Great White Morning Trips at False Bay

Why You Should Choose a Great White Shark Morning Trip in Cape Town

Join Apex Shark Expeditions for a thrilling half-day shark cage diving tour in False Bay, just 45 km from the city center of Cape Town. Departing from Simon’s Town at 06:30, this morning trip targets Seal Island, home to 65,000 Cape fur seals, a key hunting ground for sharks. 

 While great white shark sightings have declined (90% of tagged great whites vanished since 2019, per Oceans Research Institute), our tours frequently encounter bronze whaler and sevengill sharks, plus Cape fur seals, dolphins, and southern right whales (July–November). With over 30 years of experience, Apex’s eco-friendly trips comply with the Marine Living Resources Act, earning a 5-star TripAdvisor rating for ten consecutive years. 

We also offer Shark cage diving Gansbaai and kelp forest cape town.

Top Spots to See Sharks in Cape Town 

False Bay’s Seal Island, a 25-minute boat ride from Simon’s Town, is a marine hotspot. Our 35 ft. catamaran, White Pointer II, navigates this ecosystem, where bronze whaler sharks (up to 3.5 m) and sevengill sharks are commonly sighted. Great white sightings are sporadic, with Apex reporting no consistent sightings since 2017, aligning with industry trends due to orca predation and fishing impacts. Expect other wildlife, including 3,500 African penguins at Boulders Beach and up to 1,176 southern right whales in season, per Mammal Research Institute’s 2025 survey. Our small groups (max 12 guests) ensure intimate encounters. 

Safety of Shark Cage Diving in Cape Town 

Safety is paramount at Apex. White Pointer II is SAMSA-certified, carrying life jackets, first aid kits, and radios. Our galvanized steel cage, certified by a registered engineer, meets DEAT regulations, with no sharp edges to harm sharks. No experience is required for breath-hold diving, and a hookah scuba system is available for certified divers. Children aged 6+ can board and cage dive under adult supervision. Our 100% safety record and crew trained in first aid and shark behavior ensure a secure adventure, per CPA transparency requirements. 

Trip Overview

Cage Diving Details

We’ll arrive early at Seal Island as this is the optimum time to view the sharks actively hunting the Cape Fur seals. Our data indicates that half an hour before sunrise to one and a half hours after sunrise is the best time to witness this natural event. The early bird catches the worm and this most certainly applies at Seal Island.

White Pointer II is the name of our 32 ft. catamaran. This boat was specifically built for the purpose of working, viewing and diving with Great white sharks in the waters of the Western Cape. She complies with all safety requirements and Great white shark permit conditions. She carries all the necessary safety equipment and is certified on an annual basis by SAMSA, the authority responsible for maritime safety in South Africa. We are committed to achieving and maintaining a high standard of health and safety both on land and at sea. We will always strive to set the standards of a safe boat-based operation, going beyond our legal obligations to manage any potential risks effectively and provide a safe environment for all involved.

Hygiene and Safety

• Our boat surfaces and frequently touched areas are sanitized before you board the vessel, as well as during and after every excursion
• Hand sanitizer is conveniently positioned aboard
• All items utilized by you on board will be appropriately sanitized and cleaned during excursions
• Handling of any necessary equipment on board will be carried out by the skipper and crew and not by our guests
• The crew are registered tour guides trained in first aid, fire – fighting and are subjected to stringent monthly safety drills
• Safety equipment includes life jackets, first aid kit, radio and cellular phone

Boat Based Viewing

If you don’t want to get wet, the boat based viewing is excellent as many of the sharks swim at the surface. Our surface viewing deck offers 360 degrees view and our enclosed cabin offers cover and protection from the elements.  As the boat based viewing is equal if not better than the cage dive viewing, divers and non-divers pay the same price for the shark trip.

Safety First

• All shark cage diving is done under the supervision of an experienced crew who have first aid & oxygen management, scuba & commercial skippers’ qualifications and have expert knowledge of the behaviour of sharks around the cage
• The cage is designed to float, leaving a free board of about 30cm (about one foot). The cage is solidly attached to the side of the boat by two thick ropes that prevent the cage from drifting away and equipped with several independent flotation devices which keep it buoyant
• Our cage has been designed to ensure there are no sharp edges on which a shark can injure itself in the event one should touch the cage accidentally
• The shark cage we use is a surface cage. It is not a submersible shark cage. Our crews are close to cage at all times and will ensure any guest in distress is quickly and safely removed from the cage.
• You may end your shark cage dive at any time as we operate surface cages only. Your head is never more than half a meter below the surface and you can decide when and how long you want to stay underwater
• Specially designed doors ensure ease of access for divers. Getting into the cage is as simple as stepping off the boat
• Our cage comfortably accommodates a GoPro camera and is equipped with steel hand and foot bars inside offering grip and stability when filming

The best time of year for Great White Sharks at Seal Island, False Bay departing Simon’s Town was traditionally mid- June to mid-August.

Historically mid- June to July was the peak season for heightened levels of predation.  As winter rolled in the seal colony blossoms, the sharks began to change their behaviour and began actively hunting Cape fur seal pups. These months were the best to view natural predation and breaching events.

Over the last 5 years the sightings in all the great white shark hotspots in South Africa have become increasingly unpredictable and sporadic. This is largely due to overfishing and increased Orca activity, leaving this species critically endangered. The good news is there were a few great white shark sightings in Cape Town recently, however we are yet to have a sighting around the boat. Currently, we and any other operator cannot confidently offer a great white shark tour.

We are operating half day shark tours and cage diving with other shark species in Cape Town. All the species we focus on are large, powerful, and active predators sure to give you an incredible once in a lifetime experience.

We have been enjoying sightings of the bronze whaler shark (growing to 3.5 meters) close to Seal Island in False Bay. These large predatory sharks are generally very interactive, coming close to cages and are very inquisitive. The trips these past months and years have been equally successful and guest feedback on dives with these other species has been outstanding. 

As such you will have an excellent chance to see sharks on any dive you do with us as well as a whole host of other spectacular large marine megafauna. 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.

We pride ourselves on offering sustainable eco-friendly marine tourism and adventure with conservation, research and education taking place on every shark cage diving tour we are fortunate to operate.

At Apex Shark Expeditions, we strive to offer the best, most professional and sustainable shark cage diving and ecotourism experience in the world from the moment you make contact with us to long after your experience with us is done. We strive to give you an unforgettable experience rather than just a trip!

40% of all Apex Shark Expeditions guests are repeat guests.

Our small group size of 12 guests only, allows us to provide a superior one on one personal service to you, our guest that is unrivalled in the shark cage diving industry.

The Best Shark Cage Diving in South Africa!

You have the power to make a difference when selecting your shark diving operator. Apex Shark Expeditions fights the fight for the Conservation of the Great White Shark.