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.

Morning Shark Cage Diving Trip in Simon's Town Please note: Only children 9 and older are allowed on the boat! Our Morning trip is a viewing and shark cage diving trip. The two areas of operation are Seal Island and Cape Point. The area location of the trips will be determined the day before, after determining the weather, shark activity and which shark species we are more likely to encounter. The shark species we hope to encounter may be Great white sharks, Broadnose sevengill cow sharks, Bronze Whaler sharks, Mako sharks, and Blue sharks. Our trips run from Simons Town, which is only 45 minutes from Cape Town. All our crew are highly qualified, and have spent years working on boats and with sharks. 06h40 / 07h00: Meet at Simons Town Pier. The exact meet time will be communicated the day prior to the trip. Our boat is the Blue Pointer. You will be welcomed aboard and a full safety briefing is given as well as the expected weather forecast for the day. An overview is given about what the trip entails, the do’s and dont’s to be expected. 07h00-11.30: In the pre-dawn darkness, we depart for Seal Island or Cape Point. Please bring your camera or phone to take photos of the incredibly beautiful scenery. Seal Island: Arrive at Seal Island. Seeing dawn breaking over the Island and False Bay is truly breath-taking. We do an inspection lap of the island giving information on the animal and bird life that is found on Seal Island. Choosing the best spot to anchor up with regard to wind and swell direction. Cape Point: Arrive off Cape Point. The cage is lowered into the water. A bait line and carpet seal decoy are put in the water. We do not feed sharks, nor touch sharks. We are NOT an adrenalin outfit. Then it’s time to get up close and personal with the sharks. The average dive time per guest is about 20 minutes. Of course, we will not force anyone to go in the cage but would encourage it. One of the several onboard guides will interact with the guests during the course of the trip to supply information and answer any questions they may have.

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.

Afternoon Shark Cage Diving Trip in Simon's Town Please note: Only children 9 and older are allowed on the boat! Our trips run from Simon's Town, which is only one hour from Cape Town. For the afternoon shark cage diving, we chose to only take small groups on our boat, Blue Pointer, so you can enjoy a comfortable trip in a more personal and exclusive environment. No Scuba qualifications are necessary! The cage floats just under the surface of the water, and it is situated alongside the boat. Only 5 enter the cage at a time, all scuba equipment stays on board and only the air-hose enters the cage, allowing you to enjoy a great dive without cumbersome, heavy tanks and gear. The average dive time is 20 minutes depending on the shark activity. Once everyone has had a go, and if there is enough time, then a second dive is allowed. Our crew is highly trained and safety is of utmost importance. During our afternoon shark cage diving trip you will be able to see the Sharks from a point-blank range and the best part is that this trip revolves around shark cage diving. No diving experience is necessary. We do offer shark diving ALL year around. Shark species can include Broadnose Sevengill cow sharks, Great white sharks, and the odd Bronzie or Copper Shark. (Mako Sharks & Blue sharks on Pelagic Trips).