SHARK CAGE DIVING CAPE TOWN

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Well what can I say.......... Shark cage diving was an experience that we will definately never ever forget. It was epic!

The day started off pretty calmly, we had the most incredible weather which is really lucky considering how terrible the weather has been in Cape town this last week. We were picked up about 9:00am and started the 2 hour drive out to Gansbaai which would have been fine except none of the 13 people on a 12 seater bus realised the diving was two hours away. Lets just say we all got to know each other extremely well in that 2 hours. Needless to say the drive was amazing, absolutely beautiful. It was quite surreal for me to be driving through towns like Somerset West and Hermanus which I have memories of, but are not quite clear enough for me to tell a story about.

The boat was all ready for us to head out about 12:30pm and everyone hopped on excitedly. The 15 minute trip out to Shark Alley was exhilirating as noone was expecting the swell to be quite as big as it was.

We got to our anchor point and while our captain was giving us the safety briefing a lovely 2.5metre shark came to say hello. Lets just say no one heard the rest of the safety briefing. We all quickly jumped into out wetsuits and waited in anticipation to get in the water. We could not believe the sightof these amazing creatures, they are huge.

There were 5 people in the cage at any one point and luckily Aaron and I got to go in together. You jump into this icecold water and they put a weight belt over your shoulders to hold you down in the cage. No snorkels just masks, you just hold your breath and go under everytime a sark comes by. They have tuna heads and chum being put in to the water to lure them closer. Seeing them so close was freaky! Aaron kept stressing because he thought I was putting my hand out of the cage to take a picture (she was!).

We were in the cage when one of the sharks got a bit over excited and decided he would collide with the cage and try take a bite. I had no idea what was going on, but apparently it was a pretty spectacular view from above.

Unfortuantely the moment we got out of the cage the motion got a bit much for Aaron and the next thing I know he is bent over deck spewing his guts out, and that was the last we saw of him for the afternoon. I have to admit he was only one of about 4 who where horendously sea sick and even myself who has a stomach of steele was not feeling all that great.

I spent the rest fo the afternoon on the top deck watching the sharks from above which was just as spectacular as watching them from below. One of the sharks at one point breeched out of the water about a meter, this was quite a site. All in all I think the captain said he spotted 5 or 6 different sharks so we really lucky.

Even though it was a trip I will never forget and we are so glad we got to see them, there were a lot of people happy to put there feet on solid ground at the end of the day.

Hope you all like the pics.

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Photos

Shark Breaching
Very lucky photo opportunity as this does not happen often

Us in the Cage
I know it ain't the best shot, but it captures the moment well

Up Close and Personal
This is without zoom, only about a foot away. They tend to turn just as they get to the cage.

Comments

[Sacha]

Wowee
Kels and Aaron this looks amazing! I would have wet myself I'm amazed at you guys you're so hardcore! Missing you heaps here but stoked you're having such a fantastic time! xo

[Di Mum]

SHARK!!!
Another place I never been! Sounds like you had some luck and they are magnificent creatures. You tell it well sweetheart.