Shark Diving
Experience the Thrill of Protea Banks
Join us for an unforgettable shark diving adventure just 1 hour south of Durban. Our boat launches from Shelly Beach and takes you straight to the renowned Protea Banks, one of the world’s top shark diving destinations.
Protea Banks is a renowned shark diving location off the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, famous for its diverse shark population, including Zambezi, Raggedtooth, and Hammerhead sharks. It's a popular spot for scuba divers, offering a chance to encounter these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.
Why Choose Shark Diving on Protea Banks with Us?
With over 15 years’ experience on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, our team combines adrenaline-packed adventure with strict safety, professional dive masters and active marine-conservation values. We offer:
Ethical baited dives without cages, for immersive shark encounters in open water
Highly trained dive masters and skippers experienced in shark behaviour and safe practices
Top-quality equipment, full safety briefings and GPS tracking for each diver
Easy access: we launch from Shelly Beach and reach Protea Banks quickly
Smaller group sizes, personalised service and a strong conservation ethic
Let's go Diving with sharks
BAITED DIVE
If you want a really close up encounter with sharks and take great photography, this shark dive on Protea Banks is what you are looking for.
This shark dive is suitable for those starting with an Open Water certification as it only goes to 10m. You must have good buoyancy as this dive is done in mid-water with no reef as a reference and be comfortable with the idea of SHARKS all around you.
We usually get Blacktips and Bull sharks and during the season Tiger sharks. Sharks are lured to a specific location by using a bait-ball or drum containing fish products like tuna, sardines, or other bait. No Cages: done without cages, allowing for a more natural and immersive experience.
Baited dives can attract a variety of shark species, including Tiger Sharks, Blacktip Sharks, Zambezi (Bull) Sharks, and Dusky Sharks and Divers are able to observe sharks at close range, drift with them in the current, and get close-up images and videos.
REEF DIVE
Our reefs are located at depths of 30 to 40 meters, and due to the current, which can vary from mild to very strong, this is a drift multilevel dive.
For this dive on Protea Banks, an Advanced certification is required. The dive can be challenging and is intended for experienced divers; therefore, we only accept divers with at least 35 dives and prior experience with deep dives. If you do not have the necessary experience but still wish to dive at Protea Banks, you can hire an instructor to accompany you. If you're not an advanced diver, consider checking out our courses.
During this shark dive on Protea Banks, you will have the opportunity to see SHARKS in their natural habitat and observe their natural behavior. Sightings can be fleeting, or you may get up close and personal with the SHARKS as they move in and out of our line of vision. The dive can be both intense and chilling—it's nature, so you can expect the unexpected. The duration of the dive is 40 to 50 minutes, depending on your personal air consumption.
Sharks of Protea Banks
🌊 Year-Round Residents
Bull (Zambezi) Sharks: Powerful and curious, Bulls are one of Protea’s main stars. They are seen on both reef and baited dives, often circling divers in calm, controlled movements.
Blacktip Sharks: Fast, sleek, and highly social, Blacktips bring energy to every dive. They’re usually the first to arrive on baited dives and can be seen all year.
🦈 Seasonal Visitors
Tiger Sharks (Jan–Jun): The “striped giants” of Protea Banks. Gentle yet impressive, Tigers are best seen during the summer months.
Hammerhead Sharks (Nov–Mar): Schools of hundreds sweep through the southern pinnacles — an unforgettable sight during summer.
Ragged-tooth Sharks (Jun–Nov): Known locally as “Reggies,” these docile sharks gather in the caves and swim-throughs in winter, offering spectacular photographic encounters.
🌍 Other Possible Encounters
On lucky days, divers also spot Dusky Sharks, Bronze Whalers, Oceanic Blacktips, Guitar Sharks, and even Whale Sharks or Manta Rays passing by.
Dive Itinerary
- 07:00 – Meet at Shelly Beach Launch Site
- 07:30 – Safety Briefing & Gear Check
- 08:00 – Boat Launch to Protea Banks
- 08:30 – Dive Begins (45–60 min underwater)
- 12:30 – Return and Debrief at Base
We offer both day dives and shark diving packages.
No scuba diving license? Ask about our Discover Shark Diving program!
Who Can Join?
- Reef dives : Advanced diver + 30 dives experince
- Baited dive : Open water diver + 20 dives experience
- Experince with deep and drift dive.
- Be medically fit to dive
We offer introductory briefings and supervised dives for first-timers.
If not Certified divers with an Advanced Open Water qualification ask about ours advanced diver course.
How does shark dive works
Shark diving day dives & packages
- Single reef dive R950
- Single baited dive R 1900
- 2 reef dives - R1800
- 1 reef + 1 baited Dives - R2700
- Full gear Rental - R 600
Shark diving packages
Package 1 - 4 dives
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3 reef dives
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1 baited dive
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weight & cylinder
Package 2 - 6 dives
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5 reef dives
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1 baited dive
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weight & cylinder
Package 3 - 8 dives
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7 reef dives
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1 baited dive
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weight & cylinder
Package 4 - 10 dives
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3 reef dives
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1 baited dive
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weight & cylinder
Shark diving e accommodation packages
Package 1 - 4 dives & 2 nights
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3 reef dives
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1 baited dive
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weight & cylinder
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2 nights self catering
Package 2 - 6 dives & 3 nights
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5 reef dives
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1 baited dive
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weight & cylinder
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3 nights self catering
Package 3 - 8 dives & 4 nights
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7 reef dives
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1 baited dive
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weight & cylinder
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4 nights self catering
Package 4 - 10 dives & 5 nights
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3 reef dives
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1 baited dive
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weight & cylinder
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5 nights self catering
Book Your Shark Dive on Protea Banks Today!
Dive into adventure, and come face-to-face with sharks in their natural habitat.
what people say about us
We're just a 90-minute drive south of Durban, on the stunning Hibiscus Coast. Free secure parking available. Transport options can be arranged on request.