For more than a decade, the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town has offered diving experiences to enthusiasts and amateurs alike. 

Some have proposed and a few even managed to get married underwater, surrounded by predators of the deep. 

Fishy lures

The thrill lies in swimming amongst ragged-tooth sharks, Yellowtail shoals, Garrick and a host of other fish. There are even a few species of rays and a turtle, a turtle that’s not supposed to be touched on the face, if you don’t want to lose a finger that is.

A heavy date

Today, I’ve got a date with a diving guide Iain Robertson and three intrepid divers.

“‘I hope they show up soon, I’ve been waiting quite a while,” Iain says with a heavy Scottish brogue. Larger than life, with a salt and pepper mop of hair and a wild beard, he looks every bit the seasoned shark-wrangler you’d want looking after you.

Just then, two attractive European women walk up and introduce themselves. Emma and Kate tell us they’ve been diving all around South Africa for the past four months. 

“And this is the first time you’ve come to visit us?” booms a thick Scottish accent, in mock-horror.

After a few laughs the last diver arrives, a German man who doesn’t speak much. In fact, he doesn’t even respond to my loud, obvious greetings… oh well.

Mind the shark

Iain shows off the two diving exhibits before the visiting divers are taken into the deep waters. First up, the famed predator tank. It’s about the size of a tennis court, just big enough for a beginner looking to frolic with sharks. There are a few shrieks in the vicinity as Iain explains the ways of the underwater predators.

 A few turns around the exhibit, the source of the screaming becomes apparent. Large screens are showing footage of people running from the beach, scared of shark attacks. It’s part if the ‘Rethink the Shark’ project at the Aquarium.  The videos are fascinating and informative –

Last year:

• 652 people were killed by chairs
• 358 people were killed by kites
• 791 people were killed by defective toasters
• But only 9 people were killed by sharks.

Proud papa

Before taking the divers into the predator tank, Robertson shows off his pride and joy, the kelp exhibition. It’s one of only two in the entire world. Only divers with advanced certificates can enter the tank.

“You need to be very careful,” he explains. “The vegetation is very sensitive and needs someone who’s aware of their surroundings.” The thick, green, long and pulsating kelp look dangerous for the unaware.

“You’ve got to mind your neck,” says Iain.

Swimming with the fishes

Divers in the predator tank are only allowed very small, slow movements. Iain warns the divers to follow his lead at all times.

“It is very easy to imitate the fish movements once you’re floating but that could scare them away.” Instead divers must stay together and follow his lead. It takes more than 30 minutes to circle the entire tank. Not because it’s that vast but because this affords enough time to look at all the fish without causing any disturbance.

Work for idle hands 

The divers float weightlessly, undulating with the rise and fall of the mock tide, hands held tight to their chests. Two women chat excitedly in Xhosa while looking through the glass.

“I think they’re cold,” one says, pointing to their hands.

They’re cold, the water is about 15 degrees Celsius, but they’re keeping their hands in so as not to distract the fish.

“It’ll soon be feeding time and if you hold your hands out the fish may think you’re about to give them food,” Iain had told the rather nervous-looking divers just before the plunge.

The treasure hunt

They all scratch for shark teeth at the bottom of the tank, it’s souvenir time. Later when they emerge with the teeth, the German man can’t stop showing his. He has a big grin as he poses for pictures and even shakes my hand. Maybe it’s the shark teeth, or being covered by 20-million litres of water, but all the divers emerge exhilarated.

“That was quite something,” Emma speaks breathlessly.

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