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Dive with these 4 animals at the Two Oceans Aquarium

By Ethan Smit
- Animals, sharks, Experiences, Diving, Exhibits
Dive with these 5 animals at the Two Oceans Aquarium

If you've ever visited or even heard of the Two Oceans Aquarium, you'll know it is home to some of the most fascinating marine animals in the world. Seeing these animals up close is a breathtaking experience in itself, but what if you could get closer? In fact - what if you could hop into the exhibits with them? Well, you can!

Courtesy of our PADI-certified Dive School, both new and experienced divers can enjoy the unique and memorable experience of diving inside the Aquarium's exhibits. Let's check out some of the animals you'll encounter during your dive:

Ragged-tooth sharks

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The Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit is home to a beautiful shiver of ragged-tooth sharks. These sharks serve to create awareness as ambassadors of their species, while at the same time providing educational opportunities for our visitors. This exhibit, which is one of the most popular at the Aquarium, provides visitors with the rare and exciting opportunity to experience an up-close encounter with these misunderstood “Raggies”, as they are often called.

Break some common shark misconceptions by scuba diving with these fascinating animals. This unique and memorable experience is available to any diver with an Open Water qualification or higher. If the idea of diving with ''Raggies'' gets you excited, but you do not have your Open Water qualification yet, there's no need to worry - book your Discover Scuba Diver course today and get the ball rolling! You'll then be able to sign up for your Open Water qualification immediately after!

Turtles

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Did you know that there are only seven species of sea turtles on Earth, and all of them except two (the flatback turtle and Kemp's ridley turtle) visit South Africa? Sadly, all five species occurring in South African waters appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

At the Two Oceans Aquarium, ourI&J Ocean Exhibithouses three turtles - one green turtle and two loggerhead turtles. These turtles are currently undergoing rehabilitation thanks to the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation's Turtle Conservation Centre.

The I&J Ocean Exhibit acts as the final step of their rehabilitation. If all goes according to plan, these turtles will soon be released into the ocean - so why not bid them a special farewell while you share their temporary space with them during your dive?

Never dived before? Not a problem! Book a Discover Scuba Experience, and hop into the I&J Oceans Exhibit after a short training course on the same day!

Eagle rays

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Eagle rays are an iconic South African marine species. Small, but charming, these charismatic animals have long been a favourite of visitors.

The range of eagle rays stretches from the North Sea in the Atlantic, around the tip of South Africa, and up the coast of East Africa to Kenya. They also inhabit the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Despite their wide range, they are most common around South Africa. Although these animals are typically found globally, you're guaranteed to find them at the Two Oceans Aquarium, inside the I&J Oceans Exhibit.

Book your scuba dive today and experience these beauties up close! As is the case when it comes to diving with our turtles, you can encounter these animals whether you've been diving for years or you're a newbie! Yes, you guessed it - all thanks to our Discover Scuba course. In addition to diving surrounded by eagle rays, you'll also encounter honeycomb and blue stingrays.

Spotted gully sharks

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Spotted gully sharks, commonly known as sharptooth houndsharks, are small, stereotypically "shark-shaped" sharks with prominent triangular fins and dark grey skin covered in dark spots. They inhabit shallow coastal waters from Angola to the Eastern Cape, preferring sandy-bottomed areas, particularly near rocky reefs where they can easily find prey.

At the Two Oceans Aquarium, you'll find spotted gully sharks swimming through the kelp along with many other species of fish in the Kelp Forest Exhibit. To dive in the Kelp Exhibit, you'll need to have an Open Water dive qualification or higher, but not to worry - our visitors who complete our short Discover Scuba Diving course usually go on to complete their Open Water course soon after!

Our Two Oceans Aquarium dive school offers scuba diving experiences for everybody. As previously stated, many of our diving offers require an Open Water qualification as a minimum requirement - but we do encourage newbies to do the Discover Scuba course to kick off their dive journey! Remember - after completing your short theory and practical sessions, you'll be able to dive in the I&J Ocean Exhibit on the same day!

We'd like to thank our partners, Divetek, for making these memorable experiences a reality for so many people on a daily basis. Having the best diving equipment available on your dive ensures the best (and safest) scuba dive possible!

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