My name is Leigh de Necker, I am a marine biologist and shark ecologist working for the WildTrust.

The CLDSA runs a series of Caper Talks, which is a series of interviews recorded for the greater swimming community, featuring open water swimming related questions. As many Open Water Swimmers know, particularly swimmers along the Cape Coast, one of the first questions that people ask about their swimming is: “What about the sharks?”

Leigh de Necker answers All the Shark Questions in this Caper Talk

Shark Species of the Cape Waters

In the Caper Talk video, shared at the end of this post, Leigh explains the various shark species found around the Cape Coast, with a focus on the iconic Great White Shark. She highlights the ecological importance of these apex predators and helps to demystify the sharks that swimmers are most likely to encounter in False Bay and the surrounding waters.

A Closer Look at Great White Behaviour

In her presentation she specifically examines Great White behaviour, including their curiosity, hunting patterns, and also why they sometimes investigate humans. She emphasises that most encounters are not predatory but exploratory, and stresses the need for a calm response rather than a panic when sharing the ocean with these powerful animals.

Practical Advice

The question remains: “What can you do if you encounter a shark?” Stay calm, maintain eye contact if possible, move steadily toward safety, and also avoid erratic movements. Leigh also discusses risk factors, seasonal patterns, and how water visibility and location affect shark activity.

Respect, Responsibility, and Coexistence

The fundamental message is shifting from fear to respect. As an experienced shark expert and open water swimmer herself, Leigh encourages fellow swimmers to educate themselves about shark behaviour and to respect the sharks’ natural habitat.

Here is a link to the entire Caper Talk Video on Youtube.