Tag Archive: Van Dyks Bay
Chumming – Good or Bad?
Chumming for Sharks – is it a Good or Bad practice?
What is “Chumming”?
Chum is the ‘bait’ used to entice the Great White Shark closer to the Shark Cage Diving boat to ensure that guests on the Shark Cage Diving trip are able to see the Great White Sharks close up. The Sharks are not ‘fed’ and, generally do not even come into contact with the ‘chum’.
The great misconception of chumming is damaging the reputation of an industry which i
s wholly and completely in tune with protecting the Great White Shark and not, in any way, changing their habits nor enticing them closer to land.
Great White Sharks have areas that they return to annually, these are areas where their Natural Food Supply is abundant – namely seals and other fish.
Dalene Ingham-Brown of “Discover Africa” interviewed Rob Lawrence on this controversial subjet
Chumming for shark for commercial shark cage diving is a highly controversial subject, with shark attack victims on the rise. The media is flooded with negative connotations associated with chumming for shark, so Dalene Ingham-Brown interviewed Rob Lawrence, owner of Cape Town based African Shark Eco-Charters, to gain insight into a pro-chumming mindset.
Pro-chumming for shark interview with Rob Lawrence:
Dalene: Why do you think people are against chumming?
Rob: People don’t know what goes on, on a shark cage diving trip where chumming for shark is involved. The media is swamped with negative opinion towards the subject. There is a great misconception about chumming. People seem to think that we put pigs blood and mammal blood in the water to attract sharks; that isn’t the case. We use snoek, skip jack and whatever other fish bait is available at the time. I’ve found that most people against chumming, haven’t even been on a shark cage diving trip before. Those who haven’t been on a trip with us before don’t know exactly what happens, how much we use, and what we use; of course they will be against chumming.
Read more of this article HERE
Shark Cage Diving – Gansbaai
SHARK CAGE DIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA
Close to the southernmost tip of Africa, 5 miles (8km) out to sea, lies Shark Alley – a favourite hunting ground of the omnipotent Great White Shark. Shark Alley is a channel between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock and is protected from the worst of the Southern Atlantic’s weather.
Dyer Island, Geyser Rock and Shark Alley are teeming with sea life! Cape Fur Seals, Jackass Penguins and a wide variety of sea birds can be seen on your shark cage diving trip… and with all this food around… the Great White Sharks are sure to be there!!!
Great White Sharks are spotted preying on seals so frequently that the area is known as the Great White Shark capital of the world, and this is where Great White Shark Cage Diving will take you for the experience of a lifetime – shark cage diving!!!!
Cage diving with great white sharks means spending some one-on-one quality time with these magnificent beasts. Shark Cage Diving is nerve-wracking yet intensely rewarding, eye opening and extreme. You don’t need any scuba diving qualifications, experience or equipment to go shark cage diving – just yourself and a strong dose of Dutch courage.
For the more feint-hearted you’ll be pleased to know that these awesome Great White Sharks are easily seen from the Shark Cage Diving boat… sometimes even launching clear of the water in natural hunting attacks.
Shark Cage diving has become a massive interest for tourists, bringing thousands of people to the area of Gansbaai each year. Shark Cage Diving is a great adventure for the whole family.
Map of Gansbaai (Gans Bay) – The Home of Shark Cage Diving in South Africa
