Gansbaai is the most accessible great white cage-diving destination in the world. Boats launch from the harbour and reach Dyer Island in under an hour; the "Shark Alley" channel between Dyer and Geyser Rock hosts a large Cape fur seal colony that attracts the sharks. Activity is concentrated in the colder months May–September. In recent years orca predation on local great whites has disrupted the population, and encounter rates have become less reliable than a decade ago — check with operators for current conditions.
What you'll see
Top species with their June status.
Great White Shark
Seals & Sea Lions
The year at a glance
- Water
- 15–18 °C
- Viz
- 3–10 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 15–18 °C
- Viz
- 3–10 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 15–18 °C
- Viz
- 3–10 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 14–17 °C
- Viz
- 3–10 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 13–16 °C
- Viz
- 3–10 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 13–15 °C
- Viz
- 3–10 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 12–14 °C
- Viz
- 3–10 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 12–14 °C
- Viz
- 3–10 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 13–15 °C
- Viz
- 3–10 m
- Sea
- rough
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 13–16 °C
- Viz
- 3–10 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 14–17 °C
- Viz
- 3–10 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 15–18 °C
- Viz
- 3–10 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- low
Signature dive sites
The sites you'll hear about in every briefing.
- 01
Shark Alley
Channel between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock; cage diving site.
- 02
Geyser Rock
Cape fur seal colony of ~60,000 South African fur seals; boat-based viewing.
Getting there
Gateway
Fly into Cape Town (CPT). Visa: Visa-free for many nationalities, 90 days.
Best months
Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Avoid
Jan, Feb, Dec