Seal Island

Seal Island is a small island in False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa, home to a large colony of Cape fur seals and surrounded by nutrient-rich ocean waters that support one of the most dynamic shark ecosystems on the South African coast. The island is internationally known for the "Air Jaws" phenomenon, in which great white sharks were filmed launching fully clear of the water while ambushing seals in the early morning hours — a behaviour that brought Seal Island global attention. Great white sharks have not been recorded in False Bay since 2020, though the broader marine ecosystem remains active.

The waters around Seal Island are reached by boat from the Cape Town harbour, with trips typically departing in the early morning. The site sits in False Bay against a backdrop of mountains and open ocean swells, and the journey to the island itself regularly passes dolphins, Cape fur seals, and seabirds. Shark encounters take place at the surface and from a cage, with visibility described as great in the surrounding deep blue water.

Bronze whaler sharks, known locally as "bronzies," and sevengill cow sharks are the species most consistently encountered at the site today, offering close-up interactions throughout the year. Dolphins and seabirds are present regularly, and during whale season Southern right whales, humpback whales, Bryde's whales, and thresher sharks can also be seen in the area. Sea turtles and exotic fish are part of the broader False Bay ecosystem recorded at the site.