SHARKLADY Kim Maclean
South Africa is fast becoming one of the most sought after holiday destinations, and now, after hosting the successful 2010 world cup, more people are becoming aware of what this magnificent country has to offer.
Sharklady Kim Maclean pioneered White Shark Cage Diving in South Africa since 1992, and has established herself as one of the leading Shark operators. She has worked and studied Great White Sharks for over twenty five years, and has extensive experience in skippering boats and Cage Diving.
Sharklady makes a splash in the Washington Post!
In May 2010, Juliet Eilperin Staff Writer for the Washington Post, joined Sharklady Adventures on a Tour of Shark Alley in Gansbaai, and cage dived with Great Whites. Here below is a glimpse of her story and exciting experience. Just to clarify an erroneous assumption written in Juliet's article, there is NO Hook to bait the Sharks. In line with Sharkladies ‘We Care, Protect and Educate’ she utilises a float on an organic rope (so as not to cut the flesh of the Shark), and it is saturated with Tuna bait to Lure the Great White, so that there is no harm what so ever to the Shark.
Swimming with great white sharks in South Africa (Washington Post)
Keep your toes inside the cage: A great white shark swims up for a closer look in Gansbaai.
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 23, 2010
If you want to see a big, scary great white shark -- the kind that reached global iconic status with the 1975 movie "Jaws" -- head to Gansbaai, South Africa. Depending on the time of year, the place is lousy with them. In a good way.
Since great whites have been demonized for decades, you have two choices: You can go with a tour operator who exploits the animals for their sensationalistic reputation, or with one that makes an effort to promote shark conservation. I opted for the latter, signing up for Shark Lady Adventures. (Its slogan: "We care, protect and educate.") Kim Maclean, who has run Shark Lady Adventures since 1992, says that people get an alternative view of sharks when they go on her tour. "This time," she says, "you're in the zoo."
Maclean does her best to put her clients at ease. She arranges for shuttle transportation from guests' accommodations to Gansbaai, and they are taken to a building she has dubbed the "White Shark Embassy," a bright white structure decorated in a nautical theme just steps from the dock the boats depart from. Her staff serves tour participants a hot breakfast upon arrival; that's followed by a short lecture in which the dive master combines safety tips with a detailed description of the sharks' migrating patterns in the area.
Sharklady has invested time, and money to train her Crew, who in addition have long term experience, as well as the following credentials:
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Licensed and certified skippers
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Boat and equipment is SAMSA approved
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Qualified diving instructor
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Level 3 medics
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Full compliance with all permit and safety requirements
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DVD footage is available of your trip
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Regular servicing of her two Suzuki 200hp eco friendly engines
Sharklady is an activist for White Shark protection, and is working with the ‘Save our Seas’ Foundation to support and develop an Education and protection program of the Great White Sharks, which is of the utmost importance to her. She says ‘Sharks are often portrayed as a man-eating predator of the seas which is not the case, and they are often hunted for their fins, and teeth’.
Her business operates in Hermanus and Shark Alley in Kleinbaai, which is 160km South East of Cape Town. We comply with the strictest code of conduct and safety for our clients, our boat, and sharks as laid down by our local Marine & Coastal Management. We operate a responsible operation and conform to being Eco-friendly. The Great White Shark is not interfered with nor is the environment polluted.
If you have a fear of these predators, and don’t want to brave the Cage, you can surface view these animals from the comfort of our boat deck, as well as photograph these graceful creatures whilst they are under the water and when they breach.
 This shark photo was taken in the cage on the 5th of April 2009 by Dr. DirkShmidt, author of Great Whites of False Bay.
Sharklady Cage Dive South Africa
Shark Alley, Kleinbaai, Gansbaai, South Africa, dive with us, and come face to face with White Sharks. You don’t have to be a certified diver to have an incredible experience and adventure. It’s not unusual to see four (4) Metre Great Whites as they feed on the areas large seal population.
Gansbaai is located about 160KM South East of Cape Town South Africa, and offers one of the worlds finest locations for viewing the Great White Shark and other Marine Animals.
WHY CHOOSE SHARKLADY ADVENTURES?
• Sharklady is a passionate pioneer of White Shark Cage Diving in South Africa since 1992.
• Sharklady pioneered the very first South African GREAT WHITE SHARK Festival in the world in 2007 and then 2008.
• Sharklady Adventures conserve and protect our sharks and all Marine Life on our coastline.
• Shark lady believes in creating awareness through education, especially to children who are the future of our country.
• Sharklady Adventures offer small exclusive bookings and educational tours twice daily.
THINGS TO ASK WHEN BOOKING YOUR SHARK TOUR with SHARKLADY ADVENTURES:
• Are the tours exclusive & educational?
→ We offer exclusivity & focus on education
• How many passengers on the boat?
→ Preferably 12 to 15, max 18 = quality cage time, spacious tour
• How many divers in the cage?
→ 3 to 4
• How much time can I spend in the cage?
→ Sharklady Adventures offer smaller groups = UNLIMITED cage dive time
• Do you offer scuba? YES
→ scuba in winter and breath hold and surface viewing in summer
• Do you use shark liver to attract sharks?
→ No, we firmly believe in shark conservation and do not use any shark bait.
AS WE ARE THE OPERATOR WE WILL:
• Pick up and transfer by road or helicopter
• Exclusive Shark tours with SHARKLADY (Kim Maclean)
• Go to our direct internet bookings or direct telephonic contact
Our boat ‘Lady T’ anchors off Dyer Island and Geyser Rock in what is known as ‘Shark Alley’, and which is home to the thousands of Cape fur seals. They dash between the Island’s shark alley which is the patrolling ground for the Great Whites, and the seals are a natural bait to the Great White.
Dyer Island is busting with wildlife, and you can hear the sound of all the birds that inhabit the Island, including the Kelp Gulls, Cormorants, Swift Terns and the Star for Surfs up, our very own African Penguin.
Visibility changes from day to day and is weather dependant, but you still have the pleasure of seeing the Great White Sharks from the deck, as they are surface feeders. Shark Cage Diving is an awesome experience bringing you close to the most magnificent apex predator, and leaves you feeling exhilarated.
Kleinbaai is where you will be headed, and five minutes our of Gansbaai your will find the turnoff to Kleinbaai, a small harbour slip, where we launch our boat to enjoy an educational shark tour, incorporating Shark Cage Diving, or simply White Shark surface viewing which is spectacular from the boat.
Click here for GALLERY PICTURES. Should your partner not wish to participate in the Shark Tour, they can relax at THE WHITE SHARK EMBASSY. Here you can watch videos, enjoy a delicious meal at our restaurant, surf the Internet at our Internet Cafe, or tan by the pool.
Shark picture of Slashfin
Here SHARKLADY had the privilege of seeing the recovery of one of the Great Whites that she named ‘Slashfin’, as his Dorsal Fin had been injured. He has been returning to ‘Shark Alley’ for over 6 years, and has grown by at least one and a half metres.
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