Daily Blog: 18 November 2024
Today, we were treated to warm, calm weather out at sea, making for a fantastic day!
- Location: Joubertsdam
- Water Temperature: 15.4°C + 15.6°C + 15.6°C
- Depth: 10.1m + 9.8m + 8.7m
- Visibility: 1.0m + 1.0m + 1.0m
- Number of Great White sharks: 2 + 0 + 1
- Conditions: No swell but a lingering wind that caused some choppy conditions.
Whilst many people were still sleeping or having their coffee to try wake themselves up this Monday morning the Slashfin crew and our first group of eager guests were launching into a stunning sunrise over the bay. We enjoyed the ride out as the skies lightened and once on anchor we started the waiting game, of which we patiently played for close to an hour before we decided an anchor move might change our luck. Within moments of re-anchoring we spotted what we had all hoped for, a Great White shark. This was a large female shark, estimated at approximately 4.0m in length and was one easily identifiable through the scars covering her head and the lack of caudal fin or tail tip, which we encountered for the first time this year on Friday. She stuck with us for much of the trip coming and going from the depths and our view however another White shark joined her, a male, similar in size and one we documented just over a week ago in the area. The Cape Fur seal that has consistently been seen hunting in the Shallows for the last few weeks was also out and about around this boats this morning and a Southern Right whale was spotted on our way back to the harbour.
The second trip of the day launched with the same Southern Right whale from the first trip seen as the boat headed out of harbour but onto the sharks, we hoped we could continue the shark success of the first and once on anchor this group settled in for a patient wait. Unfortunately, even with such patience and another anchor change a White shark was not seen for this trip. To end the trip this group went for a cruise out to the Islands to have a look at the Cape Fur seal colony on Geyser Rock. We would like to thank our guests for their understanding during this trip.
The third and final trip launched for the afternoon and made their way through to the Shallows but before getting back onto anchor another Southern Right whale sighting was had. The shark took its' time to show up but the important thing is that it did! The female from the first trip re-appeared for the last trip of the day, coming from the deep and making a few passes by each line and one very close pass by the cage.
If you are looking to get up close and personal with the great white shark then Cage Diving South Africa, and more specifically with Marine Dynamics, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you won’t want to miss. Book and pay online with us and get a free video of your encounter with the world’s apex predator.
