Great white shark cage diving, bucket list experience checked off

When a bucket list experience is offered, you don’t run scared. Great white shark cage diving off the coast of South Africa will be with me forever.

With all the hype regarding Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, and even the Phelps vs. Shark challenge, sharks are on everyone’s minds. For many, sharks spark tremendous fear. Maybe it was Jaws that made people run from the water. Purposely entering shark-filled waters would never cross some people’s minds. For me, great white shark cage diving was a bucket list experience that I couldn’t turn down.

Sometimes I dream big, way too big. My bank account and my imagination may not be in sync. Like many people, I have a bucket list. My list, which continually grows, has places to visit, tasks to accomplish, and experiences to have. I am very fortunate to have crossed off a big bucket list item, diving with great white sharks in Shark Alley.

Shark Alley, Gansbaai, South Africa, photo by Cristine Struble

For a significant birthday, my family and I traveled to South Africa. After spending time on safari, we headed to the coast near Gansbaai, South Africa. This area is known as Shark Alley. Yes, that Shark Alley that everyone sees on Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. Before we landed in South Africa, we planned to go to Shark Alley, get into a cage, and hopefully see some sharks. The experience didn’t disappoint.

While the Gansbaai area has several shark cage diving charters, our family chose Marine Dynamics. Marine Dynamics is a registered as a conservation trust and carries a marine biologist on every charter. Since my whole family was participating, I wanted the experience to be both fun and educational.

We were all excited about getting up close and personal with the sharks, but nothing was guaranteed. You can fly all that way, pay the money, get on the boat, and not see one single shark. Not a shark while you’re in the cage or even while you’re just on the boat.

Sharks are wild animals. This experience is not a zoo. Shark diving is not predictable, even if Shark Week makes it seem that way.

Great white shark cage diving, bucket list experience, photo by Cristine Struble

This shark cage diving experience was exhilarating. After putting on a full wetsuit, you get ready to go into the cage. First, the water is super cold. It almost takes your breath away. But, you’re so excited about the sharks, you don’t care how cold you are.

While you are in the cage, you wait. This particular company does not feed the sharks to make them come closer. Yes, the company has a few tricks to hopefully draw the sharks out, but nothing that could harm the sharks is used.

No diving experience is needed. Being able to hold your breath longer can help. Basically, you float in a cage and wait. It’s not hard.

We were fortunate because sharks came. We had a few mid-size sharks swim right up by the cage. As the sharks come closer, you hold your breath and dive down to be side by side with them. The power and grace of these animals up close is breathtaking. Personally, I had no fear, but I had a new found respect.

Could the shark bite the cage? Absolutely. Could the shark break through the cage? No. Should you put your hand out in front of the shark as it swum by? Not unless you don’t want your hand. Common sense should prevail or don’t partake in this activity.

Great white shark cage diving, photo by Cristine Struble

Some people think of shark cage diving as an extreme sport. I wouldn’t use that description. People find this activity adventure extreme because some people fear sharks. I took my kids in the cage with me and I didn’t fear for their safety for one minute.

While the cage diving experience was memorable, the trip was educational. The crew answered every question that we had, explained the sharks’ behavior, and shared stories about the sharks. Since the boat is a conservation company, they track, and know, many of the sharks that guests encounter.

Next: Phelps vs Shark, Shark Week hype

I have and will continue to tell anyone and everyone that Great white shark cage diving is an experience that, if given the opportunity, you should absolutely take. Bucket list experience or just fun, words can’t truly capture the feelings in the moment. Great white sharks aren’t the terrors of the ocean. Being submerged next to them in Shark Alley offers a new appreciation of these misunderstood creatures.