Meet the Shark Lady
We are proud to introduce you to your host and skipper, Kim Maclean, the Shark Lady. Kim has always been passionate about sharks and other marine animals and after matriculating from Cape Town High School in 1978, she applied to the Department of Sea Fisheries. Kim was accepted as a technical assistant in various sections including demersal, pelagic and southern oceans and also became the first woman to be allowed to join the research teams at sea. The highlight of her research missions was when she was chosen to go to Marion Island on the maiden voyage of the Sea Fisheries’ boat, The Afrikaner.
After 6 years of working with Sea Fisheries and Dr Leonard Compagno at the South African Museum, Kim worked with the Great White Project tagging great whites. Working so closely with these beautiful creatures, gave Kim a new insight and understanding of these apex hunters that she just had to share with the world.
After being involved with various marine research projects, Kim Maclean set her sights on becoming the best qualified cage diving pioneer in South Africa. Among her many talents and love for all marine life Kim is qualified as:
- A skipper
- Rescue diver
- Level 3 First Aid
- Radio Operator
- Scientific Class IV Diver
- Western Cape Tourist Guide
- Specialist Underwater Guide
- Qualified in Marine Science, along with having
- Safety at Sea and Life Raft Proficiency
- Fire Fighting Certificate
A Dream Come True for Kim
In 1992, Kim’s lifelong dream became a reality when she pioneered white shark cage diving and surface viewing in South Africa, founding her successful and very popular shark diving company, Shark Lady Adventures.
For Kim, shark cage diving is not just about the adrenalin of seeing a shark upclose…she has made it her life’s mission to create awareness and educate people about all sharks, not just the Great White.
Kim Maclean has dedicated her life to caring for and protecting sharks and other creatures in the ocean and Shark Lady Adventures gives people the chance to see these gorgeous animals up close and hopefully through the passion of Kim and her team, many great white sharks will be saved!
Kim says,
“Even if through our commitment, we only introduce some element of objective perspective to the people whom we come into contact with, then we have at least made some contribution to maintaining the natural balance in at least one ecosystem in our communal home, earth.”
