World's best shark dives

Anyone who has been to any of these places care to share their experiences and photos/videos? Thought Donsol in Philippines is well known for Whale sharks as well.

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By Staff Writers
February 23, 2010 10:37am

ADRENALIN junkies looking for their next big thrill have created a new generation of brave traveller, with activities like shark diving an increasingly popular excursion on holidays.

David Lovelock from travel specialists Travel Associates said diving cage-less with sharks will more than likely give them the adrenalin rush they’re after.

“Quite often Travel Associates will get requests for adventure or extreme travel and shark diving is one of the activities that people enquire about,” Mr Lovelock said.

“Shark dives offer an amazing perspective of these fascinating creatures and are available for first time or experienced divers.”

So if you fancy eyeballing the man-eating giants of the deep, make sure you head to:

GANSBAAI, South Africa
Dubbe the 'world capital of the great white shark', in Gansbaa you can get on a dive boat to the infamous Shark Alley. Rumour has it that there are more great whites in this part of the ocean than anywhere else in the world. And at nearby Seal Island, you might even get to witness the astonishing sight of great white sharks leaping out of the water as they hunt seals.

A variety of diving operations offer the chance to see the sharks underwater in a cage or to enjoy them from the relative safety of the boat. And many operators don't require you to be a certified diver either, so snorkelers are welcome.


PORT LINCOLN, South Australia
Great white shark attack survivor Rodney Fox is one of the world’s leading shark experts. His Shark Expeditions includes talks on shark ecology – as well as submersible cage dives where divers are encouraged to enter and exit at their leisure.

Travelling out through the gulf waters and islands of the Spencer Gulf and Thorny Passage, divers are encouraged to get involved in research programs and enjoy the shark action topside.

BAHAMAS
Nassau attracts thousands of tourists every year who come to enjoy the corals and beautiful fish - but the desire to see something big has been increasingly on the rise. To satisfy shark seekers, many dive operations now guide curious travellers to locations where, after dropping chum to attract a crowd of white or black tip reef sharks, divers jump in and observe the feeding frenzy above them.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA
California shark dives are offered by operators from the Los Angeles area, Catalina Island and San Diego. The dives vary but all involve long boat rides out to deep water.
From the safety of a steel cage and armed with only a camera, divers can see great white sharks, makos, hammerheads and tiger sharks.

RHODE ISLAND, USA
Pull on a wet suit and jump overboard into the frigid waters off Rhode Island - about three hours offshore along the edge of New England's continental shelf. It is here that the migratory blue sharks prefer to linger. This is their preferred pit stop before shifting southward to Cape Hatteras and as far away as Africa.

ISLA HOLBOX, Mexico
This is one of the best places in the world to see the biggest fish in the ocean and the gentlest shark of them all, the whale shark. Called 'Dominos' by the locals - due to the distinctive white spots on their backs, these huge fish can grow up to 30ft long. But they only eat plankton, so swimmers need not be concerned.