I Experienced Cage Diving with Great White Sharks Off the Coast of South Australia — Here’s How You Can Join the Adventure

The opening chords of 'Eye of the Tiger' pierce the quiet around the Neptune Islands, sending a flock of resting seagulls into flight. My expedition leader, Harrison Tozer, has chosen an unexpected anthem as his team lowers a large shark-proof metal cage from the stern of the boat. Air bubbles rise to the surface, bursting rhythmically with the music. 'Face to face, out in the heat. Hanging tough, staying hungry,' sings Dave Bickler over the speakers.

If great white sharks had a go-to Spotify playlist, Survivor would definitely feature, alongside Guns N' Roses, Metallica, and Iron Maiden. While there’s no scientific proof, Tozer insists that sharks enjoy heavy rock, so the crew blasts music as they get ready for the first dives of the expedition.

A half-day journey from Port Lincoln, a fishing town west of Adelaide in South Australia, has brought us to the southern Neptune Islands — two rugged landmasses battered over millennia by Antarctic waves and winds. It’s a stunning locale to encounter a great white shark (technically referred to as 'white sharks'), attracted here by the colony of long-nosed fur seals residing on the islands.

Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions has been offering live-aboard diving tours in this area for over 50 years, frequently welcoming groups of wildlife photographers and shark researchers from Flinders University, alongside adventurous travelers armed with GoPros. I joined them to uncover the reality behind one of Hollywood's most iconic villains — a character that the company’s founder, Rodney Fox, played a role in shaping.

At just 23 years old, Fox became a local hero after surviving a brutal great white shark attack during a spearfishing contest in 1963. An avid diver before the incident, Fox developed a growing fear of open waters afterward. Understanding that the only way to conquer his fear was to face it head-on, he began seeking out sharks and dedicated himself to learning all he could about them, even constructing submersible cages to safely swim alongside and capture images of sharks.

Fox's adventures eventually captured the interest of Steven Spielberg, who was then an emerging director, and requested his assistance in filming real sharks for a project titled 'Jaws.' The film became a box-office sensation but turned into a public relations nightmare for sharks. Fox has since expressed regret over his involvement and committed to raising awareness about the vital role of sharks in our oceans. Now 82, he no longer participates in the expeditions but has entrusted the business to his son, Andrew Fox, and his business partner, Mark Tozer (who is Tozer's father).

A dorsal fin begins to circle the boat nearly an hour after we lower the cage. 'Who’s ready to be the appetizer?' Tozer quips. Moments later, I’m suited up and descending the ladder into the cage. The initial jolt of cold water transitions to a sensation of weightlessness as the ocean current tosses me around like a rag doll.

I manage to steady my feet on the cage floor just in time to spot my first great white shark as it appears from the depths and glides toward me. There’s no soundtrack, no heavy metal—just the rapid thump of my heartbeat mingling with the bubbles escaping my regulator.

The apex predator approaches the cage, then abruptly turns, indifferent to the astonished human watching her from inside. I’m so close I can see her dark blue eyes and a beauty spot on one side. The schools of kingfish around the boat remain unfazed by her presence, even though she could easily turn and devour them. Soon, more sharks join, and I count half a dozen great whites circling above and below me.

Back on the boat, Tozer informs me that the shark I encountered is Coco Pops—named for her unique beauty spot—and that the crew has given names to some of their frequent visitors. Imax has a crooked tail due to scoliosis, while Santa sports a white tumor on his chin resembling a beard. Despite their whimsical names, these creatures possess a raw power and majesty. More than once, I witness a shark lunging, mouth agape and eyes rolled back, at a piece of tuna belly dangled off the boat. It’s the crew’s responsibility to prevent the shark from snagging the bait, but occasionally, the shark manages to outsmart them.

The next four days blur together in a whirlwind of bubbles. A second cage is lowered to the ocean floor twice daily for guests with PADI diving certification, while a surface cage remains available all day for non-divers like me. Between dives, we enjoy buffet lunches and dinners, gathering to compare our GoPro footage and see who captured the best action shots.

At night, Tozer and the crew host educational seminars on shark ecology and conservation, gradually unraveling the mysteries of these remarkable creatures. I discovered that the company has been instrumental in testing innovative shark technology, such as shark-proof wetsuits and small pills that help scientists track the animals’ diets and feeding behaviors.

On the final morning, just before we weigh anchor and head back to Port Lincoln, there’s one last opportunity to dive into the cage. With goggles in hand, I leap into the water for my final encounter with the sharks, and this time, I feel no fear—only admiration.