Do you want to get up close and personal with the ocean’s apex predators? Then shark cage diving might be a bucket list item for you!
Though it is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, how safe is it? Do the metal bars separating you and a feeding shark guarantee your safety? And what are the ethical implications of shark cage diving on the marine ecosystem and the natural behavior of sharks? This is what we will discuss and uncover below.
Historical Evolution of Shark Cage Diving
Jacques Cousteau introduced the concept of cage diving in the 1950s as part of his groundbreaking work in ocean exploration. He created the shark cage to observe sharks up close while staying protected. This wasn’t about thrill-seeking—it was about science and documentation. Cousteau used the cage to film sharks for his documentaries, helping to change how people saw these animals. Instead of mindless predators, his work revealed their beauty and importance in the ocean ecosystem.
By the 1970s, shark cage diving was no longer just for scientists. The popularity of the movie Jaws stirred a mix of fear and fascination with sharks, and operators began offering cage diving experiences to tourists. To ensure sightings, they started baiting the water with fish scraps and blood, a practice known as chumming. This method guaranteed close encounters, making the trips exciting for visitors. While it brought people closer to sharks, it also raised questions about how it might influence shark behavior over time.
Understanding Shark Cage Diving
What is Shark Cage Diving?
Shark cage diving entails using submerged metal cages held at different depths of the water column to keep divers safe while observing sharks in their natural habitat.
Common Practices Involved
The ocean is vast and magical. Whilst diving with sharks can occur through a combination of dive preparation, shark encounters are not guaranteed. Thus, shark cage diving businesses often use food to attract sharks to ensure shark sightings. Common practices for attracting sharks to specific locations include:
- Chumming the water: Using fish parts and blood mixed with the water to attract sharks to a site.
- Baiting the sharks: Presenting bait on lines to lure sharks closer to cages for better viewing.
- The use of decoys: Employing artificial seals or other similar decoys to simulate prey and attract sharks.
Safety Considerations
Shark cage diving is generally considered a safe activity. However, wild animals are exactly that – wild, and therefore not entirely predictable. Thus, there are rigorous safety precautions in place to avoid accidents and maximize safety during shark cage diving. These include:
Durable cage construction: Cages are generally constructed with materials meant to withstand the strength of sharks – particularly the power of ramming and bites. These materials include aluminum or steel, however recently there have been innovations towards cylindrical cage constructions using a polymeric material with calcium carbonate and rubber fillings. This new construction as an alternative to metal increases diver safety as corrosion does not occur (as it does with metal), and reduces defects related to cracks from chemical bonding used in the construction of metal cages.
Professional supervision: Responsible operators provide guidance and supervision, delivered by highly trained professionals. They explain shark behavior, safety precautions, maintain a calm and safe environment, and are also trained to respond in emergency situations. Choosing to dive with reputable shark cage diving operators will increase your chance of having a fun and safe shark experience.
Regulatory compliance: recreational divers must adhere to and follow the guidance of professionals to ensure their own safety in the water. Respecting the rules and the surrounding marine life is integral to ensuring safety during any kind of ocean activity.
Notable Incidents
Cage shark diving is overall a safe activity if divers choose to adventure with responsible and reputable operators. However, as with a lot of adventure sports, there have been several incidents in the past that have resulted in unfortunate fatalities and injuries:
Boat Capsizing Incident (2008): On April 13, 2008, a shark cage diving boat anchored near Dyer Island, South Africa, capsized when it was hit by a large wave. This resulted in the deaths of three tourists on board.
Cage Breach Incident (2016): In October 2016 a great white shark caught a bait line that wasn’t immediately released, and rammed itself straight into a cage. Once the shark was caught between the bars, it swam into the cage as this was its only way out. Thankfully, the diver inside the cage managed to get out and waited underwater until the shark cleared out through the top before entering back in, and returning to the boat safely.
Risk Assessment
While incidents are rare, when they do occur they highlight the inherent risks associated with wildlife interactions, as shown above. There are various risks involved, including unpredictable wildlife behavior, the ever-changing natural environment, potential human errors, and equipment malfunctions.
Continuous improvement of safety protocols, ongoing research, equipment maintenance, and professional training are needed to mitigate the risks of shark cage diving.
Ethical and Environmental Considerations – Impact on Shark Behavior
Using food as a way of attracting sharks to dive sites is a controversial activity. It raises environmental and ethical concerns, some say it may alter shark behavior, their feeding patterns, and the overall marine ecosystem.
Chumming, baiting, or using decoys to lure sharks potentially trains the animal to associate humans and boats with food. And this increases the risks that come with swimming with sharks, with or without a cage.
Furthermore, a study conducted in South Australia on shark cage diving and their impact on the behavior and movement of white sharks in the area suggests that cage-diving operations, and subsequently the feeding of sharks can lead to long-term changes in their behavior. This activity can impact the amount of time they spend in different habitats as well as their dietary choices, thus impacting other marine populations down the food chain and in the wider food web.
How ethically justifiable is it to disrupt sharks’ natural behavior for the sake of providing a thrilling experience? If the goal of shark cage diving is to safely observe sharks in their natural habitat, feeding them primarily serves the interests of the business rather than the sharks. Anyone who has dived with a shark in the wild will know that they are generally very shy creatures who will swim away at the sight of any human. Therefore, is the cage only necessary because chumming and baiting put sharks into “hunting mode”?
Conservation Benefits
Experiencing sharks up close can inspire a deep sense of connection and empathy, fostering a responsibility to protect these majestic apex predators.
Shark cage diving also provides local communities and governments with economic incentives to preserve shark populations and their habitats.
However, it raises a critical question: how can it be justified as a tool for conservation if the activity itself isn’t entirely sustainable?
These are the environmental and ethical controversies surrounding shark cage diving.
Regulatory and Community Responses
Not all communities support shark cage diving as a tourist activity. For example, the Southland Conservation Board in New Zealand opposes the unregulated practice of shark cage diving, expressing concerns that it is inconsistent with the need to protect native species.
Several local communities in South Africa have also shown opposition to this activity as they fear chumming the water not far from the coast may lead sharks into beaches and places of recreation, which can pose safety concerns.
Shark cage diving may require stricter regulation to address environmental, ethical, and safety concerns, ensuring a balance between the economic benefits of tourism and effective conservation efforts.
Pros and Cons of Shark Cage Diving
| PROS | CONS |
| Unique Experience: Provides people with the opportunity to observe and experience sharks up close and personal in their natural environment. | Safety Risks: accident potential is high, as there are many variables at play (such as wildlife interaction, weather and environment, human error, and faulty equipment) despite rigorous safety measures. |
| Conservation Awareness: Promotes understanding, connection, empathy, and appreciation of shark species, therefore encouraging efforts for their conservation. | Ethical Concerns: Controversy over the ethics, and environmental sustainability of interfering with wildlife for tourism. |
| Economic Benefits: Can contribute and support local economies through eco-tourism. | Environmental Impact: Possible negative impacts on the behavior of sharks and the wider marine ecosystem. |
Final Thoughts
To conclude, shark cage diving is generally a safe activity, if undertaken responsibly. However, is it ethical and environmentally sustainable? The pros and cons are up to you to weigh out.
However, we will note, shark cage diving is not the only way to see sharks in the wild. It may be one of the most consistent and reliable as sharks are lured into dive sites, however, there are other ways of diving and swimming with sharks in the wild.
So consider your options and the implications of your choices, and make an informed decision! This is an essential process of responsible tourism. Let’s work together to experience nature in all its beauty and conserve it for generations to come!
FAQ
Do sharks attack cage divers?
Sharks rarely attack cage divers. The cages are specifically designed to protect people, using strong materials that can withstand even large sharks bumping or biting. Sharks are naturally curious and may investigate the cage, especially when bait or chum is used, but incidents of actual attacks are extremely rare. Most interactions are non-aggressive, with sharks swimming around the cage rather than trying to harm the divers. Properly trained operators and strict safety protocols ensure the risk is minimal.
How safe is cage-free shark diving?
Cage-free shark diving can be safe when done with experienced guides and in controlled environments. Divers often swim with species like reef or nurse sharks, which are less aggressive and pose little threat to humans. However, the risks increase with larger, more unpredictable species like great whites or tiger sharks. Safety relies on respecting the sharks’ space, avoiding sudden movements, and understanding their behavior. It’s not risk-free, but with the right preparation and awareness, many people safely enjoy cage-free encounters.
Is it safe to scuba dive with sharks?
Scuba diving with sharks is generally safe, especially with species that are accustomed to divers and not naturally aggressive. Sharks rarely see humans as prey and are more likely to avoid you than attack. Risks can arise if the sharks feel threatened or if divers behave irresponsibly, such as chasing or provoking them. Following a guide’s instructions, staying calm, and observing from a respectful distance are key to a safe and awe-inspiring experience with these majestic creatures.