South Africa

South Africa is a global hotspot for sharks and rays. There are over 170 species recorded in the waters of South Africa. This is about 30% of all species in the world. One contributor of this diversity is the presence of two oceans colliding off the coast of South Africa. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean and the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean both bring their own species of sharks and rays. In addition, the colliding of these two oceans create very nutrient rich waters that provide a wealth of marine life, on which the sharks and rays can feed.

Sharks and rays are a very old group of animals. Fossil records of rays are dating 150 million years back and sharks have been on this earth for over 400 million years. They were here millions of years before the dinosaurs and are more ancient than almost all common life forms you see today, such as insects, trees, reptiles, mammals and amphibians.

The waters around Cape Town, False Bay and the warmer waters of Kwazulu-Natal are good spots to see sharks and rays. The size of these animals vary quit a lot. From the large Whale Shark that can reach lengths of 14m and the Oceanic Manta Ray with a diameter of 7m, to the smaller African Ribbontail Catshark that grows up to 37cm in length.

Other species popular with divers are the Great White Shark, Tiger Shark, Bull Shark, Dusky Shark, Sand Tiger Shark and Common Blacktip Shark.

Watching sharks from a boat or some of the smaller sharks and rays while snorkeling is definitely possible without it getting to scary. But in order to see the larger, or largest of the sharks and rays, cage diving or scuba diving is advised. For some people, there may be some fear they need to conquered.