Big Fish Expeditions. Worldwide diving and photography adventures with Andy Murch

HOME          EXPEDITION CALENDER          TRIP REPORTS          TESTIMONIALS          CONTACT

BIGFISHEXPEDITIONS

Diving with Oceanic Whitetip Sharks and reef sharks at Cat Island, Bahamas.
Tiger Beach Extreme Shark Diving Safari - diving with Tiger Sharks, Lemon Sharks, Caribbean Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks and occasional Great Hammerheads
Diving with humboldt squid, pilot whales, sperm whales, finback whales and more in the Sea of Cortez, Baja, Mexico.
Great hammerhead diving
Diving with sandtiger sharks in North Carolina at Sharkfest
Big Fish Expeditions Home Page - extreme big animal encounters.

BIGFISHEXPEDITIONS

 

 

THE ULTIMATE SOUTH AFRICAN SHARK SAFARI

 

May 22st - June 1st 2013 US$3950 2 spots left!
Cape Town to Durbun, South Africa.


14 SPECIES OF SHARKS

Join the ultimate South African shark tour to dive with: Great White Sharks, Tiger Sharks, Mako Sharks, Bull Sharks, Dusky Sharks, Ragged Tooth Sharks, Blue Sharks, Blacktip Sharks, Sevengill Sharks, Spotted Gully Sharks, Puffadder Cat Sharks, Dark Shy Sharks, Pajama Sharks and Leopard Cat Sharks.

 

 

This 11 day expedition package also includes a game drive to view the BIG 5, a visit to an Ostrich farm and a trip to a penguin colony. So bring a long lens for close up shots of lions, cheatahs, elephants and more. Discover the beauty of the Western Cape with Big Fish Expeditions.

 

PLUS - expect to see playful cape fur seals on the reefs and huge tuna and other pelagics on the blue water dives. Dolphins and whales also do occasional swim bys.

 

 

Other species you may see on this expedition: Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, Longfin Tuna, Bonito, Yellow tail, Cape fur Seal, Albatross, Shearwaters, Petrels, African Penguin, Sperm Whale, Common Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Brydes Whale, Southern Right Whale, Pilot whale, Red Steenbras, Red Roman, Nudibranchs, Crayfish, Abalone.

 

THE SOUTH AFRICAN SHARK DIVING SAFARI INCLUDES ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

 

East Cape (Aliwal Shoal) Shark Diving

3 Nights bed and Breakfast.

Airport transfers.
Daily transfers to launch site.
2 x Tiger Shark, Bull Shark, Blacktip Shark dives.
2 x Ragged tooth Shark dive.


West Cape (Cape Town) Shark Diving

7Nights bed and breakfast in Simonstown.
Cape Town/Simonstown transfers.
Daily transfers to launch site.
2 White Shark trips.
2 Inshore dive trips (Cat sharks and Sevengill sharks).
1 Offshore dive trip (Makos and blues).
1 Half day land based sightseeing tour to Cape Point Nature Reserve.

1 Half day land based tour to Boulders Beach Penguin Colony.
1 Big Game Safari drive (with full buffet lunch) and visit to the Ostrich Farm.
Professional Dive Guide.
Weights and tanks.
Lunch, Snacks & cool drinks on boat.
Dive briefings and shark presentation.

 

The full day Big Game Safari includes:
Passage through the famous Huguenot Tunnel
Coffee & cake on arrival
2-3 hour game drive with experienced game rangers
Cheetah & Lion project
Full buffet lunch
Ostrich farm
Home via the famous Du Toits Kloof Pass

 

What is not included in Cape Town Diving:

1. Flights.
2. Dinner.
3. Alcohol.
4. Additional cost for some land based options.
5. Dive gear.

 

What is not included in Durban Diving:
1. Domestic flights from/to Capetown.
2. Dinner/Lunch.
3. Alcohol.
4. Dive gear.

 

 

AN ACTION PACKED ITINERARY

 

May 22nd - Pick up at Durban Airport. Drive to hotel in Umkomaas to experience South Africa's East Coast Sharks.

May 23rd - Blue water shark feed to see tigers, blacktip sharks and duskies and possibly other pelagics.

May 24th - Dive with Ragged Tooth Sharks at world famous Aliwal Shoal

May 25th - Return transfer to Durban. Fly to Capetown (flight not included). Transfer to Simonstown. Check into the four star Quayside Hotel.

May 26th - Dive day at Seal Island (False Bay) for White Shark breaching, natural predations and cage diving.

May 27th - 2nd dive day at Seal Island (False Bay) for White Shark breaching, natural predations and cage diving. Afternoon tour to Boulders Beach Penguin Colony.

May 28th - Inshore dive trip (two dives) amongst the Kelp forests in search of Broadnose Sevengill Sharks, Spotted Gully Sharks, Puffadder Cat Sharks, Dark Shy Sharks, Leopard Cat Sharks, Pajama Sharks and Cape Fur Seals. Afternoon trip to Cape Point Nature Reserve.

May 29th - Offshore trip in search of Blue Sharks, Mako Sharks, Giant Yellowfin Tuna and Longfin Tuna.

May 30th - Inshore dive trip (two dives) amongst the Kelp forests in search of Broadnose Sevengill Sharks, Spotted Gully Sharks, Puffadder Cat Sharks, Dark Shy Sharks, Leopard Cat Sharks, Pajama Sharks and Cape Fur Seals.

May 31st - Full day Big Game Safari on a luxury Private Game Reserve famous for having the BIG 5 and various other reintroduced safari game. The Private game reserve is a mere 2 hour drive from Cape Town and also includes a trip to an Ostrich farm.

June 1st - Check out and transfer back to Cape Town.


This is a packed trip of adventures and experiences not to be missed. The ultimate South African Shark Diving Expedition.
 

 

LOGISTICS

 

Expect:

Water Temp: 14 - 24º C
Water visibility: 3 - 50 meters
 

Typical Daily program:
White Shark trips
Meet between 6h15 and 6h45.
Board boat and receive boat safety briefing and general information.
Leave pier between 6h30 and 7h00.
Arrive at island between 6h50 and 7h25.
Discussion on shark hunting behavior and what to expect.
View natural predatory interactions between sharks and seals.
Tow a seal decoy to entice a breach so guests can get pictures.
Anchor boat at 9am and start chumming to get sharks to boat.
Drop cage and brief guests on the cage dive and shark behavior around the boat.
Cage dive and view sharks from 9h00 to 13h00.
Return to Simonstown harbor.
Back by 13h30.

Inshore trips
Meet at 9am.
Board boat and check gear. Receive safety briefing and information.
Leave pier at 9h15
Arrive at 1st dive site at 9h45. Receive dive briefing.
1st dive at 10am. (dive between 40 – 60min)
Relocate to 2nd dive site (less than 10min). Have something to eat and drink.
Arrive at 2nd dive site around 11h30.
Receive dive briefing.
2nd dive at 11h45 (or 15h45). (dive between 40 – 60min)
Return to Simonstown pier at 13h00 (or 17h00).

Offshore trips
Meet at 7am.
Board boat and check gear. Receive safety briefing and information.
Leave pier at 7h15
Arrive at dive site around 9h30. Receive dive briefing.
Start chumming the blue waters.
When first shark arrives we start on snorkel. When we have about 5 sharks we start our scuba dive. (scuba for between 60 – 120min at 5m).
Return to Simonstown pier at 16h00



 

Join me for the adventure of a lifetime!

info@BigFishExpeditions.com

 

 

 

READY TO SIGN UP OR HAVE A QUESTION?

CONTACT BIG FISH ABOUT THIS EXPEDITION:

 

 

 

SIGN UP FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN SHARKOHOLICS EXPEDITION!

 

Join me for the trip of a lifetime!

info@BigFishExpeditions.com

 

 

 

SEE YOU THERE!

 

 

A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM BIG FISH EXPEDITIONS FUNDS

THE PREDATORS IN PERIL PROJECT

http://elasmodiver.com/predatorsinperil.htm

 

ANDY MURCH
EXPEDITION LEADER

Andy Murch is an accomplished wildlife Photographer specializing in ocean imagery.

 

Andy's images and stories have appeared in hundreds of books and magazines around the world from titles as varied as the Journal of Zoology to FHM.

 

Andy is the driving force behind the Predators in Peril Project which shines a spotlight on many endangered species of sharks that are overlooked by mainstream conservation groups. He is also the Creator of the ever expanding Elasmodiver Shark and Ray Field Guide.

 

When not running expeditions or on photographic assignments Andy lives and dives on Vancouver Island, Canada.