Great White Shark Cage Diving

South Africa - Day 2

Day 2 was another early morning as we had to be up before the crack of dawn to catch our ride to the area where all the Great Whites hang out, which was about two hours away. You know where they film a good amount of Shark Week? That's where we were headed. And I was actually very grateful for the two hour drive because it meant a couple more hours of sleep. Although apparently I missed out on some gorgeous scenery in the meantime. We arrived at the dive shop where breakfast was sitting out for us. After we had eaten they gave us a brief orientation and led us to our boat, which was two decks and fairly large, as you would imagine it would be to accommodate an entire eight-person shark cage. The ride out to the site was fun in itself because we had to go straight through the area where the tide breaks. It felt like riding a roller coaster. We reached the spot and they lowered the cage into the water, then asking for volunteers of who would like to dive first. You better believe I was in there. The eight of us got in with nothing but wetsuits and a mask. The bubbles from regulators tend to scare the sharks away and so the top of the cage was left above water for us to breathe, and we would simply hold our breath and duck underwater when the sharks came around. What happened was they threw out the bait, used it to lure in the sharks, and then started yelling "Down! Down!" when a shark was near enough for us to see underwater. It was crazy because the visibility underwater was no more than a couple meters, and so you literally could not see the shark until it was right there in front of you, jaws gaping open, hungrily chasing after the bait. And these things were fast; they would swim straight at the cage, turn at the last moment, and usually ram into us on their way out, all in just a few seconds. Not only were they fast but they were massive.  I cannot even begin to describe the outrageous size of these things. They were terrifying to behold. Magnificent, but terrifying.  

 

Since the cage could only accommodate eight people at once we had to take turns. I managed to get in three separate times in the time we were there. And because they were so fast this was the best picture I managed to get of them. If you want a better idea just watch Shark Week. Or maybe don't; you'll think I'm positively insane for ever getting in the water with these creatures, and maybe I am, but I loved, absolutely loved every moment of it! Sharks are just too incredible. 

For dinner that night we went to this fancy Belgian restaurant on the Waterfront. Best meal I've had this entire trip. I ordered the tuna steak special and it was seared perfectly, like ahi, and caked in pepper. Divineness.  I would describe it for an entire paragraph, or an entire page, but I am looking ahead at four more days of pasta and potatoes before we reach India and I'd rather not think about real food.