Is Shark Cage Diving Ethical? This Experience in Gansbaai Changed My Perception

Gansbaai in South Africa is known as the shark cage diving capital of the world. Tourists flock here from every corner of the globe to do this one activity and come face-to-face with sharks. So when I was invited to go shark cage diving with Marine Dynamics, a member of the Cape Country Routes, to say I was tempted was an understatement. I love the ocean, its creatures, and adventure. But because I love ocean life so much, I didn’t want to do anything that could be harmful to it. 

So, while getting up close to these predators may sound terrifying to some people, I was more concerned about what my presence could do to the sharks. 

As much as I wanted a shark selfie to go with my very attractive turtle selfie, I nearly turned down the invitation.

Related post:

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I expressed my concerns to the people at Marine Dynamics, and they were very understanding. After hearing more about this company, I decided to join them on a trip to find out more about what they do. This was my experience. But first, some backstory: 

Where Have All Gansbaai’s Great White Sharks Gone?

Adding to my concerns about shark cage diving was the increasing lack of great whites in the area. Gansbaai was once home to the densest population of great white sharks in the world, but over the last decade, their numbers have plummeted.

While many factors have contributed to this, the sudden and prolonged absence of these sharks is linked to the 2017 arrival of a pair of orcas, Port and Starboard. This pair targets great white sharks and almost surgically removes their livers, wasting the rest. (The “nose to tail” trend that’s so popular in Cape Town’s fine dining establishments is not something these orcas are a fan of.) This is a big part of why the great whites have left the area. 

Beyond this, humans are also to blame due to the overfishing of the sharks’ primary prey species, bycatch in commercial fisheries, and shark nets used to protect beachgoers. This explains why the numbers were declining before the orcas showed up. 

The people at Marine Dynamics told me they now log about 15 great white sightings a year, the same number they used to see in a single day.

They also explained that with the absence of this species, a new apex predator has moved in to take their place. Bronze whalers or copper sharks are now in abundance in these waters. Sightings of broadnose sevengill sharks are also quite common. They may not be the subject of any Steven Spielberg movies, but they still draw plenty of curious travellers.

What Shark Cage Diving Actually Looks Like

Having observed a shark cage diving tour, this is what the experience with Marine Dynamics entails: 

• You start at the Great White House with a briefing (and breakfast).
• You’re given a waterproof orange jacket that screams “North Sea fisherman chic” before heading to the boat. 
• Once out at sea, the crew starts chumming the water, creating a fishy trail to attract sharks and everyone on the boat is provided with a wetsuit. 
• At the first sign of shark activity, groups of about 8 people at a time go down into the cage (it can accommodate 10) for a few minutes at a time. As they climb into the cage, they are handed a weight belt that goes over one shoulder (to counter the buoyancy of the wetsuit) and goggles. There's no snorkel and no oxygen tank (it’s not that kind of “diving”), just a mask and your lung capacity.
• When the sharks glide past, you duck under, hold your breath, and get a front-row seat to one of nature’s most misunderstood predators.
• After a few minutes of seeing the sharks in the water, you climb up out of the cage, are hosed down with warm water, and handed a hot chocolate.
• After everyone has had a turn in the cage, the boat heads back to land. 

Every boat has a marine biologist onboard who talks about any marine life that is spotted, from sharks to seals to stingrays. And there are plenty of nice places to sit on the boat and look out at the view. 

After the experience, when you return to the Great White House, you are greeted with soup and bread. The marine biologist does a debriefing, explaining a little more about what was experienced during the trip and what you can do to help protect the region’s ecosystem.

My Two Big Concerns About Shark Cage Diving

There were two things holding me back from shark cage diving:

1. My first concern was that chumming makes sharks associate humans with food, and changes their behaviour

Generally, I believe that when humans feed any wild creature, it’s the first step to taming them. My worry was that sharks were learning to associate humans with food, encouraging them to go closer to swimming beaches, and upping the risk of shark attacks, which would only fuel the need for more shark nets, ultimately leading to the death of more sharks.

Marine Dynamics’ marine biologists reassured me this isn’t the case. Sharks don’t see individuals in the cage; they see us as part of a larger entity or creature and not as actual people. 

And though the company lures the sharks with bait balls, these are made up mostly of fish oil and bones and far from anything resembling a meal. The sharks ultimately still have to go hunt for their own food. 

Additionally, bronze whalers, the shark that you are most likely to see here, have almost no history of attacking humans. Apparently, they’re just not that into us! And that’s okay. I’m relieved that this practice has not changed that.

On top of this, though there are lots of sharks in Gansbaai, most of them couldn’t be bothered with the bait balls at all. Radar imagery has shown that there are often plenty in the area, but it’s only really the curious few that come close to the cages to see what’s going on. We saw one or two on the wrong side of the boat that didn’t seem too interested in the chum at all. 

2. My second concern was that using bait balls is a form of teasing, and that it makes the sharks aggressive or frustrated

To lure a creature with something that smells like food but doesn’t actually satisfy their hunger seems a bit cruel to me. 

The marine biologist explained that for these sharks, 80% of their hunting attempts are unsuccessful. Trying to catch food and not succeeding is such a common occurrence, it’s basically just another Tuesday afternoon in shark life.

They believe that this activity does not satisfy their hunger, condition their behaviour or frustrate them. And their studies have proven that there is no significant long-term impact on shark behaviour. Basically, there are no “hangry” bronze whalers out there plotting revenge ...as I would if you promised me cheesecake and didn’t deliver.

The Good that Marine Dynamics is able to do:

What tipped the scales for me was the conservation work happening alongside the tourism.

Collaborating with the Dyer Island Trust and the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary

Marine Dynamics works closely with the Dyer Island Trust and the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary to promote conservation and research to protect the area’s marine ecosystem. This includes the endangered African Penguins who live on Dyer Island, and the sharks and Southern right whales who live in the waters surrounding it.

Earlier this year, the three of them threw a birthday bash: 25 years for Marine Dynamics, 20 for the Dyer Island Trust, and 10 for the Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. If ever there was a reason to throw confetti made of kelp, this was it!

When you participate in a Shark Cage Diving Adventure or a Marine Big 5 Tour any of these activities, you are required to pay a R100 conservation fee that goes towards protecting these waters. Shark fishing was common practice when Marine Dynamics began operating here. Now this is no longer legal, and Gansbaai is a shark-protected area. While the lack of great whites in the region is distressing, this organisation seems to be doing a lot to protect what few are left. 

Fighting the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board’s shark nets

Marine Dynamics is also part of an alliance of marine scientists and leading conservation organisations on a mission to stop the slaughter of our marine animals. The company is raising public awareness and advocating for change in response to the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board’s destructive shark nets and drumlines.

According to verified KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board data, over the last 30 years, their nets and drumlines have killed more than 33,000 sharks, 2,211 turtles, 8,448 rays and 2,310 dolphins (including endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins). Among these sharks were 1,108 great whites, despite the fact that the species is supposed to be formally protected in South Africa since 1991. The scale of these losses is tragic.

Advocating against the Demersal Inshore Shark Longline Fishery

Equally alarming is the Demersal Inshore Shark Longline Fishery, legalised in 2014. This fishery targets slow-reproducing coastal shark species and produces unmonitored bycatch of turtles, rays, and marine mammals. There is no such thing as a “sustainable shark longline fishery”.

Shaping Shark Conservation Policies

Whether you participate in the Marine Big 5 Tour or the Shark Cage Diving Adventure, each boat has a marine biologist on board. And they’re not just there to point out which fin belongs to which species (they do that too), they are there to record, document, and publish research to shape conservation policies. Some of this research you can find here. 

Basically, Marine Dynamics is working hard to change policies and protect the sharks in South African waters far beyond just Gansbaai. And each and every shark-cage dive directly funds the conservation work that keeps sharks and these coastal communities alive.

So, Is Shark Cage Diving Ethical?

In this case, I believe the answer is yes. While it’s hard to say for absolute certainty that any tourism company is in no way negatively impacting the ecosystem it operates in, Marine Dynamics does seem to be doing a whole lot more good than harm. This might not be the case with other tour operators though. 

My concerns have been put to rest, and shark cage diving is officially on my bucket list! 

So watch this space, I’m on the hunt for an opportunity to return to Gansbaai to get as up close and personal as one can get to these apex predators while still keeping all of my appendages and phalanges in the cage. (And my hunts are generally way more successful than that of a bronze whaler - just saying!)

Planning Your Own Shark Cage Diving Trip in Gansbaai

To book a Shark Cage Diving Adventure (or a Marine Big 5 Tour) with Marine Dynamics in Gansbaai, click here.

Getting There:

Gansbaai is just over two hours from Cape Town. If you prefer not to drive it yourself, Marine Dynamics offers a shuttle service. When booking, look for the option that includes a transfer. 

Turn it into a Road Trip

A two-hour drive is definitely long enough to justify turning the experience into a multi-day road trip. And it’s a beautiful part of the country with plenty to see. 

Gansbaai Accommodation: The Great White House 

I turned my Gansbaai trip into an overnight getaway, spending a night at the Great White House, where Marine Dynamics operates from. I had a cottage all to myself that could comfortably sleep four. There was also a fireplace to heat the room on a cold winter’s night. 

I dined in the on-site restaurant, which will probably make my list of quirky Western Cape eateries (if I ever finish writing it) for its “decor.” Yup, a huge whale skeleton is suspended from the ceiling, and it certainly makes for a memorable experience. The food was great too, and the portions generous. 

The Rest of Your Overberg Road Trip Itinerary:

• On your way to Gansbaai, be sure to stop in Stanford and sail down the river in search of bird life with Lady Stanford River Cruises.
• The Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary is also located here. (More on this to follow.)
• And why turn around and go home after your shark encounter when you can continue on to the Overberg and experience The De Hoop Collection and the nature, wildlife and land-based whale watching opportunities of the surrounding reserve.  
• Get a 10% discount: Marine Dynamics, Lady Stanford River Cruises and The De Hoop Collection are all members of Cape County Routes, a collection of privately owned hotels and activities. They have a loyalty programme where, for as little as R200 per year, you can get a 10% discount on all their accommodation and activity offerings.