Cage Shark Diving

Umkomaas Lodge Dive Charters is located in the small town of Umkomaas, 40km south of Durban on the South African coastline. Established in 1985, the dive centre is the only one in the area directly located on the beachfront, and the only one in town offering caged shark dives to the public.

the Lodge has just introduced caged shark diving to the list of experiences that it offers. To dive in the cage, guests need no previous experience, either with diving or with swimming. You need only a sense of adventure, and the desire to experience some of the planet’s most exciting species up close and personal.

The concept of using a cage to get close to sharks is that it provides a visual and tactile deterrent to the sharks, enabling divers to experience them in complete safety. Although the Lodge has never had a single incident with our sharks even when encountering them outside the cage, we appreciate that for some, the added assurance may be appealing. We feel that nothing should stop people from experiencing the beauty and wonder of a shark encounter.

The cage that we use is specifically designed and strengthened to withstand the rigours of cage shark diving on the South Coast. It is SAMSA (South African Marine Safety Association) approved, and has passed engineer inspection. It can safely and comfortably accommodate up to five people at a time.

On every dive, we encounter between five and fifty oceanic blacktip sharks, and during the summer months we frequently see the beautiful and misunderstood tiger shark. Throughout the year, it is possible to see bull sharks, and the winter months bring with them the elusive dusky shark. The beauty of these sharks is unparalleled, and we often hear that encountering them has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our guests.