Jamestown Bay from above — Saint Helena Island

Diver at underwater rocks off Saint Helena

South Africa and Saint Helena. Whale Sharks

Name: South Africa and Saint Helena. Whale Sharks
Price: 1955 USD
Availability: SoldOut

A journey to St Helena Island via South Africa with a tour leader: 16 days, Cape Town and the Cape of Good Hope, 5 days of diving with whale sharks and mobulas in the South Atlantic, Napoleon's house. 1–16 January 2027, from $1,955 per person, flights not included.

★ 4.7 · 16 days / 14 nights · Diving · Jan 1–16, 2027

16 days / 14 nights

Jan 1–16, 2027

With a tour leader

Comfort ★★★★

Hotels 4–5★

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per person

What awaits you

A diving expedition to South Africa and Saint Helena Island — one of the most remote and pristine places on the planet. Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, 5 days of diving with whale sharks.

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Whale sharks

Up to 30 individuals in clear water, snorkelling and diving in season (January–March)

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7 days of diving

2 days diving in Cape Town + 5 days at Saint Helena: wrecks, reefs, walls

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Cape Town and South Africa

Table Mountain, penguin colony, Cape of Good Hope, fur seals

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Napoleon's heritage

Napoleon's house and tomb, historic forts, distillery — the most remote in the world

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Vineyard valley

Stellenbosch: Cape Dutch architecture, South African wine tasting

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Diving with Cape fur seals

Dives with fur seals, broadnose sevengill sharks, in kelp forests

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Untouched ocean

Reef fish, tuna, turtles, moray eels, mobulas, rich macro life, wrecks

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Tour leader Alexey Tishchenko

Professional guidance throughout the entire trip

Day-by-Day Programme

Departure from Moscow to Dubai on Emirates flight EK132 at 23:30.

Arrival in Dubai at 06:15. Connection to Cape Town flight EK770, departing 09:10, arriving 16:45. Met by a Russian-speaking guide at the airport, transfer to Portswood Hotel, check-in, rest.

Portswood Hotel

Sightseeing tour of Cape Town — the 'Mother City', where the colonial history of South Africa begins. Historic centre, Adderley Street with its monuments, the old fort — the first building erected by Europeans in southern Africa. Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Cable car ride up Table Mountain (weather permitting) — a stunning view of the city and ocean. Evening transfer to Whale View Manor & Spa hotel.

Whale View Manor & Spa

A day devoted to marine activities — scuba diving, freediving or snorkelling. Dives at sites inhabited by Cape fur seals, broadnose sevengill sharks and other shark species, as well as dives in kelp forests. 2 scuba dives in total. Non-certified divers can do a shore-based discovery dive or snorkel/freedive with Cape fur seals and in the kelp forest.

Whale View Manor & Spa

The Cape Peninsula is home to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. A drive of just over 50 kilometres brings us to the southernmost tip of the peninsula, the legendary Cape Point. From the 200-metre height, standing by the historic lighthouse, you can see where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet on the horizon. Visit to the town of Hout Bay with an optional cruise to Seal Island (tickets on-site, weather permitting), penguin colony and Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Transfer to Rickety Bridge Bosse Province hotel.

Rickety Bridge Bosse Province

Excursion to the vineyard valley. Stellenbosch — the second-oldest city after Cape Town, built in the Cape Dutch style. Strolling along streets with a 19th-century atmosphere, souvenir and antique shops, superb coffee. At the wine farms — an introduction to winemaking traditions and a tasting of the finest South African wines. Exquisite wine, delicious food, colonial history and breathtaking views! Evening transfer to the airport and flight to Johannesburg. Check-in at a hotel near the airport.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Jamestown, the capital of Saint Helena, on flight 4Z131, departing 09:00, arriving 13:25 with a technical stop in Walvis Bay (Namibia). Check-in at Blue Lantern apartments or Mantis St. Helena hotel. Rest and visit to the dive centre, weight and gear fitting.

Saint Helena Island is one of the most remote British Overseas Territories, known as the place where Napoleon spent his final years and was buried. The island is of volcanic origin and lies 1,800 km from the African coast. The capital — Jamestown — was founded in 1659.

Blue Lantern / Mantis St. Helena

5 days of diving: after breakfast, head out for 2 dives, lunch, then one more dive. Peak dive season — water temperature 23–25°C, visibility 20–30 metres. Most dive sites are on the wind-sheltered side of the island with virtually no currents.

The diving is highly varied: large schools of reef fish, tuna, turtles, moray eels, aggregations of mobulas, rich macro life, excellent wrecks. Many bottlenose dolphins permanently inhabit the island's waters.

The main highlight — from January to March, aggregations of whale sharks appear here, up to 30 individuals in clear water! We will definitely swim with them using mask and snorkel, and are sure to encounter them on regular dives too!

The island's airport only opened in 2017; before that, the only way to reach it was by mail ship. Currently, just 1 flight per week operates to the island. Diving here is a chance to see an ocean virtually untouched by humans — very few such places remain on the planet.

Blue Lantern / Mantis St. Helena

Island tour. Napoleon's house and tomb (the grounds are French property). The local distillery producing spiced rum and schnapps — the most remote distillery in the world! Hikes to historic forts and fortifications. Evening beach barbecue!

Blue Lantern / Mantis St. Helena

Transfer to the airport and flight to Johannesburg on 4Z132, departing 14:30, arriving 21:15. Check-in at a hotel near the airport.

15 January — flight to Dubai on EK762, 13:25–23:45. 16 January — connection to flight EK129, 03:30–08:00, arrival in Moscow.

Tour Leader

Alexey Tishchenko

PADI Instructor since 2001 · TDI/DSAT · Underwater photographer

Accommodation

Portswood Hotel — Cape Town, 1 night.

Whale View Manor & Spa — Cape Town, 2 nights.

Rickety Bridge Bosse Province — Winelands, 1 night.

Blue Lantern / Mantis St. Helena — Saint Helena Island, 7 nights. Cosy Blue Lantern apartments or the comfortable Mantis St. Helena hotel.

Recommended Flights

Moscow — Dubai — Cape Town
Departure from Moscow on 1 January, Emirates flight EK132 at 23:30. Arrival in Dubai on 2 January at 06:15.
Connection to flight EK770, departing 09:10, arriving in Cape Town at 16:45.

Johannesburg — Saint Helena Island
7 January, flight 4Z131, departing 09:00, arriving in Jamestown at 13:25 (technical stop in Walvis Bay, Namibia).

Saint Helena Island — Johannesburg
14 January, flight 4Z132, departing 14:30, arriving at 21:15.

Johannesburg — Dubai — Moscow
15 January, flight EK762, departing 13:25, arriving in Dubai at 23:45.
16 January, connection to flight EK129, departing 03:30, arriving in Moscow at 08:00.