Our round-up of the best of the best:
Since Steven Spielberg’s smash hit film Jaws in 1975, the great white shark, carcharodon carcharias, has both fascinated and terrified us in equal measure.
Cage diving offers a safe – if still nerve-wracking – means to see them up close. When they turn up, they’re surprisingly unthreatening and curious, to the extent that some tour operators now allow you to free dive with them (i.e. without the cage). NB rather you than us.
Here are the best places in the world to find out for yourself…
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
The Neptune Islands Marine Park is one of the world’s best and most accessible great white hotspots. Full-day cage diving tours depart year-round from Port Lincoln (and some include swims with sealions). In winter months, opt for 2-5 night liveaboards to allow for unpredictable weather and reduced daylight hours.
Best for ages: 18+ | £300 | 1-5 days
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Spacious speedboats leave Kleinbaai harbour (two hours’ drive from Cape Town) in the early morning, setting course for Dyer Island and the famous ‘Shark Alley’. At time of writing, sightings are less than they used to be following the arrival of two orcas…
Best for ages: 13+ | £100 | 5
San Diego, California, United States of America (USA)
This remote island off Baja California, Mexico, offers the best great white diving in the world, with almost guaranteed sightings, excellent visibility up to 40m and a pleasant water temperature of 18-20°C.
Best for ages: 18+ | £3,500 | 5+ days
