Activity Description

We operate a fun half-day tour in Cape Town to see a variety of shark species throughout the year according to the seasons, weather, water temperature, and other factors.

All the species we focus on are large, powerful, and active predators sure to give you an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The shark species you dive with can include the bronze whaler shark (growing to 3.5 meters) and/or seven-gill shark. Guest feedback on this dive has been outstanding – read what our guests have to say on Google or TripAdvisor.

Whales, dolphins, and many species of sea birds are often encountered on this adventurous expedition. As we adopt an eco-system 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.

The departure point, Simon’s Town, is only 45 minutes from Cape Town city center, 15 minutes from the Cape of Good Hope, and only 2 minutes from Boulders Beach Penguin Colony.

Reasons to Choose Apex as your shark cage diving operator
- We are an officially licensed Shark Cage diving Operator with a crew certified specifically for this industry
- We offer half-day trips
- We provide SCUBA on request, and no experience is required for breath-hold
- We offer the smallest group size of any shark diving operation (12 guests only). Upon request.
- We accommodate large groups on our newest vessel, Ceto.
- We have achieved five-star excellence certificates from TripAdvisor 10 years in a row

Location
Our area is near Seal Island, False Bay, Cape Town, and is famous, having been featured on many documentaries including Air Jaws on the Discovery Channel. Should conditions allow, you will also have close views of the 65 000 strong Cape Fur seal colony on Seal Island (this is the largest island-based seal colony in Africa) as well as various sea birds (Cape cormorant, Bank cormorant, African penguins & Black Backed kelp gull).

Trip Information
Trips include dive gear (sizes S to 6XL), tea/coffee/biscuits upon arrival, light lunch, snacks, and refreshments on board.
The 1st trip departs anytime from 06:45 – 09:00 am. The trip is 2 – 3 hours long (shark activity and weather dependent).
The 2nd trip departs anytime from 10:30 to 13:00 pm. The trip is 2 – 3 hours long (shark activity and weather dependent).
Exact times will be communicated VIA EMAIL the day before and are subject to change. Please allow flexibility in your itinerary to accommodate this. As all our trips are weather dependent, we suggest booking a day during the first part of your stay. This allows for rescheduling (where we have availability) when weather/sea conditions prevent us from going to sea.
Please note: Sharks are wild animals and as such sightings and behavior cannot be guaranteed.

Our Boats
We have two vessels – White Pointer is a 36-foot catamaran, specifically built for cage diving and the viewing of sharks from the surface. A dry cabin, soft cushioned seats, and a flush toilet ensure your comfort at sea. She complies with all safety requirements and Great White shark permit conditions.

Introducing Ceto, the newest vessel in the Apex Shark Expeditions fleet — a sleek, purpose-built 42-foot catamaran designed for comfort, safety, and adventure. Named after the ancient Greek sea goddess and guardian of marine life, Ceto embodies the spirit of the ocean — powerful, graceful, and deeply connected to the world beneath the waves.

Ceto offers a world-class shark cage diving and marine wildlife experience that blends cutting-edge design with Apex’s decades-long legacy of ethical, educational encounters.
Guests can enjoy:
Spacious viewing decks for unobstructed sightings of sharks, whales, and dolphins.
Private hot showers and onboard amenities for a premium at-sea experience.
A custom-engineered shark cage featuring dual entry ladders and panoramic viewing ports.
A dedicated team sharing real-time insights into ocean ecology and shark behavior.

To ensure the best possible experience, vessel allocation is finalized the day prior to departure, based on sea conditions and confirmed guest numbers.

Should you have any questions about your dive, please visit our FAQs section on our website. This can be found under the contact us header.

Prices – Surface viewers and cage divers pay the same rate

Itinerary
The crew welcomes you to the Apex Shark Expeditions Centre in Simon’s Town. Tea/coffee/biscuits will be served upon arrival. Guests will receive a safety and sighting briefing aboard White Pointer II or Ceto before departure.
Depart into False Bay for the anchor site which is a 25 to 35-minute boat ride based on sea and weather conditions.
Arrive at the anchor destination
Based on the weather, we will decide on the best spot to weigh the anchor and begin attracting sharks to the vessel. The shark cage is then deployed, where it floats tied next to our vessel. The cage dive is not a submersible experience, and therefore anyone can do this without any experience.
The crew will brief the guests on shark cage safety and shark behavior around the vessel.
Once a shark approaches our boat, bait is kept in the water to keep the shark around long enough for identification, viewing, and cage diving purposes.
We practice modern non-invasive methods of monitoring, documenting, and observing local shark populations, interspecies dynamics (social cooperatives), and interactions with pinnipeds (seals), cetaceans (dolphin and whales), fish, and sea birds in a way that can be shared with scientists for the future conservation of sharks and marine wildlife.
Safety precautions and operational procedures are then explained to any guest wishing to enter the shark cage.
It is important to know the sharks come very close to the boat so it is not necessary to cage dive in order to see the sharks. Those not wishing to dive will have excellent views of the sharks from the boat’s viewing deck.
White Pointer II or Ceto will arrive back in Simon’s Town harbor.
The total duration at sea is approx 3 hours depending on the weather conditions and shark activity.
Browse our unique range of shark-related merchandise and check out our wall of fame. There may be a familiar face or two.

Arrangements

Requirements

Inclusions and Exclusions

Notes