The 15 Best Scuba Diving Trips in Cape Town

1.Shark Cage Diving and Viewing with transport from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 576 reviews · from $251Our pick

Travel from Cape Town to Gansbaai for a full-day shark cage experience with Marine Dynamics Shark Tours. You’ll get hotel transport, breakfast, gear, a marine biologist briefing, boat time near Dyer Island, snacks, and refreshments. Expect cold water, a long road journey, and wild shark sightings that cannot be guaranteed.

“Despite the very early start and long drive it was a fantastic day. We were open minded about what we would see but we were not disappointed. We saw several bronze whalers, a sevengill, a couple of stingray and a very playful cape seal. As the sea is very murky it was quite difficult to see them below the surface but you had a great view of them swimming past the cage while your head was above water. It was amazing to get so close to them. The crew looked after us all day. We had a nice breakfast before we sailed and snacks, hot drinks on the boat with…”

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2.Cape Town: Gansbaai Eco-Friendly Shark Cage Diving Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 326 reviews · 6 - 10 hours · from $237

Travel from Cape Town to Gansbaai for a guided shark cage encounter with Marine Dynamics. You’ll learn from a marine biologist, meet bronze whaler sharks from the secure cage or viewing deck, and visit the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. Transfers, meals, wetsuits, snacks, and drinks are available.

“I did a solo trip to cage dive with sharks and after several email inquiries to many companies, Marine Dynamics worked through everything with me. I had a very short time frame, the driver was excellent, knowledgeable and went way out of the way to get me. Once we arrived at "The Shark House" we had a light breakfast, went over what to expect and onto the boat. The boat crew was amazing. They were funny, knowledgeable and seemed to care greatly about the longterm health of the sharks. We spent a good amount of time in the water. I got great photos and video. When we came back into…”

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3.From Hermanus: Cruise with Shark Cage Dive and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 184 reviews · 1 day · from $168

Spend a full day from Hermanus at Kleinbaai Harbour and Shark Alley, watching sharks from the boat and taking turns in a surface cage. A shark expert and marine biologist explain the animals, while the crew provides wetsuits, masks, snacks, drinks, breakfast, lunch, hot soup, and optional video footage.

“Was so amazing!!! I loved! Staffs as really nice and kind, the filming was so good. In the end we had soup and bread witch was really good. Recommended a hundred times. The only thing is we didn’t see great white sharks, they told us they are not in that region. Shame! But it worths anyway”

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4.CapeTown: Shark Cage Diving Experience with Scuba

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 146 reviews · from $218

Meet in Simon’s Town for a small-group shark cage experience near Seal Island. With SCUBA equipment, an expert crew, and up to 12 people aboard, you may see bronze whalers, seals, dolphins, whales, or seasonal great whites. Cape Point trips can also target blue and mako sharks. Transfers cost extra.

“The most amazing experience. Staff was so nice and knowledgeable, well organized. But nature was really on our side. We saw 5 sharks, dozens of dolphins and a surprise 3 humpback whales! I would say to make sure you wear your swimsuit, bring clothes that are easy to cRead more”

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5.Shark Cage Diving Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 114 reviews · from $229

Meet Apex Shark Expeditions in Simon’s Town for a weather-dependent boat trip toward Seal Island or Cape Point. You may see bronze whaler, seven-gill, blue, or mako sharks from a sturdy cage, with four people per cage. The crew, including guide Brandon, provides safety briefings, gear, snacks, towels, and refreshments.

“Wow what an amazing experience. We saw lots of sharks as well as a visit to see the seals. The crew were amazing, very knowledgable, helpful and welcoming. Special shout out for Brandon. Would definitely recommend 🦈”

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6.Cape Town: Shark Cage Dive

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 46 reviews · 3 hours · from $274

From Simon’s Town, Apex Shark Expeditions takes you into False Bay for a three-hour cage encounter with bronze whaler sharks. Ryan, Brandon, and the wider crew provide safety guidance, wetsuits, snacks, and wildlife spotting. You may also see Cape fur seals, dolphins, whales, penguins, and seabirds, though nature sets the schedule.

“Amazing activity. The team is very professional and nice. Special thanks to our Irish crew membre 🙂 We spent an great time, swimming among Big bronze sharks. A dream came true for my husband. Thanks !”

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7.Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving with Snacks and Soft Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 4 hours · from $233Top rated

From 62 St George’s St, Shark Explorers takes you into False Bay for a four-hour shark encounter. Guides including Jason, Nina, Ernesto, and Stephen explain the safety steps, fit your wetsuit, and help you watch bronze whaler sharks from a partly submerged cage or the boat. Sandwiches, fruit, hot drinks, and cold refreshments are included.

“Bereits bei der Ankunft wurden wir extrem herzlich begrüßt. Es gab Getränke und Snacks und ein kurzes Briefing. Dann ging es bereits aufs Boot. Wir stoppten sogar um Delphine rund ums Boot zu beobachten. Ernesto, Jason und Stephen erklärten am Boot nochmals ganz genau den Ablauf. Wir hatten an diesem Tag das Glück unglaublich viele Haie hautnah zu erleben. Unsere Guides haben uns zu einem großartigen Erlebnis und Highlight verholfen!”

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8.From Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving and Penguin Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 15 reviews · 9 hours · from $310

Leave Cape Town early for Gansbaai, where you receive a safety briefing, suit up, and enter a cage beside the boat for close shark sightings. After lunch and a warm shower, visit African penguins at Stony Point in Betty’s Bay, though the route and penguin stop may change. English and French guides lead this shared nine-hour trip.

“everything about the shark drive was awesome, the guides were friendly, helpful and it was an incredible experience! they do bait the sharks in case anyone's wondering (which I have mixed feelings about). next, the listed time says 6am on here, however, pick up was actually at 4am. we also returned much earlier than the listed time. also there was no stop at Betty's Bay to see penguins and no ride scenic along R44, with a nice stop along the way. instead, we were inland and drove through route 2. that was annoying and it wasn't even mentioned. we instead stopped at African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary - Gansbaai, which…”

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9.Cape Town: Scuba Diving Experience for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $112Best value

Meet Kobus and the African Ocean Adventures team at the Just Nuisance statue in Simon’s Town. After a 45-minute safety session and PADI e-learning, you’ll use provided gear for about 1.5 hours underwater. Your site may feature kelp forests, seals, penguins, octopus, pyjama sharks, and other local fish.

“Ich hatte eine absolut fantastische Erfahrung mit dieser Tauchschule! Gestern war ich mit Kobus tauchen und hätte mir keinen besseren Tauchlehrer wünschen können. Von Anfang an war er äußerst fürsorglich und professionell. Bevor wir überhaupt ins Wasser gingen, nahm er sich die Zeit, sorgfältig zu prüfen, ob ich alle E-Learning-Module zum Tauchen absolviert und verstanden hatte, und stellte sicher, dass ich mich sicher fühlte. Sicherheit stand für ihn ganz klar an erster Stelle, sodass ich mich sofort wohl und entspannt fühlte. Der Tauchgang selbst war absolut fantastisch, ein atemberaubendes Erlebnis, das ich nie vergessen werde! Kobus hat dafür gesorgt, dass alles reibungslos und angenehm ...”

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10.Cape Town: Discover Scuba Diving – 1 day experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 4 hours · from $155

Spend four hours learning scuba skills at a small Simon's Town center, then enter Long Beach with an instructor for at least 45 minutes underwater. You will use full equipment, spot kelp, fish, octopus, and perhaps stingrays, with guidance from instructors such as Baz.

“We had an incredible dive experience with the Dive Team in Simon’s Town! Baz, our dive master, was absolutely fantastic. He led our small group with great knowledge and professionalism, making sure everyone felt comfortable and confident. My wife and I were particularly impressed with how attentive and patient Baz was, especially since it was our first time diving in the area. The marine life we encountered was amazing—we got to see a wide variety of species, including two huge stingrays! It was truly a memorable experience, and we can’t wait to return and dive with them again. Highly recommended for both beginners and experienced divers alike!”

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11.Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving Tour (with Breakfast & Lunch)

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 5 reviews · 8 hours · from $278

Leave Cape Town early for Gansbaai, where an English-speaking crew takes you by boat to Shark Alley. After breakfast, safety instructions, and wetsuit fitting, you spend 10 to 30 minutes in a cage watching sharks at close range. Lunch, return transport, and optional action-video purchase are included.

“The shark activity was incredible. We saw six sharks, and everything was perfectly organized for us. The homemade bread and soup prepared after the activity was delicious .”

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12.Cape Town: Shark Science SCUBA Diving Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 3 reviews · 1 day · from $178

Spend about 3 to 3.5 hours with Cape RADD in Simon’s Town, joining marine biologists on a shore-entry SCUBA outing through kelp forests. Look for puffadder sharks, pyjama sharks, rays, fish, octopus, penguins, and sea otters while recording data for conservation. Guide Mark is noted for careful equipment checks and thoughtful instruction.

“I loved my instructor. no one else was in my group so I had 1 on 1 attention. it was neat learning about the marine ecosystem but nothing described was given to me. certificate was not given and felt kind of rushed out after. my instructor said he would email photos but never got them. I've messaged a couple of times now with no response. Just feel disappointed with the no contact and getting what was detailed in activity.”

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13.Exhilarating Shark Cage Diving Experience in Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2 reviews · 9.5 hours · from $495

Travel from Cape Town to Gansbaai in a private vehicle with guide Leonard, then spend about three hours at sea near Dyer Island. Learn about shark protection, enter a secure cage, and watch for seals, whales, and birds. The day also includes Hermanus and Stony Point Penguin Colony.

“Our driver Leonard was an excellent guide, took great care of us and was very knowledgeable about the area. Saw lots of copper sharks up close in dive cage and shark guide taughtbus a lot about the sharks - Marine Dynamics are passionate about protecting the local marine life - great experience - only downside was the temp as even in wetsuit have never been so cold in my life!”

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14.From Cape Town: 2-Day Garden Route Safari with Shark Diving

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 2 days · from $401

Travel in a small group of up to eight with guide Rameez from Cape Town through Hermanus to Cape Agulhas, then stay in a 4-star wooden chalet at Garden Route Game Lodge. Take sunset and morning game drives, enjoy dinner and breakfast, and visit Mossel Bay for a great white shark cage experience. Safari and shark tickets cost extra.

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15.From Cape Town: Gans Bay Shark Cage Diving

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 4 hours · from $292

Travel from Cape Town to Gansbaai for a four-hour great white shark cage experience with an English-speaking guide. After a safety talk, you will take a 15 to 20-minute boat ride, wear a wetsuit, and watch sharks from the cage or deck. Hotel pickup, refreshments, and equipment are included.

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