South Africa Shark Diving Expedition
This 13-day/12-nights expedition takes you along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal to do14 dives across some of South Africa's most iconic diving destinations: Sodwana Bay, Aliwal Shoal, and Protea Banks. This trip has a strong focus on sharks but since we are visiting such an amazing part of South Africa it asl includes onland excursions such as a full day of safari in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, to give you a well round experience of the natural beauty of South Africa, both in the water as onland.
More than the Dives...
This expedition has been carefully curated to combine spectacular diving, wildlife, conservation, and pure adventure, both on land as well as below the water.
Alongside the adventures, we will be diving deeper! This expedition includes learning sessions and expert talks that give us a deeper understanding of the sharks we encounter, the marine protected areas we dive in, and the conservation work behind them.
This expedition includes a few special surprises as well!
Trip Highlights
Sodwana Bay
4 dives on Africa's southernmost tropical coral reefs.
Located within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, this protected area offers some incredible and diverse reef systems, many species of tropical fish, and seasonal species.
Safari
A full day of Big Five game drives in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, the oldest nature reserve in Africa.
And a night safari in iSimagaliso Wetland Park to see what come sout when the sun goes down.
Hippos & iSimangaliso
During our stay we will be ideally located in the town of St. Lucia. From here we will be doing various excursions including: A morning trip through iSimangaliso Wetland Park to Cape Vidal, where with good weather we will do snorkeling.
And a late afternoon boat trip through iSimangaliso to see the hippos before sunset.
Aliwal Shoal
4 dives on the renowned Aliwal Shoal which is located about 5 kilometers offshore from Umkomaas in the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area.
Formed from an ancient fossilized sand dune, the reef is now a dramatic underwater landscape of ridges, caves, and swim-throughs.
It attracts a wide variety of marine life, including large pelagic species.
Protea Banks
Located around 8 kilometers offshore from Shelly Beach, this deep reef system offers fast-paced drift dives along the powerful Agulhas Current.
Protea Banks is especially famed for its sharks, including large numbers of oceanic blacktips and bull sharks, as well as seasonal sightings of hammerheads, tiger sharks, and even ragged-tooth sharks.
Oribi Gorge
Waterfalls, cliffs and big views on a scenic day out of the water.
Day trip to Oribi Gorge and Lake Eland Reserve to soak up the incredible views from the famous Leopard Rock and suspension bridge, which is suspended 100 meters above the gorge.
For the adrenaline junkies: you can take on the zipline or brave the world’s highest gorge swing!
Who We May Encounter
Oceanic black tip
Fast, curious, and no sense of personal space. The oceanic black tips are almost a guaranteed encounter during this expedition.
Bull shark
A well-known species along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline with a fierce reputation, bull sharks are highly likely to be encountered on this expedition and have an incredible presence in the water.
Ragged-tooth shark
Ghostlike in their movement and unmistakable by their teeth, ragged-tooth sharks can be encountered seasonally at Sodwana, Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks.
tiger shark
Tiger sharks are powerful, curious sharks with their unmistakable striped markings. Best chances are at Protea Banks during the warmer summer months.
hammerhead
Scalloped hammerheads gather in shy, moving schools around Protea Banks through spring and summer. Great hammerheads are rarer, but also a possible encounter.
Let's Dive Deeper
Itinerary
Once everyone has arrived in Durban in the morning, we will take our group transfer to Sodwana Bay. After settling into our accommodation, we will come together for a traditional South African braai as a welcome dinner, followed by a full briefing on what to expect over the days ahead.
After a light breakfast, we will head straight out for our first two dives on Sodwana Bay’s reefs. This is our first chance to get into the water and see what this coastline is all about.
In the afternoon, we will go beyond the dives with an interactive workshop, guest speaker and course theory, getting to know the sharks, species and underwater world we’ll be exploring throughout the expedition.
After our light breakfast and another two dives on the reefs of Sodwana Bay, we will pack up and take our group transfer to St. Lucia. The starting point of our adventures in the South African bush. The evening will give us time to relax and unwind.
This will be a full day of onland adventures! After a light breakfast we head out for our morning trip through the iSimangaliso Wetland Park to Cape Vidal. Where with good weather we will get the chance to do some snorkeling.
In the late afternoon, we will head out on a boat trip to cruise through the iSimangaliso water to see hippos before sunset.
And as the sun disappears we will gear up to head out on an exciting night safari in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Where there is a chance of spotting elusive wildlife such as leopards, as well as grazing animals like the hippos. As a Big 5 reserve, iSimangaliso always holds the potential for the unexpected and experiencing it after dark is a different experience compared to the day.
We will spend a full day on safari in the iconic Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, exploring the reserve on guided game drives in search of its incredible wildlife.
Home to the Big Five, the park also offers the chance to encounter rarer species such as wild dogs and cheetahs.
Breakfast and an afternoon braai in the bush will be provided while we are in the park.
After a light breakfast, we will travel together with our private transfer from St Lucia to Umkomaas, the starting point for our dives on Aliwal Shoal.
The rest of the day is yours to slow down, sort through footage, recharge and get ready for the diving ahead.
After a light breakfast, we will head straight out for our first two dives on Aliwal Shoal's reefs. Here we will get to witness the beauty of the fossilized sandstone reef and enjoy the magic of this place.
After a light breakfast, we will head out for our last two dives on Aliwal Shoal's reefs. After which we will pack up and head down to Shelly Beach, the starting point of our adventures on the mighty Protea Banks.
At Shelly Beach we will check into a selfcatering accommodation located close to the beach.
It’s time for our first dives on Protea Banks! Over the next three days, we will complete six dives here, with a mix of deep drift dives and scent-based baited shark dives.
Diving here is always weather and current dependent, so the plan will be decided each day to make the most of the conditions and give us the best possible experience in the water.
Important: All baited shark dives are scent-based only. Sharks are never fed, and all dives follow the strict regulations in place for these encounters.
Snacks and sandwiches will be provided on the boat.
The afternoon is for relaxing and unwinding.
Two more dives on Protea Banks. We will complete six dives here, with a mix of deep drift dives and scent-based baited shark dives.
Diving here is always weather and current dependent, so the plan will be decided each day to make the most of the conditions and give us the best possible experience in the water.
Important: All baited shark dives are scent-based only. Sharks are never fed, and all dives follow the strict regulations in place for these encounters.
Snacks and sandwiches will be provided on the boat.
The afternoon is for relaxing and unwinding.
Our two last dives on Protea Banks. We will complete six dives here, with a mix of deep drift dives and scent-based baited shark dives.
Diving here is always weather and current dependent, so the plan will be decided each day to make the most of the conditions and give us the best possible experience in the water.
Important: All baited shark dives are scent-based only. Sharks are never fed, and all dives follow the strict regulations in place for these encounters.
Snacks and sandwiches will be provided on the boat.
The afternoon is for relaxing and unwinding.
In the evening we will come together for our farewell South African braai or potjie
After a light breakfast, we will make a trip to Oribi Gorge and Lake Eland Reserve to soak up the incredible views from the famous Leopard Rock and suspension bridge, which is suspended 100 meters above the gorge.
For the adrenaline junkie there is an opportunity to take on the zipline or brave the world’s highest gorge swing! (not included in the expedition price)
After an incredible trip along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal it is time to say goodbye.
A group transfer back to Durban King Shaka International Airport will be provided.
What's included
Some extra information
As mentioned in the daily itinerary, all baited shark dives are scent-based only. Sharks are never fed, and all dives follow the strict regulations in place for these encounters.
To make this expedition extra fun, there are some surprises planned along the way.
After the expedition, you will receive a gallery of images to keep some lasting memories!
Where you will stay
A mix of comfortable guesthouses ideally located in Sodwana Bay, St Lucia, Umkomaas and Shelly Beach.
Who you are going with
Ráchelle, better known online as Tales of Odyssey, will be hosting you throughout the trip. As a storyteller, diver, and ocean advocate, she has built her online presence around sharing the beauty of the underwater world and inspiring others to explore it too with curiosity and respect.
During this expedition she will be hosting you and capturing all those beautiful moments. To ensure this trip is not only adventurous, but also meaningful and memorable.
This expedition is in partnership with Dive In Adventure Tours. A female-owned PADI 5-star Dive Center based in Shelly Beach.
With daily operations on Protea Banks, their experienced crew has an in-depth understanding of these dynamic waters and the marine life that inhabits them. A strong commitment to ethical and responsible diving practises is at the core of their approach.
Owner Patricia is a qualified guide and will be our guide during the trip. Offering her expertise and ensuring a safe, professional, and memorable experience throughout.
Who is this dive expedition for?
This trip is for divers who want sharks, wildlife and real adventure. And who care about the ocean as much as the dives. You will get the most from it if you're:
- Advanced Open Water certified (30+ dives ideal for Protea Banks)
- Comfortable in currents and deeper dives
- Up for early starts and full, active days
- As excited by wildlife & conservation as by diving
- Happy travelling in a small group
- And for the solo travelers, you are also very welcome!
Expect a range of diving experiences: boat dives, reef dives, deep dives, drift dives, and shark dives.
Questions
This trip starts from Durban King Shaka International Airport. At the end of the trip, this is also the drop-off point.
Please check the visa requirements for South Africa well in advance of your trip, and arrange any necessary visas through your local embassy.
Yes, all diving rental gear is included in the price of this expedition.
For this trip you need to be at least an Advanced Open Water diver.
Yes, for this trip it is mandatory that everyone has relevant medical, travel and dive insurance.
Due to the strong currents on Protea Banks, it's strongly advised to have logged at least 30 dives before diving here.
Once you've enquired about the trip, your enquiry is sent to the local operator. Your booking is handled by the local operator. They will handle payments, refunds and cancellations.
Yes, payment plans are available. Please make sure to inform the operator (Dive In Adventure Tours) during your booking process.
Refunds & cancellation
To secure your spot, a full payment is required. However, if you need a payment plan, please reach out by email.
Once you have enquired about the trip your booking will be handled by the local operator. They handle bookings, payments, refunds, and cancellations.
Cancellation refunds are calculated based on the full amount owed: Cancellations made before 3 October 2027 will receive a full refund. But the operator will retain the accommodation deposit of 50% that was required to secure your spot across the locations.Cancellations made after 3 October 2027 will receive no refund.
All dive expeditions are offered, booked, and operated by local dive operators. Tales of Odyssey is involved as the expedition host and content creator.
Ready for your South African
Shark Diving Adventure?
From the reefs of Sodwana to the sharks of Protea Banks, with a Big Five safari and plenty of adventure in between... this itinerary brings together some of South Africa’s most memorable ocean and wildlife experiences in one journey.
Secure your spot now!