Aliwal Shoal is a reef off the KwaZulu-Natal south coast that has made its name as a place to meet sharks in their own water, and this trip is the straightforward way to do it without being a certified diver. You are taken out by boat with an experienced skipper and an expedition guide who gives live commentary, and you spend your time in the water in a cage. The price covers the cage dive, the boat ride, transport to the launch site, a wetsuit, snorkelling equipment, light refreshments with coffee or tea and a hot shower afterwards. A souvenir video and photographs can be bought separately, and transport to and from the meeting point is also an extra. The outing lasts about three hours in total, which makes it a half-day activity rather than a full expedition, and it suits adventurous travellers who want one memorable ocean experience beyond the beachfront.
Where it starts
The meeting point is at Freeland Park, on Egerton Road, about forty minutes south of central Durban by road, so plan the morning around the drive. The tour ends back at the same spot. Guests are asked to confirm by late afternoon the day before, because the trip runs weather permitting, and the operator confirms within about forty-eight hours of booking subject to availability. Sea conditions decide everything on this coast, so keep a flexible day in your schedule and avoid booking it for the last day before an international flight.
Who can go
The minimum age is seven. The trip is run as a private tour with a minimum of two people per booking, and it is offered in English. It is not wheelchair accessible, since you board a boat and enter a cage from it.
You should be comfortable in open water and in a wetsuit, and anyone prone to seasickness should take a remedy before leaving, because the boat ride out can be bouncy even on a good day. Free cancellation is available up to twenty-four hours before the start, which helps when the forecast turns.
Making the most of it
Bring swimwear to wear under the wetsuit, a towel, a hat, sunscreen and a change of dry clothes for the drive back. Wear a rash vest if you tend to chafe. The light snacks and hot drinks are welcome after the dip, but you may want a proper meal afterwards nearby or back in the city.
Decide in advance whether you want the photographs and video, since they are a paid extra. Compared with other Durban outings, this is the one for people who would rather get wet than walk a market, and it pairs well with a quiet beach day or a gentle city morning the next day.
Deciding whether it is for you
The appeal is the closeness of the encounter, and the limits are the sea, your stomach and your nerves. If you are uneasy in open water, a calmer ocean activity such as the canal cruise may be a better fit, and if you love marine life but not boats, uShaka Marine World gives you sharks behind glass instead.
Read the cancellation terms before paying, keep your morning free of other commitments and arrive a little early so the briefing is not rushed. Travellers who enjoy this trip tend to describe it as the most vivid half day of their stay, which is why it earns a place beside the safari days.
What to expect
The experience
A boat trip to Aliwal Shoal with a guide and skipper, followed by a cage dive with wetsuit and snorkelling gear supplied.
Best time
On a calm, clear day. The trip runs weather permitting, so keep a spare day in your plans.
How long
About three hours on the trip itself, plus roughly forty minutes each way from central Durban.
Tips
Take a seasickness remedy, wear swimwear under the wetsuit, bring a towel and dry clothes, and decide beforehand whether to buy the photos and video.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Adventurous travellers and teenagers who want an ocean encounter rather than a museum or market.
- Families
- Children aged seven and over can go, but only if they are happy in open water and a wetsuit.
- Couples
- A shared adrenaline outing that makes a good counterweight to a quiet beach day.
- Pair with
- A relaxed beachfront day on the Golden Mile, or the Point Waterfront canal cruise the day after.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the drive from Durban.
Good questions
How long does the shark cage dive take?+
The trip lasts about three hours. Allow extra time for the drive of roughly forty minutes each way between central Durban and the meeting point at Freeland Park.
Is there a minimum age?+
Yes, the minimum age is seven. It is a private tour with a minimum of two people per booking, and it is not wheelchair accessible.
What is included?+
The cage dive, a guide with live commentary, a skipper and boat, transport to the launch site, a wetsuit, snorkelling gear, light refreshments with coffee or tea and hot showers. Photos, video and transport to the meeting point cost extra.
What happens if the weather is bad?+
The trip runs weather permitting. Confirmation is made late on the day before, and free cancellation is available up to twenty-four hours before the start.
Do I need to be a certified diver?+
No. You enter a cage from the boat with snorkelling equipment, so no diving certification is needed, though you should be comfortable in the water.
