Terms & Conditions
Last updated: August 2026
By making a booking with White Shark Diving Company (“WSDC”, “we”, “us” or “our”), you confirm that you have read and accepted these Terms & Conditions, including our booking, payment, cancellation, wildlife-sighting and safety provisions.
These terms apply to bookings made directly with White Shark Diving Company through our website, FareHarbor, telephone, WhatsApp, email or booking office, unless different written terms have specifically been agreed for a group, charter, package or trade booking.
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Booking and Payment
A booking is confirmed once you have received a booking confirmation from White Shark Diving Company or our authorised booking platform.
All prices are quoted and processed in South African Rand (ZAR), unless otherwise stated.
Any applicable booking, platform or payment fees will be displayed before payment where applicable.
The person making a booking on behalf of other guests is responsible for ensuring that all members of the booking are aware of these Terms & Conditions and any relevant safety information.
Please ensure that the email address and mobile number supplied when booking are correct, as important operational information may be sent by email or WhatsApp.
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Trip Times and Final Confirmation
Shark cage diving is a weather- and sea-dependent activity.
Meeting, departure and return times may vary according to weather conditions, tides, sea conditions, operational requirements and the number of trips scheduled for the day.
A time selected or displayed when booking should therefore not be regarded as a guaranteed final departure time.
Final meeting and departure information is normally confirmed approximately 24 hours before the trip.
Guests should allow sufficient flexibility in their itinerary and are strongly encouraged to schedule shark cage diving earlier in their stay where possible, allowing an alternative date should weather prevent the trip from operating.
Guests are responsible for checking communications from White Shark Diving Company and arriving at the confirmed meeting point by the specified time.
Late arrival may result in the guest missing the trip and may be treated as a no-show.
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Cancellation Policy
We understand that travel plans can change. Our cancellation periods vary according to the type of booking and the operational commitments involved.
Standard Shark Cage Diving, Viewing and Hookah Cage Diving
For individual bookings of 1–9 guests:
More than 24 hours before the confirmed trip time:
The booking may be cancelled without a White Shark Diving Company cancellation charge and amounts paid for the cancelled activity will be refunded.
Within 24 hours of the confirmed trip time:
A cancellation charge of up to 100% of the booking value may apply.
No-show:
A cancellation charge of up to 100% may apply.
Shark Cage Diving & Whale Watching / Marine Safari Combo Tours
Combo tours involve multiple activities and may involve an independent partner operator.
More than 72 hours before the first scheduled activity:
The booking may be cancelled without a White Shark Diving Company cancellation charge and amounts paid for the cancelled activities will be refunded.
Within 72 hours:
A cancellation charge of up to 100% of the affected booking may apply, taking into account costs already committed to partner operators, transport providers and other suppliers.
Groups of 10 or More Guests
For bookings of 10 or more guests:
More than 7 days before the trip:
The booking may be cancelled without a White Shark Diving Company cancellation charge, subject to any separately disclosed third-party costs already committed on the group’s behalf.
Within 7 days:
A cancellation charge of up to 100% of the booking value may apply.
Private Charters
Private charters reserve substantial or exclusive vessel capacity and may prevent that capacity from being sold to other guests.
More than 7 days before the charter:
The charter may be cancelled without a White Shark Diving Company cancellation charge, subject to any separately disclosed third-party costs already committed on the guest’s behalf.
Within 7 days:
A cancellation charge of up to 100% of the charter value may apply.
Package and Specially Arranged Tours
Custom packages, helicopter packages, specially arranged excursions and bookings involving multiple suppliers are subject to a 7-day cancellation period unless different terms are clearly stated when quoted or booked.
Cancellations within 7 days may attract a charge of up to 100% of the affected booking, particularly where third-party services have already been confirmed or paid for.
- Reasonable Cancellation Charges
Cancellation charges are not intended to operate as penalties.
Where a cancellation charge applies, White Shark Diving Company will apply it reasonably, taking into account factors including the amount of notice provided, the nature and value of the reserved service, costs or commitments already incurred, the ability to resell the cancelled space or service, and applicable South African consumer law.
No cancellation fee will be imposed where prohibited by the Consumer Protection Act, including circumstances covered by the Act relating to the death or hospitalisation of the person for whom, or for whose benefit, the booking was made.
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions limits any mandatory consumer right that cannot lawfully be excluded.
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Rescheduling by the Guest
Where you wish to change your booking date, please contact us as early as possible.
For standard shark cage diving, viewing and hookah bookings, rescheduling requested more than 24 hours before the trip will normally be accommodated without a cancellation charge, subject to availability.
For combo tours, please provide at least 72 hours’ notice.
For private charters, groups of 10 or more and specially arranged packages, please provide at least 7 days’ notice.
Requests received inside the applicable cancellation period may be treated as a late cancellation and rebooking will be at White Shark Diving Company’s discretion.
All rescheduled bookings remain subject to availability, seasonal rates and operational conditions.
- Cancellations by White Shark Diving Company
Safety takes priority over all other considerations.
The skipper and White Shark Diving Company retain final authority to delay, alter or cancel a trip due to weather, sea conditions, mechanical issues, safety considerations, regulatory requirements or other operational circumstances that make the trip unsafe or impractical.
Where White Shark Diving Company cancels an entire shark cage diving trip, guests will first be offered the opportunity to move their booking to another available date.
If the guest cannot attend an alternative date, amounts paid for the cancelled White Shark Diving Company activity will be refunded.
A cancellation by White Shark Diving Company due to weather or operational conditions is not treated as a guest cancellation.
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Combo Tours and Partner Operators
A shark cage diving and whale watching or marine safari combo consists of separate marine experiences.
The shark cage diving component is operated by White Shark Diving Company. Whale watching, marine safaris and certain other activities may be provided by independent partner operators.
Each component is independently subject to weather, sea conditions, safety requirements, availability and the operational decision of the operator responsible for that activity.
Cancellation of one activity does not automatically cancel another activity that remains safe and operational.
For example, if whale watching is cancelled but the shark cage diving trip remains operational, guests are still expected to attend the shark cage diving component.
If a guest voluntarily decides not to attend an activity that remains operational, this will be treated as a guest cancellation for that component and the applicable cancellation terms may apply.
Where an operator cancels one component of a combo, guests will be offered an alternative date where reasonably possible or an appropriate refund for the cancelled component.
Any wildlife-sighting guarantees or return policies relating to an independent partner activity remain subject to that operator’s applicable conditions.
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Transport
Transport may be booked as an additional service and remains subject to vehicle availability, minimum passenger requirements and operational arrangements.
Shared transport is not guaranteed unless confirmed.
Pickup times may change to accommodate final trip departure times and routing.
Guests must be ready at the confirmed pickup point at the time provided. A guest who misses a confirmed transfer may be responsible for arranging and paying for alternative transport and may miss the boat departure.
Where transport is cancelled by the guest as part of a booking cancellation, the cancellation period applicable to the associated activity will generally apply unless different transport terms were disclosed at booking.
Private transfers and specially arranged transport may be subject to additional cancellation charges where the vehicle or driver has already been committed.
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Wildlife Sightings
Sharks, whales, dolphins and other marine animals are wild animals living in their natural environment.
White Shark Diving Company cannot guarantee that sharks or any other wildlife will be present, a particular species of shark, the presence of great white sharks, the number of animals encountered, animal behaviour, underwater visibility, or the duration or proximity of a wildlife encounter.
Where the shark cage diving trip operates as scheduled, the absence of a particular species does not entitle the guest to a refund.
If a qualifying shark cage diving trip operates but no sharks are sighted at all, qualifying guests will receive a complimentary return voucher for another standard shark cage diving experience, subject to the conditions and validity stated on the return voucher.
A cash refund is not provided purely because sharks were not sighted where the trip itself operated and the booked marine excursion was delivered.
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Gift Vouchers
Purchased gift vouchers are valid for at least three years from the date of issue, unless a longer validity period is expressly stated.
Voucher bookings are subject to availability, weather, operational requirements and the cancellation terms applicable to the activity selected.
A voucher represents prepaid value and is not redeemable for cash except where required by law.
Promotional, complimentary and no-sighting return vouchers may carry separate conditions and validity periods because they are not purchased gift vouchers.
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Important Safety and Risk Notice
Shark cage diving and travelling at sea are adventure activities conducted in a natural marine environment and involve inherent risks.
These may include, among other things, vessel movement, rough or unpredictable seas, slippery or wet surfaces, cold water, seasickness, boarding and disembarking from a vessel, entering and exiting the cage and interaction with wild marine animals.
Guests must comply with all instructions provided by the skipper, dive master and crew.
A safety briefing will be provided before participation. Guests must pay attention to the briefing and ask a crew member if anything is unclear.
Participation may be refused or discontinued if the skipper, dive master or crew reasonably believes that a guest’s conduct, physical condition or failure to follow safety instructions could create a risk to that guest, another guest or a crew member.
Any acknowledgement of risk or limitation of liability applies only to the extent permitted under South African law and does not exclude rights or liabilities that may not legally be excluded.
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Health and Fitness to Participate
Guests are responsible for considering whether they are physically able to participate in the booked activity.
Anyone who is pregnant, has a significant medical condition, has recently undergone surgery or is uncertain about their ability to safely participate should obtain appropriate medical advice before taking part.
Guests should advise our team of any relevant mobility or accessibility requirements before the trip so that we can determine how best to assist.
A guest may be prevented from entering the cage where participation would be unsafe.
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Alcohol, Drugs and Behaviour
Guests who appear intoxicated, are under the influence of drugs, behave aggressively, deliberately interfere with wildlife, refuse to follow safety instructions or otherwise place themselves or others at risk may be refused boarding or removed from participation.
Where participation is refused because of the guest’s behaviour or intoxication, the booking may be treated as a late cancellation and no refund may be due, subject to applicable law.
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Children and Minors
Guests under 18 must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian and must comply with all safety instructions.
Children under 12 may only enter the shark cage where this has been arranged and approved in advance.
Whether a young child may enter the cage will depend on the child’s size and confidence, sea conditions and safety considerations.
Where permission has been given for a child under 12 to dive, a parent or legal guardian may be required to accompany the child in the cage.
The skipper and/or dive master retains the final decision on whether a child may safely enter the cage on the day of the trip.
If conditions are unsuitable for the child to enter the cage, the child may remain onboard as a viewer.
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Personal Belongings
Guests remain responsible for cameras, mobile phones, bags, jewellery and other personal belongings brought onto the premises, transport vehicles or vessel.
We recommend protecting electronic equipment appropriately from water and sea spray.
White Shark Diving Company’s liability for loss or damage is limited only to the extent permitted by applicable law.
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Third-Party Services
Where White Shark Diving Company arranges a service delivered by another supplier, including whale watching, marine safaris, helicopters, transfers or other activities, that supplier remains responsible for operating its own service.
Relevant operational and safety requirements of the third-party supplier may therefore also apply.
White Shark Diving Company will nevertheless administer the guest’s booking fairly and in accordance with these Terms & Conditions and applicable consumer law where the booking has been made through us.
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Privacy
Personal information provided when making an enquiry or booking will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable South African privacy law.
Payment information processed through our authorised booking and payment providers is subject to the security and privacy arrangements of those providers.
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Consumer Protection and Governing Law
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
They must be interpreted consistently with the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 and other applicable legislation.
Nothing contained in these Terms & Conditions is intended to waive, restrict or exclude any consumer right or supplier obligation that may not legally be waived, restricted or excluded.
If any provision is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply.
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Contact Details
White Shark Diving Company
9 Kus Drive
Kleinbaai
Gansbaai
South Africa
7220
Telephone: +27 82 559 6858
Email: info@sharkcagediving.co.za
Website: www.sharkcagediving.co.za
Registered legal entity: White Shark Diving Company PTY Ltd
Company registration number: 2015/368070/07
Please contact us directly if you have any questions regarding a booking or these Terms & Conditions.
