d e a r guests booklet v4...please be so kind as to take a few moments to read through the...
TRANSCRIPT
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1 | WELCOME
2 |SEAL ISLAND The Changing Of The Guard Broadnose Sevengill Shark Bronze Whaler Shark Cape Fur Seal
7 | DOLPHINS Common Dolphin Dusky Dolphin Bottlenose Dolphin Humpback Dolphin
9 |WHALES Brydes Whale Antarctic Minke Whale & Dwarf Minke Whale Southern Right Whale Humpback Whale
11 |SEA BIRDS African Penguin Cape Gannet Cape Cormorant White Breasted Cormorant Bank Cormorant Black Backed Kelp Gull Sub Antarctic Skua
14 |CAPE POINT Open Ocean Shark Dive Mako Shark Blue Shark Pelagic Birds Game Fish Famous Landmarks
18 |PROCEDURESCage Diving Behaviour Around WildlifeBoat Safety and EmergenciesExpeditions
22 |WILDLIFE PRINTS Chris Fallows Limited Edition Fine Art
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Please be so kind as to take a few moments to read through the information which is intended to give you a pleasurable wildlife experience whilst with us.
Although we are not scientists or biologists we are all very passionate naturalists and have spent a considerable time in the field watching wildlife in action. We therefore encourage you to ask questions as we enjoy sharing our knowledge and passion about the wildlife we may encounter.
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On our False Bay Shark expedition, our destination is Seal Island which lies 8 nautical miles, almost due East of South Africa’s primary naval port of Simon’s Town.
In settled sea conditions this passage should be covered in the region of 25-30 minutes at a speed of around 18-20 knots.
The primary focus of our Seal Island expeditions is the Broadnose Sevengill shark
On our Cape Point Shark Expedition, our destination is the warm Agulhas Current which is located variably off the famous landmark of Cape Point, in the open ocean. Our exact location changes each day as the Agulhas current is constantly moving and mixing with the colder Benguela current. In order to find the optimum conditions we rely on various environmental keys that include water temperature and colour, visible current lines and bird and fish activity. Passage time can be anywhere from 1 to 2 hours so please be patient as we look for the best conditions!
The target shark species are the Mako and Blue Sharks on this trip.
Treat these expeditions as a marine safari and try to take note of and enjoy the full range of wildlife that occurs in our areas of operation as this will give you a greater appreciation of the sharks’ natural environment.
Whilst all sightings of nature on any of our trips are completely unpredictable and spontaneous there is a chance you may be lucky enough to sight one or more of the species included in this booklet whilst en route to either location.
So keep your eyes peeled!
S E A L I S L A N D
C A P E P O I N T
T I P S + G R A T U I T I E S
Any tips you may wish to give to the crew are entirely at your own discretion and are greatly appreciated but not expected. As a guide, if you have had an enjoyable and educational day and your needs taken care of, an average gratuity is 10% of the trip price per guest.
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The World over is seeing major changes environmentally and Seal Island, as well as most of the South African coastline, has been no different.
In 2015 we began to experience a rapid decline in the number of Great white sharks seen in False Bay as well as in the Gansbaai area. Further declines were recorded in 2016 to 2018 and in 2019 no Great white sharks were seen at Seal Island.
It is our strong belief that gross mismanagement of certain fisheries along our coastline has resulted in the collapse of our ecosystem as we know it. The Demersal (meaning bottom) Shark Longlining industry that targets Smooth hound and Soupfin shark began to fish intensively and extremely effectively in 2015. At this time, a market for this shark meat was also found in Australia where it is sold as Gummy shark for fish and chips. There are no quotas and no size limits for these catches with the result that in just a few short years the populations of both these species are on the brink of collapse.
It is a common misconception that seals are the main prey item of Great white sharks. It is in fact Smooth hound and Soupfin sharks. All Great white shark hot spots in South Africa are located at cape fur seal colonies that are adjacent to inshore populations of Smooth hound and Soupfin sharks.
It appears that a seal diet needs to be heavily supplemented by these two shark species. Take away the main prey item and there is no longer a good reason to use certain areas.
Port and Starboard are the notorious shark eating orcas that are almost certainly responsible for the killing of at least 5 Great white sharks in 2016 in the Gansbaai area. Many theories abound that this is the main reason for the Great White shark population decline. However, we disagree.
The Great white sharks most certainly have a flight response to the presence of these Orca but we do not believe this would have resulted in a permanent departure from a foraging ground being that has been used by the Great whites for possibly hundreds of years.
The future is uncertain and ever changing but at Apex we will continue to fight this massive conservation issue that we are faced with.
With the absence of Great white sharks a new shark species has seemingly filled this gap at Seal Island. This is the dinosaur of sharks, the Broadnose Sevengill shark.
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W H Y D O E S T H I S M A K E A D I F F E R E N C E T O T H E G R E A T W H I T E S H A R K ?
E N T E R P O R T & S T A R B O A R D , T H E S H A R K E A T I N G O R C A S
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The Broadnose Sevengill shark is fondly referred to as the Cow shark. It comes from an ancient order of sharks known as the Hexanchidea’s .Evidence of Hexanchidea’s dates back to 145 million years ago which was at the very end of the Jurassic period so these cow sharks are living dinosaurs! The Sevengill shark specifically dates back to 66 million years ago.
They are the only species of shark to have 7 gill slits (most sharks have 5 gill slits) and their single dorsal fin that is located low down the shark’s back is again evidence of being an ancient shark species. They are one of the most fecund of all shark species and can have up to 80 pups with a gestation period of 12 months. They live to between 30 and 50 years and can get as large as 3 meters (10 feet) in length.
Males mature at between 1.5 and 1.8 meters (5 feet) and females at 2.2 meters (7 feet). This means we are seeing many mature Sevengill sharks at Seal Island and often times we have observed what certainly must be pregnant females and other sharks with mating scars.Their teeth are comb shaped and they have amongst the most powerful of all shark jaws. They are primarily scavengers and we think the opportunity of scavenging
on dead seals is the main draw card for Seal Island. We have recorded one predatory event on a live seal at Seal Island. It was fascinating so do ask the crew about it.
They are very interactive animals which make for a fantastic underwater shark experience. See if you can identify the males and females and let the crew know!
T H E B R O A D N O S E S E V E N G I L L S H A R K O F S E A L I S L A N DNotorhynchus cepedianus
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B R O N Z E W H A L E R S H A R KCarcharhinus brachyurus
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Also known as the Copper shark, this shark can sometimes be seen at Seal Island during the high summer months when we tend to have warmer water. They are so named due to their beautiful bronze/copper dorsal surface and can be found in groups of large numbers.
Whereas the Sevengill shark is very slow swimming, Bronze whalers are generally much faster and move more erratically around the cage, coming in for short periods of time. Often just a blaze of copper is seen!
They feed mostly on bony fishes and can live up to 30 years. Incredibly the females only mature at around 20 years and the males at 13 years.Their maximum size is just under 3 meters (10 feet) in length.
As we don’t see the bronze whaler shark too often at Seal Island you will find the crew very excited when one of these sharks arrive.
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Ironically this largest of all fur seals was given the scientific name pusillus as it was first described from a pup. Pusillus means small. At birth they weigh around 5-12kg. Males can live for 18 years and females up to 21 years.
They are typically seen in False Bay in groups ranging from 1 to 5 animals but can be in large pods numbering over 100 when feeding. Most of these seals will be from Seal Island so you will see many more when we arrive at the Island. They often depart from the Southern end of the island in well organized groups.
On the island be sure to look out for seals that are scratching. These seals actually have fleas which are annoyingly moving around in their fur. There is a layer of air under the fur that repels water but also gives the fleas a warm watertight home. If we haven’t been paid a visit by the local seals in the harbor keep a look out along the way.
The seals use this island as a base and breeding ground and each year around 12 000 pups are born in November and December.The pups are suckled for nine months or more but will start feeding
on their own from as early as 5 months with 7 to 8 months being more common.
Adult males, or bull seals, return to the island in large numbers to mate and set up territories around September / October each year and then leave shortly after the bulk of pupping by mid December.
These huge seals can weigh over 300kg while a large female may weigh upwards of 75kg. For photographs of the seals we suggest the Eastern side of the island which offers us clear passage to within meters of the island as well as being the most favorable side for early morning light.
Other inhabitants of the island include 3 species of cormorants, all of which nest and breed on the island.
C A P E F U R S E A LArctocephalus pusillus
Seal Island is 400m long and 80m wide and lies in a roughly North South orientation. This island is home to Africa’s largest island bound seal colony numbering around 64 000 Cape fur seals.
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C O M M O N D O L P H I N Delphinus capensis & Delphinus delphis
These beautifully patterned dolphins are especially common in False Bay in April but can be seen year round on about 20% of all of our expeditions. This species of dolphin grows to around 2.5m, lives to close to 40 years and will actively race up to boats and try to ride the bow wave.
Common dolphin can occur in mega schools of over 1000 animals but schools of 20-200 are more common. Look for the yellowish figure of
The calf is born 800mm long after 11 month gestation period. Calving peaks in summer.
Lactation may last up to one and a half years. Females sexually mature at about 2m long when they are 6 to 7 years old. Calving interval is 3 years. Some fighting is assumed to occur between males due to competition for females. There are 51 pairs of teeth in the upper jaw and a similar amount in the lower jaw. Teeth are conical and 3mm diameter.
In a study of North Pacific common dolphins it was recorded that they moved 120kms in one direction during 24 hours. The average depth of a dive was 73m. The deepest dive recorded was 258m.
Deep dives beyond 18m down only took place after sunset, when the acoustic deep scattering layer (a concentration of organisms that migrate vertically depending on ambient light conditions) rose towards the surface.
The whale remora (Remora australis) may attach itself to common dolphins
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8 patterns on the flanks of this dolphin as a key identification feature. Common dolphins are distributed throughout tropical and warm temperate waters worldwide with surface temperatures of 10-28 degrees C.
They are gregarious and group sizes may exceed 1000 animals. It is possible that larger groups are more effective at hunting in deep water. There may be a partial migration of this species further north in winter following sardine shoals.
The groups can present different formations, some with fixed structures. Others may represent temporary aggregations for the immediate solution of a problem, like more efficient hunting or avoiding danger.
Males are larger and may reach 2.6m (163kg) and females 2.3m. In the past, over 120 000 common dolphins were harvested in the Black Sea. Tomlin (1967) recorded aggregations of approx 300 000 individuals.
In South African waters common dolphins are often associated with flocks of Cape gannets. Pilchard, redeye herring and common squid form the bulk of the diet.
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These dolphins are only seen a handful of times each year. They are 1.5 to 1.8m in length and are mostly black and white. They are a lot smaller than common dolphins and occur typically in schools numbering 10-50 animals although we have on two occasions seen schools of over 500 animals. The maximum age is believed to be around 35 years. The sighting of this species is often made more special by their playful acrobatic antics.
We have seen two species of bottlenose dolphin in False Bay mostly closer towards Muizenberg and Strandfontein beaches these 2.5m grey dolphins typically dive for lengthy periods and often swim in tight groupings.
On very rare occasions these dolphins will swim right next to Seal Island. This species of dolphin has on several occasions been found inside the stomachs of great white sharks. Interestingly the male Indo Pacific bottlenose dolphin eats larger prey than the female.
Humpback dolphin have only ever been seen a handful of times in False Bay and we have been lucky enough to see them a number of times. They are between 2.5m to 2.8 m and are characterized by a irregular hump shaped dorsal fin and on both occasions where we have sighted these animals they have been seen close inshore. Sadly in the inshore South African population large levels of pollutants have been found in their tissues.
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B O T T L E N O S E D O L P H I N
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Lagenorhynchus obscurus
Tursiops truncatus & Tursiops aduncus
Sousa chinensis
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Although seldom seen elsewhere these 15m long whales are semi resident in False Bay. They are often seen in areas where shoals of bait fish such as sardines and anchovies occur and occasionally can be seen gulp feeding.
They are identified by a small curved dorsal fin two thirds of the way along the back of the whale. On rare occasions this species can be seen lunge feeding into shoals of bait fish. They can be distinguished from other small finned whales by the presence of three grooves on top of the head (rostral ridges) and by their larger size than the less frequently seen Dwarf Minke whale.
Sadly in the North Pacific Japanese whalers now target these shy whales. The whale actually got its name from Johan Bryde, a Norwegian whaler who initiated a whaling operation in South Africa.
These whales are seen far less frequently than the larger but similar looking Brydes whale. These species are more likely to investigate a boat than the Brydes whale and we have had a number of incredible interactions.
The Antarctic Minke grows to around 11m whilst the Dwarf Minke whale grows to around 8m. Both species do not usually have a visible blow and both only have a single ridge on the head.
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A N T A R C T I C M I N K E W H A L E & D W A R F M I N K E W H A L E
Balaenoptera edeni
Balenoptera bonaerensis & Balenoptera acutorostrata
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Eubalaena australis
Megaptera novaeangliae
During late winter and early spring this is the most commonly seen whale in False Bay. Named because of the ease with which they were harpooned as well as the fact that they conveniently floated when dead they were “the right” target for whalers.
Boulders beach (where the penguins are today) was a whaling station up until the early 20th century and even today the old tethering rings for harpooned whales can be seen.
The Boulders was also, not surprisingly, the scene of South Africa’s first fatal shark attack in 1902 when a prisoner of war was killed by a white shark no doubt attracted by the regular supply of dead whales in the area. Fortunately today the whales are protected and are one of the good news conservation stories.
These whales are recovering at an annual rate of 7% from very low numbers and can be seen in False Bay between August and November and
The Humpbacked whale undertakes the longest migration of any mammal on earth with some whales covering nearly 16 000 km in a round trip. The scientific name literally translates into “big wing of England” and is descriptive of its long flippers which are the longest of any whale. Humpback whales are also well known for bubble netting fish where they use a curtain of bubbles to trap fish which are then consumed by multiple whales lunge feeding.
We sight these whales typically to the East of Seal Island and also slightly inshore of where we work. We also regularly see Humpback whales during our spring and early summer months off Cape Point.
Usually seen in family groups of 2 or more these 17 m long whales are referred to as the ballerinas of the sea as their long flippers twist and turn as they breach.
A distinguishing feature from the more common right and Brydes whales are their typically white tail flukes which can be seen when they dive.
occasionally as early as May. They use the bay as a sanctuary in which they mate and calve. It is believed this species may live up to 70 years of age.
They have no dorsal fin, can be up to 18m long and have large callosities (patches of dry skin) on their heads. From a long way off the double spouted blow is also indicative of the species.
During late August, September and October be sure to watch for breaching whales while we travel to the island as well as even looking in the harbor for playful whales.
A piece of trivia about these whales is that they have the largest testes of any living species!
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As youngsters these birds are mostly a grey black but by 3-4 years of age turn into brilliant white adults. These large white birds with yellowish wings and spectacularly blue ringed eyes are always special to see if you can get close enough. Known in Afrikaans as “malgans” (mad goose) they are often seen diving kamikaze style from prodigious heights into the sea to catch fish. They enter the water at speeds up to 145 km/hr and reach depths of 30m resurfacing up to 20 seconds later. With almost front facing eyes, they can see forward better than most other birds with near binocular vision.
In part due to this amazing binocular vision, most eventually die blind, from starvation. The repeated lifetime of high-speed impact with the water
eventually causes them to lose their eyesight, at least to a point where they can no longer hunt in this way.
Bird VisionOf interest to many is how birds are able to see so well both above and below the water. Seabirds such as terns and gulls that feed at the surface or plunge for food have red oil droplets in their cones and retinas. This improves contrast and sharpens distance vision, especially in hazy conditions. Birds that have to
look through an air/water interface have more deeply coloured carotenoid pigments in the oil drops than other species. This helps them to locate shoals of fish, although it is uncertain whether they are sighting the phytoplankton on which the fish feed, or other feeding birds.
Birds that pursue fish under water like auks and divers have far fewer red oil droplets, but they have special flexible lenses and use the nictitating membrane as an additional lens. This allows greater optical accommodation for good vision in air and water. Cormorants have a greater range of visual accommodation, at 50 dioptres, than any other bird, but the kingfishers are considered to have the best all-round (air and water) vision. Many other bird species may be encountered en route to the island which we will gladly identify for you.
Bait BallsBait Balls are large concentrations of seals, gannets and dolphins with the odd Brydes whale in attendance are usually sure signs of bait balls. A bait ball is a shoal of fish which has been herded into a tight ball and is then fed on more easily by the attendant predators.
On some occasions a single seal or even a single penguin can herd a shoal of fish into a convenient ball of food. This is always spectacular to see.
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Spheniscus demersus
Sula capensis
This is the only penguin species that breeds and is regularly seen anywhere in Africa.
Hunting parties numbering 5 to 50 penguins are regularly seen close to the Arc rock and Roman rock area (Roman Rock was South Africa’s first automated light house). These birds are mostly from Boulders Beach Penguin Colony which presently holds around 2500 birds.
Seal Island also has a small breeding population which can be most easily seen mid way up the Eastern side of the island. These penguins can travel 50km or more to feed and are occasionally killed but seldom consumed by Great white sharks.
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This species is the most abundant and can often be seen leaving in a swirling mass numbering in the thousands. These birds can easily be identified by the yellow throat patch and smaller size than the other two species.
This is South Africa’s largest cormorant and is characterized by a large white breast. Closer inspection reveals two beautiful dark green eyes. Numerically this cormorant is the least abundant on this island and also the only species which feeds to a large extent around the island. Not surprisingly it is also the bird species which is most commonly attacked by the Great whites which upon tasting the bird release it as an unwanted meal in most instances.
This is a threatened species and there are reportedly only 6000 birds remaining in their range. Interestingly they make their nests from fine seaweed which is glued together with their own excrement. Birds in breeding plumage can be identified by a bold white spot which is visible on their backs.
Look out for the White Breasted and Bank Cormorants on the two prominent rocks on the North eastern side of the island adjacent to the bay where all the seal pups play.
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W H I T E B R E A S T E D C O R M O R A N T
B A N K C O R M O R A N T
Phalacrocorax capensis
Phalacrocorax carbo
Phalacrocorax neglectus
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These gangsters of the Island will often be seen scavenging on or around the Island. The mature birds of 4 years or older are characterized by a red dot on their beaks. The chicks peck this dot which prompts the adults to regurgitate food upon which they then feed.
In January of 2009 we found a sick adult bird drifting close to shore. The ring on the bird’s leg revealed that it was 22 years of age and ringed only two kilometers away from where we found it. For good photographs of these striking and bold birds be sure to look out for the pair that meet us in the harbor on our return each day.
We are often “guided” to Seal Island and again back to Simon’s Town by a large brown bird with white flashes on its wings. This scavenger, equipped with a large and powerful bill, is a Sub Antarctic Skua.These birds, that happen to be incredibly skilled fliers, often follow the boat and when a treat is offered by the crew, will swoop down to claim its prize.
This can be a great photo opportunity so be sure to be ready!
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S U B A N T A R C T I C S K U A
Larus dominicanusCatharacta Antarctica
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Photo Credit: David Roberts / AlyKat Images
In 1999 Apex Shark Expeditions became the first company to offer open ocean (pelagic) shark diving with Mako and Blue sharks off the African continent. This unique experience takes place between 5 and 30 km’s offshore of Cape Point in the warm and often clear Agulhas current.
The two species of shark we target, the Mako and Blue, as well as a magnificent array of sea birds, cetaceans and other forms of wildlife that are seldom seen by humans close to shore make for a truly unique expedition, This trip is perfect for any true nature and adventure lover.
O P E N O C E A N S H A R K D I V E
The Mako is the perfect shark. Royal blue on top and silvery white below, it is the most beautifully proportioned, the fastest, the most strikingly coloured, and one of the meanest-looking animals on earth.Like other mackerel sharks, the Great white and the Porbeagle, the Mako has a homocercal (equal-lobed) tail, and a horizontally flattened keel at the tail’s base.
They all are gracefully streamlined, with a conical snout, dark eyes, small second dorsal fins, and the aforementioned tail shape. The dark eyes give the bold look of another group of superbly designed predators, the falcons. Mako start off feeding on
bait fish but as they grow are capable of hunting large tuna’s, swordfish and even dolphin and seals. Although capable of growing to over 4.0m (13ft) the Mako’s that we encounter are usually juveniles averaging about 1.5m (5ft) possibly using the area inshore of the Cape Canyons as a nursery ground. On rare occasions sharks of 7-9ft can be seen.
Sadly as everywhere that these spectacular sharks occur they are heavily fished for their meat and South Africa is now arguably the best spot on earth where during our high season you have an excellent chance to see these beautiful creatures.
M A K O S H A R KIsurus oxyrinchus
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Sinuous in movement, the ever curious Blue shark is one that will delight anyone wanting an in your face encounter with a shark. As the name suggests these sharks are beautiful shades of blue in colour with long pectoral fins for gliding across the oceans whilst in search of food.
Blue sharks undertake daily vertical up and down swim patterns as opposed to horizontal criss- crossing as they search the water column for food honing in on any scent that their intended meal leaves behind.
Also growing to 4.0m (13ft) in length the blue shark is truly the nomad of the open ocean. Because food can be scarce in the open ocean Blue sharks have an interesting adaptation in that they have papillose (finger-like) gill-rakers that prevent very small food items such as krill, small squids and schooling fishes from escaping out the gill slits.
Sharks tagged by us off Cape Point have been recaptured off the Azores islands near Portugal. The Blue shark is one of the most fecund (giving birth to lots of young) of all large sharks with a mother once giving birth to 135 40cm young. Blue sharks tolerate cooler water than Mako and can often be found in good numbers in the cooler greener more nutrient rich water that lies just inside the warmer current lines.
B L U E S H A R KPrionace glauca
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Most Blue sharks we see are between 1.2m-1.6m (4-7ft) although at certain times of the year sharks of 6-9ft are seen. Sadly the Blue shark is heavily fished for its fins and more than 40 million are said to die annually.
Most of these sharks are finned alive (as their meat spoils quickly and has little commercial value) and their still living carcasses are dumped back in the water. A sad way for an animal to die that is so curious and accepting of our intrusion into their world when we dive with them.
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P E L A G I C B I R D S
The waters off Cape Point rank along with New Zealand and Patagonia as the best spots on earth to see the great open ocean birds in a day trip from land. Whilst we watch for the sharks you will have an excellent chance to see many of these birds up close.
Cape Point’s nutrient rich waters offer the chance to see no less than 7 species of albatross on a single outing although 3-4 is normal. This array includes three species,the Wandering, Northern and Southern albatross which have the largest wingspans of any bird. The Greatest of them all is the Wandering Albatross whose wingspan may reach a staggering width of 3.6m (11ft).
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TDuring our daily excursions we often investigate the wakes of commercial trawlers who ply their trade close to where we work. These boats are trawling the ocean for a species of fish locally known as hake (Merluccius paradoxus) and in the wash of these boats up to 8000 birds can be seen during Autumn and Spring months, one of the greatest gatherings seen anywhere on earth.
Sadly as with long lining, trawling takes a huge toll on sea birds and many species populations are plummeting as a result of mortality due to these fisheries. Hopefully behind the trawlers you will see Tori lines (lines draped off the main net hauling cables) that reduce the amount of birds that collide with the cables.
In addition to thousands of Albatross, Petrels, Shearwaters, Prions, Gulls, Skuas Terns, Gannets and a host of rarities and vagrants are regularly seen. In fact you will have the chance to see the bird with the world’s largest wingspan, the albatross alongside the marine bird with arguably the smallest wingspan, the Storm Petrel. The birds are often less than a few meters away and this is an excellent opportunity to see their amazing adaptations to this extreme environment up close.
The variation in species diversity depends heavily on seasons so be sure to ask beforehand which is the best time of year to see your special bird.
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The nutrient rich waters off Cape Point are home to a variety of game fish especially Yellowfin tuna and Long Fin tuna (albacore).
The yellowfin tuna are large spindle shaped fish growing to over 100kg (220lbs) in our area. They are often seen and caught behind large trawlers and long liners where they scavenge discarded fish. The long fin tuna , growing to over 30kg (65lbs) form massive shoals also feeding on bait fish and are caught predominantly by tuna pole boats which we see quite commonly in the Autumn months. Both of these species are preyed on by mako sharks.
G A M E F I S H
We regularly see dolphins and whales of a variety of species. These include Common Dolphin, Dusky dolphin, Rissos dolphin (white dolphins with criss cross scratches up to 4m long), Bottlenose dolphins and, occasionally striped dolphins.
We see Southern Right, Brydes, Humpback, Sperm, Pilot, Melon Headed, Minke and even dwarf Sperm whales. All of these are seen on an irregular basis.
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F A M O U S L A N D M A R K S
On the way offshore we will pass Cape Point known to early seafarers such as Bartolomeu Dias in 1488 as the Cape of Storms and later to Sir Francis Drake as the Fairest Cape in all of the world, you decide.
Slightly South West of Cape Point is the Cape of Good Hope which is the South Western Tip of Africa. As we pass around Cape Point we will go through an area we call the washing machine as the waves from the southern Oceans hit the towering cliffs and cause a messy choppy refractive sea at it’s base (not a good time to read the booklet!)
About 3km offshore you will see waves breaking, this is Bellows reef which has claimed a fair amount of shipwrecks including the Lusitania which struck Bellows Rock at midnight on 18 April 1911.
When more than 25 Miles offshore you should be able to see the Back side of Table Mountain, Cape Hangklip to the east, on really clear days Danger Point close to Gansbaai in the extreme East and Slangkop lighthouse to the west.
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Once on anchor we will begin attempting to attract a shark to our vessel. We do not chum with blood or any other environmentally incorrect method; in fact we use far less to attract sharks than most fishing vessels do in the bay to catch fish.
If a shark is curious (all sharks have different personalities) they may pay us a visit lasting from a quick glimpse to a stay of over half an hour or more.
If you are wanting to cage dive please be sure to let us know beforehand as we try to allocate time in the cage based on how many wish to dive on each day. We take the smallest groups in the South African cage diving industry to make sure you will have a good chance to do this.
That said however it is entirely up to the shark/s if they want to visit us and we do not simply put guests into the cage if seeing sharks is unlikely or the conditions are not good and surface viewing would be better.
On some days we will see many sharks at the boat and on very rare days very little or no sharks at all.
When you are in the cage, relax, take the beauty and majesty of the shark in, it doesn’t want to eat you and is probably as curious of you as you are of it.
If you are lucky enough that the shark makes a close pass have a look at the big black eye, it’s not just black
but also has a pupil and will watch you like you watch it. If more than one shark is around, watch for body language and displays such as dropped pectoral fins, gaping and banking on one side amongst many others. Each of these behaviours indicates to the other shark that it is meant to move away, give way or alter course. Watch and see this for yourself, it is quite fascinating.
During all marine wildlife interactions we will take the boat as close as we feel the animals are comfortable with and we will never compromise on this. At all times we will also try our best to maximize photo opportunities by looking for the best lighting or creative angles.
We do not use shark livers or any other unsustainable product to attract the sharks. We also do not do snout grabs or recommend the touching of the sharks, however tempting it may be. Please keep all limbs inside the cage. Rather use a GoPro pole when taking underwater video but please also be mindful of others in the cage and their viewing and photographic opportunities.
If bad weather forces us to depart early please accept that the decision was taken in the interests of your safety and comfort. White Pointer 2 is a custom built vessel designed from a functional point of view to give you the best opportunity to view marine wildlife. The vessel is also fully safety certified by SAMSA the governing safety authority in South Africa.
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B O A T S A F E T Y A N D E M E R G E N C I E S
For your peace of mind please familiarize yourself with the following:
Lifejackets are situated directly behind the seats inside the cabin and are easily accessible.
Fire Extinguishers are situated in the compartment directly under the steering wheel.
The VHF radio is on the left hand side of the
Our position is…………( the GPS on the left of the steering wheel will give co-ordinates).
This call for help is to be repeated regularly until a response is forthcoming. In the event of low/decreasing battery power a call for help on the stroke of the hour is often more effective.
In the event of a medical emergency, a trauma kit is available in the tunnel to the right of the steering wheel. There is oxygen on board with a flow meter (typically 8L per hour is recommended). In all medical emergencies remain calm and find out whom on board is best equipped to deal with the emergency at hand.
With over 3000 incident free trips to Seal Island and over 300 offshore we are confident that there should be no need for the use of any of the above. It is however important for you to be aware of how to deal with any emergency should we have one and the crew are incapacitated.
steering wheel and the emergency channel is channel 16 activated by depressing the blue button that says 16.
In a critical emergency the following is the typical call to activate a rescue or immediate response.
Mayday ……Mayday ……….Mayday.This is the Vessel White Pointer 2 ……………Mayday.
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If you’ve loved your day with Apex and want to spend more time with sharks, why not check out the various shark expeditions and shark packages we offer. Apex Shark Expeditions has been running these expedition and packages for the past 20 years and are specially tailored for shark and nature lovers.
Many of the world’s most famous breaching shark images have been taken on this expedition and our personalized and small group size offer our guests the ONLY photographic and natural history opportunity like this available in South Africa. Read more...
Do you love Great Whites? If yes, then this expedition is for you. The Cape coastline has an abundance of White sharks and the Great White Trail is an incredible opportunity to encounter these sharks across South Africa’s three premier White shark hotspots: False Bay, Gansbaai and Mossel Bay. Read more...
All options offer very good chances to see Great whites over 4 different locations as well as the chance to see other species of sharks. We feel excited about these options and we know that you will love them. If none of the packages work for you, we will custom a package to suit your specific requirements. Read more...
E X P E D I T I O N S
P R E D A T I O N S P E C I A LT Y G R E A T W H I T E T R A I L C U S T O M P A C K A G E S
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Dive with 10 species of sharks and learn about their biology in the most beautiful spots on the South Africa coast. Read more...
Each year during May, June and July, vast shoals of sardines leave their cold-water home in South Africa’s temperate seas and travel north into the sub-tropical seas of South Africa’s Wild Coast. The shoals offer a bountiful feast to a host of predators including seabirds, game fish, marine mammals and sharks. It is one of nature’s greatest spectacles. This is the Sardine Run. Read more...
Are you planning a trip up The Garden Route? Lekkerwater Beach Lodge at De Hoop has just been voted one of TIME Magazine’s 2019 World’s Greatest Places. It is a must visit location! From July to November, Southern Right whales and their offspring flock here in their hundreds from Antarctica. Year round pods of bottlenose dolphin are also to be seen as well as all sorts of marine life making Lekkerwater, the ultimate location for a land-based marine safari. Read more...
A real adventure, witness unequalled beauty in the wildlife and landscapes across Southern Africa. Day and overnight packages can be tailored to suit personal requirements. Read more...
S H A R K S O F S O U T H E R N A F R I C A
S A R D I N E R U N
F O R S H O R E B A S E D W H A L E W A T C H I N G
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Chris Fallows is a world renowned wildlife photographer and authority on Great white sharks. When he is not on the ocean, Chris spends his time in the African bush or at other remote locations around the world immersed in wildlife. His photographic journey over the past 25 years has seen him adopt a unique style as well as having a purposeful outcome for all those who view his art.
It was through thousands of days photographing sharks hunting Cape Fur seals and breaching that Chris developed his own style of bringing different angles, dramatic & atmospheric backgrounds but most importantly, emotion into both his underwater and terrestrial imagery.
Nature has the ability to leave one with many emotions. It is hard and unpredictable but it is also raw, pure and breathtakingly beautiful. Nature has the ability to touch all those who are exposed to it, right down to the very depth of one’s soul.
Through Chris’ powerful photography he aims to bring this connection right back to the viewer and celebrate nature and wildlife in a way that we may have long forgotten. Through a life of exposure to wildlife on the land, in the ocean and of the air Chris’ images emotionally immerse us uniquely in all these realms. Ocean …Air…Earth …
All images in this booklet and many more are for sale. To view and purchase Chris’ work please visit his website: www.chrisfallows.com
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S T A Y I N T O U C HWe hope you enjoyed your day with Apex and we look forward to connecting with you.
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www.apexpredators.com
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