Shark Cage Diving Cape Town: Numbers To Know

Blue-water cage diving in False Bay near Simon's Town, South Africa, with the shark cage floating alongside an unbranded dive boat
A shark cage diving boat heading out from Kleinbaai Harbour toward Dyer Island.
A dive boat leaving Simon's Town harbour with the mountains of the Cape Peninsula behind it
A cage diving boat anchored near a small island with seals on the rocks
1991
Great white protected since · first country in the world to protect the species
since ~2017
Years since orca (Port and Starboard) displacement began · great whites largely absent from Gansbaai/False Bay since
3-10m (avg 6-8m)
Typical underwater visibility · best April-September
~60,000 seals
Cape fur seal colony, Geyser Rock · the historic draw for great whites at Shark Alley
3-7+ hours
Typical trip length · door-to-door, including 20-60+ min boat ride each way
10-12 years
Typical minimum age · operator pattern, with adult and waiver

Share Of Logged Trips That Reported Each Species

May20 logsJune23 logsJuly27 logsAugust25 logsSeptember25 logs
Bronze whaler or copper shark100%100%100%100%72%
Great white0%0%0%0%0%
Sevengill cowshark5%35%15%8%0%
Other sharks10%4%4%8%4%
Southern right whale0%9%11%8%68%

Counted from 120 daily trip logs on the Marine Dynamics blog, May to September 2026. April has only 3 logs and is left out. Source: Marine Dynamics daily blog

Shark Cage Diving Cape Town Trips By Type

Fifteen trips split three ways. Ten great white cage dives run out of Gansbaai and Kleinbaai Harbour, three launch from Simon's Town into False Bay, and two combos pair the cage with a whale watching leg.

Gansbaai cage dives

Most-Reviewed Eco Cage Dive

A six-hour eco-friendly cage diving cruise from Gansbaai, run by Marine Dynamics and rated 4.6 across 369 reviews, with free cancellation if plans change.

★ 4.6 (369)from $2326 hours

Check availability

All 10 Gansbaai cage dives on one page →

False Bay dives

All 3 False Bay dives on one page →

Shark and whale combos

All 2 Shark and whale combos on one page →

Find Your Shark Cage Diving Cape Town Trip

Fifteen tours sit behind the picker below. Ten are Gansbaai cage dives, three launch from Simon's Town into False Bay, and two combos split the day between sharks and whales.

1. What kind of day on the water are you after?
2. Do you want collecting, or will you make your own way?
3. How much time do you want to give it?

This is a starting shortlist of the best-reviewed tours, not the whole list. Answer the questions to rebuild it around you.

  1. Marine Dynamics, Cape Town Pickup

    10 hours · Free cancellation

    from $303.54 ★ 4.5 (622)

  2. White Shark Projects Half-Day

    3 hours · Free cancellation

    from $173 ★ 4.7 (451)

  3. Most-Reviewed Eco Cage Dive

    6 hours · Free cancellation

    from $232 ★ 4.6 (369)

  4. Sharklady Air-Line Cage Dive

    3 hours 30 minutes · Free cancellation

    from $188.73 ★ 4.0 (271)

  5. Conservation-Focused Cage Dive

    4 hours 30 minutes · Free cancellation

    from $169 ★ 4.8 (237)

  6. African Shark Eco-Charters, Simon's Town

    3 hours 30 minutes · Free cancellation

    from $251.32 ★ 4.5 (163)

Show the remaining trips

  1. Apex Shark Expeditions, False Bay

    4 hours

    from $277.05 ★ 4.7 (129)

  2. Hookah Air-Supply Cage Dive

    4 hours · Free cancellation

    from $205.08 ★ 4.7 (78)

  3. Shark Zone, Cape Town Add-On Pickup

    3 hours · Free cancellation

    from $126 ★ 4.5 (68)

  4. False Bay Open-Water Shark Dive

    4 hours (shark viewing) · Free cancellation

    from $216 ★ 5.0 (37)

  5. Shark Dive Plus Whale Watching

    6 hours · Free cancellation

    from $286 ★ 4.6 (22)

  6. Full-Day Cape Town Round Trip

    1 day · Free cancellation

    from $277.71 ★ 4.0 (20)

  7. Best-Rated Kleinbaai Cage Dive

    3 hours · Free cancellation

    from $171 ★ 4.9 (17)

  8. Cape Shark's Whale-Season Combo

    5 hours · Free cancellation

    from $305 ★ 4.7 (13)

  9. Private Full-Day, Hotel Pickup

    9 hours · Free cancellation

    from $188.87 ★ 4.5 (11)

Compare Every Shark Cage Diving Cape Town Tour

Compare ratings, durations and operators side by side before you book a short dive or a full-day trip.

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All 15 tours, most reviewed first. Tap a sort chip twice to flip the order.

TourLengthMeetsFromRatingBook
Marine Dynamics, Cape Town PickupMarine Dynamics Shark Tours 10 hours (approx.) Cape Town / V&A Waterfront $303.54 ★ 4.5622 reviews Check availability
White Shark Projects Half-DayWhite Shark Projects 3 hours (approx.) Kleinbaai Harbour $173 ★ 4.7451 reviews Check availability
Most-Reviewed Eco Cage DiveMarine Dynamics Shark Tours 6 hours (approx.) Kleinbaai Harbour $232 ★ 4.6369 reviews Check availability
Sharklady Air-Line Cage DiveSharklady Adventures 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) Kleinbaai Harbour $188.73 ★ 4.0271 reviews Check availability
Conservation-Focused Cage DiveWhite Shark Diving Company 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) Kleinbaai Harbour $169 ★ 4.8237 reviews Check availability
African Shark Eco-Charters, Simon's TownAfrican Shark Eco-Charters 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) Simon's Town Harbour $251.32 ★ 4.5163 reviews Check availability
Apex Shark Expeditions, False BayApex Shark Expeditions 4 hours (approx.) Simon's Town Harbour $277.05 ★ 4.7129 reviews Check availability
Hookah Air-Supply Cage DiveWhite Shark Diving Company 4 hours (approx.) Kleinbaai Harbour $205.08 ★ 4.778 reviews Check availability
Shark Zone, Cape Town Add-On PickupShark Zone 3 hours (approx.) Kleinbaai Harbour $126 ★ 4.568 reviews Check availability
False Bay Open-Water Shark DiveShark Explorers 4 hours (shark viewing) Simon's Town Harbour $216 ★ 5.037 reviews Check availability
Shark Dive Plus Whale WatchingIvanhoe Sea Safaris 6 hours (approx.) Kleinbaai Harbour $286 ★ 4.622 reviews Check availability
Full-Day Cape Town Round TripAfrican Eagle Daytours 1 day (approx.) Cape Town / V&A Waterfront $277.71 ★ 4.020 reviews Check availability
Best-Rated Kleinbaai Cage DiveCape Shark Adventures 3 hours (approx.) Kleinbaai Harbour $171 ★ 4.917 reviews Check availability
Cape Shark's Whale-Season ComboCape Shark Adventures 5 hours (approx.) Kleinbaai Harbour $305 ★ 4.713 reviews Check availability
Private Full-Day, Hotel PickupBorn in Africa Tours 9 hours (approx.) Cape Town / V&A Waterfront $188.87 ★ 4.511 reviews Check availability

What You Are Likely To See, Month By Month

Sightings shift through the year, and conditions and visibility change with the season. No operator here promises a shark on any given day, since what the boats see depends on weather, the state of the sea and what turns up at the launch point.

Bronze whaler
Great white (Mossel Bay)
Sevengill cowshark (False Bay)
Southern right whale (Gansbaai, False Bay)
Humpback whale (Gansbaai, False Bay)
Water temperature20.7°20.3°20.6°18.8°17.4°16.7°15.8°15.8°15.8°16.8°18.3°19.8°
VisibilityFairFairFairGoodVery goodBestBestBestBestVery goodGoodFair
  • Reported or just starting
  • Present
  • Building or consistent
  • Common or peak
  • Not named
  • This month

January

Gansbaai: Bronze whaler sharks common False Bay: Bronze whalers, sevengill cowsharks Mossel Bay: Bronze whalers; some great white reports

Water Temp (Gansbaai): 20.7C · Visibility: Fair, summer plankton

February

Gansbaai: Bronze whaler sharks common False Bay: Bronze whalers, sevengill cowsharks Mossel Bay: Bronze whalers; some great white reports

Water Temp (Gansbaai): 20.3C · Visibility: Fair

March

Gansbaai: Bronze whaler sharks common False Bay: Bronze whalers, sevengill cowsharks Mossel Bay: Bronze whalers; some great white reports

Water Temp (Gansbaai): 20.6C · Visibility: Fair, improving

April

Gansbaai: Bronze whalers; visibility improving; humpback migration begins False Bay: Bronze whalers, sevengills; humpback migration begins Mossel Bay: Bronze whalers, occasional great white

Water Temp (Gansbaai): 18.8C · Visibility: Good, into winter clarity

May

Gansbaai: Peak visibility begins; southern right whales arrive at Hermanus False Bay: Southern right whales arrive; bronze whalers Mossel Bay: Bronze whalers, occasional great white

Water Temp (Gansbaai): 17.4C · Visibility: Very good

June

Gansbaai: Southern right whale season builds; best visibility window False Bay: Southern right whales; historic great white peak start Mossel Bay: Bronze whalers; operator-reported great white sightings

Water Temp (Gansbaai): 16.7C · Visibility: Best of the year

July

Gansbaai: Southern right whales in Walker Bay; bronze whalers dive False Bay: Southern right whales present Mossel Bay: Bronze whalers; more consistent great white reports

Water Temp (Gansbaai): 15.8C · Visibility: Best of the year

August

Gansbaai: Southern right whales peak building False Bay: Southern right whales present Mossel Bay: Bronze whalers; more consistent great white reports

Water Temp (Gansbaai): 15.8C · Visibility: Best of the year

September

Gansbaai: Southern right whale peak (Hermanus) False Bay: Southern right whale peak Mossel Bay: Bronze whalers; more consistent great white reports

Water Temp (Gansbaai): 15.8C · Visibility: Best of the year

October

Gansbaai: Southern right whale peak; bronze whalers False Bay: Southern right whale peak tapering Mossel Bay: Bronze whalers; great white reports continue

Water Temp (Gansbaai): 16.8C · Visibility: Very good

November

Gansbaai: Whale season tapers; humpbacks migrating; bronze whalers False Bay: Whale season tapers; humpbacks migrating Mossel Bay: Bronze whalers

Water Temp (Gansbaai): 18.3C · Visibility: Good

December

Gansbaai: Bronze whalers; summer conditions return False Bay: Bronze whalers, sevengills Mossel Bay: Bronze whalers

Water Temp (Gansbaai): 19.8C · Visibility: Fair, summer plankton

Show the full month table
MonthGansbaai / KleinbaaiFalse Bay / Simon's TownMossel BayWater Temp (Gansbaai)Visibility
JanuaryBronze whaler sharks commonBronze whalers, sevengill cowsharksBronze whalers; some great white reports20.7CFair, summer plankton
FebruaryBronze whaler sharks commonBronze whalers, sevengill cowsharksBronze whalers; some great white reports20.3CFair
MarchBronze whaler sharks commonBronze whalers, sevengill cowsharksBronze whalers; some great white reports20.6CFair, improving
AprilBronze whalers; visibility improving; humpback migration beginsBronze whalers, sevengills; humpback migration beginsBronze whalers, occasional great white18.8CGood, into winter clarity
MayPeak visibility begins; southern right whales arrive at HermanusSouthern right whales arrive; bronze whalersBronze whalers, occasional great white17.4CVery good
JuneSouthern right whale season builds; best visibility windowSouthern right whales; historic great white peak startBronze whalers; operator-reported great white sightings16.7CBest of the year
JulySouthern right whales in Walker Bay; bronze whalers diveSouthern right whales presentBronze whalers; more consistent great white reports15.8CBest of the year
AugustSouthern right whales peak buildingSouthern right whales presentBronze whalers; more consistent great white reports15.8CBest of the year
SeptemberSouthern right whale peak (Hermanus)Southern right whale peakBronze whalers; more consistent great white reports15.8CBest of the year
OctoberSouthern right whale peak; bronze whalersSouthern right whale peak taperingBronze whalers; great white reports continue16.8CVery good
NovemberWhale season tapers; humpbacks migrating; bronze whalersWhale season tapers; humpbacks migratingBronze whalers18.3CGood
DecemberBronze whalers; summer conditions returnBronze whalers, sevengillsBronze whalers19.8CFair, summer plankton

Gansbaai Vs Mossel Bay Vs False Bay: How The Three Sites Compare

Gansbaai and False Bay make for very different days. The Gansbaai trips sit roughly 160 to 175 km from the city centre, while Simon's Town launches from the False Bay side of the peninsula, near Boulders Beach and Cape Point.

Gansbaai / KleinbaaiMossel BayFalse Bay / Simon's Town
Distance from Cape Town~160-175km, 2-2.5 hours~4.5 hours45-60 minutes
What you'll most likely see nowBronze whaler (copper) sharks; sevengill cowsharksBronze whalers plus the most consistent recent great white reportsBronze whalers, sevengill cowsharks; occasional great whites
Great white statusLargely displaced since ~2017 orca predation (Port and Starboard)More consistent great white encounters reported in 2025/2026Near-zero sightings since ~2018-2019, limited reports of return by 2026
Permitted operators (DFFE)813
Best seasonApril-October for visibility; June-October for southern right whalesYear-round with winter/spring peaksMay-August historically for great whites, June-November for whales
Boat time to dive siteShorter run, close to Dyer Island/Shark AlleyShort run to Seal IslandShort run to Seal Island, False Bay
Secondary wildlifeSouthern right whales (Hermanus, June-Nov), African penguins on Dyer Island, Cape fur sealsBronze whalers, sealsSouthern right whales, African penguins (Boulders Beach), seals

Where Shark Cage Diving Cape Town Boats Launch

Ten trips launch from Kleinbaai harbour in Gansbaai, roughly 160 to 175km from Cape Town, and several add a pickup in the city. The three False Bay listings depart from Simon's Town instead.

Loading the map. Every place is also listed below.

Map tiles and place names: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Kleinbaai Harbour

Simon's Town Harbour

Cape Town Pickup

  1. Kleinbaai HarbourBoat Launch Points
  2. Simon's Town HarbourBoat Launch Points · 97 km from Kleinbaai Harbour in a straight line
  3. GansbaaiDeparture Towns · 3.6 km from Kleinbaai Harbour in a straight line
  4. HermanusDeparture Towns · 24 km from Kleinbaai Harbour in a straight line
  5. Cape Town / V&A WaterfrontDeparture Towns · 116 km from Kleinbaai Harbour in a straight line
  6. Seal Island (False Bay)Wildlife Viewing Points · 88 km from Kleinbaai Harbour in a straight line
  7. Boulders BeachWildlife Viewing Points · 95 km from Kleinbaai Harbour in a straight line
  8. Dyer IslandDive Sites · 9.6 km from Kleinbaai Harbour in a straight line
  9. Geyser Rock / Shark AlleyDive Sites · 10.0 km from Kleinbaai Harbour in a straight line
  10. Mossel Bay HarbourBoat Launch Points · 261 km from Kleinbaai Harbour in a straight line
  11. Seal Island (Mossel Bay)Wildlife Viewing Points · 259 km from Kleinbaai Harbour in a straight line

What Divers Say About Shark Cage Diving Cape Town

Ratings and review counts here track the live listings. This site does not collect, select or edit the reviews shown below; they are published by the tour operators on their own listing pages and quoted here as written.

“It was beyond our expectations, we learned a lot about the work Marine Dynamics do and how they are trying to save the sharks and penguins.”
Emer, operator-listing review of Most-Reviewed Eco Cage Dive
“Had a wonderful time. The crew was amazing and were able to see sharks, sting rays and seals. Would highly recommend!”
Ashleih C., operator-listing review of Conservation-Focused Cage Dive
“Amazing experience although we didn't see a great white seeing sharks in there environment with only a cage between you and the shark it's unreal.”
Richard, operator-listing review of False Bay Open-Water Shark Dive
“Operator was well versed; sharks drawn right up to the cage for an 'up front and personnel' experience.”
Douglas A., operator-listing review of Sharklady Air-Line Cage Dive

Where To Stay Near Shark Cage Diving Cape Town Launches

Staying central in Cape Town suits the listings that include a pickup transfer, and the Simon's Town departures sit close to the city. For an early Gansbaai launch, sleeping in Gansbaai itself beats a long pre-dawn drive.

A tour minibus parked at Kleinbaai Harbour with shark cage diving boats in the background
5-star lodge

Grootbos Nature Reserve

Gansbaai, Western Cape (near Kleinbaai harbour, the shark cage diving launch point)

★ 9.2 · 11 reviews

seasonal Western Cape rates; check live dates on the booking page

Check rates
A shark cage diving boat moored at Kleinbaai Harbour with a metal cage on deck.
midscale/upscale hotel

Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge

Portswood Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001

seasonal Cape Town rates; check live dates on the booking page

Check rates
A tourist boat with a secured shark cage off the Simon's Town coast in calm water under a blue sky
mid-range hotel

aha Simon's Town Quayside Hotel

Jubilee Square, St Georges Street, Simon's Town, 7975

★ 9 · 323 reviews

seasonal Cape Town rates; check live dates on the booking page

Check rates

Shark Cage Diving Cape Town FAQ

A group of divers in wetsuits listening to a safety briefing on the deck of a shark cage diving boat
Which shark species might appear at the cage?

No trip here guarantees a shark, and that is just how the sea works. Sightings depend on the season, the weather and the sea on the day, so crews brief guests on what the boats have been seeing lately.

How much does it cost?

Prices sit on the live listings, since each operator sets its own rate and seasons shift the cost. Open any tour card for the figure on your date.

Can I cancel my booking free of charge?

Fourteen of the fifteen trips carry free cancellation, with each operator's cutoff shown on the live booking page. One Simon's Town trip runs without it, so check before you pay.

Who runs the dives listed here?

This site runs no boats and takes no bookings of its own. It compares trips run by independent licensed crews: cage dives out of Kleinbaai Harbour near Gansbaai, open-water shark viewing from Simon's Town in False Bay, and two shark and whale combos.

How are the ratings gathered?

Ratings and review counts here come straight from each tour's live booking page, never adjusted. For scale, the Gansbaai trip with transport from Cape Town reads 4.5 across 622 reviews, the half-day White Shark Projects dive sits at 4.7 from 451, and the Simon's Town trip run by Shark Explorers holds a 5 from 37 guests.

Can you book directly here?

The roster holds fifteen trips across three categories: ten cage dives out of Gansbaai, two shark and whale watching combos, and three open-water trips in False Bay.

Shark Cage Diving Cape Town Guides And Answers

Guides

Answers

From $232 · ★ 4.6 (369) · Likely to sell out · free cancellation Get Your Ticket →