Gansbaai's Great White

Long feared as crazed, cold-blooded killers, white sharks are proving our first impressions very wrong. Cameron Ewart-Smith looked behind the hoopla, while cage-diving in the unlikely boom town of Gansbaai on the southern Cape coast, and discovered a majestic animal in critical need of some good press.

You are a thousand times more likely to die hanging your Christmas lights than to be attacked by a great white shark. Even dogs - our best friend - killed more people worldwide last year than have been killed by all species of sharks in the past hundred. With approximately 150 scalps a year, coconuts are positively bloodthirsty by comparison.

Even so, as a journalist entering the shark-infested waters off Dyer Island, near Gansbaai at the southeastern point of Walker Bay (close to where the Birkenhead went down), I was particularly anxious. If there's one group of people sharks should be peeved at, it's us. No other group has spread more falsehoods and hyperbole than the media... with the possible exception of Hollywood directors that is. If sharks were Americans they'd sue... and if I were a movie director I'd be safely ensconced somewhere high and dry in the Sahara.

Anxiety soon fled, however, as Brian McFarlane helped me and underwater photographer Geoff Spiby into the metal cage bobbing on the surface next to Predator II, the 12-metre catamaran he uses to take tourists shark-cage diving. He asked us to leave the scuba rigs on board and breathe using only our snorkels, as the mechanical sounds made by demand valves tend to scare the sharks - that's right, I said scare the sharks.

Unfortunately it was summer, not the best season for cage diving, but as we slipped into the cage the signs we'd have a good encounter were promising - a five-and-a-half metre female was mooching around. Let me say it again in case you glossed over that statistic... FIVE-AND-A-HALF METRES - bigger and heavier than a long-wheelbase bakkie.

As we submerged, peeping out from the bars and holding our breaths, the shark appeared out of the gloom. Passing within touching distance she glided by effortlessly, propelled by imperceptible movements of her tail. It looked almost artificial … as if she were a model toy driven by a little engine. The eyes were not those of a puppet, however. They were alive, assessing us, unfamiliar visitors to her aquatic realm.

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Gansbaai Accommodation

White Shark Cage Diving

Gansbaai Accommodation | The Roundhouse

White Shark Diving

This is possibly the greatest thrill that you will ever experience. Just imagine pulling up on the boat in 'Shark Alley', the open stretch of water between the mainland and Dyer Island off Gansbaai, South Africa referred to as the White Shark Diving capital of the world. The wonderful thing about shark diving in Gansbaai is that you only have to take a 20 minute boat ride to Dyer Island. In the winter time we can even see sharks before the shark chum is dropped into the water and it is clear to see why Gansbaai is named as being the most densely populated area for Great White Sharks in the World. We get White Sharks here along the coast all year round but Winter is the best time to come and see these beautiful animals.

The beauty is that in Gansbaai you do not have to be a qualified diver to see the Great White Sharks from the boat or cage. As the cages are mounted next to the boat and floated on the surface it is very easy for inexperienced divers to jump in and take a good look at the Great Whites as they cruise past the cage. For most of the year the divers do not use air or snorkels in the cage as the bubbles tend to make the Great White Sharks nervous and very cautious. We want the shark to be comfortable with the boat and people diving in the cages so that they will come as close as possible. It is not uncommon for a shark's pectoral fin to glide just into the gap in the cage as it swims past.

It is important to stress that you do not have to dive in the cage to see the Great White Sharks. The boat based viewing all year round is exceptional and there are many people who just take the trip to see the Great White Sharks from the boat. Unfortunately there is no difference in price to just view the sharks from the boat. The costs involved are virtually the same with the Chum, Bait, Catering, Crew, Fuel and Environmental taxes. It is simply a bonus if you decide when out there to slip on a wetsuit and jump in the cage to have a closer look.

Your shark tour day...

Upon arrival at your operators crew house, breakfast will be served and you will receive the briefing about the day. You will then take a short walk down to Kleinbaai harbour where 7 of the 8 shark diving boats are based. From here there is a short 15 to 20 minute ride out to Dyer Island where we will find a suitable spot to work with the sharks and anchor.

Once the chum is in the water we must just wait for the first shark to arrive! This could take 2 minutes, 2 hours or in the worst case not at all. The Great White Shark is a wild animal and we are dealing with nature but for most of the year we have a 99% success rate with shark viewings. Once the shark is around the boat divers will kit up and then jump in the cage! No experience is necessary and you can decide to go in the cage when out at sea so there is no pressure. The boat based viewing is exceptional and if you do not want to go in the cage you will still have a memorable day with these beautiful and awesome animals!

All divers will take turns in the cage (4-5 at a time) and it will only take 3 cage rotations for everyone to dive due to the smaller number of clients on the boat compared with some of the boats. This means that you will have ample opportunity to go back into the cage and spend lots of time with the Great White Sharks face to face in their domain.

There is a Videographer on the boat filming the experience and the crew is very experienced and knowledgable about the sharks and area.

Following this ultimate experience with the sharks we will ride back to the harbour (only 15 minutes away) and enjoy lunch at the crew house whilst watching the Video of the Day. You will have the opportunity to buy this on DVD.

It's the sharks - or we starve tonight

GANSBAAI perlemoen poachers say despite their fear after the death of a friend in the jaws of a great white shark, they will continue to dive and poach perlemoen because they have no choice.

Although the self-confessed poachers have momentarily halted their illegal activities, they have not ruled out returning to sea.

"I'm thinking of selling vegetables now but in the long run I know I have to go back to the sea. I have to force myself because I have a family who I have to look after," said a 36-year-old poacher who calls himself Zulu.

Zulu was part of a group of eight poachers who witnessed the shark attack on Nkosinathi Mayaba at Dyer Island last Wednesday.

While police Casspirs parked along the Kleinbaai coastline and policemen patrolled, Zulu shared his views on poaching at his home in Masakhane this week.

He explained that the high unemployment rate in the town, discrepancies in the allocation of fishing permits and their responsibility to support their families forced them to return to the shark-infested stretch known as "Shark Alley".

"The only jobs here are in construction and you only work one or two days. This is not enough to feed my family, which is why I have to look for other means of earning an income," said Zulu.

Saider, another poacher, said, "We have spent close to R1 500 on permits to dive, but we have been denied permission. The only people who get permits are those who are experienced and have established professional fishing businesses."

He said wealthier fishermen often included them in their permit proposals but neglected their needs once their permits were approved.

"I know I don't belong in the sea and when I'm there I know I'm between life and death.

"It is obvious we will encounter sharks because this is where the (shark operating) boats travel. We do get scared because we all know there are sharks there but nobody wants to talk about it."

Mayaba's aunt Nontlahla Masingane said she had warned her nephew about the dangers of poaching but that he said he was forced to dive because he needed to support her - because she was not working - and his mother in the Eastern Cape.

"He was starting to change. He even came to visit us often lately."

Gansbaai ward councillor

Dr Anelie Rabie says the shark attack won't reduce poaching.

"There are not many poachers who will stop. Poaching is a big problem in Gansbaai. A large percentage of the unemployed community turn to poaching as a means of income."

She acknowledged that unfair allocation of perlemoen permits caused an increase in poaching but added that the Overstrand Municipality was holding talks to address the problem and generate employment.

Shark tour operator Jean-Pierre Botha said the community was more concerned about poaching than about shark attacks.

"We are venturing into the sharks' territory ... but poaching is a crime. I understand that they (poachers) need money but it does not make it right."

Gansbaai

Gansbaai is some 180km from Cape Town, near Hermanus.

It is a "one-road" town, and a traditional fishing village.

It is surrounded by a number of bays and includes two informal settlements - Masakhane and Eluxolweni.

It has become a hot-spot for tourists who want a shark- or whale-watching experience.

There are more than 26 000 residents, of whom roughly 30% are unemployed.

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Gansbaai Shark Adventures Overberg Coast

Gansbaai, the "Goose Bay", was founded in 1881 by fishermen and named after the numerous wild geese that lived here. Until a few years ago Gansbaai, half an hour's drive east of Hermanus, was still a little fishing village with a little harbour, a fish factory and some shops and pubs. But for the last three years it's been much more lively here in Gansbaai. The place is entirely dominated by tourism and the number of inhabitants has multiplied.

The reason for this boom is Dyer Island, situated 12 kilometres off Gansbaai. The island itself falls under the administration of the Nature Conservation and is an important bird conservation area (Jackass Penguins and Oystercatchers). A huge colony of about 30.000 seals lives on the island, the favourite prey of sharks. That is why the waters around the island are teeming with sharks and there is hardly any place in the world where these predators can be watched more closely than here. Particularly strong in numbers is the giant Great White Shark (carcharodon carcharias), that can grow up to 8 metres long (3,5 metres in average).

Every day a couple of boats goes to Dyer Island loaded with adventurous travellers, diving equipment and cameras. After a 20 minute trip the boat drops anchor near the island. The sharks get allured, not fed, with bait - a soup consisting of minced fish and saltwater. After only a few minutes the sharks start circling round the boat, getting up to a few metres close. Some sharks even jump out of the water.

Each boat brings a steel cage along. It is lowered into the water amd drifts on the surface, tied to the boat with ropes. Those daring enough can watch and photograph the sharks from an underwater perspective in the safety of the cage - a lifetime experience.

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Gansbaai Accommodation | The Roundhouse

Gansbaai Accommodation:

Places to stay with Accommodation in Gansbaai which includes hotels, self catering accommodation, guest houses, bed and breakfast, game lodges, guest farms, golf lodges, caravan parks, discount backpackers lodges and cheap camping sites. Venues with Gansbaai Accomodation are listed above with all rates and details.

Self Catering Gansbaai Accommodation and Self Catering Apartments in Gansbaai, Western Cape, South Africa. Self catering units range from luxury to budget providing kitchen facilities allowing guests and residents to prepare their own meals. Browse for a Gansbaai self catering establishment, cottage, lodges, apartment or holiday house. Most self-contained accommodation is fully equipped and offer facilities to cater for yourself.

Bed and Breakfast Gansbaai Accommodation and BnB Accommodation in Gansbaai, Western Cape, South Africa. Bed and Breakfast accommodation range from luxury to budget providing overnight accommodation with breakfast included in the price. Breakfasts range from Continental breakfasts to Full English breakfasts. Browse for a Gansbaai bed and breakfast establishment, every b&b accommodation caters for breakfast.

Guest House Gansbaai Accommodation and Guesthouse Accommodation in Gansbaai, Western Cape, South Africa. Guest House accommodation range from luxury to budget providing a private home that offers accommodation to paying guests. Breakfasts and other meals are available at an extra fee. Browse for a guesthouse establishment which offers services that will suit your travelling requirements.

Hotel Gansbaai Accommodation and Hotels in Gansbaai, Western Cape, Southern Africa.
Hotels range from luxury to budget providing facilities allowing guests to relax and enjoy their stay. Browse for a reasonable Gansbaai hotel establishment that best suits you. Some hotel accommodation offer facilities such as airport transfers, laundry services and wake up calls.

Browse through pet friendly Gansbaai accommodation, venues that are wheelchair / disabled friendly, establishments with spas, plunge pools or fireplaces. Some places to stay have facilities such as air conditioning, baby sitting, bars, games rooms, internet access, room service, security staff, serviced daily or weekly and offer TV with Mnet or satellite.

For a list of all accommodation that is affordable and best priced, please have a browse through all our accommodation listings. Whether you are looking for something for the family or places by the beach, we try list the best priced and best specials so finding where to stay is easy. We also advertise team building and corporate accommodation as well as wedding venues in the surrounding area. Make sure to use our 7 day weather forecast and report to plan all the things to do while on your stay.

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Whale Coast & Overberg » Cities and towns » Gansbaai

Gansbaai is best known for a new adrenaline-pumping sport: Great White Shark cage diving. The diving cage floats just below the water's surface and in it you come face to face with the most fearsome creature in the ocean.

The boats for this adventure, as well as for whale watching trips around Dyer Island, leave from Kleinbaai Harbour, about 4km from Gansbaai.

Despite the emerging tourist industry, Gansbaai is still first and foremost a fishing village, with two harbours and many hardened fishermen. Those without their sea legs may prefer to do the spectacular 7km hike along the coast to the caves in neighbouring De Kelders.

The population of Gansbaai is said to have been boosted by the survivors of one of the worst disasters in British maritime history. The steam troopship, HMS Birkenhead, struck a submerged rock off Danger Point in 1852, drowning 455 men and many horses. The saying "women and children first" originated from this calamity.

Today you can visit a great local brewery named after the famous ship, The Birkenhead Brewery, in nearby

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Gansbaai Accommodation | The Roundhouse

Gansbaai Bed & Breakfast

The Roundhouse B&B is part of a total tourist experience in Gansbaai. We offer Gansbaai accommodation and bed & breakfast facilities in the undisputed best place in the world for Land Based Whale watching. This the perfect spot for a stay over when embarking on one of the famous shark cage diving excursions in the area.

The establishment is situated in de Kelders, which is the prime land based whale watching area in the world for Southern Right Whales.

The Roundhouse is a three stories high round building with a thatched roof. The house has a very modern African feel to it and every care has been taken to assure your complete relaxation and comfort rated 4* but with many 5* finishes.

The house has unique features such as a big projector screen television in the bar area and wireless hotspot internet connectivity throughout the house. This is excellent for anyone from conferences to movie buffs! The suites, which consist of a bedroom, living room and bathroom, have all the little extras such as microwave, toaster, coffee / tea facilities, bar fridge, Television, DVD player, Stereo, Hairdryer, Sewing Kit, First Aid kit, Toiletries and more.

Our breakfast menu includes delicious meals such as a full English breakfast, pancakes, health breakfast and the ever popular continental. We offer room service every day and offer laundry services if wished. For families, we offer a beautiful 6 sleeper self catering cottage just opposite The Roundhouse.

Please note that you have a stunning sea view from the top floor but all of our rooms except 1 are on the ground floor. Our new suite the Carcharias Suite will be up and running in June and has great views form the first floor. You are welcome in the lounge area upstairs at any time... After a long day out, sit on the balcony with a glass of Wine enjoy the sunset and stunning views over the bay..

Gansbaai Accommodation | The Roundhouse