Tiger Shark & Shark Diving, South Africa Essential info
The Aliwal Shoal one of the worlds top dive sites.
This exciting Tiger Shark diving experience is based in one of the worlds top dive locations (according to diver magazine): the Aliwal Shoal in South Africa. This is the location of "shark park" one of the worlds main shark research areas, and so full of large sharks, that it attracts lots of people fascinated with haveing a shark encounter. Our Tiger Shark diving takes place in the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area, during your dive you may also be expected to see: rays, turtles, mantas, dolphins, whales and of course sharks. Lots of sharks!
Tiger shark diving is an extremely adventurous activity. They are certainly ferocious looking but actually very docile, it will be a adrenaline pumping tiger shark diving experience none the less!
Is tiger shark diving dangerous?
The tiger shark is a predator, known for eating a wide range of items including humans (this is a pretty unfair rep and no one has yet been eaten during a Tiger shark dive!. Its usual diet consists of fish, seals, birds, smaller sharks, squid, turtles, and dolphins (not gap year students). It has sometimes been found with man-made waste such as license plates or pieces of old tires in its digestive tract and is often referred to as "the wastebasket of the sea". This shark may be easily identified due to its dark stripes which are similar to a tiger pattern. It also has dorsal fins that are distinctively close to its tail. These sharks are often large in size and may encounter humans because they often visit shallow reefs, harbours and canals.
Accommodation
Accommodation is situated in shark park in comfortable lodging with private swimming pool, breakfast is not included but can be ordered locally and is very reasonable value.
Getting there
There are Non-direct international flights into Durban, inbound flights from JHB or Cape Town. Airport transfers to Shark Park, we can also arrange Baz Bus transfers whilest in South Africa.
When to go
Diving during the months of June through to November you are sure to see Ragged Tooth Sharks as they congregate on the Aliwal Shoal to mate. It is not uncommon to find u to 50 of these ferocious looking but friendly sharks on one dive. In summer Tigers and Hammerheads are present in large numbers. Should you get bored of crapping your self at the sharks, you can always dive on any of the wrecks or go hunting for the massive (understatement) Brindle Bass. Other species (depending on the season) include Manta, Devil and other rays, schools of pelagic fish, whales, dolphins, and many, many more! Visibility varies from 5 to 40 meters, and the water temperature in summer is 24+ C and in winter not colder than 19 C. The depths vary between 6 to 18 meters with 30-meter sites for the suitably qualified. The dives are all done without cages and afford the unique opportunity to see the sharks in their natural environment!
What can you expect on your Tiger Shark Dive.
We will set up baits on the seabed at 15/17m and then observe the sharks as they come to the baits to feed. As many as 8 tigers at once may be expected but typically two or three are the norm at any one time. The animals tend to arrive around 09h00 and stay until the divers leave the site. The most number of passes (a pass is measured to within 1m of the divers) in a single dive (1h30) is 68 by Betty (a 4.5m female) in 2000. The subsurface drifting has surpassed this method and has delivered a maximum of 12 sharks at one time and seldom less than three. Average waiting time is reduced to between 7 and 40 minutes on the boat.
Requirements For Tiger Shark Diving
Advanced Scuba Certification for deep dives Surface Snorkelling also excellent (Snorkelling Experience) & boat based viewing is also a treat (no experience necessary), dive insurance.
Available tiger shark diving packages
We have 1 day or 2 day packages available:
- Our 1 day package includes return airport pick up from Durban and one shark dive.
- Our 2 day package includes 2 nights accommodation, 2 dives, airport pick up and delivery.
Price and dates
- 1 day experience €199 p.p.
- 2 day experience €449 p.p
Excluded
- Flights
- Visas
- Insurance
- Dive Equipment hire (available locally)
- Accommodation (for one night package)
Tiger shark diving is performed WITHOUT a cage, if you want something a little more relaxing try Great White Shark Cage Diving gap-year-diving
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