After a 20 to 30 minute ride the boat anchors close to the island. The sharks are being attracted by releasing a mixture of minced fish and saltwater into the ocean in a constant stream. The mixture is taken away by the current and the sharks will follow the chum line, upcurrent, to the source. Usually after an hour, the sharks start circling around the boat in a range of only a few metres. They are very curious by nature.
Some sharks even launch their heads out of the water and can be touched.
The sharks do not get fed and are not conditionned, as research has shown. Each boat carries a steel cage which is lowered into the water, firmly tied to the boat with ropes, and floats about. For many, this is an unforgettable experience. Since 1997, however, life has become much more hectic in Gansbaai. Tourism dominates the place and the number of residents has multiplied.