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Sharklady (Kim Maclean) pioneered White Shark cage diving and surface viewing in 1992.
Prior to this her passion for sharks began at a very early stage in her life, and after leaving school Kim enrolled part time at the University of Cape Town and with Sea Fisheries where she began her studies, and completed here Diploma in Biology. Part of her education required spending arduous months on ships in remote regions such as Antarctica, where she worked closely with these awesome creators, and came to understand their behaviour as curious animals. Her life’s purpose is to ensure that humans would see them differently, and in latter years she set about a teaching programme in conjunction with the 'Save our Seas Foundation' to inform the public the truth and purpose of the Great White’s function in the marine ecosystem.
During her studies one of the famous Great White Shark movies was released 'Jaws' which unfortunately has done little but encourage people to have a misleading perception of sharks, as being 'man-eating monsters', 'killing machines' and 'white death'. When in fact they are graceful and curious predators.
Sharklady considers herself privileged to be living on the doorstep of one of the magnificent Great White Shark territories in the world (Shark Alley). Shark lady runs a satellite office in Hermanus, and this is where her primary business operates, however the bulk of the tours are done in Kleinbaai, Gansbaai, where her boat “Lady T’ is moored.
She provides Cage Diving and /or surface viewing of the Great Whites in their natural habitat. 'It’s much more that a job, it's my life’s passion' she says. Unlike many who view these sharks as man-eating predators, Sharklady loves and respects these magnificent animals, which ‘are misunderstood and maligned’.
Due to Sharklady’s reputation, she has been selected to perform interviews for famous TV programmes such as, Carte Blanche, and many others. She volunteers to assist with Children’s education and donates funds to these various causes. She has hosted thousands of people on her Shark Tours. Apart from helping you enjoy an adrenalin dive, Sharklady will educate and amaze you with an informative anatomy and characteristics talk prior to the tour. Sharklady believes that it is imperative to educate and be constructive in eco-tourism. Tourists have a general fear prior to the tour and they return with a whole new understanding of this magnificent creature. Sharklady and her crew are arguably the most experienced operators in the industry having pioneered White Shark Cage diving in 1992, long before the burgeoning multi-million Rand business it is today, Sharklady gives her clients more than they came for. ‘It’s not about the adrenalin, face to face encounter and the t-shirt’ she says energetically. ‘It must be a learning experience, people must leave with a better understanding of the apex predator.’
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