Sardine Run South Africa

Experience the exhilarating Sardine Run, spending time out at sea interacting with dolphins, whales, seals, penguins, sharks and birds chasing the Biggest Shoal on earth!

Port St Johns
The Ultimate South African Sardine Run Experience

A typical sardine bait ball in crystal clear conditions where dolphins, sharks, whales and sea birds are in a feeding frenzy is a mesmerizing sight. Film crews have spent weeks out at sea over the span of a couple of years in search of the perfect bait ball action to get the footage regularly seen on television.

We join the various predators as they move along the South African coastline feeding on the bate balls during the day, and spend the evenings relaxing with friends around the fire eating, drinking and talking about the day’s excitement.

June – July 2024

What Sets ProDive Apart

Over 20 Years Experience

After more than twenty years experiencing the Sardine Run and our local knowledge and experience with the animals, ProDive provides the highest probability of encountering the densest displays of the Sardine Run action, where you can see penguins, seals, dolphins, whales, sharks as well as the birds on the bait balls.

5 Star Rated

Elizabeth Guthrie
Elizabeth Guthrie
2023-07-18
A summary: excellent boats, hotel was a great place to stay, and staff (John and Michael!) were awesome. Owner prioritized sardine ball experience of video crew shooting for a documentary (and their own instagrams) over other guests, impacting experience and deflating other divers’ once-in-a-lifetime trips which was the only bad thing I have to say about the trip.
Darren Kritzinger
Darren Kritzinger
2023-05-27
Awesome event
Dale Prouty
Dale Prouty
2022-07-28
Excellent excellent Trip. Lots of animals. Great skipper and guides.
JS L
JS L
2022-07-18
Very professional and well organized! They have one of the best boats and skippers that I have seen. You can 100% rely on the team and the crew to have the best Sardine Run experience! I definitely recommend it!!
Stephanie Voris
Stephanie Voris
2022-07-17
Awesome trip!!! So much marine life during this time of the sardine run and an excellent operation in Pro Dive to make our experience wonderful!!
Rhiannon Mabberley
Rhiannon Mabberley
2022-07-11
Absolutely the best company to experience the Sardine Run with. Top notch guides who know the area in and out, great accommodation and the best zodiac on the water. HIGHLY recommend!
Evan McGill
Evan McGill
2022-07-11
Nothing short of amazing. We were overly spoiled on this 7 day trip! The service and meals were A+! We observed and swam with common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, sharks and of course swam with the sardine migration across the coast of South Africa and the predator hunting that follows it. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an ocean safari! Thank you To ProDive and their amazing crew!
Leif Pontoppidan
Leif Pontoppidan
2022-07-01
Had the most amazing experience at the Sardine Run with Pro Dive 🙂 The crew do their outmost to give their guests a lifetime experience, during 5 days at the water we snorkeled with dolphins, gannets and humpbacks and dived with groups of copper sharks and sandtiger sharks. Big thanks to Luis, Scott and Steven.
Peder Wimmelmann Rosenvel
Peder Wimmelmann Rosenvel
2022-07-01
Well organized, friendly and super competent staff, good equipment, VERY skilled and safe handling of the boat in the surf, impressive spotting...AMAZING EXPERIENCE

State-Of-The-Art Boats

ProDive’s boats are modern and include state-of-the-art modifications specifically with the Sardine Run in mind. A specially designed camera tray that is positioned down the centre of the boat, additional fuel tanks that enable our boats to reach 160km and an aft seating arrangement, ensures more space with fewer people on pontoons and excellent agility, reach and speed.

Best Equipment

ProDive is the region’s number one dive centre and shop. This ensures that we provide divers with the latest and greatest new or well-maintained equipment. Divers on the Sardine Run are provided with 12ℓ steel tanks and boats are equipped with ladders for easy boat access as well as having oxygen on board. Benefits that few other sardine run operators have.

Seasoned Skippers

Our skippers are all PADI Certified and seasoned Sardine Run specialists. They have worked with the animals for over 20 years and their intuition and local knowledge guarantees the best Sardine Run experience. They have two goals in mind, your safety and making your Sardine Run experience the most memorable expedition of your life.

Superior Comfort

We aim to make sure that you are absolutely comfortable 24 hours of the day. We think further than your comfort on the boat – we ensure that there is ample space when you are travelling in the bus to game reserves, lodgings and attractions, that you are accommodated at superior accommodation, and a major highlight, are provided with a dry wetsuit every morning.

South African Sardine Run Tours and Charters

The Sardine Run action starts in Port Elizabeth in April where the sardines, and their predators, migrate up the Eastern Cape coastline of South Africa. By the end of June, the sardines reach Port St. Johns which is situated in the heart of the Wild Coast, a 250km coastline which offers spectacular scenery and unique beauty to the Sardine Run experience.

Sardine Run Migration Map
During the months from April to July, the cooler Benguela current moves up towards the east coast of South Africa resulting in the migration of millions of Sardines. This provides an abundant food source attracting game fish, sea birds, whales, dolphins and sharks, to name a few.