There are two Great White Shark cage diving operators to choose from in South Australia. Both are based in Port Lincoln and have excellent reputations – but are focused on quite different market segments.
Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions
Rodney Fox is best known for surviving a savage Great White attack at Adlinga Beach, south of Adelaide, in 1963. That it happened while competing in a spear fishing competition. And Rodney not only survived the horrendous injuries from the attack, but was back competing 12 months to the day tells you a lot about the man!
Now in his 80’s Rodney has had a remarkable life and accomplished an incredible amount. Not least of which was pioneering cage diving with great white sharks.
Apart from the occasional trip, Rodney retired from Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions in 2000 and the company is now run by his eldest son Andrew. You can read all about Rodney on this link to Rodney Fox – an Aussie Icon and the same for Andrew on this link to In Deep with Andrew Fox.
Since 2020 the fully refurbished MV Rodney Fox has been the platform used for the shark expeditions to the Neptune Islands. The multi-day (2 to 5) expeditions offers both surface cage and ocean floor diving
Both are great experiences, but by far the most “immersive” (literally and figuratively…) are the ocean floor dives.
Great White Cage Diving Operators – Calypso Star Charters
Calypso Star Charters was originally started by the late Rolf Czabayski in the 1990’s using a 35’ Bertram boat.
A true character, Rolf was the original “poacher turned gamekeeper” who used to hunt great whites as a champion big game fisherman. But he had a change of heart and became truly passionate about the conservation of the animals.
He saw the potential for a larger, custom built, vessel and invested in the 57 foot motor cruiser Calypso Star. Which he had built in Perth in 2000 and then transported to Port Lincoln.
Rolf loved to sit and chat and had a great line in stories that would keep you amused and entertained for hours…
Rolf retired back in 2006, selling the business to a Port Lincoln consortium including Andrew Wright. Sadly Rolf passed away in 2021 at the ripe old age of 80 having lived his life to the full!
Andrew Wight started on the Calypso Star as a deckhand and is now both the captain and the general manager of the business. He is a great guy and a terrific shark wrangler who helped me get some of my best great white images!
All my early Great White trips were on Calypso Star and were four day trips for 8 people. Which is the number of berths on board the boat… Since the change in ownership Calyso Star Charters has changed its focus to one day charters with a much larger number of people on board.
Great White Cage Diving Operators – Which Boat?
Tough question… Both are good and very professionally operated, but which one to use comes down to what you are looking for?
If you just want to experience great whites first-hand then Calypso Star is probably the best bet for you. But if you want a more immersive and intensive experience, then Rodney Fox is the boat to be on.
If you are an underwater photographer keen on capturing images of these iconic creatures. Then it’s a “no brainer” – go for Rodney Fox.
Great White Cage Diving Operators – When to Go?
The big question… There are no guarantees when it comes to seeing great white sharks. They grace you with their presence. However June through to September is generally considered as the optimum time to see them. But they have also been seen regularly in March and April and as late as September and October.
The June through to September period coincides with when the seal pups start to feed themselves. Which means that they leave the shelter of the shore and venture out to hunt. Making them prime targets for the great whites…
Great White Cage Diving Operators – How to Get to Port Lincoln?
Port Lincoln is on the western side of the Spencer Gulf and about 40 minutes flight from Adelaide. It is well serviced by both Regional Air Express (REX) and QantasLink from from Adelaide.
Back To: A Guide to Australian Great Whites