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  • In Gansbaai, the largest white shark ever caught was at Danger Point and measured up to 5.9m. The exact world record white shark is a contested issue, but chances are it is between 6-7m.

  • If you see a white shark in the water don’t panic. Chances are high that the shark has already detected you and isn’t interested. White shark attacks are normally associated with poor visibility, so avoid murky conditions.

  • White sharks have a unique system called a “counter current heat exchange”, which keeps their body  tempreture +/- 7C above the surrounding water temperature. 

  • All sharks have an incredibly unique system on the tip of their nose called the “ampillae of Lorenzini”. These are small pores filled with a gel that transmits the electrical currents in the water to the shark’s brain so that it can assess its environment.

  • White sharks give birth to live young (not eggs), and they give birth to 6-8 pups at one time. Pups are usually between 1.0-1.5m in length and are born with teeth.

  • Body language has been a well documented form of shark communication and has identified body arching, jaw gaping, and other postures as specific social tactics.

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The Crew

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Wilfred Chivell - Owner of Marine Dynamics

Wilfred Chivell can be described in many ways – charismatic, dynamic, naturalist, visionary, rough diamond, entrepreneur and shrewd business man . . . and they all fit him like a glove. But beneath a tough outer veneer is a softie who gets all mushy and poetic about a petite little bird and who will not hesitate to put his life at risk to rescue an endangered animal.

Hennie Otto - Skipper

General Manager and Skipper Hennie Otto regards his vast responsibilities as captain of the crew as "a full-time paid holiday and a way of life" rather than a job. A versatile all-rounder who also boasts in-depth knowledge of seabirds (both vagrants and residents) and a fundi with cameras, Hennie is the guy to help you set your camera for those once in a lifetime shots. 

Pieter du Toit - Shark Handler

Pieter du Toit, the shark handler on Slashfin, has quickly mastered the art of identifying the various sharks that frequent the area between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock and even "befriended" several by name! Pieter knows exactly how, when and where to cast the bait and when to deftly pull it back to ensure the divers get some really close encounters. 

Khwezi Baleni - Decoy Master

Khwezi Baleni is a qualified marine wild life tour guide and used to be the "doctor" on board the whale watching boat Whale Whisperer for more than 4 years before he joined the shark cage diving team on Slashfin a year ago. 

Zane Sokwigi - On-board Doctor

Zane Sokwigi joined the team of Slashfin in October 2010. He was hooked on the marine life after he once spent a month working on a shark cage diving boat in Gansbaai during school holidays. Born and bred in Libodi in the Eastern Cape, Zane knew Khwezi from childhood. He jumped at the opportunity to follow in the latter's footsteps as the new "doctor" on board the Slashfin and to also become a marine tour guide.

Mawethu Phalamahashe - Chum Handler

Nicknamed Bruce after well-known Bafana Bafana soccer player Bruce Ramogida of the early 90’s, Mawethu Phalamahashe (32) traded his job at a construction site for the open seas a mere three months ago. Bruce and Khwezi were school friends in Umtata and after working in the construction business for a while, Bruce joined the Slashfin crew in August 2011.