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Day 01.
2012:
Arrive Cape Town International Airport, own arrangements. On arrival at Cape Town International you will be met by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the 2 hour road transfer to Gansbaai. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Saxon Lodge in a standard room on a bed and breakfast basis. www.saxonlodge.com
Included:
Road transfer from Cape Town International Airport to Saxon Lodge in Gansbaai; accommodation.
Excluded:
International / domestic air; breakfast; lunch; dinner; bar; items of a personal nature; gratuities.
Days 02 and 03.
2012:
After breakfast at Saxon Lodge, at a time to be advised the previous evening, you will be collected from Saxon Lodge for the short road transfer to Kleinbaai Harbour where, after signing the necessary indemnity forms, you will board the dive boat for 3 hours at sea in the vicinity of Dyer Island and Geyser Rock, cage diving or surface viewing with the Great White Sharks, weather permitting. On return to harbour you will be transferred back to Saxon Lodge where the rest of the day is free. Overnight at Saxon Lodge on a bed and breakfast basis.
Included:
Breakfast; return road transfer to Kleinbaai Harbour; 3 hours at sea with the Great Whites, weather permitting; services of a local dive master; full equipment hire; light snacks and refreshments on board; accommodation.
Excluded:
Lunch; dinner; bar; items of a personal nature; gratuities.
Day 04.
2012:
After breakfast and check out, and having already signed the indemnity forms, you will for the last time board the dive boat for 3 hours at sea cage diving or surface viewing with the Great White sharks, weather permitting. After the days activity you will be transferred back to Cape Town International to connect with the late afternoon /early evening 2 hour domestic flight to King Shaka International Airport, Durban, own arrangements. On arrival at King Shaka International Airport, Durban, you will be met by a representative of Dive the Big 5 for the 45 minute road transfer to the small seaside village of Umkomaas. Overnight at Sea Scapes on a bed and breakfast basis. www.africanwatersport.co.za
Included:
Breakfast: road transfer to Kleinbaai Harbour; 3 hours at sea with the Great Whites, weather permitting; services of a local dive master; full equipment hire; light snacks and refreshments on board; road transfer to Cape Town International Airport; road transfer from King Shaka International Airport, Durban, to Umkomaas; accommodation at Sea Scapes.
Excluded:
Lunch; purchase of your Great White Experience DVD; domestic air from Cape Town to King Shaka International Airport, Durban: dinner: bar: items of a personal nature: gratuities.
Days 05, 06 and 07.
2012:
After a light breakfast you will transfer to the Umkomaas River Mouth for the launch for the day’s baited Tiger Shark dive, weather permitting. On a baited Tiger dive a diver can also expect to encounter Duskies, Black Tip Reef Shark and, if you are really lucky, a Zambezi (Bull) Shark. There are two ways in which to dive with the Tiger Sharks on Aliwal.
The first, which is not our preferred option, is to set up baits on the seabed at 15/17m and then observe the sharks as they come to the baits to feed. As many as 8 tigers at once may be expected but typically two or three are the norm at any one time. The animals tend to arrive around 09h00 and stay until the divers leave the site
The second option, and the most recommended option, is sub surface drifting. We started the surface work a la’ the Great White Shark cage diving in 2002 /3, but without a cage, and it has been very successful, other than breaching we are getting all the other shark behavioral patterns which they get with the Great Whites.
Once we arrive at the dive site we start chumming so as to attract the Tigers and put out a buoy with the bait which is contained in a stainless steel “box” with holes in it so that the “smell” and oil for the sardines in the “box” permeate into the water. When the first Tigers appear the DM assesses the situation and if he is of the opinion that the Tigers are going to stay around awhile and that they are not aggressive the divers may enter the water. Either you can view the action from the “safety” of the boat, or for non-certified divers, on snorkel, certified divers drop down to about 5 meters and follow the action from below. This is a drift dive as the boat, chum and bait is drifting with the wind and surface current, as are the divers at 5 meters. Should the sharks disappear the snorkelers and divers climb back onto the boat and we move to another location and start all over again.
And the most asked question!!! Why do we use a cage when diving with Great White’s yet when diving with Tigers we don’t use a cage? Are Tiger Sharks not dangerous? All wild animals in their natural environment are dangerous, but unlike Great White’s who prey on live animals, Tiger Sharks are scavengers and prefer to eat something that’s already dead rather than to hunt live pray. Let’s hope the Tiger Shark agrees!!!
Depending on shark activity you will return to shore at about 13h00 for the hot “brunch” at Sea Scapes and you will have the rest of the afternoon free. Overnight at Seascapes on a bed and breakfast basis.
Included:
Early light continental breakfast; transfer to the launch site; tanks, weights and air-fills; baited Tiger dive; services of a qualified Dive Master; light snacks on board; return transfer to Seascapes; accommodation at Seascapes.
Excluded:
Equipment rental except the hire of tanks, weights and air-fills; additional dives; lunch; dinner; bar; items of a personal nature; gratuities.
Day 08.
2012:
After a light continental breakfast, at a time to be arranged you will be collected from Sea Scapes by a representative of Dive The Big 5 for the return road transfer to King Shaka International Airport, Durban, to connect with your onward connection. End of Services.
Included:
Breakfast; road transfer from Sea Scapes to King Shaka International Airport, Durban.
Excluded:
International / domestic air; lunch; dinner; accommodation; bar; items of a personal nature; gratuities.
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