Cape Town: Great White & Sevengill Shark Cage Dive, 4 Hours

Three shark species in False Bay, 45 minutes from Cape Town airport

You board a cage-diving boat in Simonstown and descend into False Bay to encounter great whites, bronze whalers, and sevengill sharks up close. The four-hour trip includes all wetsuits and breathing gear, a shark briefing, catering, warm showers, and pickup logistics from Cape Town's airport area. No experience or age limit applies, and the fixed schedule means you're back by early afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Shark viewing trip in False Bay

• Arrive at 62st Georges Street Simonstown
• Wear swimwear under clothes
• Receive wetsuit and towels
• Board boat with refreshments and catering
• Use hookah system for diving
• Search for Great white, Bronze whaler, Sevengill sharks
• Enjoy warm showers after dive
• Return to shore after 4-hour trip

The experience

"Did you actually see one?" That's the question everyone asks after a shark dive, and the answer is almost always yes. False Bay sits closer to Cape Town than most suburbs do, a 45-minute drive from the airport, and it's one of the few places on earth where you can get in the water and reliably encounter great white sharks, bronze whalers, and sevengill sharks, all in the same trip. The cage dive itself lasts about four hours total, and the boat leaves from Simonstown, a small harbor town on the bay's edge.

You don't need any diving experience or special fitness level to do this. Kids go, grandparents go, people who've never been in the ocean go. The crew handles everything: wetsuits, breathing gear, the safety briefing, all the shark facts you'll want to know. They bring you out to the feeding grounds, you descend into the cage when the sharks show up, and you watch them do what they do. Between descents there's time on deck: snacks, hot drinks, towels, a chance to catch your breath and process what you just saw. If you want to rinse off after, there are warm showers on board.

The whole operation feels less like an extreme sport and more like a very well-run field trip. You bring sunglasses, sunblock, a warm layer, dry clothes to change into, and a camera if you want photos. The boat provides everything else: wetsuits that actually fit, fresh towels, the hookah system for breathing underwater, even a flush toilet. A confirmation message arrives the day before with your exact meeting time and any last-minute details. Most people who book this trip say the same thing afterward: seeing a shark in real life erases every preconceived idea you had about them.

What’s included

Your four-hour trip includes hotel or airport-area pickup coordination, wetsuits and full breathing gear, a dive briefing and shark information session, guided cage descents, catering and refreshments throughout the day, fresh towels, and access to warm showers after the dive. A confirmation message arrives the day before with your exact meeting time at 62 St Georges Street in Simonstown.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Senior (71 to 85 years) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 13 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “We do pick ups on request. Meeting times between 07h30am and 08h30am. Skipper confirms the day before after weather updates. Exact details on meeting times are sent out the day before.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Shark Explorers

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see great white sharks without arranging transport, gear, or safety training yourself: the fixed four-hour schedule and all-inclusive setup mean you show up, get briefed, and descend into the cage while the crew handles the rest.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (4 to 13 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How far is False Bay from Cape Town airport?

About 45 minutes by car. The meeting point is in Simonstown, on the bay's edge.

Do I need diving experience to do a shark cage dive?

No. The tour is open to all ages and fitness levels, with no experience required. The crew briefs you on safety and breathing before you enter the cage.

How long is the whole trip?

Four hours total, from meeting point to return. That includes time on deck between cage descents, catering, and showers.

What if I don't see a shark?

The tour targets three species (great whites, bronze whalers, and sevengill sharks), and sightings are common in False Bay, but not guaranteed on every trip.

What's included in the price?

Wetsuits, breathing gear, the guided dive, shark briefing, catering, snacks, refreshments, fresh towels, and warm showers after the dive.

What should I bring?

Sunglasses, sunblock, a warm jacket, dry clothes to change into, swimwear worn under your clothes on arrival, and a camera if you want photos.

Is there a toilet on the boat?

Yes, a flush toilet is available on board.