Yes! From July through October, we offer almost daily shark cage diving expeditions. Find the information here.

Every day offers a unique adventure. Booking multiple days increases your chances of seeing various shark species, observing unique behaviors, and enjoying optimal weather conditions. We offer 10%, 12%, and 15% discounts off entire bookings of 3, 4, and 5 days, respectively. Discounts will be automatically applied at checkout when you book 3, 4, and 5 different expeditions; expeditions don’t have to be consecutive dates or times to take advantage of this multi-day discount.

While guests are free to stay anywhere, we have partnered with local hotels to provide our guests with exclusive discounts. After expeditions bookings, an email is sent to guests with information about how to take advantage of these discounts.

Apex Explorer.

Our vessel is approximately 40 ft long and 13.5 ft wide, accommodating up to a maximum of 12 guests.

The shark cage is 8 ft tall, 8 ft wide, and 4 ft deep, holding a maximum of 4 people at once.

Guests rotate in and out of the cage during the expedition, with initial shorter rotations of 15-20 minutes, followed by longer intervals afterwards. We are on site for several hours, providing guests with ample opportunity to dive.

The cage sits at the surface with the top 1.5 ft extending out of the water.

We use a surface-supplied air system via air hoses (hookah system), so scuba certification is not required.

ASE may need to cancel or postpone an expedition due to high winds that would make the ocean too rough and thus unsafe for the shark cage. The weather in Nova Scotia is highly variable, and the forecast is only accurate the day before, so we may be forced to cancel or reschedule the day before for weather-related safety. So please be on the lookout for messages from ASE. Having to cancel or postpone a trip relatively last minute due to rough seas or other unforeseen circumstances is out of our control and a reality. Here are your primary options if this happens: (1) reschedule your trip to a future date (subject to availability), (2) Receive a voucher for a future expedition (never expires, always redeemable for a full ticket, even if prices increase).

For travelers who cannot reasonably reschedule or use a voucher, we highly recommend exploring the following options if you want a refund:

• Many credit cards include trip cancellation/interruption insurance when you pay with that card. This often extends to related non-refundable travel costs like hotels and airfare. As a first step, please check with your credit card provider to confirm if coverage applies in the event of an ASE weather cancellation.
• If your credit card doesn’t provide the necessary coverage, you should purchase trip cancellation or interruption insurance
  1. Manulife offers Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance for Canadian residents, which reimburses ASE tickets and related non-refundable travel costs if ASE cancels for weather/safety or other unexpected events. Canadian residents can purchase directly here
  2. For U.S. and international guests, please check out Word Nomad Travel Insurance via this link (Nomad provides various travel and medical insurance options for out of town travelers)

Nature is unpredictable, and the sharks are wild. As such, we cannot guarantee shark sightings. Little is known about sharks off Nova Scotia, so the search for these mysterious predators is a part of the adventure.  Even without a shark sighting, your expedition offers an incredible chance to immerse yourself in the stunning marine environment of Nova Scotia, learn from on-board marine biologists, and contribute to ongoing research. However, in the event no sharks are encountered on your expedition, guests will automatically receive a 50% discount on a future expedition. 

Yes. Absolutely. In fact, we think the viewing from above is as good or better from above. The cost to join an expedition is the same whether or not our guests decide to enter the water or not on an expedition.

Yes, the cost is the same whether or not guests cage dive.

Yes, we like to say that our cage protects the sharks from the people! Our cage is made of reinforced aluminum, and we have a dive safety officer on board to supervise the cage diving.

No, some of the best shark viewing is from the boat… so no need to get wet to experience the sharks.

No, scuba certification is not required. Divers are provided surface-supplied air via hoses.

We provide all necessary gear, including a 7mm wetsuit, gloves, hoods, and boots. We have wetsuits ranging in size from S to 3XL.

July through October.

Water temperatures range from 13-22°C (55-72°F), averaging between 17-19°C (62-66°F).

Possible encounters include Great Whites, Blue Sharks, Porbeagle Sharks, and Mako Sharks, depending on expedition type.

Nature is unpredictable, and shark sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, we are likely to encounter wildlife and always collect valuable data.

Yes, small handheld action cameras or smartphones with underwater cases are recommended. 

ASE will have a professional photographer/videographer out on the expeditions. They will be documenting the action from the boat, cage, and air (drone), being sure to capture the experience and research. He will be offering expeditions photo/video packages for sale. No need to pre-order, you can sign up and pay on the day of with a debit or credit card.

Essentials include a towel, sunscreen, water, lunch, seasickness medications, layered clothing, jacket, polarized sunglasses, and a camera. Pro tip: Come dressed in your bathing suit under your clothes.

Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ).

• From Boston, MA: ~1h 19m
• From New York, NY: ~1h 46m
• From London, England: ~6h 45m
• From Toronto, CA: ~2h 10m

Yes, take seasickness medicine the night before and one hour before departure. The seasickness patch is appears to be very effective for a lot of people.

For daily shark cage diving expeditions, the minimum age is 10 years old. For Edu-Enhanced expeditions, the minimum age is 16 years old. Children under 16 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Not specifically, but guests need to be in suitable physical health to be out on a boat at sea for 7 hours, exposed to different weather conditions. Moreover, if guests want to go shark cage diving, they need to be capable of climbing in and out of our shark cage via ladder. The size opening to enter the cage is 32 x 28 inches.

ASE biologists are authorized to conduct scientific research with Great White Sharks via a permit by the Canadian Government under the Species at Risk Act. Through this research, ecotourists have the privilege of joining researchers on boat-based expeditions to search for sharks, view sharks from the boat and/or underwater from the cage, learn from the research team, and observe scientific activities.

No, and we would like to preempt possible concerns regarding our great white shark research and ecotourism activities as it relates to human safety here. Linked to info now found here

If you are prone to seasickness or even if you aren’t, we suggest you take sea sickness medicine. The seasickness patch seems to be successful for many people (available on Amazon). Another option are the tablets, but for it to be effective, you should take it the night before the trip as well as the morning of, about 1 hour before departure. Waiting until you feel sick on the boat is too late. We also suggest avoiding coffee just prior to the trip as this seems to contribute to sea sickness (especially Tim Hortons brand – don’t know why).

Eye glasses won’t fit under the dive masks. So if you wear glasses, you will need to use contacts. Another option is purchasing prescription dive masks (we don’t offer these given people have different prescriptions). One thing to consider is that the water does magnify images, which may work for people with low prescriptions.

We provide our cage divers with regulators to breathe surface supply air through hoses. The regulators have a mouth piece that requires biting down on. If you have dentures, this can be challenging. We suggest using a strong *waterproof* adhesive designed for dentures. Look to purchase a non-zinc-based adhesive for this purpose, as zinc may react with the seawater and cause gum burn.

Due to the nature of our expeditions, which take place on a small, constantly moving vessel, this experience may not be suitable for individuals with physical limitations, including those who have limited mobility, difficulty balancing on a moving surface, or require assistive devices for movement. We recommend that you assess your comfort level with these conditions before booking and encourage guests to call us to discuss if they are uncertain 902-943-6139

The boat ride can vary depending on sea conditions. While we aim to choose the calmest possible routes, the open sea is inherently unpredictable. The boat is in constant motion and may experience swells, waves, and sudden movements. It’s important for all guests to be prepared for these conditions. Stability on board can be challenging, especially when moving around, so it’s crucial that all participants are comfortable and confident with maintaining their balance on a moving surface. If you have any concerns about seasickness or stability, please consider this before booking and take necessary precautions, such as use of seasickness medication.

Guest Cancellations without trip Insurance

Reservations canceled by guests before 45 days from the scheduled trip may be credited, rescheduled, or fully refunded. Reservations canceled with 44 to 31 days’ notice may be credited, rescheduled, or refunded 50% of the expedition cost. Reservations canceled within less than 30 days’ are not refundable, but can be rescheduled or credited towards a future expedition if we are able to fill your spot with another guest.