Shark Diving Unlimited is a fully licensed shark cage diving operator and not a bookings agent. We receive our permits from MCM (Marine and Coastal Management) and we are approved by the Department of Environment and Tourism.

Shark Diving Unlimited is situated in the Great White Shark capital of the world, Gansbaai, and is only 2 hours from South Africa’s mother city, Cape Town. We are the only PADI Dive Centre in Gansbaai and we specialise in Great White Shark diving and viewing. No diving or swimming experience is needed to partake in our daily activities.

Our experts specialize in locating and diving with Great White Sharks and we guarantee that your Conservation/Education Experience will be jam-packed with excitement. Shark Diving Unlimited is internationally renowned for its above average and exceptional success rate.

Great White Shark Cage Diving

Join Great White Shark expert Michael Rutzen, world famous for free diving with Great White Sharks on one of the highest rated Conservation/Education Experiences in the world.

Seeing the greatest and one of the oldest animals on the planet is truly a unique, awe-inspiring and a humbling experience. Most people arrive with fear and trepidation and leave with admiration and a newfound respect for these majestic animals.

Experience the thrill of being underwater and surrounded by Great White Sharks! Feel the exposure of freediving while remaining safe inside the cage, or participate from the boat and see the Great White Shark in all its magnificence.

Trips are weather dependent, last approximately 4 hours and your launch time will be confirmed well in advance of your trip. Meet for breakfast at the crew house, a picnic lunch and soft drinks are packed  on board Barracuda. Towels and Diving Equipment is provided & there are hot shower facilities at the crew house.

 

 

You DO NOT need to be a qualified diver to enter the cage as we use a simple breath hold technique. And children as young as 12 years old are also allowed to get into the cage. Special certificates are printed for every child that joins us for a Great White Shark Cage diving trip.

Shark Diving Unlimited is committed to show you Great White Sharks in the most environment friendly way possible. We DO NOT offer any adrenalin rush trips and only use this opportunity to observe these magnificent animals for conservation minded excursions.

Our videographer will make a movie of your trip that is available immediately after your return to the Crew House. This Movie will also be accompanied by one of our world class documentaries “Sharks – Man Eaters or Misunderstood” that aired on the BBC, and was made in conjunction with Blue Planet Aquarium and the Editor of the England Dive Magazine.

Traditional home made vegetable soup, home baked scones, muffins and homemade bread is also served after the trip. There will be a screening of your daytrip movie and one of five of our documentaries.

Launch times will be confirmed well in advance before your trip and alternative arrangements are made in case of bad weather. Despite our 99.99% success rate, these are wild animals and sightings cannot be guaranteed. However in the unlikely event that we don’t find sharks we will offer you a free trip!

Great White Shark Breaching Trips

Definitely the best nature experience you can have. No other natural event even comes close to this. Seeing the true power of a Great White Shark is most probably the only experience that will stick in your mind for the rest of your life.

When a one ton shark projects out of the water with such tremendous speed and force that it clears the water by two metres you can’t help but feel small. Yet you only realize a few minutes later that you have just been a part the best experience this world has to offer.

It is common belief that White Sharks only breach around Seal Island in False Bay. This is not correct and only a marketing strategy followed by operators in the False Bay area.

We have at times had over forty breaches in one morning in Gansbaai around Dyer Island. Mike Rutzen was the first to capture this amazing spectacle from both underwater as well as from the air. This amazing footage can be seen in the “Great White Shark – A Living Legend” documentary.

A seal like decoy is pulled about 30 – 40 metres behind the boat. As the boat is cruising at a reasonably slow speed, everybody awaits anxiously for the moment of truth. With lightning speed a shark jumps out of the water, with great precision and accuracy it takes the decoy time and again.

This event should not be missed and these breaching trips are run between May and August every year. Great White Shark breaching trips can be combined with your Shark Cage Diving trip or run separately. A Maximum of 8 people can join Mike Rutzen and his team for this event, and should be booked well in advance.

Let Shark Diving Unlimited take you on an adventure of a life time. Come on a Shark Breaching trip and see what we are taking about.

PADI Great White Shark Speciality

The PADI Great White Shark Distinctive Specialty Course runs for 3 days, costs £1000.00 and includes:

• 2 great white shark cage dives.
• 1 Scuba-Orientated kelp dive with Cat Sharks
• 3 night’s accommodation (4 star).
• All meals inclusive (picnic lunch on the boat).
• Transfers to and from Cape Town. Pick up from guest house to harbour.
• PADI certification card
• 2 Evening lectures, hosted by Michael Rutzen.

Topics covered include the biology, ecology, behaviour and conservation of the Great White Shark.

Michael Rutzen is world renowned for being one of the few people in the world who has the knowledge and expertise to interact with great white sharks outside the safety of a cage! This course does NOT teach you how to free dive with great white sharks and at no time will you dive outside the cage with them!

However Michael’s presentations are supported with breathtaking footage showing the complex social structure, body language and feeding behaviour of this awesome predator.

If you thought you knew all about great white sharks think again!
If you are a shark fanatic then this is the course for you! Students who complete this course are invited to sign up for the amazing opportunity to do Shark Diving Unlimited’s Advanced Cage Dive!

Book early to secure your place!

RATES

A clean restaurant , (certification to prove it’s purity) a nice selection of meals and a great local and Italian wine list, together with great service and a warm and beautiful ambiance, a winning formula that goes with great Italian music has just been the successful result factor at Fabio’s Authentic  Ristorante Italiano.

We introduce several new black board recipes per week and some end up being added to the menu as they become so popular

Situated in the heart of Hermanus, nestled between the trees and greenery of the St Peters church, in St Peters lane , with a ocean view from the outside sidewalk Peroni Deck “Casa Peroni” , the Italian look and feel ambiance would really make you feel like you would be in Italy. Inspired by the movie “Chocolat” survival against all odds was my objective.

Fabio’s (The Don) team consists of his cousin and business partner Antonie Lombard aka ‘Antonio The Hammer”, Head Chef  De Wet ( Danillo The Bullet), Patricia and her team, are a successful recipe of unity , dedication and committed to consistency, Wietska the Hawk our restaurant manager checking & making sure all runs smooth &  with Mervin ( The Gentle) in the bar and a front of house team headed up by the Wietska the Hawk aka names are all given to them after several weeks of appointment and chosen according to personality.

Quoted as One of the TOP 800 restaurants in South Africa and a write up in the Country Life magazine that quotes our Veal and Tiramisu dessert.

We also have a fantastic wine list, including great grappa’s (Including and only available at Fabio’s a White & Dark Chocolate Grappa and Prosecco wines) and various stunning  Italian after dinner liqueurs such as Limoncello, Averna , Ramazotti, Amaretto etc.

Our Deli offers imported Italian Pasta’s , coffees, Filled Pasta’s , olive oils, balsamics, Arborio rice, cold meats , cheeses, squid ink, polenta, Italian cool-drinks etc.

Fabio, Antonie or the team at Fabio’s will gladly explain any product or recipe and will assist in combining any product to make sure you have pleasant meal at home

Humble Italian Hospitality with great service and true Italian atmosphere

Buon apetitto

Open Monday- Sunday from 11h00 – 21h30 ( Kitchen Open)

Arrivederci e a presto

Ciao Ciao

Fabio’s Ristorante

60 St Peters Lane

Hermanus

028 313 0532

The interior of the home a flows freely from a spacious lounge that leads to the braai area and pool, to the five bedrooms and second lounge/TV room with amazing views. The kitchen is well equipped and there is a large dining table that can seat 12.

The home can comfortably sleep 10 with one King-size,two Double, two Three-quarter and two Single beds. A sleeper-coach and camping cot is also available.

Category: Luxury Elite
Property Code: Yellow Wood Villa

Distances to Local Attractions: 1km to the start of the Hemel & Aarde wine route 3km into Hermanus town center 15km to Arabella Golf Estate 40km to Shark cage diving 3km to whale watching and beaches 5 km to the new Harbour 100 km to Cape Town International Airport
House Floor / Levels: 2
Number of Bedrooms: 5
Maximum Sleep: 10people
Number of Bathrooms: 3
Seating: 12
Lounges, Entertainment & Dining Rooms: 2 lounges, one  equipped with TV, DVD and Dstv opening onto an outside patio with BBQ entertainment area and one Dining Room
Kitchen: Fully Fitted and equipped

Fireplace: 1 wood fireplace in lounge
Braai: 1 under cover on outside patio
Outdoor entertainment areas: swimming pool and junglegym
TV and available channels: Full DSTV bouquet available
Garages: double garage and off street parking for 4 cars
Security System: Alarm system
Swimming Pool: Private swimming pool
Linen and Towels: Linen and towels provided, bring along pool and beach towels
Pets permitted: Yes
Smoking Permitted: No Smoking inside the house allowed
BOOK NOW (Please note that a minimum stay of 5 days are required for this house)
RATES: A fixed R495 once off payment for post clean and laundry, regardless of the length of stay applies to this home
Peak Season:  R2890 per day ( 15 December – 15 January )
Shoulder Season:  R2100 per day ( 16 January – 30 April )
Shoulder Season:  R2100 per day ( 1 September – 14 December )
Off Season:  R1790 per day ( 1 May – 31 August ) 

Our aim is to give you peace of mind and the assurance that your property and guests will be well looked after.

We are flexible, cost effective and will work to suit your requirements.

Clean, well-maintained homes book well and see repeat business.

The upstairs, open-plan, spacious and well-designed kitchen is fully equipped. It opens up onto two patios – one on the north eastern side of the house facing the mountain with a built-in braai and ten seater table. The second patio one the south eastern side has magnificent views over Grotto Beach, Die Plaat and the Klein River Lagoon with De kelders, Gansbaai and Dyer Island on the horizon. The lounge area is large and comfortable with a flat screen satelite television. The formal dining-room has a 12-seater table next to the built-in bio-fire fire place.

Downstairs in the reception lounge and games room, guests can enjoy a game of snooker or a drink at the cocktail bar. Alternatively, hop into the jacuzzi next to the bar and outside pool area with its heated swimming pool. For those who prefer a bit more activity, there is a fully fitted gymnasium next to the games room.

Each of the seven en-suite bedrooms (four with a seperate bath and ashower, three with a shower only) is stylishly decorated. Four of the bedrooms open onto the pool area. Two of the upstairs bedrooms overlook Grotto Beach.

Maanskynhuis is situated within walking distance from Grotto Beach and less than 5 minutes from the centre of town. There is an abundance of walks for keen hikers to choose from with the one as beautiful as the other, whether you choose a beach, coastal or mountain route. All the options have spectacular views.The Cliff Path is about 10 km long, is accessed from various points and takes one all along the coast right into the village. Hermanus is known as one of the best land-based destinations for whale-watching in the world and during the whale season (July through to November) this is the ideal spot for whale-wathching!

Hermanus has numerous well-known restuarants, bistros, bars, coffee shops and art galleries. The Hemel-en- Aarde Village, 3 km outside Hermanus, boasts the largest selection of South African wines. There are also numerous wine estates to visit, as well as sea kayaking, whale watching and shark cage diving for the adrenilin junkies.

Hermanus is known as the jewel of the Overberg. Maanskynhuis offers guests the opportunity to enjoy the finest this popular holiday destination has to offer.

The menu consists of a mixture of freshly baked breads and pastries. The croissant dough is imported from France to produce a real authentic French croissant. Panini’s and ciabatta served with a variety of cold meats and cheeses. Tartines with fresh herbs and salads made from fresh produce sourced from Villiersdorp.  All eggs, bacon and chicken are free range and there are Sanford organic yogurts and cheeses available.

They are fully licensed and sell local and imported wines and beers.

The Daily Bread sells a wide range of imported quality products at affordable prices. From marmite rice cakes and dark chocolate kit kats to Italian imported parma ham to quality coffee machines. The deli offers a number of home cooked meals for customers to take home or have as an early dinner on the way home. The meals on offer depend on the fresh ingredients available. For example lasagne, chicken dishes, even fresh prawns. In the future Billy plans to offer picnic baskets but until then you can create your own picnic basket from all the goods on offer.

The Daily Bread is open daily from 8am to 6pm and whether you are looking for a leisurely breakfast, a quick cup of seriously good coffee, a delicious lunch, a relaxing sundowner or an early dinner, the Daily Bread can offer it to you!

The home sleeps 6 people, with two double and two single beds.  The main bedroom has got an en-suite.

You are welcome to bring your four- legged children as this home is pet friendly and the enclosed garden is safe and secure for children as well.

Category: Self catering Holiday House
Property Code: Oker

Distances to Local Attractions: 6km to the start of the Hemel & Aarde wine route 9km into Hermanus town center 10km to Arabella Golf Estate 49km to Shark cage diving 3km to whale watching and beaches 9 km to the new Harbour 100 km to Cape Town International Airport
House Floor / Levels: 1
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Maximum Sleep: 6people
Number of Bathrooms: 1 1/2
Seating: 6
Lounges, Entertainment & Dining Rooms: 1 lounges, equipped with TV, DVD and Dstv flowing from an inside BBQ entertainment area and one Dining Room
Kitchen: Fully Fitted and equipped

Fireplace: 1 wood fireplace in lounge
Braai: 1 inside braai
Outdoor entertainment areas: swimming pool
TV and available channels: Full DSTV bouquet available
Garages: double garage and off street parking for 3 cars
Security System: Alarm system
Swimming Pool: Private swimming pool
Linen and Towels: Linen and towels provided, bring along pool and beach towels
Pets permitted: Yes
Smoking Permitted: No Smoking inside the house allowed
BOOK NOW
RATES: A fixed R395 once off payment for post clean and laundry, regardless of the length of stay applies to this home
Peak Season:  R1490 per day ( 15 December – 15 January )
Shoulder Season:  R1290 per day ( 16 January – 30 April )
Shoulder Season:  R1290 per day ( 1 September – 14 December )
Off Season:  R990 per day ( 1 May – 31 August ) 

We need YOUR help!

BLANKETS AND WARM CLOTHES DRIVE

Yes, we really do need your help. We are using our Facebook platform of just over 5000 people to help us collect blankets and warm clothes for those who are not able to afford the luxuries we sometimes take for granted.

How you can help!

1. THREE DROP OFF POINTS

Drop off Zone 1

Drop off Zone 2

Drop off Zone 3 - Marine Square Reception

These are the 3 places in central Hermanus where you can drop off all blankets and warm clothes.

2. TALK ABOUT IT

This is a SOCIAL MEDIA CHARITY DRIVE, so  we urge all who read this to share it on your Facebook pages.

Here is the link to this blog to copy and paste into your Status bar -

http://hermanusinformation.co.za/blog/hermanus-blog/2012-social-media-charity-drive

 

Who Benefits?

Drop off Zone 4 - 73 Main Road, Sandbaai

All the donations will go to our disadvantaged communities and be distributed by the Hermanus Rainbow Trust. This trust does fantastic work in our communities and to continue this work they need our help.

The offices are located in Main Road, Sandbaai 73 and will also act as a drop off point.

Visit their website on www.rainbowtrust.org.za to see where they are involved.

JOIN US IN MAKING THIS A WARM WINTER

Contact Jesse James on 072 355 9870 for more info, or email JesseJamesRSA@gmail.com.