Adventure Diving Safaris specializes in scuba diving holidays and safaris to South Africa and Mozambique. Our guided dive safaris are specifically designed so that you can experience the best that these countries have to offer. We have lived and dived in South Africa and Mozambique for all of our lives and know the dive sites, the dive charters, the dive lodges, the sharks, the wrecks and the reefs like the back of our hands - always safe, and always conserving the reefs and animals.

We are not fancy people; we are ordinary divers with a passion for our country and customers. Our local knowledge ensures that our safaris are safe, full of fun and memorable. So why don't you just get here and we'll take care of the rest.

Tiger Shark Diving Safari

Description

Tiger Sharks are considered to be one of the most dangerous and difficult to find sharks in the world. Join us on an unforgettable seven-day diving expedition to photograph and study Tiger Sharks in the Indian Ocean off the coast of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Other species include dolphins, turtles, moray eels, potato bass, reef & pelagic fish, rays (devil, manta, bull, eagle etc) as well as Bull, Tiger, Guitar, Blackfin, Ragged Tooth and other sharks.

Requirements

Advanced or equivalent certificate required for diving - excessively nervous divers not allowed. C-cards and Log Books must be presented.

Duration (Sunday to Saturday)

7 Days/6 Nights

Safari Dates - (Custom dates can be arranged only for groups larger than 8)

8 April to 14 April 2007

22 April to 28 April 2007

6 May to 12 May 2007

20 May to 26 May 2007

Note: (This is a annual safari and bookings can be made for one year in advance)

GUIDED DIVE SAFARIS

The dive safaris are run from our dive lodge, offering a one-stop destination with comfortable, quality accommodation and wholesome food, catering for the budget traveller and the more luxury, upmarket guest alike. The Lodge is central to Aliwal Shoal, Protea Banks, the Drakensberg Mountains as well as Sodwana Bay, southern Mozambique and diving the great whites in cages at Gansbaai and Mosselbaai. We also offer land based safaris to our local game reserves for the opportunity of viewing the Big Five of Africa (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo). The reserves have a large variety of animal life including cheetah, hyena, wild dog, giraffe, hippo, crocodile and many species of antelope. Aside from the above, the reserves have an abundance of bird life, interesting flora and fauna and stunning views.

Why do an accompanied safari? Simply because this is Africa and you are far away from home! We have lived, worked and dived here for all our lives, and our expert local knowledge on the area, conditions, diving and pitfalls ensure that you have a safe, exiting and enjoyable dive holiday.

Most of our safaris are fully inclusive. There are no hidden costs and you do not have to worry about a thing. We drive and dive you around, cook for you, pour your drinks, show you true South African hospitality and much more!

Tailor-made safaris:

For groups of eight or more we will tailor make a trip to suit your time and budget!

Safari Add-Ons:

We offer the following add-ons which can be added to any of the safaris as listed below:

3 Night/2 Great White Shark cage dive sessions

3-Night/2-Dive session package with Tiger Sharks

2-Night land safari

Safari Options:

Bull Shark Diving Safari

Great White Shark Diving Safari

Hammerhead Shark Diving Safari

Manta Ray Diving Safari

Mozambique Explore

Sardine Run Safari

Shark and Seal Safari

Tiger Shark Diving Safari

Two Countries Safari

Whale Shark Diving Safari

TIGER SHARK DIVING SAFARI

ITINERARY

Day one:

From Durban International Airport we first visit the Natal Sharks Board to view the audiovisual show and display of sharks, rays and turtles endemic to the area. Then we transfer to the little diving village of UmKomazi where you will be received with typical South African hospitality. Dinner is a social affair - steaks on the fire accompanied by local wines & beers (we cater for vegetarians and non-alcoholics too), and of course we brief and prepare physiologically for the diving.

Day two:

The first two dives are on "Eelskin", where we stand the best chance of encountering Tiger Sharks at Aliwal Shoal. Don't worry; no scuba diver has ever been bitten by one - yet. The depth in this marine protected area varies between 14 and 20 meters; the water temperature is around 25 degrees C and the visibility anything between 8 and 20 meters. Most importantly the dives serve for you to get used to the launching and diving conditions, sort out buoyancy, and for me to be sure that we have the safety procedures drilled in (no attitude, just cautious). The dives are done early in the morning and that leaves the afternoons free for excursions including a trip to the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve (horse riding, abseiling or gorge jumping), a game drive in the Vernon Crookes Game Reserve, a tour of Durban and it's markets and an afternoon at the uShaka Marine World.

Day three:

It is an early start for two dives at Protea Banks - rated as one of the world's best shark diving spots and certainly one of the most adventurous! An exiting launch through the surf takes us to the Southern Pinnacles where we search for the Tigers at a depth of 30 meters - that is of course if you are not distracted by the Hammerhead Sharks, Bull Sharks, Giant Guitar Sharks, several other shark species and rays (devil, manta, bull, eagle etc) that frequent the reef! Visibility varies from 8 to 40 meters, and the water temperature is 24+ degrees Celsius. We return to KwaMnandi Lodge via the spectacular Oribi Gorge where you have the option of abseiling, gorge swinging, horse riding or simply enjoying the awesome scenery.

Days four, five and six:

This is serious stuff and the highlight of the expedition - we move out after breakfast, anchor just south of Eelskin and set the bait for the Tiger Sharks. Only bait that forms part of the shark's natural diet is used and they are not fed at all - you will understand why when you are in the water every day with several 3-4 meter Tiger Sharks all around. Then we wait - anything from 10 minutes to the whole day. Although we have an average success rate of 90%, these are wild, unconditioned animals and there are no guarantees at all. When the sharks come we enter the water, cut the bait drum free from the boat, and drift at a depth of about 8 meters with the sharks and bait for as long as they stay - and then again and again until it is time to go home - we take lunch and extra cylinders along. The day is absolute adrenaline and offers the most spectacular photo/video opportunities imaginable.

Important

We are committed to delivering the exact itinerary, but we reserve the right to make any changes that we find necessary for the comfort or safety of the client without notice.

Included in the price:

Experienced guide/dive master and driver.
All land transfers including airport transfers.
Six nights accommodation.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Coffee, tea and treated water.
A visit to the Natal Sharks Board and Gateway Center.
Excursion to the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve.
Game drive in the Vernon Crookes Game Reserve.
A tour of Durban and it's markets.
An afternoon at the uShaka Marine World.
All transfers to and from dive sites.
2 dives on Aliwal Shoal on a use it or lose it basis - air, weights and cylinders included.
2 dives on Protea Banks on a use it or lose it basis - air, weights and cylinders included.
3 sessions of tiger shark diving on a use it or lose it basis - air, weights and cylinders included.
Framed wall certificate in recognition of your contribution to the expedition.

Excluded from the price