Shark Cage Diving Durban, South Africa

Shark cage diving Durban will bring you up close and personal to the ever-inquisitive Oceanic Blacktip shark! These sharks are feisty and curious but you do not need to worry! Swim with them from inside or outside the cage for the ultimate shark diving experience! You do not even need a scuba qualification. Our cage is floating and offers an unbeatable shark viewing experience. Experience an unforgettable shark encounter off the KwaZulu-Natal coast, where warm Indian Ocean waters are home to an incredible variety of marine life. Tours start from R1100 for boat riders and R1500 for snorkelers and cage divers.

Oceanic Blacktip Cage Diving In Durban

Umkomaas and Park Rynie, near Durban, is the shark cage diving hotspot of KwaZulu-Natal! Oceanic Blacktips are spotted here in high numbers and this makes it the most common shark found along the coast of Durban. When cage diving, you can expect to see up to 20 sharks surrounding you! These sharks grow up to 1.8 meters! In general, Oceanic Blacktip sharks are not aggressive and appear to be cautious of divers.

Shark Cage Diving Durban Tour

Snorkeler R1500 per person
Boat Viewer R1100 per person
Location: Umkomaas and Park Rynie, Durban
Snorkel Inside or Outside Cage
Full dive gear equipment
Boat-based viewing included
No scuba qualification needed
Children and non-divers welcome
Transport available (Extra cost)
60 Photos & 2 Min Video

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Shark Cage Dive Itinerary

Join us early morning, around 7 am, at our dive centre in Umkomaas and Park Rynie. From Umkomaas and Park Rynie, we launch our Superduck (awesome semi-rigid rubber duck boat) through the surf and ride about 20 minutes to a shark hotspot. Once we arrive at the dive spot, our crew bait the water with sardine and anchovy. Within 10 to 20 minutes, there can be anywhere from 5 to 25 Oceanic Blacktip sharks around the cage. You can look forward to spending at least 30 minutes (up to an hour) in the water as conditions allow. Stay inside the 4 to 6 person cage or snorkel around the cage and boat, freely swimming with sharks. Between January and March, we may be lucky enough to encounter a Tiger shark. After our dive, we pack up and head back to the land where you can warm up with coffee and hot showers.

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The Boat And cage

We operate from Umkomaas and Park Rynie and safely take you through the surf (our skippers have over 25 years surf launching experience on the Kwazulu Natal Coast) on our customised 8m Superduck Semi Rigid boats powered by 2x 100 HP Yamaha Four Stroke motors, to an area south of the Aliwal Shoal, where the sharks are plentiful. It is about a 20 minute boat ride, and during this time we often encounter Dolphins, Turtles and Whales. Best thing is the boat ride is for free!

Once there we attract the sharks in strict compliance to our Department of Environmental Affairs Shark Diving permit and lower the floating cage into the water. Our engineer-designed and built cage can hold up 8 people at a time, although we usually restrict it to 6, as it gives you more space. You will get at least 30-45 min in the water, depending on number of people and sea conditions.

When Is the Best Time for Shark Cage Diving in Durban?

Shark cage diving in Durban can be enjoyed throughout the year, with the warm waters of the Indian Ocean providing opportunities for exciting shark encounters across the seasons.

Conditions and shark activity naturally vary throughout the year. Water temperature, currents, weather and the availability of prey can all influence which sharks are present and how active they are on any particular day. Because these are wild animals in their natural environment, sightings can never be guaranteed.

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The Annual Sardine Run

The KwaZulu-Natal coastline transforms into a spectacular ocean spectacle during the winters of May through July, when the Sardine Run takes place near Durban. The annual migration brings millions of sardines near coastal areas, triggering an explosive response from marine predators, including dolphins, whales, seabirds, and numerous sharks. Shark divers in Durban should experience the Sardine Run because it provides seasonal opportunities to witness dusky sharks, blacktips, copper and tiger sharks during their feeding frenzy near the coastline. Our Sardine Run tours offer expert guides and marine briefings, complemented by underwater action that rivals any wildlife safari experience. Your Durban shark diving experience will reach new heights when you join us.

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      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 232 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Walid Riahi 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had an amazing and truly unforgettable experience! Everything was perfect, the transportation was punctual and very professional, safety was a top priority, and the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. And the food was the cherry on top! I highly recommend this experience to everyone!
  
 
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   Xav VillaCan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely incredible experience with SharkLady! 🦈 I went cage diving with them yesterday and had such an amazing time that I actually came back and did it again today. That says everything! The whole crew on the boat were fantastic. Super friendly, professional, energetic and genuinely excited about what they do. The management was also great and made the whole experience feel really well organised while still being fun and relaxed. Seeing the sharks up close was obviously the highlight, but honestly, the people made the experience even better. You can tell they really care about the animals, the experience and making sure everyone has an unforgettable day. If you’re thinking about doing cage diving, 100% go with SharkLady. I couldn’t recommend them more. I’m already looking forward to coming back again! 🦈🤙
  
 
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   Daniele Rainone 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Staff competente e gentilissimo, abbiamo avuto la fortuna di vedere tanti squali (soprattutto squali bronzo e una bellissima razza), anche se purtroppo non lo squalo bianco (sembra ormai molto raro in quelle acque). Un consiglio: in gabbia meglio se massimo in 4, in 5 adulti si sta un po' strettini
  
 
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   Dean Lochkovic 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an awesome time!  Lots of sharks and one giant stingray. Only downside is the Orkas have run off all the great white so just copper left   Still a bucket list checked!
  
 
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   Aaron Smith 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. What an amazing day we drove 4.5 hours from cape town and back, just to see the white sharks and SHARK DIVERS  did not disappoint we saw 2 great whites and they were both beautiful in there habitat, the team were so helpful in organising it, all from diving to the pick up and travel esp last minute were another dive place let us down. Would highly recommend esp this time of year, thank you again SHARK DIVERS YOU MADE MY LIFE LONG DREAM COME TRUE
  
 
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   Alex Hoyt 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an incredible time on this tour. Janeen made it easy to book and was clearly communicating the plans for us. The skipper Ron and Alan the guide were nice, knowledgeable and made sure we were happy! We were able to see several sharks and get some good up close viewing. You could tell how much everyone cares about these creatures and their safety as well as ours. We loved our time with this group and plan on returning! Mossel Bay is also a very cute town with great food. Cannot recommend enough!
  
 
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   Anastasia Gougoustamos 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Even though we had a long wait and were resigning ourselves to not seeing sharks we got to see 3 different great white sharks! such a thrilling experience!
  
 
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   Zildomar Machado 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a memorable time during the tour!!  The staff, boat, experience in the cage and getting to see a great white shark was simply amazing!!💯👏🫶
  
 
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   Mildret Hlama 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My shark diving experience was absolutely unforgettable! From the moment we set out, the crew made us feel safe, comfortable, and excited for the adventure ahead. The professionalism and attention to detail were outstanding- everything from the safety briefing to the gear was handled with care. Once in the water, the thrill of seeing these magnificent creatures up close was beyond words. Watching sharks glide gracefully right past the cage was both exhilarating and humbling. It’s rare to feel such a powerful connection with nature, and this experience delivered that in the most breathtaking way. I truly appreciated the operator’s focus on conservation and respect for the sharks, which made the trip not only thrilling but also meaningful. This is an adventure I would recommend to anyone seeking a mix of adrenaline, awe and appreciation for marine life. Five stars all the way! I loved every minute of it 🌸.
  
 
  
  
 
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