Shark Diving: 5 Best Places to Find Tours (If you dare!)

With Shark Week upon us, I realized we’ve taken a look at crocodile diving before, but never shark diving. Are there tours for that? If so, where? (Besides, obviously, somewhere near an ocean.)

So I did some research and located five of the best places to find and take shark diving tours. Of all kinds, because some use cages, some don’t. Some specialize in great white shark encounters, others in sharks in general regardless of species. You need to be scuba certified in some cases, but in others, a snorkel will suffice.

Speaking of tours, there are a lot of tour companies out there. The ones listed below are all from Viator, which, as noted on the affiliates page, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. (For which, as always, I say, “Thank you!” You just helped me cover my website maintenance and hosting fees!)

And because most people associate sharks with beaches and beaches with summer, I’ll stow this post on the Summer Spirit page for handy reference.

Now, without further ado, let’s gear up and dive into these five best places to find shark diving tours.

5. Hurghada, Egypt

Dive With Sharks

Both the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea border Egypt, and you’ll find sharks (and shark diving tours) in both but it’s the Red Sea we’re going to focus on.

There are several species of shark in the Red Sea, including oceanic white-tip, thresher, tiger, grey reef, leopard, scalloped hammerhead, and even whale sharks. A great place to find a shark diving tour is Hurghada, a beach resort town that’s also a Red Sea scuba diving hot spot.

But one of the cool shark diving experiences is at the Hurghada Grand Aquarium. Yes, you read that right. In the aquarium!

While remaining under close supervision of a divemaster at all times, you get to come face-to-face with the aquarium’s resident sharks. No scuba certification or anything needed, but you do have to fill out a medical questionnaire for non-certified divers.

4. Exmouth, Australia

Swim with Whale Sharks – Ningaloo Reef – 3 Islands Whale Shark Dive

Ningaloo Reef is apparently where you want to head for the best chance to swim with whale sharks in the Indian Ocean. This UNESCO-listed reef off Australia’s west coast allows snorkelers to swim with the largest fish in the sea from April through August. (And from September through November you also have the chance to do that with humpback whales too —from a safe distance.)

3. Cancun, Mexico

Small-Group Eco Friendly: Whale Sharks tour in Cancun & Riviera Maya

Another great place to swim with whale sharks is in the Caribbean Sea off the Yucatan Coast. But here you also might get to see dolphins, manta rays, and turtles.

Also, I said Cancun in general, but you could participate in this kind of shark diving experience if you’re staying anywhere in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, or Tulum.

2. Oahu, Hawaii

Oahu Shark Dive

Hawai is a perfect place to dive with sharks in the Pacific Ocean. There are many tour companies on Oahu’s famed North Shore. They can’t guarantee a shark sighting, but along the way to the viewing area —where they set out a cage for you to jump into— you might also spot other sea life like turtles, dolphins, and humpback whales.

As for sharks, several species swim in Pacific waters, including white, bull, and tiger. You might see one of these on your Hawaiin shark diving expedition, but the most common sightings are Galapagos and sandbar sharks.

1. Western Cape, South Africa

Shark Cage Diving and Viewing in Kleinbaai

Two oceans, the South Atlantic and the Indian, blend at the tip of South Africa where the Western Cape province and the port city of Capetown are located. The waters are home to one of the most feared types of sharks: great whites. This is why it’s become a great white sightseeing and shark diving destination. Not just any shark diving though, cage shark diving.

Although, these days it might be a little trickier to see them. As The Guardian noted, the great white vanishing act has many conservationists concerned. Where have they all gone and why?

No one knows for sure, but if you want to take a cage diving tour for a chance to get up close and personal with a great white, you’ll find loads of tour options everywhere from False Bay to Gansbaai and Kleinbaai.

You don’t need to get in the cage if you don’t want to, though. They say you’ll still get an exciting view from the boat. (Which is hopefully big enough. Bonus points if you know what movie I’m referencing.)

However, if you do, you don’t need to be scuba certified or anything. Many include all the necessary equipment, including diving suits and masks, such as the Shark Cage Diving and Viewing in Kleinbaai tour. It gets very high reviews on Viator because as they explain, they get you all set up so that when the sharks appear, you simply hold your breath underwater and enjoy.

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