One of the most thrilling things you can do is get in the water with a great white shark. There is no better way to appreciate these giant creatures than coming face to face with them in the water.
While this can sound daunting, the best (and safest) way to do it is by cage diving with them. Here, you are in a giant metal cage, so the sharks can’t get to you, but you can still get a close-up view. These giant predators are among the most feared animals in the world. Whether or not that’s accurate or justified doesn’t really matter—a great white sighting will always strike fear into people.
If you’ve ever asked “Where Can I Cage Dive With Great White Sharks”, the following list will help guide you. You have choices all over the world – from Africa, the USA, to Australia, and more. And don’t forget, if you’re looking for a something a little tamer, you can always try swimming with whale sharks.
Gansbaai, South Africa
One of the world’s best places to cage dive with great white sharks is South Africa’s Gansbaai. Sometimes called “the great white capital of the world”, this area is home to highest density of great whites on the planet.
The bay’s large seal population keeps the great whites in the area all year long. Gansbaai is famous for its breaching sharks, which jump out of the water after attacking seals at great speed from below.
Guadalupe Island, Mexico
A favorite among adventurous divers, Guadalupe Island is popular because of its excellent visibility and regular great white sightings. This is arguably the best place on earth for underwater photography of great whites.
The sharks love this island because of the endemic Guadalupe fur seals that live on it. A large number of these magnificent fish patrol these waters from summer through fall. It might be a long journey to get to the island, but it’s absolutely, totally worth it.
Neptune Islands, Australia
It was at the Neptune Islands in South Australia that cage diving with great white sharks was invented. The person who did that is Rodney Fox, after having been attacked by a great white himself four decades ago. He still owns and manages acage diving company, which, by the way, is the only one of the world that lowers a cage all the way to the bottom of the ocean.
Nowadays, these islands have become one of the world’s hotspots for cage dives. The best time to do this is in winter (June through August), when huge female great white sharks feed on the abundant seals around the islands.
Stewart Island, New Zealand
Even though it’s New Zealand’s third-largest island, Stewart Island is home to no more than 400 people. About 85% of its surface area is protected as a national park, making this a superb destination for wilderness adventures and wildlife encounters.
Estimates put the number of great whites around the island at around 100, which results in possibly multiple sightings in a single day. The cage diving season in Stewart Island is from mid-January through June.
Farallon Islands, California
Arguably the most rewarding of all places to cage dive with great white sharks in the world is the Farallon Islands in California. Situated just off-shore from San Francisco and still within the city limits, this iconic city is where the excursions depart. Combining one of the world’s greatest cities with a cage dive is certain to make your vacation memorable.
The islands are home to the largest sea bird colony in the lower 48 states and also hae a thriving population of elephant seals. This, naturally, attracts great white sharks, some of which are among the largest in the world. Fall is the best time of year to cage dive with great white sharks in this area.
Recap
This list is, of course, not exhaustive and there are other great places to cage with great white sharks in the world. If you know another one, let us know in the comment section below.
