FAQ Q: Do you run the same length of tours all year round?- A: No, we tailor our tours to the season to give the absolute best chance of great white success. With our 50 years + experience, we have found the greatest success by running a variety of itineraries that take daylight hours, typical weather and likely shark activity into consideration. With daylight saving (October to March) in Spring and Summer, we offer tours as short as 2-3 nights long. Typically the weather is more favourable at this time of year and the beautiful long summer nights are just a joy! The BIGGEST sharks of the year are often seen in Autumn and Winter. April into June is usually the best time to witness giant mature female great whites. As we head deeper into this season the tours have a longer itinerary. This takes the shorter days and typical weather in to account, so to give best chance of success we run our various 4 to 10 day expeditions. This additional time onboard gives us flexibility as to when we get down to and get back between the shelter of the mainland and the sheltered anchorage of the Neptune Islands. Such tours are relatively less expensive to reflect the relative time spent with great white sharks. We only choose the most productive days to spend with the sharks, and look for alternative diving or shore based activities on other days. Depending on the season, some longer itineraries also target inshore coastal species including the world largest giant cuttlefish aggregation, Australian sea lions, and leafy sea dragons. Please see individual product itineraries for inclusion details. Q: When is the best time of year to see sharks?- A:This often asked question does not have the same answer for everyone! Please consider all the information below which has been put together by Andrew Fox after an unparalleled 40 years of experience diving with great white sharks. There are actually good features about every month. The best times are decided from a whole combination of factors including current trends of shark reliability, shark numbers, average shark size, potential productive weather, water temperature and water visibility. In over 50 years of cage-diving history, Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions has experienced changing seasonal patterns in shark activity at all of the various locations we have operated in. We now work exclusively within the Neptune Islands Marine Park, at both North and South Island Groups. The Neptune Islands are a unique location in the world, technically being able to produce reliable great white shark diving throughout much of the year. With our multi-day itineraries and ocean floor cage facilities, Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions enjoys the industry’s highest success rates in year-round productivity. Although there are general long-term trends, great white shark abundance is still often difficult to predict some years, and while many months enjoy a near 100% reliability of sightings for many years on end, the sharks just cannot always be completely guaranteed at that same time every year.. Below we look at details including current trends in shark numbers, sex and size of the sharks, reliability and the prevailing operating conditions throughout the year. This information should help people choose the best time for their needs. We also want it known that in regards to both the shark activity and the weather, that we do often experience exceptions to these general rules every year. Reliability Over the last 10 years, the period September to late-January has frequently delivered record high numbers of sharks, along with very high reliability. Last year in 2018 we saw a surprising unseasonal reduction in sightings in late October/early November. However we do know that on the 2 other occasions in our 50-year history when this occurred, the next 5+ years rebounded to our record high shark numbers. The period from April to late June has also proved extremely reliable for sharks with the exception of June 2018. The month of June itself has only ever missed out one other time for a couple of weeks in the last 20 years. Other than these 2 blips, this has been (and we expect to continue to be) an excellent time. Most Sharks The highest numbers of sharks seen do correspond closely with the reliability of the sharks (above) however, record numbers are recorded more so between September and January in recent years. Largest Sharks The very largest sharks seen are usually mature female sharks, which can measure over 5m long. These super giants are most likely to be seen between April and August, with maximum sized super giants peaking in June to August. Large adult male sharks measuring over 4m long arrive randomly year-round at the Neptune’s, but perhaps peak in August to October. These old boys are often more consistent and "photogenic" than the typically more cautious giant females. Sunshine The brightest sunniest weather at the Neptune Islands is usually experienced between the months of October and April. Water Temperature The warmest water temperatures for the Neptune Islands is found between December and May when water temperatures rise up to 18-20C. Offshore currents do however maintain temperatures between 15-20C throughout the year. Most Unreliable Month Traditionally March did often prove to be the most unreliable month for shark sightings. Ironically March is also the best and most productive month for weather. However, in the last few years, mid-March onwards has delivered satisfying shark productivity including 2019. In recent years the wonderful summery month of February (and often the last week of January) has recorded a significant lack of shark sightings on most days, however this year proved to be a very nice time to to be on the water with February dates giving 100% success. The current trend is to be optimistic for Feb and March 2020. Our multi-day itineraries combined with the great weather at this time are a great recipe for success. Over the last 10 years, August has often also proved unreliable with hit and miss results combined with an increased potential for generally poor weather. For this reason we are looking to have special longer variable itineraries at this time and down priced to allow for any bad weather and/or any slow shark days. This month is also one of the very best to get the chance to experience our mature female sharks over 5m long and perhaps even a super giant approaching 6m in length. Water Visibility and temperature. Although striking clear water visibility of up to 30m or more can be found throughout much of the year at the offshore Neptune islands, the very clearest waters are often found from August to October when the water is at its coolest of about 15-16C at the surface. Swimming with Sea Lions Apart from the shark viewing activities, and depending on each group's wishes, nearly all summer tours and most tours taken between September and May will at some stage have favorable conditions for swimming/diving with Australian sea lions at Hopkins Island. This activity is normally planned on the first or last day of the tour. Island cruises and Shore Party Tours The October to May timeframe, with typically lower swell, is also conducive to more shore party landings on the mainland or even at the Neptune Islands themselves during the tour. Otherwise we can explore the seal colony or remote islands and bays by tender boat or from the mother ship herself. Other Shark Species In addition to experiencing great white sharks, The September to May timeframe has higher chances of seeing mako sharks and bronze whaler sharks. Length of Tours Most dates outside our summer months have a minimum length of 3 nights duration to allow for the shorter daylight hours experienced and to help overcome the potential for poor weather at this time. These longer trips then give us the wonderful flexibility of avoiding the need for frustrating cancellations that might otherwise compromise shorter length tours at these times. The fairer weather and longer daylight hours in summer allow us to confidently and successfully run some shorter itineraries and still achieve the high level of satisfaction we are renowned for. Various shorter 2 and 3 night itineraries are possible options from October to April. Seasickness Our expedition vessel is large and stable and a comfortable sea boat built to handle the open ocean and get safely between the sheltered anchorages between the Neptune Islands and the mainland. It is these 1-2 hour crossings in open seas that can be most challenging to people particularly sensitive to seasickness. Although most people recover well once we get to our anchorage we suggest particularly sensitive people look to choose a date between the generally fairer seas of October to April. Another option if you have the liberty is to look at long-range weather forecasts up to a week or more ahead of any tour date available and book at short notice. A problem with this option is many dates can book out some months ahead. Q: How do I get to Port Lincoln?- A: Port Lincoln is situated on the beautiful Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. It is very easily accessed from Adelaide by QANTAS Link and Regional Express with a short 40 minute flight. Adelaide International Airport is Australia's fastest growing airport. It is serviced directly from many international destinations and all major Australian cities. For those with a little more time, Premier Stateliner offer a return bus service from Adelaide to Port Lincoln.