Dive guide · SHARK DIVES & CAGE DIVING
Cage, no cage, scuba or snorkel, and a very different animal at each site. The 15 below cover white sharks off South Africa, Galapagos sharks off Hawaii and whale sharks in the Indian Ocean, priced and honest about weather cancellations.
From Haleiwa, you’ll ride into open Pacific waters, hear a safety briefing, and enter a secure cage for close views of Galapagos and sandbar sharks. The crew, including guides such as Maddie and Emma, also helps boat-only observers follow the action. Allow about 90 minutes, plus travel time from Waikiki.
“What a great experience. A must do when in Oahu. I advise you have them film your experience as it makes it so much easier.”
Meet North Shore Shark Adventures at Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor for a 90-minute boat trip to open water. Your English-speaking crew gives a safety briefing, supplies gear, and places you in a secure cage for up to 20 minutes near Galapagos sharks. You may also spot dolphins, humpback whales, turtles, tuna, or barracuda.
“This was one of the highlights of our trip to Oahu. Highly recommend.”
From Haleʻiwa Boat Harbor, you’ll take a short boat ride offshore with Hawaii Shark Encounters, then enter a floating cage to watch Galapagos and Sandbar sharks through snorkel masks and polyglass windows. Guides such as Caleb, Dave, Efraim, and Jax explain shark behavior, while an observer ticket lets non-swimmers stay aboard.
“Awesome experience! Would highly recommend. Great crew, easy going and informative. Waves were a bit rough but managed to now get sea sick.”
Spend about eight hours on Ningaloo Reef with the Three Islands crew, following a spotter plane to find whale sharks. You’ll snorkel the reef, watch for manta rays, turtles, dolphins, dugongs, and whales, and enjoy lunch, snacks, drinks, bubbles, and professional underwater photos. Hotel pickup from Exmouth is included.
“We didn't see a whale shark None had been sited for 8 days so really it's a bit naughty to keep running the trip at the moment...especially when it's £280 each and you only get a 50 refund We snorkelled twice in the 8 hours on board. A bit boring sadly. We realise nothings guaranteed but maybe let people off the boat more”
Spend a half or full day with White Shark Projects near Gansbaai. After breakfast and a safety talk, your skipper and marine biologist take you to sea for shark viewing and a 20-minute cage session. Bronze whalers are common, while great whites are not guaranteed. Wetsuits, lunch, towels, and a certificate are included.
“This activity was exceptionally well organized. Pickup was complicated for my location, but new arrangements were made and all worked smoothly. The Shark Project's team and facility is very welcoming with breakfast provided before the dive and a light lunch afterward. Also hot showers, towels, the works. The crew is super friendly, knowledgeable and capable and worked diligently to make this a great experience. The only downside is that the sharks were somewhat uncooperative, so encounters underwater were mostly quick glances of tails.”
Travel from Cape Town to Gansbaai for a full-day shark cage experience with Marine Dynamics Shark Tours. You’ll get hotel transport, breakfast, gear, a marine biologist briefing, boat time near Dyer Island, snacks, and a hot refreshment afterward. Expect cold water, possible seasickness, and no guarantee of great white sightings.
“What a professional organisation.From start to finish.We had a fantastic day.Exceeded our expectations in every way.”
Meet at Haleiwa Commercial Loading Dock for a roughly two-hour shark encounter led by One Ocean Diving’s marine biologists and safety divers. Learn shark biology, body language, species identification, and Hawaiian cultural meaning before entering the water with snorkeling gear. Sharks are guaranteed, while whales, turtles, and other wildlife are possible bonuses.
“I was scared to death to do this, but this crew helped me feel so much better about getting in the water. Never once did I feel like I was in danger. It wasn’t like the movies portray, it was peaceful and beautiful. We plan on doing this again. I want to do better next time and I definitely won’t be so scared. Great education on the sharks too. We all need to do better to make sure sharks stay in our oceans.”
Meet at Haleiwa Harbor for a two-hour shark swim about 3 miles offshore. Marine scientist guides explain shark behavior, safety, and conservation before you enter the water with snorkel gear. You may see several shark species, dolphins, turtles, or whales, and possibly help collect research data. Guides including Gina, Tyler, Ethan, Drew, and Haley have received high praise for their calm support.
“I booked the 9 am charter and we saw 24 sharks! It was so cool. The crew was incredibly kind and helpful. We booked the photography package as well, which I recommend!”
Travel from Cape Town to Gansbaai for a guided shark cage session with Marine Dynamics. A marine biologist explains the animals and safety, while the crew takes you to Joubertsdam aboard Slashfin. Expect bronze whaler sharks, cold water, changing conditions, meals, and a visit to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary.
“Very nice. We did see some sharks very close and the information and educative part was very good.”
Meet at 7:00 am in Van Dyks Bay for a roughly three-hour great white shark cage experience with White Shark Projects. You get a continental breakfast, gear, towels, refreshments, a light lunch, and hot showers after returning. Sightings are not guaranteed, and weather can cancel the trip.
“Once in a lifetime experience! My youngest, who is 9, also loved the experience!!!”
From Haleiwa Boat Harbor, you’ll ride three miles offshore to 250-foot water for a cage-free shark swim with a professional crew. Ocean Outfitters Hawaii provides masks and snorkels, keeps groups to 12, and may encounter Galapagos sharks, tiger sharks, dolphins, whales, barracuda, and reef fish.
“It was so epic. All of the workers on the boat were so nice and fun. They were also very knowledgable. I'm sure they get a little tired of having to deal with all sorts of people all day but they did a great job at making sure our experience was great. The boat ride was fun, the sharks were super cool, I would do this again several times.”
Board a fast, stable catamaran in Haleiwa and ride to offshore shark grounds, where you can enter a protected snorkeling cage or watch from the boat. Haleiwa Shark Tours is Native Hawaiian owned, with crews including Captain Derrick and Kooma. Expect about two hours, marine life sightings, and changing sea conditions.
“Excellent! We had a perfect clear day on the water. The ride there was smooth and the water felt great. Saw 3 sharks!”
Meet Sharklady Adventures in Van Dyks Bay for a 3.5-hour catamaran trip to view Great White Sharks. Qualified scuba users can enter the floating cage, while others may snorkel, hold their breath, or watch from deck. Expect wet suits, gear, snacks, an educational talk, and unlimited cage time.
“A lot of sharks were close to the boat. Good helpful staff. We had luck with weather. Sea was calm..”
Start at 7:30 a.m. in Lahaina for a guided shore scuba outing at Mala Wharf, where sunken pier wreckage shelters turtles, white-tip reef sharks, eels, octopus, and frogfish. Groups are limited to four, gear is supplied, and guides such as Joe, Abbi, and Matt provide careful briefings and personal attention.
“Great dive at Malo pier! We saw nurse sharks, turtles and huge schools of fish. Very clear water. I recommend this dive!”
Meet Islandview Hawaii at Haleiwa Harbor for a small-boat shark snorkel off Oahu’s North Shore. A captain, local guide, and safety diver prepare you for open-water swimming with gray reef, Galápagos, scalloped hammerhead, or tiger sharks. Photos and videos are included, and winter trips may also spot whales and dolphins.
“It was an amazing experience!! The crew was great!! I would definitely recommend and would love to go again!!”
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