While Cape Town is a must-visit destination during your southern African safari, you don’t have to make a stop in the Mother City to go shark cage diving though. Now you can undertake this epic adventure during a visit to Durban too.
Aliwal Shoal
Located about half an hour’s drive from Durban at Umkomaas, Aliwal Shoal is famed as one of the world’s best dive sites. This fossilized sand dune is found about 4km off the coast of Umkomaas and is a favorite haunt of tiger sharks, blacktip sharks, ragged tooth sharks and guitar sharks as well as 2 wreck diving sites, namely the Produce and the Nebo.
Shark Snorkeling
One of the most popular activities in this neck of the woods is guided snorkeling among the local population of blacktip sharks. There is no upper or lower age limit for this activity and it is the perfect introduction to interacting with these marine predators. If this is a little too ‘’out there’’ for you, you can start off in the cage instead.
Shark Cage Diving
You don’t need any experience nor qualification to get up close and personal with a shark at Aliwal Shoal. All you need is a wetsuit and a snorkel.
The shark cage hangs next to the boat and participants can get acquainted with the denizens of the deep in complete safety. As with the snorkeling, there is no age restriction for this activity, although it’s not advised for very small children.
Shark Scuba
Shark scuba dives are baited dives where participants float among the blacktip sharks, soaking up the underwater world that they call home.
This is a shallow dive between 4 and 8m below the surface and lasts about an hour.
Some of the more specialized dives offered at Aliwal Shoal include:
- Tiger Shark Dives
From December to May, you can embark on shallow dives with Tiger Sharks, one of the most beautiful fish in the area. Their cobalt-blue and silver-striped skins hold a shimmering appeal that will keep you mesmerized throughout the experience.
- Ragged Tooth Shark Dives
It’s raggie time from May to November and these docile yet fearsome looking sharks will keep you mesmerized for the full hour as they patrol their ‘’Raggie Cave” trying to impress the lady sharks.
Shark experiences are a fantastic way to learn more about these fearsome, and not so fearsome, predators who inhabit the waters off the coast of Africa. To make the most of your southern African safari, you should take some time getting to know these and other lesser appreciated African creatures.
Get in touch and we’ll help you arrange an unforgettable beach and bush safari in KwaZulu-Natal.
