What to look for when booking a shark cage diving trip

The first part in this series of articles dealt with the basics of shark cage diving. This article will now reveal what to look for when booking a shark cage diving trip in Cape Town! This is an in-depth look intowhat sets the companies apart from each other.

The boat
You will want to know how big the boat is and how many guests the boat can accommodate. Understanding how many guests the boat can accommodate will give you an idea on whether your experience will be commercial or intimate. When you’re out on the boat for the day, the shark cage diving boat should have a flush toilet onboard, a cabin for shelter and comfort and a viewing deck where you can put your photography skills to the test! Every boat should have life jackets, radio’s, water, first aid kits and a cellular phone. Understanding how the boat was built and how it operates, will ensure that you have a safe trip. Normally the boats are built for shark cage diving specifically. You will need to check if the shark cage is a floating cage, or a submersible cage. Floating cages are safer, and they allow for easy access and exit points through specially designed doors on some of the vessels, but not all. Shark cage diving in Cape Town and surrounding areas should be an experience of a lifetime.

Crew
The crew of the boat are essential to guiding you and keeping you safe while out on the ocean. First and foremost, the skipper will have a skipper’s license. All crew should be trained in first aid and firefighting. All the crew at Apex Shark Expeditions are registered tour guides who can assist guests in navigation, best kept secret spots, shark history and making sure you don’t miss a wildlife sighting!

Facilities
When you’re a tourist in a foreign country, having a place where you can relax, do a bit of shopping, and prepare for your trip, is important. The shark diving company you choose should have a venue where you can meet, ask questions, get changed and have a hot cup of coffee! The Apex Headquarters is  in Simon’s Town, just a 1-minute walk from the pier, and launch site, where guests and crew meet and greet. There is Wi-Fi and an area where you can catch-up with friends on social media before or after your shark trip. Purchasing a memento in the form of a sharky t-shirt or a cap should seal the deal. After an awesome day with the sharks, you will have a place to debrief with the crew and fellow guests.

Prices
Now that you have considered the type of experience you want and what facilities you would like your shark cage diving company to have, you can start comparing pricing. Look out for value added extras and what’s included and what’s excluded. Some companies include transfers, refreshments and snacks before the trip, dive gear, lunch on board and video footage.

Cancellation policies and after sales
Life happens, and there might be a chance that you need to cancel your scheduled trip. When booking your trip, you may be asked for full payment or a deposit. Make sure to check if your deposit is refundable. Depending on how many guests you book for, your company of choice should allow you 30 days before your trip, without a cancellation fee. If you’re late and you miss the boat, or you simply forgot about your trip, you may be charged in full, so make sure to plan, read all the applicable policies and ensure that you get to your destination on time!

Chances are, after your life changing trip, you will want to come back! Check out your chosen company’s social media page and see if they are still engaging with their past guests, also look out for returning guests that become part of the sharky family!

Conservation and community outreach
Sharks are endangered species and protecting them is vital to their survival. What does your chosen company do to conserve these sharks?

Shark cage diving in South Africa drives a large amount of tourism. Giving back to the local community in which the company operates shows their social responsibility and ethical standing.

The information provided above is sufficient to equip  you with all that you need to know before choosing the right shark cage diving company.  From the location to the reviews, to the facilities and conservation efforts. Cape Town looks forward to seeing you out on the waters diving with these magnificent sharks!

Also read: What every parent should know about ocean safety