Shark Cage Diving And Viewing With Transport From Hermanus

We had a great afternoon with MD in Gansbaai. The whole set up is very professional and alot of fun. The crew were brilliant and made the day for us. We were a small group so spent nearly an hour in the cage. The boat, cage and gear are of the highest quality. We saw bronze whalers and that was fine for us. One to repeat. Thanks to all at Marine Dynamics.

Such an amazing experience and great hospitality from the Crew👏😊 .

This was amazing. A magical feeling, to be so close to sharks. And Marine Dynamics did such a great job. From the communication upfront to the day itself. Everybody involved was friendly and helpful. The pick-up was comfortable and right on time. The welcome was warm, there was even some food. The safety briefing was clear. We were handed out all the equipment needed. Every group had a good amount of time in the cage. There was a marine biologist on board to explain about the sharks and he was very open to questions. So many good elements about this activity. And I think the best of it all, the care Marine Dynamics has for the animals and the ocean. Love how involved they are in conservation and how they keep stressing that yes they want us as tourists to have a good time, but certainly not at the expense of the animals. Love that!!

Having had our trip cancelled by our preferred operator, due to poor weather, we were persuaded to join marine dynamics. The 3 metre swell was not conducive to seeing anything- poor visibility in the water, vomiting into a paper bag when on board and changing in and out of a wet suit was precarious for the less agile with so much movement. Most of the group were feeling ill/vomiting in our group and our family was wishing the whole experience to be over. I would suggest a little more honesty and integrity about the sea conditions- your boat may be able to handle it but lots of your passengers will not. This is a relatively expensive for a family, so I would only recommend if you have sturdy sea legs and are ambivalent whether you see sharks or not.

This was such a great experience. And could experience it with my son. The staff and team was so amazing and professional. We enjoyed the breakfast and light snacks as well. But the shark cage diving experience was 5 stars.

Thank you Aletta and team for a wonderful experience. Communication was fantastic from start to finish. I felt very safe on the boat and really enjoyed the enthusiasm of the crew. They have such a great passion for conservation. Lunch after the trip was delicious. For anyone considering this trip, you will not be disappointed.

A well controlled and safe way of getting up close to Sharks. The tour is expertly delivered. A bit of a tourist trip on a boat that can hold up to 40 people. It feels like a conveyor belt at times of how they move you through their process. Swell can be a problem if you suffer from motion sickness. Dont expect to see Great Whites as it is not that common however you will see lots of others. We even saw a whale en route to the dive site. The biggest issue I had was the chum that was constantly thrown over my head to attract the sharks, it will drip on you and it stinks awful. You then come out of the water smelling of it too! The tour guide Suzi was really good and they had plenty of staff on hand to help. The video guide was hugely enthusiastic, if not over the top! Not everyone wants him trying to rev you up if your not feeling great!! Not cheap, but worth doing it if you have always thought about it. It is very safely managed and teh cage is always firmly fixed to the boat and you dont even have to out your head underwater!

This was an incredible bucket-list trip for me. From the moment we were arrived we were treated to such a high-quality of service from the knowledge and passion of the staff, help from the team at every stage (getting in and out of those wet suits was a mission!), breakfast before we left for the boat, soup and roll afterwards. We had a full boat of 30+ people but we didn't feel rushed, had plenty of time in the water, and were looked after brilliantly. The company are passionate about research and creating an eco-friendly service. That was incredibly important to me. On our trip the skilled team even managed to detangle fishing line from one of the sharks. I would choose this company again and again.

Having looked forward to this "bucket list" experience for a long time, I was extremely disappointed for a number of reasons; 1. Shark Cage Diving was founded on the huge Great White Sharks hunting seals in the area, but it turns out that they are no longer present, having been killed and/or frightened off by Orcas. On arrival, during an interesting presentation, the Marine Biologist explained that this had been the case since 2017 !!! The Bronze Whaler Sharks that are now the "stars of the show" are simply not a comparative replacement, while the price of the trip remains extremely high. I understand that nature has caused the change, but all the operators in the area still give the impression that seeing Great Whites is likely/possible, whereas in reality they are long gone. They have had ample time to amend their websites and explain the situation, rather than waiting until clients have travelled thousands of miles and spent an awful lot of money based on completely false hope. Personally, if I had known in advance then I would have gone elsewhere in the world to tick this off my list. 2. We went in peak season so the boat was rammed with 33 paying customers, split into 4 groups each taking it in turn to enter the cage. Visibility was good at first, but by the time it was our turn to enter the cage (the last group) it was virtually impossible to see anything due to the amount of chum oil and bait debris in the water. It turns out that the Bronze Whalers require a particularly large amount of chum to attract them. 3. The first three groups consisted of 8 people, which seems to be the norm as the seats on board were also set out in 8's. Our group had the "extra" person who finished up trying to share my little space rather everyone having a bit less room. When I eventually realised what was happening and pointed out the problem, everyone else was asked to shuffle along a little bit, but by that time I had lost the plot. Marine Dynamics say the cage can take up to 10 people which might be ok if everyone was equally spaced, but I really wouldn't fancy it. 4. The cage is long and faces outwards from the side of the boat. At either end of the cage a bait handler stands on deck, throws a bait line into the water, and pulls it back towards himself as the shark follows it. This naturally entices the shark to follow the bait toward the cage, but only toward either end. So if you are in the middle of the cage, the best view you are likely to get is of a tail going away from you. Yes, you guessed, we were in the middle! So in summary, if you want to see Great Whites do not go to Gansbaai (or False Bay). If you are ok just seeing Bronze Whalers then make sure you are in the first group into the cage, and secure a place at either end of it by getting in first or last. To be fair to Ocean Dynamics, when I complained back at base (called The Great White House!!) they did buy me and my mate a bottle of beer to say sorry. Subsequently, when I emailed them with my concerns they offered a free alternative Big 5 trip which I will take them up on next time I fly 8,000 miles to see some big fish.

We went shark cage diving on the 6th of January 2025 - book & paid for a great white shark dive- now as much as what no one can control the ocean or sharks - I find it very disappointing that they last saw a great white in October - I strongly suggest that you inform your guests that there's a shortage of great white sharks due to the orcas - and you could definitely revise your prices. We were under the impression the entire time that we would have a very big chance of seeing a great white shark- or at least tell us before paying. It was a nice experience but sadly also disappointing.

Everyone was very nice but we didn't see white sharks and that was our main objective. So if you are looking to see white sharks it's not the tour for it! If that's not your main idea it's a very cool tour in which you will see other sea animals !

I had hoped to hear more about the life of the sharks and other marine life in the area. To much screaming and "Shakira" moments from the staff. But the hotel pick-up and other logistics including changing to and from wet suits and in and out of the cage worked well. And probably most important, the staff semed to take good care of participants getting seasick or nervous.

Everything about Marine Dynamics is just so professional, well organised and an absolute pleasure. From our arrival to departure it was faultless with extraordinary service, extremely knowledgeable staff and just overall memorable.

A bucket list, once in a lifetime experience. The Marine Dynamics team and crew are absolute professionals - slick, organised, informative, engaging, fun, safety first. A really good deal considering food, drinks, snacks, wet suits, towels, photographer etc are included. The team also do fantastic marine research and environmental work so your fees are going to great people and a great cause. My family and I loved every minute of it, we never felt afraid and learned a lot about the incredible Bronze Whaler Sharks we saw.

What an amazing day! The team of Marine Dynamics looked after our every need.. friendly welcome from Amelia, breakfast, safety briefing, quick hot water rinse after being in the cold water, hot chocolate, snacks, interesting information and photos from our great guide Susy and the whole team on the boat! We saw about 7 Bronze whaler sharks, a seal and a Short tail Stingray! Heads up to Marine Dynamics for all their conservation projects - we need more of them !

Terrible choice to take a boat full of people out when seas were well over 3-4 meters! Over half of the passengers were vomiting! The crew was well prepared for this since they never seem to cancel trips and they were kind and helpful. Captain carried me off the boat and I was given a cabin to rest in while waiting for ambulance to take me to hospital for rehydration and medicine! Overall, I was terrified in a foreign country. I took 2 Dramamine before the trip.

Great day out with my daughter. We were lucky to see two great whites and many other marine animals and birds. The crew were professional and they looked after us very well. Food before and after was fresh and tasty.

As a seasoned naturalist and guide, I enjoyed the experience and when at the coast, on boats and with my head under water I am happiest. As with all wildlife experiences, nothing is predictable or guaranteed and therefore I did not set my hopes on a single species. The combined experience of being on the boat and finding unique species such as Seven Gill Cow Shark, Southern African Fur Seal, Humpback Dolphin, African Penguin Brown Skuas and other marine birds made it a unique and remarkable experience. The experience was remarkable because the staff was super friendly and very helpful. This combined level of professionalism, focus on safety ongoing informative interpretation from the guide, and assistance from all crew members ensuring your well-being throughout the trip made it a very enjoyable learning experience. The crew also provides you with several nice touches such as warm showers, towels and blankets while on board, even a steaming mug of hot chocolate while inside the dive cage. I further like their conservation and community projects as I believe these have a true impact.

Informative staff, great facilities, and got to see a junior GWS as well as lots of other sealife, what an experience!!!

CEO Candice October from OCTATRAVEL just faced my fears and had the most exhilarating experience ever! Today, I went shark cage diving, and it was absolutely mind-blowing! Being in the presence of these majestic creatures up close was an unforgettable moment. It's amazing how something so powerful can also be so graceful. Big shoutout to the crew at Marine Dynamics for ensuring our safety and making this adventure possible! If you ever get the chance, don't hesitate to dive into the deep blue and encounter these incredible beings firsthand.

Disappointing day out on the boat. Fully aware that these things are not guaranteed, but we did not see any sharks (apparently there had been few sightings in the area recently). We saw a few seals, but that was it.

This was a memorable experience that I’m happy to have participated in. We went directly to Marine Dynamics location at The White House in Gansbaai ourselves, which included an early morning briefing and gearing up in the wet suit provided and then walking to the dock and boat nearby. Although fairly rough water and light rain, the boat ride is short. About 10 people can get into the cage at a time, and viewing of the sharks from the boat is great too for those not wanting to go in the cage. Visibility in the water wasn’t great on this day, but it was still exhilarating to have participated. Once out of the cage, a rinse off, towels and hot chocolate are provided. We only saw copper sharks as the great whites have been scared off and are now rarely seen. Having a biologist on board provide guidance and share her knowledge was great and overall we felt safe both on the boat and in the cage. From start to finish 3 hrs or so, very reputable and professional tour operation.

This trip was sold as the great white shark cage event. You pays your money and takes your chance. Ok, I get that. The day before you are then warned in an email that there is no guarantee that you will see a shark despite the website claiming a 97% chance of a viewing. What they really want to say is that there is less than a 3% chance of seeing a great white shark but almost 100% chance of seeing a copper whale shark. The latter are toothless evidently. So a slight misleading sell in my thinking. Would I go again…. BIG FAT NO

This was a wonderful experience. Unfortunately the water was a bit murky on the day we went so we saw more above the water than in it. But the experience was incredible, the sightings were amazing and the staff was so happy and helpful. I got a bit seasick and I was so well taken care of, I was checked on regularly to make sure I was okay and given peppermints to help with the nausea. Our guide was super! Her knowledge was encyclopedic and she knew exactly how to manage the entire operation with ease. The photographer was engaging and happy and the rest of the crew was so helpful and friendly. I couldn't have asked for a better way to experience this kind of activity. Thank you Marine Dynamics for all your efforts and a great experience.

A great day out with excellent staff to look after us. Saw plenty of sharks but unfortunately no White monsters. Would definitely recommend.

The whole experience was out of this world, from the moment you set foot into reception to the moment you, leave the dock after your dive, the staff really look after you and make sure you get the best out of your experience.

Was on the fence as to whether this was a tour for us but very happy that we set the alarm for the early start and had a great day! Whole operation very very efficient and all the staff lovely to deal with especially the charming Marine Biologist Grania!! She bought the whole excursion to a higher level!!

Amazing staff, the experience was more than expected with allot of sharks, but the crew made you feel very safe, and they made it a fun time. # don't pet the sharks.!! We even saw a mother whale and her calf. WOW once in a lifetime experience.

One the best things I have ever done it was totally amazing diving with the sharks and one of the highlights of my trip to South Africa.Marine dynamics were so professional from the moment we arrived and made the whole experience something we will never forget

Myself and 9 other colleagues from Delaire Graff, Stellenbosch had an absolute blast with Marine Dynamics. Their team were fantastic from the front desk staff all the way to the ship crew members. The front desk staff had vibrant energy and welcomed us with huge smiles and open arms. The crew members were the star of the show. They always made sure everyone is safe and was feeling well. The Shark Cage experience was amazing, we got to see some whales, seals and spine tingling-, close up activity from the copper sharks. We would like to thank the entire team of Marine Dynamics and we highly recommend !

Pickup and dropoff were on-time and seamless. Notified us the day before and were flexible in allowing us to switch from one timeslot to another even on short notice. Once there, the company ran a flawless program of getting us out to the shallows and ensuring we had a great (safe!) experience. That was despite some VERY choppy waters on the day of our tour that made a significant portion of the group seasick. Even so, the crew took great care of us and made sure people had a great experience. PLUS, we saw like 12 sharks!!! Absolutely awesome, highly recommend!

After reading many reviews about shark dive companies in South Africa, I felt confident that I would have a good experience with Marine Dynamics. Sadly, I did not, and I wasted a day of my vacation in South Africa on a very disappointing trip with them. After watching a long video about the company and it's commitment to the environment, we crowded on to a boat with maybe 30 other people and headed out to the dive site. I was surprised when we reached the dive site to find that it was a bay area with four or five boats already there chumming the waters for their passengers. It felt as if we'd be taken to a petting zoo where sharks were habituated to come because of frequent feedings. The boat was quite full with passengers... many of whom had no understanding of how to maneuver on a boat at sea. This made changing into wet suits precarious and chaotic. Once in my wet suit, I was part of the second group of divers to go down in a cage tethered to the side of the boat. Basically, you jump in the cage with 6 or 7 other people and lower your head below the water, holding your breath, as sharks are lured toward the cage with chum and bait. When I put my head below the water for the first time, my mask began to flood with water and I had to immediately come back to the surface. There's nothing more vile than choking on chummed sea water. I got out of the cage so that the crew could fix my mask. When they assured me it wouldn't leak, I went back down for a second try. But immediately, my mask leaked again. At that point, I decided it wasn't worth a third try. In addition to feeling like you're drowning as water floods your mask, the water was so cloudy that it was nearly impossible to sea the bronze sharks underwater. While the remaining passengers took turns in the cage, the experience was narrated by a crew member who hyped up every moment as if we were attending a professional wrestling match. It felt highly dramatized, gimmicky, and disrespectful of the sharks who were sometimes lured so close to the cage that I think they actually ran into it. That's not what I thought I was getting into. And by the end of the trip, none of the crew had come to speak with me about my experience with a faulty mask or to make amends in any way. I would not recommend Marine Dynamics for shark cage diving. Perhaps they are well regarded on some level, but my experience was very disappointing for reasons that had more to do with how the trips are run and less to do with whether or not you get to see a shark.

Shark did not show up. 20 minutes in frozen water plus a couple of hundred bucks between me and my gfriend for nothing. Unfortunately I did have quite high expectations compared to seing whales in Hermanus experience. I do not recommend to book this trip without knowing the fact that there is a high chance you don't see any animal or it is a very tiny version of what is considered a white shark. Just google Orcas killing south african wharks and you will find out what's going on there.

We had an amazing experience with the Marine Dynamics crew! Wrong time of year for Great Whites but we saw lots of Copper Sharks, huge sting rays, seals, and marine birds. The weather was perfect, the staff was knowledgable, friendly, and engaging. There weren't too many people on the tour (28 out of the 40 they can take) so we had lots of time in the cage and room to move around. They also went above and beyond when I forgot my bag there and had a driver bring it to my hotel in Hermanus!! Thank you for an amazing day and for being so accomodating!!

Nice boat, nice crew, no sharks :((( They were organized and made you feel safe. Breakfast was included.

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! Oh lord. I would give it zero stars if I could. It has been a dream of mine to cage dive with great whites. My family went to celebrate me graduating. I was counting down the days and I left disappointed and, honestly, crying. We flew 15 plus hours for this adventure. Our travel agency swore about this company and had been working with them for years. I looked into the company myself and saw they advertise great whites and you will see others. Also they mentioned that they will get the great whites to breach the waters. We arrived to the meeting and the first thing the lady said is that I'm not seeing the sharks. They take us to 15 to 20 feet waters and there were already 3 other boats there. The water was not clear and can barely see infront of you. We were only in the water for 15 mins and were not allowed back in because there 35 other people that need to get in the water. I understand these are wild animals, but the guides did not seem to try. They also told me they have them tagged and they are near by. Also seal island was close by and didn't want to take us there. My friend went a couple weeks later with another company and saw 3 great whites right by seal island.

First of all I am just a regular costumer, I don't know or claim I know what's the best way of luring the sharks to the boat. I'm also fully aware of that it is nature and the company can't control what we will see and what not, however. We went out in the morning with the boat and went to a location where 3 others boats was (all looking for sharks). They eventually left so we were the only boat there. We stod there for about 3 hours and we saw nothing at all. And for this I have some complains from a customers point of view. Communication with the others boats. Did they leave for the reason they did also not see any sharks? Could the communication improve between the boats so they can help each other out and inform that: Hey, we have been here for some time but nothing shows up, heads up. The dedication from the crew. 2 hours passed and even the crew seemed to be pretty tired of not finding any sharks. What about move location since there is no action no matter how much bait you are using? If you would have moved location that would at least impress me and show that you want to find sharks. Staying on one spot the entire time before going back is quite frustrating from my costumers point of view. Overall I expected more work and dedication to find the sharks from the crew and captain. Gonna have to book this again untill I get some great white action. Will have to come back when it is high season for shark activity.

Cage diving with sharks has been on my to do list for a while! I’m OW certified and have dove in the Great Barrier Reef; with the giant rays in Kona, HI; and snorkeled with all sorts of aquatic wildlife (including Nurse Sharks) in various areas of the world. I say all that to provide context to the following statement: “it was an okay experience that could have been better if we were the first group to go in the cage.” Suzy and the staff were great. They were enthusiastic, knowledgeable, engaging, and did a great job luring the sharks in and supporting all 32 guests on board. Once the cage was in the water, the crew used chum and bait lines to lure the sharks in and closer to the boat. The crew was super excited, positive, and engaging with the passengers. They were very excited since a White Shark since one hadn’t been sighted in over a week. Overall, we saw 15 Bronze Whaler, 2 White sharks, and 2 short-tailed stingrays that morning. If only 8 people go in the cage at a time, then you have 4 waves; we were the last wave. The sharks appeared a lot more engaged and energetic during the first wave; in hindsight, that was the best wave to be in for that session. By the fourth wave, visibility had gone way down from the chumming and the ton of bait fish swimming around the cage. It also seemed like our wave was shorter than previous waves as we may have run behind schedule. I don’t know whether it is the norm, but the cage bobbed up and down quite a bit from the swells, and even with the foot and side grab bars it was a bit challenging to keep steady and be able to focus and clearly see the sharks. I found it very difficult to see and record the sharks and ended up seeing ‘shark shadows’ but nothing very definitive or exciting. Check in at the Great White House was organized and the continental breakfast and prep briefings were fine. The lifejacket distribution and short walk down to the pier to board the Slashfin catamaran purpose-built for cage diving was fine. The gulls who followed us on the trip out to ‘The Shallows’ gliding and darting to procure some free salmon provided by the crew were a highlight. The warm shower and hot chocolate following the dive was nice. We ended up returning to shore 45 minutes after 11am. Overall, I’m glad we did it; however, I think it would have been a better experience going first in the cage. However, moving forward, I think OW diving and snorkeling are less restrictive and will be my preferred way of observing and experiencing the wildlife.

What a thrill! I did the shark cage diving with my two sons (ages 19 and 21) and it was over-the-top! The staff is incredibly professional and clearly dedicated to the betterment of sharks and their ecosystem. And there was so much excitement on the boat - from start to finish. It's clear the Marine Dynamics family is just as thrilled to see the sharks as their customers are! There are many companies providing cage dives, but I chose Marine Dynamics for their top-notch reviews, informative tour, attention to detail, and excellent customer experience. It was the right choice. And now we have memories (and videos) of a lifetime.

It takes about 10 minutes to go out to the fishing grounds. You wear wetsuits and you will spend 20 minutes in a cage. The total tour is about two hours. They will feed the sharks and you’ll get close to them. We saw also stingray and an otter, and about 16 sharks. Almost touchable. It was a nice experience.

The team were really knowledgeable and made everyone feel very safe We set out & were told about things we saw on the way Only 15 mins drive to spot They’d attract the sharks with a ball of salmon they kept throwing out as expected but it would then hit the cage (& those in the cage) each time it was dragged back in which was a bit gross - but worth it Despite there being storms and no trips the previous day, we saw LOTS! The team ensured they did their best to make sure everyone saw the sharks for as long as possible - we even got a 2nd go in the cage (top tip keep your wetsuit on if you want to increase your chances of a 2nd dive!) Lovely hot choc and lunch on board Then soup afterwards Would recommend and glad we did it!

We were a family of 4 going on sharke cage viewing in GansBai the 28th of December 2022. We saw 7 Bronze sharks on our tour. We had a very good experience on the sea with qualified and nice staff. Due to we wanted to document the cage experience I decided to purchase the video taken this day, and I was promised the film on mail 2-4 days later. Soon a month have passed without anything despite several mail and correspondence to the company. Its not about the 200 rand but about the missing memories documentation of the family in the cage at the same time. Except from that last experience all were great. Regards Inge

Service excellence! We opted for the self drive and all the arrangements went smoothly. We received our sms the day before with the start time and location. The check-in procedure was simple and we appreciated the continental breakfast during the briefing. They take safety very seriously - and each process from kitting up with life jackets to setting off into the ocean was flawless. The boat is huge compared to the others. So much that the Marine Dynamics boat became an attraction itself with smaller boats getting closer to view “ our sharks”. It was a major bucket list experience. I’d highly recommend it for locals.

This was so great, the staff was super friendly and knowledge. We saw a bunch of wildlife - bronze whalers, seals, sting ray!

From start to end you want for nothing. Marine Dynamics and team have this down to a T. And the crew clearly love their job, bringing a wonderful energy to the experience. Starts with a lunch and a brilliant briefing. Then the boat and dive. The crew think of it even before you do and not even 5 minutes goes by without a crew member checking in. Are you ok? Here's a mint, heres a bag, let me help you put your wetsuit on, let me bring you a waterproof jacket, here's a towel...the list goes on. Organised from when you step on to when you step off. From your kit size ready and handed to you when you get on the boat, to getting in the cage, having a shower and hot chocolate ready for you when you climb out! I had a fractured leg and the crew literally lifted me into the age and out so I could get my experience. Then there is the organization of the crew making sure the sharks get close, calling which direction they coming from and the marine specialist telling you what species comes in. It doesn't end there...to top it off you get a bowl of soup and bread after the experience. And then there is the videographer to capture the experience for you. No detail is left out. Thank you Marine Dynamics, we had a blast and your crew ROCK!!

Not many places in the world we've been that you can do a sharkcage dive so had to give it a try! Alina their resident marine biologist and guide was great and even spent ages chatting with us afterwards. Was all very safe and not in any way scary to be honest as you're in a cage with other people and the cage is basically attached to the side of the boat. The sharks do come up very close and we even got a few sharks whipping their tails off the cage as they turn giving everyone a little rush! It's expensive enough compared to other things to do in south africa but if you haven't done it before, worth doing

Best day ever! Very informative, lots of information. Safety conscious, and a nice little lunch before starting out. Wow, the bronze whaler sharks were amazing and this was an exciting opportunity to see them up close. A hot mug of chocolate to greet you after the dive then some soup back at shore. Thank you

We loved this - we obviously hoped to see a Great White but we knew they'd been a rare sighting for a while but were more than happy with the Bronze Whalers. The crew did a great job getting the sharks "interested" and we got good info from the guide. It was nowhere near as frightening as I'd always assumed it would be. These creatures are amzing when they are literally 'in your face'.

I have been in South Africa for 6 months now, and I have never seen such unhelpful person in charge of bookings with no understanding of situation. Without listening or even trying just keep saying « it is not possible ». We just wanted to change the hour of our tour, from 11 to 8 in the morning and she just kept saying no, and then sorry you will just loose your 200 euro per person booking ! then we found out they actually weren’t full at all in the morning. She just couldn’t bother trying. And this is extremely rare for this country where almost everyone try to be helpful and make your life easier. I wouldn’t rebook with them ever again. Such terrible attitude. Yet the staff were lovely but passing through such person is truly painful.