Shark Explorers | Ragged-Tooth The Experience

The Experience

Shark Explorers offers you the opportunity to dive on a very special reef where special sharks like to play. Also called sand tigers or grey nurse sharks, raggies, as we affectionately call them naturally assemble in groups of up to 80 or more in this location normally resting in large caves and gullies. These sharks look a little menacing, but they are placid sharks which are often scared away by too much noise.

Habitat

This is a very special reef with large caves and gullies overcrowded with hard and soft corals. The fish life is incredible with thousands of fish busily scooting in and out of the reef.

Shark behaviour and diver interaction

The sharks swim up and own the gullies or are resting in the caves. They may approach divers if they are not feeling threatened. They are usually found on or near the bottom and are able to hover motionless in the water by swallowing surface air and holding it in their stomachs, thus achieving neutral buoyancy. It’s very important not to disturb them by making too much noise or being overactive or by touching them. These sharks are trying to rest and take it easy and divers should respect their space.

DIVE DETAILS AND COST

Location: Aliwal Shoal, KwaZulu Natal

Season: May - November

The dive: SCUBA dive.

Minimum experience required: Open Water 1 Certification if scuba diving. Make sure to bring proof of certification with you.

Dive Depth: 16 – 26 meters

Water temperature: Jan – June 22 - 28ºC July – Dec 18 - 24ºC

Water visibility: 8 - 25 meters

Dive time: 45 minutes

Chumming and baiting: None

Dive package includes:

            1. Guided dive
            2. Snacks and cool drinks on boat
            3. Dive briefing and full shark presentation
            4. 4. Dive cylinder and weights

Cost: From R600 per person

Tips for safely diving with ragged tooth sharks

The main thing to remember is that these sharks are resting during the day. Its important not to disturb them by touching them, cornering them, flash photography or approaching them too closely. If they want to approach you they will. Listen carefully to your guides instructions.

Filming and photography

Filming and photography: There are many filming and photography opportunities of the raggies and the amazing underwater setting of caves and gullies and beautiful fish and reefs add to the spectacular image potential.

SHARK DIVE PACKAGES

We offer customised shark diving packages to meet your needs so contact us directly for more information. However we do have a few very popular suggestions:

Two days in CapeTown - 1) sevengill cowshark spotted gully and cat sharks 2) sevengill cowshark and Cape fur seals

Two days in CapeTown - 1) seal and cowsharks 2) white sharks

Two days in CapeTown - 1) seal, cowshark 2) blues & makos (seasonal)

Three days in CapeTown - 1) seal & sevengill 2) blues & makos (seasonal) 3)white sharks

Five days CapeTown to Aliwal - 1)seal & sevengill 2)blues & makos 3)white sharks 4) Tigers 5)raggies