I have heard of eco tours, jeep safaris, tiger safaris & every other land based safaris out there. But, this is the first time I am reading and actually writing about Shark safaris! Well, here’s more information on Shark Safaris.
How do they do it?
During a shark safari, you get lowered in a huge steel cage with all your required stuff inside.
You will sorta look like a seal in your wetsuit (This is the Shark’s favorite food).
There’s a cable that’s attached to the boat/surface vehicle. Inside the cage, you and others are in a full scuba gear. So, this is basically a dive based eco-tour.You have to be a good scuba diver to get into this. However, there are guides down there.
Where can you do it?
Shark dives are normally done in Caribbean and the Pacific Oceans off the coast of South Africa. But, this does vary depending on the types of sharks.
Also, about 200 miles South of San Diego, Isla de Guadalupe is a great place to go for great white sharks. These are the biggest baddest mother of all sharks. I am a big fan of these Great whites.
Types of Sharks
As of now there’s probably about little more than 100 different types of sharks including Tiger sharks, hammerheads, and great whites.
Just like any other dive, shark dives have it’s own ethics or do’s and don’ts.
First off, be respectful to the creature. If you don’t intimate the shark, there’s relatively less danger lurking.
Second, follow all safety guides. This is of utmost importance if you want to get back alive that is.
How to get there and other related info
The village of Kleinbai is South Africa’s cage diving Mecca. You can take South African Airways from JFK, NewYork to Cape Town.
A morning or afternoon shark safari will cost you $1200 African rands (about $165: 7.25 rands per dollar). You will get picked up or dropped off if you want to and packed meals for the trip.
You can book a trip with Shark Alley Dive and Travel Center or White Sharks project. I think this is a great way to appreciate the underwater beauty that nature has bestowed up on us. Also, through these safaris, we get closer to these enormous creatures & learn to respect them. The controversial cage diving is a great way to learn about sharks and will get you ready for future cage free dives.
Image Links:
Wetpixel
Source Links:
Worldhum
