Shark Explorers Cape Town

Morne Hardenberg is inexplicably drawn to sharks. His passion for these fascinating predators started more than 15 years ago with his first shark encounter while snorkelling for crayfish in Cape waters. Since then he has spent the last 10 years focusing on great white sharks through underwater filming, free-diving and shark tourism. He even met his beautiful wife, a shark researcher through their shared love of sharks. His passion for sharks continues to grow through each and every underwater experience and through Shark Explorers he wants to share these experiences with you.

 

Unfortunately he has seen first hand how ignorance, greed and a lack of awareness has resulted in the decline of many of our local shark populations. One of the main reasons Morne started Shark Explorers is that he firmly believes that each one of us can make a difference. He believes that he can make a difference by showing people a positive experience with sharks. He has strong feelings about the way sharks are misrepresented as potential killers for an adrenalin experience to sell tours. Sharks should be respected as the critically important predators they are and that is predators or their normal environment and not people.

 

Shark Explorers sets the standards and guidelines for responsible shark diving and interactions high. They provide a holistic experience which includes breaking down sensationalist, adrenaline-hyped advertising, treating sharks with respect, reducing the impact we have on them and their environment, educating divers about their behaviour and the threats they face. Most importantly he wants to show you the sheer beauty of these fascinating sharks and give you an experience you won’t forget.

 

 

Morne is an acclaimed diver, shark conservationist and underwater cameraman. He is a qualified PADI Divemaster, a Department of Manpower trained commercial diving supervisor, a SAMSA qualified boat skipper and is trained in medic first aid (Level III). Morne has 10 years experience working in a family owned great white shark tourism business where he learnt how to provide to the needs of tourists and filmmakers alike. He is a talented free diver and has hundreds of dives free-diving with great white sharks outside of cages, alongside his uncle, Mike Rutzen. Underwater filming is a special passion and documentaries he has worked on include:CNN's Planet in Peril: Battle Lines, Beyond Fear (National Geographic), SHARKMAN (Discovery), Great White Shark: a Living Legend (BBC Natural World), Deep Water (Animal Planet). In each, his passion and unique relationship with sharks shines through. A highlight in his career is winning the 2008 Award of Excellence from the Guild of Television Cameraman for his breathtaking great white shark sequences in the film “SHARKMAN”. Still photography is a new hobby, but already his photographs have appeared on the front pages of leading newspapers. Morne believes it’s his unusual insight into shark behaviour that gives him an edge.

 

The Boat - Shark Explorer

 

 

Blue & Mako Shark Diving

 

 

Price

 

Dive Summary

Includes

 

False Bay is on the doorstep of the great city of Cape Town. A mere 30min drive from Cape Town international airport and a white shark hotspot. White Sharks naturally hunt Cape fur seals in winter months around seal colonies on the Western Cape coast. Seal Island houses over 70000 cape fur seals and due to a number of factors it is the best place in the world to see natural predatory interactions between these powerful sharks and their natural prey. The best time of day to see this is the first two hours after the break of day.

Up to 40 natural predations can take place in one morning! White sharks are probably the most charismatic and popular of the sharks. However, much of what is seen on TV or read is mostly not based on reality. These sharks are awesome! Nothing compares to seeing a white shark for the first time and all preconceived ideas are crushed with the first viewing. Whether it’s a surprise reveal from below or whether you sight the dorsal fin coming up the chum slick. You don’t even have to climb in the cage to get a good view as many of the sharks swim at the surface and some even pop their heads out to have a look at you. White sharks have a presence which is difficult to describe and this is the reason why you have to experience them for yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

R2000p/p. (Min number of 3 clients needed to run the trip - Maximum 10).