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Seal and Cow Shark Experience

Two amazing experiences in one day, snorkeling with seals and SCUBA diving with cow sharks, it’ll leave you speechless.

To be amongst Cape Fur seals is inspiring with their amazing agility and curiosity. The cow sharks are unique sharks in the kelp forests of the peninsular. They are amazing photographic subjects as they are not afraid to approach a diver. These sharks are extremely special and there is no were else in the world where they can be so easily accessed.
A dive not to miss.

The day with us

We will meet at 8:00 am at Millers Point slip way were you will be presented with a full dive briefing detailing the physical environment, marine environment and the animals you will be experiencing. The boat launch is very easy. We will then take a short boat ride (2km) to the dive site where we will kit up and enter the water on snorkel with the Cape fur seals. We then move to the kelp forest to dive with the cow sharks . We will be back at the slipway by 12:00am.

Dive specifics

Where will we be diving?

False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa

When is the best time to dive?

All year, with aggregations (up to 20 sharks) from Jan-Apr

Dive type

Freedive and SCUBA dive.

Experience required

Open Water 1 Certification for SCUBA diving

How deep is it?

2 - 3 meters with the seals

8 - 12 meters with cowsharks

Water conditions

Winter (May to July) is dominated by strong North West winds which causes the best visibility (8-20m) but the coolest temperatures (10C-16C)
Summer (mid-October to mid-February) sees strong South East winds which cause the water to warm up (15C - 21C) but become dirty (2m - 10m)

Dive time

60 minutes, you are welcome to continue snorkelling

What does the day include

A qualified guide (Tour guide and Dive Leader)
One guided SCUBA dive
Water and sweets on the boat
Dive briefing
1 Dive cylinder and dive weights

Cost:

R600 per person. Additional cost for gear rental (Full kit = R200)

Frequently Asked Questions?

Is it safe to dive with Sevengill sharks?

These sharks are incredibly curious and will often find you before you see them. It is of utmost importance that you are aware of you surroundings at all time. These sharks do not like to be touch and will often turn quickly towards the responsible diver. With all sharks it is important that you maintain eye contact at all times, bearing in mind that there may be other sharks behind you. These sharks do come extremely close and may need to be gently directed away. Theses sharks are great and unique photographic subjects.

Other interesting species to see?

Sharks

Spotted gully shark (Triakis megalopterus)
Puffadder shyshark (Haploblepharus edwardsii)
Brown catshark (Haploblepharus pictus)
Pyjama shark (Poroderma africanum)
Leopard catshark (Poroderma pantherium)

Endemic fish

Red roman (Chrysoblephus laticeps)
Red steenbras (Petrus rupestris)
Galjoen (Dichistius capensis, South Africa's national fish)