We will collect you from your hotel in Cape Town and drive you to Gansbaai, where we will introduce you to the magnificent Great White Shark in its natural environment. Be prepared for an early wake up call (as early as 04:00) and for a 2-hour drive.
Arriving at the White Shark Projects Lodge in Gansbaai, you will mingle with the other clients who will join you on your first dive. Enjoy a continental breakfast of fresh fruit salad, muffins, breads, cereals, eggs and yoghurts. Coffee, teas and hot chocolate is available too. Breakfast is followed by a Safety Briefing and a short introduction to the Great White Shark and its conservation status. After the briefing you can follow our crew down to the harbour where we will board our vessel, Shark Team.
From the harbour to where we anchor is an approximate 15 to 20-minute boat ride. Once we arrive at our chosen location, we will drop anchor and await the arrival of the first Great White Shark. Whilst out at sea we may encounter some other members of the Marine Big 5, such as whales, dolphins, penguins or seals. The tour lasts anything from 2 - 4 hours, depending on the sharks and the weather/ sea conditions.
Upon returning to shore, you can have a shower to freshen up and a bowl of hot soup with some comforting bread to warm up after the cold of the ocean. We will show you the video of your dive, after which the other clientele will depart.
You will now be introduced to a Volunteer Coordinator, a Marine Biologist, as well as the rest of the volunteers. You will take part in all the activities they may have planned for the day - these activities vary, depending on the day of the week and the weather; and may include a mix of the following:
- Lectures on Shark behaviour; biology; conservation and incidents.
- Beach clean-ups.
- Visit to the local animal welfare, BARC, to assist in walking the dogs etc.
- Tuesdays are our Recycle Swop Shop Day - this is our long-standing community project working alongside school children.
- Tuesday nights are also our Pub Quiz nights – all proceeds go to BARC.
- Visit to the Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary.
- Walk along Danger Point to the Lighthouse, collecting ocean debris along the way.
- Visit the South African Shark Conservancy in Hermanus for lectures.
- Join in any local festivals that might be on during your stay.
- Movie night or a Braai night with the volunteers and crew.
After your activity filled day you will be taken to Gansbaai Town Lodge for a comfortable night’s sleep.
You will be up early again as we will collect you at dawn for our first tour of the day. After a quick breakfast you can assist the other volunteers with some of their duties, such as handing out the life-vests to the clients. You will join the clients on board and once again you will have the opportunity to dive with the Great White Sharks; meeting them eye to eye and observing their behaviour.
Once we have returned to shore, and you have freshened up, you will depart with the other clients and head back to Cape Town.
