Great White Shark Cage Dive

The Shark Van.

I woke up early Thursday morning and was picked up at 830 am by Shark Dive Ecoventures.  We left Cape Town and drove 2 hours to Gansbaai.  As we drove the weather gradually got worse and worse.  We arrived in Gansbaai and it was raining, extremely windy and quite cold.  I would guess it was only about 15 degrees when we boarded a 36 foot boat called the Megalodon 2.  What a great name for a shark diving boat!  Megalodon being the name of an ancient shark that measured in excess of 60 feet.

The Megalodon 2.

On our way out to the dive site our guide Jake, a big burly South African told us that this was unfortunately the low season.  He said we shouldnt get our hopes up because people hadnt been seeing all that many Great Whites lately.  This was mainly because the ocean water was quite cold, only about 12 degrees celsius.   


Leaving Gansbaii.

Headed out to sea.

I was kind of shocked when we arrived at the dive spot because we had only been cruising for about half an hour.  I could see 4 other Shark dive boats off in the distance.  Jake told us that this was the prime location on the face of the earth to see Great White Sharks.  Great Whites love to hunt and eat seals and this was the best location because it was quite close to Seal Island, which is inhabited by you guessed it, thousands of seals. 

The sky was dark grey and ominous, it was raining and the wind was blowing hard.  3-4 foot waves were battering the Megalodon.  You could hardly stand up in the boat.  I had a big grin on my face.  I usually get this happy giddy feeling when I'm nervous and excited about doing something adventurous.  Then one of the deckhands handed me a wet suit.  I started to put it on and it was so damn cold I almost screamed like a girl!  It was still soaking wet from the day before.

The cage.

Jake and the deckhands then lowered the shark cage into the water.  The cage was much bigger than I had imagined.  It was probably 10 feet by 3 feet with large buoys along the top to keep it afloat.  They tied one side to the boat.  Jake told us that we wouldnt be using a scuba regulator.  This was because the bubbles from the regulator tend to scare away the sharks.  They only use a regulator when a shark is comfortable with swimming near the boat.  So no scuba, we'd be holding our breath.  To get the sharks to approach the boat they use two large tuna fish heads as bait.  They tie the tuna heads onto a long piece of rope and then throw it into the ocean.  When a shark approaches they yank the tuna heads towards the boat, the shark chases the bait, and subsequently swims right towards the cage!!!

Waitin to jump in the cage.

Whose first? Jake called out.  I put my hand up but wasnt picked.  Ah well.  Its all luck of the draw.  I watched from the top deck as 5 people got in the cage, immediately there were gasps, "holy christ!  This water is cold!!!"  Then they sat in that freezing cold water for the next 35 minutes without seeing anything.  All of a sudden one of the deckhands began yelling:  "SHARK ON THE BAIT!  SHARK ON THE BAIT!  GO DOWN!  GO DOWN!  GO DOWN!"  I could just barely make out a large grey form under the water approaching the bait.  Then the dorsal fin appeared out of the water and there was no mistaken this giant beast!  Jake said it was probably 8 or 9 feet in length.  It swam quite close to the bait then took off swimming in the other direction.  At this point everyone got very excited and rushed to one side of the boat.  The whole boat leaned over quite far and I was almost pushed overboard by an english dude trying to get a photo with his ridiculous throwaway camera.  Ok buddy, youre really going to get a great shot of a shark that is 20 feet away and 2 feet underwater.  Idiot!  I was almost shark bait for a lousy photo!  The people in the cage came up and said they didnt see anything.  Unfortunately the visibility was less than 8 feet. 

Waitin on my turn.

Still everyone became more eager to get in the cage.  I wasnt picked for the next round of 5 people either.  I was starting to get frustrated.  I wanted to see a shark while I could!  Who knew if the shark would be coming back!  The next batch sat in the water even longer, probably 45 minutes, I looked down and they were all shivering uncontrollably.  I started to wonder whether I'd ever get the chance.  Then, "SHARK ON THE BAIT!  SHARK ON THE BAIT!  GOOOOOO DOOOWWN!!!"    I could see a larger shark approaching the bait.  This time the shark went right at the bait and attacked it!  This time I could see most of its body and those evil looking dark black eyes.  It chomped at the bait and slashed around.  Then it bolted in the other direction.  Holy shit that was incredible!  Then a second later it was back!  "SHARK ON THE BAIT!  SHARK ON THE BAIT!  GOOOOOO DOOOWWN"  This time Jake managed to pull the bait away from the shark and lead it towards the boat.  Jake yanked on the bait and the sharks head came right out of the water.  I saw those monstrous jaws and razor sharp teeth.  I was in shock, this was right out of the movie.  Whoa!  That was intense!  A second later the shark was gone.  Jake said this one was about 12 feet in length. 

5 tourists freezin their butts off.

The people in the cage came up and only a two of them said they had barely seen the shark.  They stayed in the water another 20 minutes then they all come out.  The next batch of 5 was picked and I still wasnt picked!  I told Jake that I had to go next and he said, no problem, "you and another two people are the last to go!"  Just great.  This batch of 5 stayed in the cage for almost an hour without seeing a single thing.  They were all shivering uncontrollably and were losing hope.  I was just sitting in my wet suit and was starting to get very cold.  I began to shiver and I wasnt even in the water yet!  I was beginning to get worried, I may never see a shark underwater.   

The 5 of them then came out of the water and I was up!  I put on my hood and my mask and zipped up my wetsuit to the point where I could barely breathe.  I put my feet over the edge and dropped into the cage.  I felt the piercing cold water sneak its way into my wet suit.  At first I didnt think it was that cold.  I think my adrenaline was warming me up.  An english guy then jumped in the cage next to me.  I was trying to figure out where to put my feet when all of a sudden "SHARK ON THE BAIT!  SHARK ON THE BAIT!  GO DOWN GO DOWN GO DOWWWWNNNN!!!"  OH MY GOD!  OH MY GOD!  Im not ready!  I dont even have my camera ready.  Where do I put my hands?  Where do I put my feet?  Fuck it!  Im goin down!  I took a very hasty breath and went underwater.  I saw this huge grey figure coming right at the cage.  I sat there in shock.  I couldnt believe it.  Holy shit this thing is HUGE!!!!  In a milisecond it was right next to the cage and then BAAAAMMMM!!!  It smacked its monstrous tail against the cage!!!  The tail looked to be almost three feet high!  The cage shuddered uncontrollably.  Then the shark was gone.  I sat there trying to hold onto the cage and not have my legs or hands go outside the cage but my lungs were burning!  I needed air!  I came up for air and right away, "GO DOWN GO DOWN!  SHARK ON THE BAIT!!!!"  I was still trying to catch my breath!!! I managed to get a bit of air and went back underwater.  I was scanning and scanning and couldnt see anything.  I managed to get my camera going this time and just got a glimpse of half of the shark as it swam away.  Then I burst up again to get more air.  The water was so cold I just couldnt seem to hold my breath for any length of time. 

In the cage waitin for the shark!

Waiting for shark in the freezing cold water!

Just after seeing the shark!

I was in the cage for an entire 30 seconds before a shark was right next to the cage!!!  I was extremely lucky!  I sat in the cage for another 45 shivering minutes but didnt see another shark.  That was it, we got out of the cage, took off our wetsuits and headed back to shore. 

Comments

[Moniqua]

Fantastic Joniqua! :)

[Sandi]

Awesome story Jon!! I haven't watched the vlog yet but I'm sure its amazing!!

[Willy Volk]

Great narrative and pictures. I loved the movie, also.

I dived in Gansbaai in 2001, and I had the good fortune of seeing a shark, too. I'll never forget the experience. What amazed me the most was how slow, graceful, and carefully the animals moved: I was expecting something hyper and out-of-control, I guess.

[damama]

if you go back in time and see the summer of jaws you will discover it was the summer you were born

i was watching the movie in regina saskatchewan ad was very pregnant with you

i distinctly remember being so scared in that movie and wondering if it was a good idea for me to be there so pregnant

check the date of the opening of jaws the movie and it will coincide with your birthdate

in hindsight it appears to have a lot to do with everything

you also need to think about how nervous you are going to be the next time you see me

sharks lions elephants in your face

how much more god?

[damama]

if you go back in time and see the summer of jaws you will discover it was the summer you were born

i was watching the movie in regina saskatchewan ad was very pregnant with you

i distinctly remember being so scared in that movie and wondering if it was a good idea for me to be there so pregnant

check the date of the opening of jaws the movie and it will coincide with your birthdate

in hindsight it appears to have a lot to do with everything

you also need to think about how nervous you are going to be the next time you see me

sharks lions elephants in your face

how much more god?

[salsaboy]

good stuff jonboy. you are crazy!!!

[Willy Volk]

Jon, consider taking some time out to relax in Hermanus, quite near Gansbaai. the little town is relaxing, and the opportunity to see Southern right whales from shore is tremendous. I was there in November, 2001, and we saw whales daily. I think it's still calving season.

[E Mason]

Dear Sir

Shark Cage Diving is great. Can you please e-mail, me I have some more questions.

Thanks

E Mason

[Crystal]

Awesome work on the video. Shame about the vis. If you liked that you out to try cage diving in Australia with Rodney Fox.. Better vis, more sharks, bottom cage dives as well!