Tiger shark season aliwal shoal

Tiger shark diving in aliwal shoal, durban is now a world famous destination to see tiger sharks and other species of sharks. Tiger shark baited shark dives agulhas house and diving. From the small town of umkumaas, near durban, you can get into a cage or without and snorkel with sharks such as the black tip, spinner sharks, white tip sharks and for the lucky ones perhaps the bull shark and tiger shark during season december to march. The aliwal shoal is a rocky reef which is the remains of an ancient sand dune approx. The aliwal shoal offers some of the most exciting scuba diving in the world. During the summer months nov march tiger sharks are seen frequently and can be accompanied by a shy bull shark at times. The aliwal shoal is home to a wide variety of shark species. Raggies or ragged tooth sharks are regularly spotted between.

Apart from all the seasonal sightings, aliwal shoal provides so much more. Hammerheads can be seen as they migrate past in the summer months, as well as the odd great white shark. The shoal gives divers the unique opportunity to experience wreck, reef and seasonal shark diving at the same site. Diving, ocean explorers, sharks, tiger dive, tiger season, travel tiger shark facts this beautiful shark grows to maximum length of 5. Tiger shark diving aliwal shoal, durban shark diving. We have 2 stunning locations where we find many ragged tooth sand tiger sharks called the cathedral and raggies cave. The tiger shark can be found all over the world in temperate and tropical waters, in the open ocean and in shallow waters. We launch from the safest launch site on the durban south coast rocky bay.

As its name suggests this is the best place to view the ragged tooth sharks during the shark season. Dive report aliwal shoal, umkomaas, kwazulunatal south coast, south africa by eldene. Dive sites ponta do ouro, mozambique, aliwal shoal, south. Umkomaas lodge tiger shark id project posts facebook. Aliwal shoal boasts an abundance of aquatic life from nudibranchs to. At world famous aliwal shoal, in umkomaas near durban, you can scuba dive with the charismatic tiger sharks and see their bluesilver stripes for yourself.

Through photographs of the animals distinctive stripe patterns, bryan and his team are able to tell the tigers apart and to establish which are recurring visitors from one season to the next. We will then spend and hour or over with the many oceanic blacktip sharks and hopefully will be able to draw in a nice big tiger shark to the bait. Getting to know aliwals tiger sharks also meant understanding more about their life history, and about the issues threatening their continued presence in south africa. They are a common sighting along the south african east coast.

Sharks on aliwal shoal shark cage diving kzn durban. Aliwal shoal is one of the few places divers can encounter tiger sharks, bull sharks, sand tiger shark, hammerheads, raggedtooth sharks, and oceanic blacktips without the security of a cage. Besides the beautiful reef and the formidable produce ship wreck, aliwal shoal is the gathering ground for raggedtooth sharks, where a dive amongst these spectacular creatures is truly an unforgettable experience. The aliwal shoal is a paradise for many species, not only for sand tiger sharks, but its preservation initially had to be fought for and the fight is far from over. Baited shark dive, got up close with a 4m tiger shark. Ragged tooth sharks spend a lot of time patrolling the shallow reefs around durban and aliwal shoal, close to the sandy bottom the sharks rub their bodies on the sandy bottom to dislodge parasites and perhaps this could explain their alternate name. Other sharks know the drill too and lots of black tips show up, sometimes as well as dusky and bull sharks, all often getting very close to divers. Nov 12, 2018 the ragged tooth shark is also known as the sand tiger shark and the grey nurse shark, and it sticks to small areas around the world, preferring warm water.

Umkomaas and the aliwal shoal is a haven for divers wanting a close encounter with tiger sharks and many other species of shark. Permits are available at agulhas house r30 for a months permit or from the post office down the road r95 for a year. No cage diving with tiger sharks off south africa scuba. So in the end it does not matter what your preference is to sightings, aliwal shoal truly do provide for each and every diver. Shark diving in aliwal shoal, 7 night reef wreck in south africa with dive discovery. This page aims to identify and record individual tiger sharks seen during baited dives in the aliwal shoal marine protected area.

Shark cage diving durban cage dive or snorkel with sharks. There are a number of dive sites in the area to suit all levels of experience. New video showcases oceanic black tips and tiger sharks in. The ragged tooth shark is also known as the sand tiger shark and the. The aliwal shoal habitat for the tiger sharks are 35km off the the south african east coast, the tend to be in the aliwal reef areas during the mornings and then move south during the afternoon. Whether you are a macro buff looking for nudies and paper fish or an adrenaline junkie looking for larger pelagic species, like sharks and rays, the aliwal shoal has some amazing scuba diving for you. This 3 day package gives you the thrill of the tiger shark baited dives for 2 days straight as well as 2 reef dives.

Oceanic blacktip, spinner and dusky sharks are the most common and in the summer we encounter tiger and bull sharks. Tiger shark season, during our summer season, from november to march as they prefer warmer waters. The different shark species residing on durbans aliwal shoal. May 09, 20 aliwal shoal is a marine reserve, and you need a permit to dive there. Aliwal shoal is rated as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. Tiger sharks are relatively slow moving and like the ragged tooth shark are able to remain motionless for long periods by regulating water flow over the gills by means of active respiration. The shoal is known especially for its abundance of grey nurse sharks known locally as ragged tooth sharks or raggies between august and november when the sharks congregate there to mate. The aliwal shoal offers up some of the most exhilarating shark diving or snorkelling opportunities in the whole world. Do not forget the mantas, parrot fish, puffers, eels, wrasses, trigger fish and so much more. The aliwal shoal is a rocky reef which is the remains of an ancient sand dune approximately 5 kilometres 3.

Tiger shark diving on durbans aliwal shoal blue wilderness. Scuba diving aliwal shoal, south africa scuba diving. Dive with tiger sharks, blacktip sharks, ragged tooth sharks. The aliwal shoal is a worldrenowned shark diving site in south africa where you will see various species of sharks all year round, a marineprotected area and mission blue hope spot.

Shark and shoal guesthouse offers the best umkomaas accommodation to enjoy a relaxing stay in umkomaas, a town famed for shark diving on the aliwal shoal. The aliwal shoal region, including the entire southern coast of natals, was threatened with destruction due to environmental pollution in the early phase of our research. All year round we have the oceanic black tip shark that we can see in the 10s and 20s on the baited dives. Aliwal shoal is rated as one of the top 10 dive spots in the world, but regular divers say it is second only to the rocky ride over breakers to get there, the marine life of aliwal shoal is said to be spectacular. Jan 24, 2016 in an effort to understand more about the tiger sharks behaviour, aliwal shoal scuba also launched a tiger identification project in 20. This reef structure hosts a large variety of marine life and predators and this is a must do destination for divers who love things big. Diving with the famous tiger sharks of the aliwal shoal from umkomaas near durban.

Diving aliwal shoal guide to diving aliwal shoal with. The best time to see a tiger shark at durbans aliwal shoal is in the summer, although they are also seen in the winter. The tiger sharks are encountered off aliwal shoal, and this is free diving. Had 4 large 4 meter tiger sharks and aroung 40 black tip sharks. Shark diving with tiger sharks in aliwal shoal, a rocky reef which is the remains of an ancient sand dune approximately 5 km off the coast of kwazulunatal, south africa. Along the east coast of africa they can be found from port elizabeth, in south africa, all the way up to the red sea.

Getting to know aliwal s tiger sharks also meant understanding more about their life history, and about the issues threatening their continued presence in south africa. Aliwal shoal kwazulunatal south africa shark diving. With years upon years of safe and successful cage shark dives under our belt, we are completely confident that youll be blown away by this really exceptional opportunity. Captain james anderson, who captained a vessel aptly named aliwal discovered the northern pinnacle by chance and managed to avoid disaster. After breakfast we meet at the dive centre to kitup and prepare for the days shark diving on the aliwal shoal. Our setup is userfriendly and safe while viewing the oceans apex predators in their natural environment. Tiger shark prey includes small sharks, rays, dolphins and turtles. Shark diving south africa, aliwal shoal, drankensburg. Tiger shark diving aliwal shoal, durban shark diving trips. If all you want to do is dive into shark infested waters and do not have much time to spare then this is the package for you. Dive into the warm waters of the indian ocean surrounded by blacktip sharks keeping an eye into the blue for the massive tiger sharks to appear. Shark diving in kwazulu natal, south africa aliwal shoal. In season you might also see tiger sharks in the midwater. Tiger sharks galeocerdo cuvier the tiger shark, attaining a length of over 5 m 16 ft.

It is possible to do baited dives and even cage diving for nondivers. Durban shark cage diving with tiger sharks aliwal shoal. Our team, who have years of experience are here to give you the best diving adventure on the aliwal shoal. Shark diving south africa, aliwal shoal, drankensburg mountain retreat, safari and battlefields touring with dive discovery. The shark species include ragged tooth, oceanic black tip, guitar, sand and tiger. Diving with a tiger shark in south africa dive the big 5.

Raggies or ragged tooth sharks are regularly spotted between august and november as they use the area to mate. Three day tiger shark diver package aliwal shoal shark. The warmer waters of durban and kwazulu natal allow us to enjoy shark cage diving on aliwal shoal with many different species of sharks throughout the year. Shark diving in aliwal shoal, south africa scuba diving. Tiger shark baited shark dives a shark dive is an exciting and unforgettable experience, you never quite know what or who is going to come cruising through. The diving starts with a surf launch from either the umkomaas river or umkomaas beach depending on the tide and conditions. The reef is inhabited by many kinds of hard and soft corals and a variety of tropical and subtropical fish species. Aliwal shoal is a reef unlike any other reef you have seen before. The shoal is a rocky reef comprising of an ancient sand dune, that disappeared under the waves in the last ice age many thousands of years ago. Aliwal shoal is a marine protected area, and tiger sharks along with four other. These majestic and shy animals visits our reef fairly often, roaming mostly on the reef bottom, sometimes in search of food, but mostly cruising through quietly.

One look into the huge dark eyes of a a tiger shark and youll be mesmerised and hooked. Scuba diving aliwal shoal, south africa scuba diving website for. Shark cage diving kzn is situated just south of durban near aliwal shoal only 60 minutes from king shaka international airport. Ragged tooth shark dive at aliwal shoal blue wilderness. There can be anything from 1 10 tigers on a dive out at aliwal shoal. Huge tiger sharks and hammerheads are mostly seen here during the summer months. Shark diving aliwal shoal, south africa dive with sharks. Named for the dark stripes covering the top of its body, the tiger shark galeocerdo cuvier is considered the worlds second most dangerous shark after great whites.

Tiger sharks of the aliwal shoal 1 trying to eat me. Diving in south africa, great white shark, sardine run. In aliwal you can dive with bull zambezi shark, tiger shark three types of hammerhead sharks, dusky sharks, spinners, copper shark, spotted ragged toothed sharks and the occasional sighting of great white sharks. Mar 18, 2016 kwazulunatal province, including aliwal shoal offers some amazing opportunities for shark diving without a cage. The ragged tooth shark is also known as the sand tiger shark and the grey nurse shark, and it sticks to small areas around the world, preferring warm water. Its well known for the haven of ragged tooth sharks during the mating season. The baited dive takes place on the southern tip of the aliwal shoal which takes 15 minutes to reach by boat. Shark diving in aliwal shoal, 7 night reef wreck, south. It is found in many tropical and temperate waters, and it is especially common around coastal areas and central pacific islands. It is not a malaria area, but mosquitoes can be a nuisance.

The program is located at the world famous aliwal shoal, where volunteers will be working with unto five different species of sharks and a host of other marine life. Larger species such as tiger, zambezi bull, hammerhead and even the magnificent great white shark. Tiger shark diving in aliwal shoal, durban is now a world famous destination to see tiger. Since 1991, we have arranged trips to exotic locations utilizing the best dive and land adventure specialists. Sharks that can be seen are bull shark known as zambezis in south africa dusky spinner three types of hammerhead copper shark spotted ragged toothed shark, tiger shark, and the protected great white as an occasional sighting. Entry into the cave is not permitted when the sharks are here but there is an excellent viewing area at the entrance where divers can safely kneel and watch the sharks activities.

Aliwal shoal scuba diving padi divemaster qualification and. Why not make the trip a true one to remember and in season july. Seeing a tiger shark sliding silently past you shimmering in the filtering sun rays and the blue water, is the. They are a cautious shark, and frequently chumming must occur for a number of hours to attract them to a boat and divers. Tiger shark dives have been occurring at the aliwal shoal for over twelve years, and marchjune is peak season. Situated close to raggie cave, this can be a scary dive as sharks edge ever closer to see you. The year 1849 marked an event that literally put aliwal shoal on the map. Another section of the aliwal shoal is named the channel, not much light gets in here, leaving the cave in darkness. Shark cage diving durban cage dive or snorkel with. The best time of the year to see ragged tooth sharks at aliwal shoal is during the winter months, from june to october. The famous tiger shark bait dive is definitely one of the top dives in the world and this is part of the dive packages offered.

We say seasonally resident as there are distinct seasonal visitations. Diving is possible all year round while the marine life differes between the seasons. The tiger shark can be found all over the world in temperate and tropical waters, in the open. Aliwal shoal is a marine protected area, and tiger sharks along with four other key shark species are protected within its boundaries. There are also tiger sharks june to november, blacktips, hammerheads, whitetips, and zambezi sharks. Tiger sharks attain sexual maturity at around 3m and give birth to between 10 and 80 live young, measuring 50 to 90cm. Aliwal shoal is one of the few places in the world where divers can enjoy the extreme thrill of diving with both oceanic blacktip sharks all year round and tiger sharks in.

Aliwal shoal should not be confused with resort diving, as conditions are demanding sometimes bumpy launches, swells and currents. Aliwal shoal south africa shark diving aliwal shoal. These active predators do not see us as a prey item, and will swim within centimetres of you without attempting to bite. Tiger shark scuba diving aliwal shoal great white dive. Please arrive at aliwal shoal scuba, one hour before launch. Shark and shoal diving guesthouse accommodation in aliwal and. Galeocerdo cuvier, the tiger shark, is a relatively large shark with some specimens capable of. A baited shark dive on the aliwal shoal offers an exceptional opportunity to dive alongside oceanic blacktip sharks while they hunt for pieces of sardine. The great whites are encountered in gansbaai and this is cage diving. Summer season joys tiger sharks bull sharks dolphins posted on january 16, 2020 by aliwal dive centre time flies when you are having funwe just entered the beginning of a new year and already we are almost exiting the first month.

Chromodoris geometricanudibranch facts and photographs. We are specialists in shark cage diving, snorkeling with sharks and shark viewing at durban aliwal shoal in south africa. Diving aliwal shoal the it place for big marine life. The program is divided into four sections, on which volunteers will work on a daily basis. The aliwal shoal is a worldrenowned shark diving site in south africa where. Whale sharks can be seen sporadically, throughout the year, and are particularly satisfying to spot. Aliwal shoal is specially famous for its abundance of raggedtooth sharks or gray nurse sharks between june and november, and the blacktip sharks who frequently show up to check the dives. South africa, umkomaas, aliwal shoal, one of the best places to dive with tiger and black tip sharks. This video only has 2 species, the oceanic black tip and the tiger shark.

Shark diving takes place all year at the aliwal shoal high season for the ragged tooth sharks is april to november. A short drift south of raggies cave, shark alley is another favourite hangout for the raggies. You never know what you may see on the aliwal shoal baited shark dive. The reef is inhabited by many kinds of hard and soft corals and a variety of tropical and subtropical fish species, which makes diving in aliwal shoal very unique. Welcome to aliwal dive centre situated in umkomaas, on the south coast of kwazulunatal, south africa. Dive the big 5 has had a 100% success rate in tracking them down from the aliwal shoal reef in south africa since 2004. Aliwal shoal has been largely renowned as an excellent shark diving.

Their habitat is warm warters and they migrate to the tropics during winter months. Rated by jacques cousteau as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world, it has a great reputation to live up to. When diving on the aliwal shoal, youll get to see all sorts of exciting. The tiger shark migrates to tropical water during winter and then back to temperate water during summer. Rated the capital of shark diving, aliwal shoal is an amazing place to capture many different species of sharks. We did it 2 years ago, with good conditions, and we dive with tiger sharks, raggies, oceanic blacktips and whitetips. Working to conserve tiger sharks at aliwal shoal scuba. From december through to march when the waters at its warmest is the time when you are most likely to see tiger sharks on a shark dive.

They use aliwal shoal as a mating ground from july to november, and can be seen in the various caves, and shark alley, whilst enjoying their siesta. Scuba diving on the aliwal shoal is nothing like anywhere else in africa. Outside of mating season, these sharks live in segregated groups of males and. We also have our humpback whales and bull sharks that passes through throughout the year, if you come across any of the three mentioned above then it was a successful dive no matter what the surf, water conditions or the visibility was. Nov 24, 2015 baited shark dive, got up close with a 4m tiger shark. Ragged tooth shark dive addon july november why not make the trip a true one to remember and in season july november choose to do a scuba dive with the many ragged tooth sharks which are resident on the aliwal shoal. Its been rated as one of the best subtropical dive sites worldwide. Seeing a tiger shark sliding silently past you shimmering in the filtering sun rays and the blue water, is the main goal of this baited tiger shark dive with blue wilderness. Seeing one of these guys on a shark dive can make any divers day. While our main focus is to scuba dive with the many species of shark found on the reefs of the aliwal shoal including diving with tiger sharks, ragged tooth sharks, blacktip sharks, hammerhead sharks, guitar sharks, whitetip reef sharks, bull known locally as zambezi sharks, we do also see a huge variety of other marine life including whales. Eelskin, at the southwestern tip of the reef, is a superb example of the fossilised rock formations, swimthroughs, sand gullies and caverns that epitomise the shoal. Tiger sharks at aliwal shoal are encountered primarily during the summer months, and particularly when water temperature rises above 23c. The skin of a tiger shark is one of the most appealing sights in the ocean. Dark stripes down its body which resemble a tiger s pattern, which.