Being an apex predator, the Great White shark can have their pick of prey and enjoys a diet that can include bony fish, sea turtles, gulls, penguins, and the carcasses of large whales. Their favourite meals, however, are seals or sea lions.

» Moving in for the kill

Research into Great White shark feeding habits has shown that sharks have a different strategy for capturing seals than they do for capturing sea lions. A seal is often attacked just beneath the surface by the Great White rising from below. The seal is then carried underwater for a distance before the shark removes its teeth to release the carcass, which then floats to the surface. With the sea lion, the Great White attacks on the surface of the water, often throwing itself out of the water with the sea lion clamped in its jaws. The sea lion then flounders around at the surface until the shark returns for the final kill.

» Eye to eye with a Great White

While some still prefer to observe the beauty of the Great White from a distance, the allure of being up close and personal with this magnificent animal is evident in the growing popularity of shark cage diving. It’s interesting that the Great White shark is the only apex predator today that has not been tamed by man, and ironic that most face-to-face encounters between man and shark has man on the inside of the cage.

Although shark cage diving is not for the faint-hearted, it is absolutely safe and allows you to view the extraordinary world of Great White Sharks in a secure environment. The cages are specially designed to provide adequate protection for both sharks and divers.

But if white shark diving is definitely not your kettle of fish, there are other ways of experiencing marine life without the perceived risks, such as scuba diving and whale watching tours. Nature is there for your enjoyment after all, so perhaps the study of Great White Shark feeding is best left to the experts.

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