leading up to Cape Point. On fine weather days, there's even a sea cave that we can enter with the boat. We then "round" Cape Point to enjoy the spectacular views, take photos & share an informative commentary. We head back to Simon's Town on an offshore route with the hope of encountering dolphins or whales along the way. The sea-bird life is also quite outstanding!

Cape Point Tour See Cape Point from a different angle. Get that photo you always see in the National Geographic magazine. Make a pass through Smitswinkel bay and Buffels bay past the Dias crosses and close to the cliffs below the historic lighthouse that leads up to the point. Visit the Roman Rock Lighthouse – the only lighthouse on our coast to have been erected on a single rock. We often see penguins, whales and a whole range of seabirds on trips down to the tip of the peninsula. Seal Snorkeling Jump into the water with the Cape fur Seals and have a blast with the clowns of the sea. On our way back from Cape Point we stop at Partridge Point that is home to a few hundred seals. They are extremely curious and playful and will entertain divers and snorkelers alike. They mostly hang around the surface when they are in the water but will dive down to 25 metres to Scuba divers. The Cape fur Seal activity is available all year and anybody is welcome to join in on this activity.

Shark cage diving is a super exciting yet educational activity where individuals can observe sharks in their natural habitat whilst being safe and protected inside a cage. It provides a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures without actually being in direct contact with them, as well as having minimal impact on their environment. The Bronze Whaler Sharks are the species we are currently targeting in False Bay. However when dealing with nature, you never know what you’re going to see or encounter on the day. There are a number of other shark species that populate False bay, and on occasional trips we are able to witness the Broad nose Sevengill sharks, also known as the Cow shark. Historically False Bay was famous for its Great White Sharks and their natural breaching predatory behavior, however they have been a rarity, although we always hope for an appearance. Shark Cage diving is also for boat enthusiasts or surface viewers. If you’re not comfortable with hopping into the water, the viewing from the boat is just as exciting. We attract these beautiful animals to the surface of the water for all to enjoy and marvel over. Joining us at Shark Explorers in Simonstown, False Bay is the best option for you. It’s not only closest and most convenient drive or travel from Cape Town City, (a mere 40mins), it’s also the most personalized, professional and exclusive shark cage diving experience you’ll receive. From arriving at the dive center, we offer our guests complimentary coffee & tea, and advise using the restroom facilities before boarding the vessel. Our boat has toilet facilities, but it is a smaller confined area, not advised for sea sick participants. Safety of our participants is of the utmost importance. Safety briefings and continuous information is provided to our guests from the minute they arrive. Boat briefing and cage diving briefings are all done throughout the duration of the trip. Safety briefings are imperative to create reassurance and optimal comfortability for our guests. We have experienced guides who are knowledgeable about the environment & behavior of sharks. The boat ride can vary slightly in duration, but the usual travel from the harbor to the dive site is around 30minutes. Along the travel, there is always a possibility of seeing dolphins, whales, African penguins and the Cape Fur Seals. Once the boat reaches the dive location, its in close proximity to Seal Island False Bay, the anchor is deployed, a briefing is done and the cage is lowered into the water. Participants take turns entering the cage wearing 5mm to 7mm wetsuits, booties and masks, usually in small groups. The cage is secured to the boat at a surface level, keeping it in place for easy access and viewing of the sharks. Once inside the cage, participants can observe the sharks swimming in close proximity. Water visibility can vary in False Bay from 1 metre to 12 metres, this does play a huge role in the underwater viewing, and is established by weather movements, including swell, wind and cloud cover. Water visibility is completely beyond our control as operators. The cage is submerged partially, with enough breathing room to have your head and shoulders above the water, (like sitting in a swimming pool) for taking a breath between the underwater viewing. This method allows for a super easy and user friendly way that almost everyone and all participants of varies ages are able to enjoy this unique underwater perspective and experience. The crew will potentially use all natural fish products only, usually referred to as bait or chum, to attract the sharks, increasing the chances of close encounters. This application is applied to every shark cage diving operation. The time spent in the water inside the cage can vary, its based more around shark activity than a set time, as well as the comfortability of the guests. Water temperatures vary from 14 degrees Celsius/ 57 degrees Fahrenheit to 20 degrees Celsius to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in False bay. The entire duration of the trip from meeting at our dive center to returning back to the harbor in around 3/4 hours. Once returning to harbor, you’re welcome to head on your way to your next activity, or join us back at the dive center for a hot chocolate, relaxation and free WIFI. We look forward to having you join us at Shark Explorers for a professional, exciting and unforgettable experince with our shark cage diving trips.

The “REAL” Seal Island is situated 8 nautical miles (about 16 kilometers) from Simon’s Town. It is home to approximately 75 000 cape fur seals, a large variety of sea bird species (including penguins) & in the winter months is the hunting ground of the great white shark. En-route to the island the views are truly spectacular, with Cape Point in the distance to your right, Table Mountain and the Constantia wine route to your left and the majestic Hottentot’s Holland mountain range up ahead. You may also see whales & dolphins if you're lucky and as we use our permitted whale watching boats for this trip outside of the traditional whale season, we are legally permitted to approach & interact with them. The tour includes an expert guided commentary by a qualified marine guide.