On social media, it’s always hilarious when comedian Michael McIntyre talks about Australia and sharks. For example, he joked about the crazy things people do, like punching a great white on the nose. But obviously, if you look for a marine adventure with the giant fish, there are safer ways to explore the ocean.
When Close Encounters Are Too Close
Recently, a video by 7 News Australia on YouTube revealed a wild encounter, but not every adventurous traveler would want that experience. In the description of the video, it said that “A Geelong angler has made a very unlikely acquaintance off the coast of Anglesea, coming face to face with a great white.”
For most folks who travel to Australia, that might make their hearts leap into their throat. However, this particular fisherman seemed chill with it. The narration explained that he “was surprisingly calm about his encounter with the shark, but marine experts warn he’s playing a dangerous game.”
Well, it certainly could be a very dangerous game. And, while it’s the kind of story that goes viral, it’s not something random travelers should try. While Anglesea is a popular destination, there are safer ways to get up close to sharks elsewhere.
No Need To Mess With Sharks
Frankly, we should all probably follow the advice of Michael McIntyre and stay well away from dangerous predators. Especially, if you don’t happen to be Australian. Once he imitated an Aussie, quipping in disbelief, “Yeah, there’s a few sharks out there, mate, just keep an eye out.”
However, if you love adventure travel and hope for a great white on your bucket list, it might be safer to go on a supervised shark cage-diving trip with experts. Even then, you might get a rush that certainly doesn’t feel like being “surprisingly calm.”
For the recommended cage diving, you should know that people operate them out of Port Lincoln on the shore of Boston Bay. From Adelaide, you can fly in to the largest city in the Eyre Peninsula. Or, you can drive 646 km (401 mi).
Where Do The Cage Dives Take Place?
Clearly, sharks love the remote Neptune Islands Group, also known as the Ron and Valerie Taylor Marine Park, located in Spencer Gulf. Operators out of Lincoln take you there, but allow a minimum of a full day for your excursion. After all, it’s not a hop and skip from Port Lincoln to the best diving spots.
Trusted Operators
Two licensed operators offer Australian shark cage-diving adventures. First up is Calypso Star Charters. While the sharks in the area love to feast on seals, they also love chowing down on the natural fish bait that the operators use. The company offers daily surface cage dives, and folks love the high amount of sightings out there in the sea.
Next up is Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions. Probably, if it’s your first time in the water with sharks, at least that you ever noticed, then you won’t want their option. For a start, they offer a liveaboard experience and that implies more time out there. But if you are already a certified diver then rejoice! And that’s because they run an operation that involves seeing sharks from a cage on the ocean floor.
What to Expect on Your Adventure
The day tours usually last about 12 to 14 hours and your meals come in the price tag. So does all the necessary equipment. Notably, it seems safe enough, and the operations go smoothly under the watchful eye of the Australian government.
The entire experience seems very exciting, but Australia also takes their marine environment very seriously. So, licenses for cage diving meet strict rules about sustainability and safety. Notably, if you go on one of those fishy adventures, you help support over 70 jobs and help inject close to $11 million into the state economy every year.
Have you ever been cage diving to watch Australian sharks in their natural habitat? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your travel news and updates.
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