Shark Diving Adventure Penguins in Gansbaai From Cape Town F Day

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Charlie M.

October 09, 2025

I came for a shark cage dive on the 21st September and I had an absolutely amazing time. We saw lots of bronze whaler sharks and seals. There were also cool birds like cormorants and turns. You can also get a really good view of the sharks by going up to the top deck of the boat. There was food, teas and coffees available before the trip and then more hot food (soup, mac n cheese, toasties) after the trip! All the crew were really lovely and I felt well looked after, I didn't have to worry about anything because they took care of everything. Hannah, the marine biologist on board, was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions! I would definitely recommend this company if you're thinking about shark cage diving in South Africa, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity!

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Nick G.

October 05, 2025

Volunteering with White Shark Projects has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I spent 2 weeks with them in 2024 and returned for 6 weeks in 2025 and I’m already planning my next visit. The entire shark team is incredibly knowledgeable, approachable, and always willing to help. Their guidance has taught me a wide range of skills, particularly around boat protocols during shark diving trips. Working closely with marine biologist Hannah has significantly improved my understanding of marine biology and conservation. Beyond the shark work, the volunteering program offers a variety of activities from community initiatives like the swop shop and visits to BARC (the local animal shelter), to snorkelling adventures and trips to Betty’s Bay to see African penguins. I also used data that was collected by white shark projects for my masters degree, they fully supported me over the last 2 years with it and I’m very thankful for that. They have had a difficult time recently with minimal shark sightings due to ecological circumstances that are out of their control, but have handled it brilliantly. I highly recommend a visit to anyone that is interested in marine biology, conservation or just want a new adventure/challenge.

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Emily H.

October 03, 2025

My partner and I volunteered with White Shark Projects for three months as part of our placement year of university. As students in marine biology and zoology, it was incredibly important that we volunteered somewhere where we could gain valuable real-world experience and contribute to research! It is clear that everyone working at White Shark Projects has a real passion for shark conservation, and it is lovely to see them interact with and inspire guests! Every single staff member made us feel so welcome and cared for, and we felt very emotional when it came time to leave. It was my birthday within the first week of us being there, and despite barely knowing me, they bought me cake and some chocolates and even decorated the local pub (where you will go for quiz nights)! The shark diving was unreal, despite the dwindling white shark population (I suggest you do some research on white sharks in Gansbaai before coming!), the bronze whalers and sevengill sharks were incredible to see up close! Chatting with guests and teaching them about sharks and why they are so important for our ecosystems was lovely, and hopefully helped change people's perceptions of sharks! Aside from shark diving, there was so much we got involved in. Beach clean-ups, swop shop, volunteering at BARC, trips to local attractions such as the Klipgat caves at De Kelders, surrounding areas like Hermanus and Cape Town, angling and snorkelling trips! We learnt to catch, handle, measure and tag small endemic shark species as part of the ORI Tagging Project - this was such an amazing experience and by far our favourite of the activities! We regularly had lectures from Hannah (the marine biologist at White Shark Projects), which really helped solidify our knowledge of the area and the history of sharks in South Africa. Overall, shark conservation is so vital, especially in South Africa at the moment. Working with White Shark Projects was an experience I'll never forget, and the skills I gained will stay with me throughout my lifetime. We hope to return someday! Everyone at WSP made our experience so fulfilling and wonderful, truly an inspiring bunch of people!