Shark Cage Diving from Cape Town: Gansbaai

Enter the cage in open ocean and watch sharks move through their habitat.

Shark cage diving from Cape Town takes you to Gansbaai for a full-day experience in the water with various shark species. A marine biologist and expert guides brief you on the sharks before you dive. Hotel pickup, breakfast, all diving gear and towels are included. Departures run at 7am, 11am or 3pm, and the trip is wheelchair accessible. Note that shark sightings are never guaranteed. If no sharks appear, you receive a voucher for a future dive.

Step-by-step itinerary

Shark cage diving and penguin sanctuary visit

• Hotel pick-up in Cape Town
• Travel to Gansbaai
• Learn about sharks onboard
• Shark cage diving experience
• Visit African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary
• Return to Cape Town hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Cape Town hotel and a drive to Gansbaai, where you'll visit the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. There you watch rescued penguins through a viewing window and learn how conservation work protects endangered seabirds along the coast. After the sanctuary, you head to the boat for the main event: breakfast and a briefing from the onboard marine biologist and expert guides, who walk you through shark behavior and what to expect in the cage.

Once in the water, you're in the sharks' habitat in open ocean. The cage keeps you protected while you observe the animals up close. The experience is educational from start to finish, and every moment is designed around understanding these wild creatures rather than just the adrenaline. All diving gear and towels are supplied, so you arrive with nothing but a swimsuit underneath your clothes. Light refreshments keep you fueled through the day.

Weather can shift the schedule: if conditions are rough in the morning, the operator may move the departure to the afternoon and will confirm this close to your tour date. Sharks are wild animals, so their presence is never guaranteed. If a shark has been sighted from the boat, the trip counts as successful. If no shark activity occurs, you'll receive a voucher (recorded with your name and passport number), for a future dive. A conservation fee is compulsory and included in your booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Cape Town.
• breakfast and light refreshments.
• all diving gear and towels.
• a marine biologist and expert guide briefing.
• entry to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary.
• professional guide throughout the day.

Options for this experience

6 options

07:00am DepartureGuide in English · 07:00Shark cage diving with great white sharks, with transportation from Cape Town included and pickup included

11:00am DepartureGuide in English · 11:00Pickup is included

3 pm DepartureGuide in English · Available from 15 Nov · 15:00Pickup is included

See 3 more options

7:00am Departure 2025Guide in English · 07:00Pickup is included

11:00am Departure 2025Guide in English · 11:00Pickup is included

3pm Departure 2025Guide in English · Available from 15 Nov · 15:00Pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 11:00 and 15:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 35 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Marine Dynamics Shark Tours

Is this one for you?Book the 7am departure if you want the longest window in the water and prefer to start early. The 11am or 3pm slots work better if you're arriving late or prefer a slower morning. All three departures are the same experience. The choice is yours on timing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5).

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 24 h before the start.

What happens if we don't see any sharks on the dive?

If no shark activity occurs during your cage dive, you receive a voucher for a future dive, recorded with your name and passport number. Shark sightings are never guaranteed because they are wild animals. If a shark has been sighted from the boat at any point, the trip is considered successful.

What's included in the shark cage diving experience?

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Cape Town, breakfast, light refreshments, all diving gear and towels, a marine biologist briefing, and expert guides are all included. A visit to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary is also part of the full-day itinerary.

What time does the shark cage diving tour depart?

Departures run at 7am, 11am or 3pm. If weather conditions are poor in the morning, the operator may move a morning departure to the afternoon and will confirm this close to your tour date.

Do I need diving experience or special fitness to cage dive?

No diving experience is required, and the activity is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants can participate if they sit on an adult's lap. The experience is wheelchair accessible, and all areas and surfaces are accessible.

What should I wear for shark cage diving?

Wear a swimsuit underneath your clothes. All diving gear, including wetsuits and safety equipment, is supplied by the operator.

How long is the full shark cage diving experience?

The full-day experience runs approximately 10 hours from pickup at your Cape Town hotel through the cage dive, sanctuary visit and return.