Apex Shark Expeditions - Great White Shark Cage Diving Cape Town — Attraction in Western Cape

Where to begin...Apex Shark Expeditions allowed me to fulfill a dream of mine that I have been waiting to do my whole life. My experiences, enabled through their bookings, have encouraged me to follow my love for sharks and take part in other dives around the world, as well as coming back to the Western Cape someday with friends/family!

Initially I reached out via email to obtain more information about the dives, and Karyn worked with me for MONTHS, organizing possible dives for my two week trip. I probably annoyed her at some point with all my questions (lol) but she never showed it. She was upfront about costs, sightings (more on that later), policies, etc., and when I arrived in South Africa she, and Rochelle, continued to assist me in organizing transfers and the opportunities for other dives. They responded quickly to my inquiries through WhatsApp and email.

I ended up booking two dives in Mossel Bay, where I saw 8 different Great Whites the first day with okay visibility and 5 different Great Whites the second day with exceptional visibility. Mossel Bay typically is the home to juvenile Great Whites, but we did end up seeing a 4.5 meter white pointer which was incredible. Originally I wanted to do more dives, but I was so happy with the experience that I wanted to "quit while I was ahead" per se. I mean, 13 different sharks over two days?! Wasn't trying to test my luck. Apex Shark Expeditions operates out of False Bay, but outsources to Marine Dynamics in Gansbaai and White Shark Africa in Mossel Bay, all of which they were open about.

Regarding sightings and what not: The important thing to remember with diving is understanding what Apex, and the operators can control with nature, which is...NOTHING. They can't control the weather, so leave yourself a 2-3 days to dive. The skipper isn't going to take you out if the chop is ridiculous that day. Be flexible. They can't control the sharks. The ocean isn't a zoo, and even though we ring a fake dinner bell with the chum slick and tuna head, there IS NOT a guarantee that a wild animal will show up. Also, do your own research. Great White sharks haven't been seen on the dives in False Bay in a year or so, and that info is readily available on the internet. This is largely due to (allegedly) orcas in the area, but more so because of long line fishing which is removing a large portion of the whites diet from the water. Sharks will go where their food is at, it's that simple.

While other shark species are in False Bay, as a result, Apex offers to send you to Gansbaai or Mossel Bay if your true desire is to see a Great White. Typically you will see larger whites in Gansbaai, but there seems to be less of them. If you want a "near" guarantee of seeing whites, Mossel Bay is your best bet, because there are a lot of juveniles there. Ask the right questions, and be open with them about what you would like the chance to see, and do your own research.

I am being snarky because I've read some of the reviews on here or Trip Adviser and they are not warranted; Apex deserves nothing but 5 stars when it comes to shark cage diving and customer service. Even if you don't have a passion about sharks like I do, doing a little bit of research on dive sites, sightings, etc. takes a few minutes and will remove any potential frustration. I HIGHLY recommend this company, and when I return to South Africa, I will book with them once again. Everything is seamless with Apex Shark...

Beyond my wildest expectations. I've been wanting to see a shark in the wild for years and was hoping South Africa would finally make that come true and Apex did not disappoint.

We signed up for the Sharks plus penguin and Cape of Good Hope tour.

Apex was wonderful about answering any questions prior to us signing up. They were quick to respond to emails and very helpful in determining what we wanted to do. As promised, they emailed us the day prior with the time of pick up and the name of our drive. Sam arrived about 15 minutes prior to our planned pickup time and overall was a wonderful guide.

We drove out to the Apex store where they were ready for us (due to the blackouts, no coffee or tea at the shop but no worries there). They had water bottles prepared for all of us. Once everyone in our group arrived we took a short walk to the boat where the Captain did a overview of the safety and what our day would look like. They offered us water, juice and snacks.

We took a short trip out to Seal Island where we stopped to take photos.

Then on to our diving spot. The amazing crew quickly set up the cage and helped us get into our much needed and appreciated wet suits. Due to the nature of our group (4 people watched from the boat and 9 of us swam) we were in the water for over 20 minutes (24). The crew would tell you where and when the sharks were coming in so you can dip under the water and see them. We saw about 14 sharks that day. It was incredible.

After we swam, we had our quick trip back to the dock (be sure to pack a sweater).

Sam met up with us after we returned and took us to visit the Cape Town penguins. He gave us some history and information on the penguins and then told us to be back at the car in an hour. We had a lovely walk to see the penguins on the boardwalk (it costs extra to visit them on the beach).

Sam then took us into the Cape of Good Hope (cost included) where he took us to 2 stops the highest point and the furthest point. He again gave us history and info and time to visit.

I can not recommend Apex Expeditions enough. It was definitely a highlight...

Apex is the best and most personable shark diving company in the Cape Town area. I did a lot of research prior to my trip to South Africa and was convinced I would dive with the top rated company out of Gansbaai (I won’t mention the company name). I’m sure they are a good outfit too, however it is a much less personable experience with upwards of 35 clients per trip. When I called, they could not give me an estimated amount of time in the cage. Additionally, the great whites have essentially left Gansbaai due to many reasons including the orcas, so don’t let anyone convince you that you will be seeing great whites. It can happen (and Gansbaai has a slightly higher chance), but it’s very unlikely in recent years. With that said, Apex gave us the ultimate experience. The bronze whaler sharks were 10 feet and we saw upwards of 15! Apex limits the number of clients per boat so you have more time in the cage, if you’d like. I stayed in the entire time and it was the perfect amount. I also thought I would be inhibited without a snorkel or gas, but it’s not so bad to go in and out of the water plus you get instructions from the staff on deck. Our crew including Capt Ryan was very professional, efficient, and eager to provide education. They do everything possible and respectful of the environment to make sure you have a great experience. The wet suits were high quality (each person gets their own) and I was not cold in the water. It’s about a 30 minute ride to the dive site and we had the fortune of a feeding pod of dolphins and a Bryde’s whale spotting along the way, though this isn’t typical. I’m very happy I stayed closer in Simon’s Town instead of the full day trip to Gansbaai and for choosing Apex. You’ll have an epic day and small group experience with the best staff in...