Diving with Tiger sharks

The Aliwal Shoal has become famous for its tiger shark diving, with numerous tours now offered for competent, qualified divers.

May to April is prime viewing time for this world-rated shark dive experience. Lured by the scent  of fish oil or fish offal, lithe, ferocious tiger sharks, considered to be one of the most dangerous and rare sharks in the world, appear in the water, along with their scavenging side-kicks, up to 50 black-tip reef sharks, at a time.

Breathe slow and shallow, no sudden movements, and “shark jockey’s” beware - you need to show respect to these 4 m long deep sea predators if you don’t want to end up being dinner. As they glide within inches of you, up to 8 “tigers” at a time, this incredible encounter’s for qualified, experienced scuba-junkies only, to watch in silent awe.

Once the sharks realise you’re less appetising than you look, they swim off, making way for dolphins, turtles, moray eels, potato bass, reef and pelagic fish, rays (devil, manta, bull, eagle) and more sharks - bull, guitar, sand sharks, and in summer masses of breeding ‘raggies’ (ragged tooth sharks).

Reference:http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/za/full-article?oid=28121&sn=Detail&pid=117526&Diving-with-Tiger-sharks