Pelagic Shark Trip

Meet crew at Simons Town Pier.

Guests are welcomed aboard and a full safety and weather briefing is given before departure.

In order to find the optimum area for the pelagic sharks we need to find the Agulhas Current. This area changes each day but we normally work between 15 and 30 nautical miles from Cape Point.

Once we reach the area we will spend some time fishing for tuna for fresh bait and guests are welcome to try their hand at this.

After a detailed safety briefing guests may dive when the first shark arrives.

All diving is on snorkel and in the safety of a cage.

If conditions allow and guests have the appropriate experience guests are able to free dive without the cage. This is at the discretion of the skipper. A safety diver is present in the water at all times and no more than two guests are in the water at any time ensuring a safe and very personal one on one encounter.

Our target species are the magnificent mako and blue sharks as well as the massive yellowfin tuna that they occasionally hunt. Whilst not as big and bulky as the great white, the mako certainly does not stand back as it is the fastest shark in the sea and coupled with its beautiful blue and silver colouring is a truly magnificent creature, aptly described by Peter Goadby as “Blue dynamite”. For the last 7 years we have been the only operators offering these trips in Africa. These trips take place during our summer and autumn months and a variety of shark species are seen as well as being one of the best areas in the world to see pelagic birds. To find these animals we head out into the warm Agulhas current off Cape Point and it is this warm current and multitude of fish species that attract the great predators of the deep. A great time can still be had viewing these beautiful sharks from the boat as they are very curious and often swim up and alongside the boat.

For naturalist wanting a bit of everything this is a must. From the moment we get out of False Bay we start to see wildlife that land lovers will never see, a multitude of pelagic birds can been seen including Skuas, Terns, Shearwaters, petrels, penguins as well as the possibility of seeing up to six different species of Albatross. Whales and dolphins of many species are also regular visitors on our run out into the deep.

Lunch which usually consists of rolls with cold meats as well as a vegetarian option, accompanied by soft drinks, fruit juice, bottled water and a variety of snacks are available throughout the course of the day.