Shark Cage Diving!
It’s perhaps all the influence from seeing Jaws a lot of times or you probably are a crazy fan of ‘Shark Week’ that was put up by Discovery Channel or maybe its just that you love adventure and you are on a roll and want a very unconventional vacation you never want to forget all your life. If you have decided to get a real close up of the sharks (of course, with the safety of the diving cage!), you have made a great decision. However, if you want to ensure that your experience is incredible and you want to be able to tell some really great stories to your family and friends, you need to clarify certain things with prospective shark diving companies before you book your vacation.
Firstly, you need to select an apt location. You should be aware that there aren’t too many places where diving with the sharks is an option so you don’t have to have to get worked up about all the confusion of making the right choice. You have options for shark cage diving in California, Australia, Africa and the popular Mexican Isla Guadalupe. You need to ask yourself- How far from home are you ready to travel? Is it affordable for you? Will your trip involve hassles like visa issues and immunization? Are you ready to put up with anything to get the best?
While you may be totally excited about diving in with the sharks, you also need to be aware that safety is a huge factor to keep in mind. Underwater diving and that too with interactions and encounters with super-predators weighing over 3000 pounds can be quite a risk. Your diving operator should be totally frank about the crew’s experience. You need to ask the company about its previous records and check how long it’s been in business and ensure that they have good experience in shark cage diving in particular. In addition to that, check if the company is responsible with sharks as there are many small companies that bait sharks in ways that are harsh and injurious to them. Dive crews that are responsible will be just as concerned about the safety of the sharks as of their clients. After all, you don’t want those lovely creatures to be hurt just for your fun, do you?
Also, check for the safety of the cage; ask your diving operator about a detailed description of the design of the cage and also its structural specifications. Avoid companies that do not provide you with the safety of a submersible sub.
It is also a good idea to check whether the company complies with the international and national regulations in this regard. Also make sure that the crew has a good emergency protocol in case someone gets injured or ill during the trip.
After having taken care of the most important factor, that is your safety, you now have to get to the restricting factor- the money involved! Your trip will not only include expenses for your shark cage diving alone, there will be a number of other expenses such as hotel accommodation, meals, tourist visa cost, etc. You have to have the diving company clarify your charter’s cost and its inclusions and exclusions before you can make any commitment.
Well, it may seem like quite a bit of work and a lot to think and ask about, but you would agree that it is worth it if these make sure that your trip is safe and fun so that you have the experience of your lifetime with shark cage diving.