Cowshark diving, Cape Town

[StevenCT]

Hey Guys

Check out this Cowshark and Seal diving in Cape Town. No chumming and amazing unique sharks in shallow water (12m).

Cowshark diving

Enjoy
Steve

 

[Deefstes]

Wow! I've been meaning to go dive with Cowsharks and the only time I've actually been down to Capetown for that the dives were canceled due to seas being too rough.

I'm just curious, are you personally involved with this outfit or why are you punting them? They seem exorbitantly expensive. Looks like the type of outfit that typically don't really cater for South Africans but rather foreigners, hoping they can fleece the customers of their Dollars and Pounds who'd be none the wiser thanks to the favorable exchange rate.

Of course I could have it all wrong but from the webpage it would seem that the costs are R600 for ONE dive. Is there something I'm missing? Do you know what makes their dives so expensive or are they really just milking foreign visitors?

 

[chrisgp007]

YIkes R600 for one dive is steep. Rather hit sodwana and pay a few hundreds more and get a full dive package rather

 

[StevenCT]

Thanks for the comments guys, I really appreciate it.

It wasn't clear on the website but the dive is a snorkel with Cape fur seals first and then a SCUBA with the cow sharks. Changes have been made.

It is key to remember that the boat only goes out once, so no racing against the clock to get divers back for the next load! Anything goes, we are out to enjoy the coast and the water.

The guys get coffee and snacks to make the cold water seem warmer

Sodwana is great and every diver must go there, but this is a different experience completely, but one that is equally breath taking and special.

On a Kelp forest dive one can see up to 7 species of sharks! that's special (cow shark, puffadder shyshark, brown shyshark, pyjama shark, spotted gullie shark, Leopard catshark and houndshark)

All the best

 

[Deefstes]

Sure, Sodwana is a totally different experience but I still think R600 is extortionately expensive - even if you get coffee, snacks and a seal snorkel. Especially when you consider that other Cape Town based operators offer dives in the same ocean, looking for the same seven species of shark, using the same amount of petrol etc. - for a third of that price!!!

Don't get me wrong, I can understand that some companies ask premium rates when they offer a premium service. I get irked by money printing businesses though who offer service not significantly different from so many others but somehow can justify to ask rates three times as much - trusting that the foreign visitor won't know any better. I've seen nothing on this webpage convincing me that this operation is not the latter.

 

[StevenCT]

This post has been bugging me. The product we offer is good and I know it is worth it because I'm told by those who I dive with. They know the value of a good experience and costs of other companies. Shop around for a targeted Cowshark dive on a boat, you'll find that the price is R1250 for a double tank.

 

[Deefstes]

I was booked for targeted Cowshark boat dives in August. Unfortunately the dives had to be canceled due to rough seas but the costs were R220 per dive.

I guess that is the essence of my question. What is it that makes these dives so much more expensive? Surely all operators have more or less the same fuel costs, boat maintenance costs, maritime taxes en licences etc. to pay? What is then that makes it possible for one operator to offer dives at R220 per dive while others charge R600?

I'm not saying your product isn't good and I'm glad if your clients say that they are happy with the package. I am still free to use whichever operator I choose so you are free to charge whatever you deem appropriate. I just don't want to see foreigners visit our beautiful country and walk away thinking South Africa is a rip-off. SA used to be considered a very affordable holiday destination but I fear it is changing and in large part due to opportunistic service providers who simply try to ride the wave of the favourable exchange rate. Just one of my pet peeves, sorry if you took the brunt of it. It's just that you have not given any REAL reasons why your diving is so much more expensive that. Is it that Pisces Divers (and other operators) are using cheaper boats, dodge the maritime fees, offer cheaper snacks or what?

 

[Haiko]

Cowshark?

 

[Deefstes]

 

[StevenCT]

I cant comment on the operations of others. I know that for me its not sustainable to charge R220 p/p. I would need a min. of 5 people at this price to go to sea.

Reason why its more expensive

1)You get double the ocean experience, seals and cowsharks

2)You'll spent triple the amount of time on the water either with the seals, cow sharks or whatever opportunity presents its self i.e. we don't have to go in just cos the dive is over.

3) I can go to sea for 2 divers i.e. few other divers to distract you or hassle the animals

Happy Diving