The Internet is a wonderful source of information; however, it is also a medium whereby companies make claims and promises and raise expectations to gain business over competitors.
Sadly, in some cases, when guests arrive, they realise not everything is quite what it appeared online.
Many claim, including ourselves, to be the best or most conservation orientated in the shark cage diving Cape Town industry; however, the best yardstick to measure this is by our previous guests and record of projects we have been involved in.
A checklist you may wish to consider when booking:
- Don’t travel far. How far are you from your accommodation to the departure point of the shark cage diving trip?
- The duration of the trip is 3 hours +-. What other activities are in the area to do before or after the shark cage diving trip?
- Is this a good time to see sharks?
- What will the likely temperature and visibility of the water be?
- Will it only be shark cage diving, or is there a chance to visit the islands that lay close to the anchor sites?
- How personalised will the experience be? How many people will be on the boat?
- How many people will be in the cage?
- How experienced are the skipper and crew? What knowledge do they have of their subjects, and will I be given any educational material to read about the area?
- How ethically does the operator conduct itself in terms of the following:
- Watch promotional videos of each operator. Are the sharks pulled into the cages where they are hurt, or is the bait pulled alongside the cage?
- Does the operator chum, and if yes, do they use shark livers that have been obtained through the killing of other sharks to attract sharks or use other environmentally insensitive methods?
- Regarding safety, what are the weather limitations the operator works under, and how safe and seaworthy is the vessel?
- What other wildlife do I have a reasonable chance of encountering on any given trip at the time of year I wish to book, and how knowledgeable is the crew in helping gain a better understanding of the species encountered and to prevent dangerous wildlife encounters?
- What has the operator done to protect the wildlife they work with? Many talk a good game and have lots of badges and affiliations, but what have they actually done to prevent sharks and other wildlife from being poached, harmed, or exploited?
If you are allowing a booking agent/concierge or any third party to book your shark cage diving trip, be sure that they are a registered booking agency and ask these questions. Booking agents work purely on commission, and some may book you with any company that offers a good kickback, irrespective of the service provided.
The bottom line is to make sure that the operator you choose can deliver on what your expectations and required ethics are when working with animals whilst being realistic as to the uncertainty that comes with any true wildlife adventure.
