Anyone who enjoys the idea of diving with sharks, minus the restriction of a safety cage, can best experience this at Protea Banks, in South Africa. Here, you can encounter both Tiger sharks and Bull sharks, and you may even see a Great White, if you are lucky. Get ready for an adventure! We’re about to go diving with sharks.
Cageless Baited Shark Diving
If this sounds foolhardy to you, think again. Sharks, in general, are not aggressive toward divers, and are, as a group, fairly shy yet inquisitive and extremely intelligent. These animals have specific prey and also enjoy feeding on carrion – the left over bodies of fish and mammals that die and would otherwise bloat and be wasted. While there is indeed a certain thrill to cageless shark diving, there is no reason to worry – we do not look like prey to these sharks!
Still, there are rules and protocols to follow. The dive operators who have perfected the art of cageless baited shark diving are very careful to warn divers to stay still, and not to approach the sharks as they investigate the bait bucket. Even though we neither look nor smell like the shark’s preferred prey, divers could be perceived as a threat or as competition for the food inside the bucket. Therefore, it is vital to listen to the instructions provided before you begin your dive.
The majority of sharks attracted on a cageless shark dive are Tiger Sharks, which are highly evolved and which seem to enjoy the widest variety of food. They eat fish and birds, other sharks, turtles, and even trash. The Tiger Shark grows to an average of twelve feet long, although they have been recorded at twenty-four feet. These sharks are mostly solitary, and have been seen all over the world.
As the sharks approach, you will see them swim near the bucket as they pick up the scent of the chum it contains. They will come closer to you, too, just to see what you’re all about and to be sure that you are not a threat. Then, they will bump and nose the bucket, and finally, they will bite into it in order to consume the bait inside.
Reef Diving With Sharks
Reef diving with sharks is similar to any other kind of reef diving, except this time, you are looking for sharks in their natural habitat, in areas where they are well known to congregate. There is no bait involved, and so long as you do not provoke the sharks and stick with your group, the sharks will be a lot more nervous about swimming with you than you ought to feel about swimming with them! Here are some of the most amazing reef dive sites at Protea Banks. You can see a wide variety of shark species here, including the Zambezi, or bull sharks.
Bull Sharks, which have a stout appearance, are also known as Zambezi or Zambi sharks. They have been found in rivers, far away from the ocean. They are known to populate most of the warmer ocean areas of the globe, and they feed on a variety of marine life, including their own kind. Bull sharks are well known for some aggressive behavior, and have a habit of bumping and ramming their prey before they take a bite. It is important to keep a vertical posture in the presence of these sharks (or any other large shark, for that matter) so as not to be mistaken for prey. Although they are smaller than Tiger Sharks and Great Whites, at a maximum recorded length of eleven feet and a relatively light 500 pounds or so, these sharks are among the most aggressive in the world. However, by using caution and following instructions, you can enjoy the sight of these incredible creatures in their natural habitat.
The Northern Pinnacles
This reef is unspoiled, as it is well off the beaten path and is hard to locate. The few dive operators that do bring tours here are careful to guard the exact location, and even then, are careful to dive in a specific manner. With depths at thirty-three to forty meters, this site is best tackled with nitrox and plenty of dive experience behind you. There are two big cave systems where Ragged Tooth Sharks rest as they go to and from the Aliwal Shoals area, and on some days, swarms of sharks with as many as 200 members have been seen in the area. If there are no raggies in residence, you can search through the sandy bottom for sharks’ teeth, which are, incidentally, the only souvenir divers may lawfully remove from the reef.
During spring and summer, massive shoals of Hammerhead sharks frequent the area, creating an astonishing spectacle that is part of one of the best, most unique dives anyone can ever partake in.
The Southern Pinnacles
At the Southern Pinnacles, you will find Bull Sharks, including very large specimens between October and May. Although it can be a lot of fun to encounter an inquisitive bull shark, make sure that this encounter takes place on the animal’s terms. Surprising any shark is dangerous, and bull sharks are extremely unpredictable.
Scalloped Hammerheads can be seen in the area during April and May, and some lucky divers see hundreds of them flying by on a single dive. These sharks, as well as the Black Tip Reef sharks which frequent the area, are also inquisitive and will approach divers to see what they are up to.
Like the underwater scenery at the Northern Pinnacles, that of Southern Pinnacles is incredible. There is a popular cave, called Southern Cave, which is normally thick with schooling game fish. Kingfish Gully is so named thanks to the massive shoals of Kingfish which enjoy the shelter of a rocky overhang. They share the space with Sea Pike, Potato Bass, and Yellowtail, as well as other large specimens.
Finally, you will arrive at Sand Shark Gully, which is at forty meters. Here, you may encounter massive Guitar Sharks, which lie on the bottom. These sharks look like a cross between a ray and a shark, and they tend to line up wingtip to wingtip.
The Sardine Run
The incredible Sardine Run is one thing not to be missed, as you can enjoy the sight of sharks and other animals feeding on the masses of sardines that shoal in groups so large that they can be viewed from space. Between May and July, the sardines head south toward warmer water. Whether you want to view this from above or below the water, it is an incredible sight.
Be sure to choose a well-known dive operator for your shark diving adventures, and you will find yourself in awe at the silent beauty and wonder these creatures add to the planet’s oceans. Remember to respect them, and you will be respected in return.