Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Opens Shark Charter Reservations

CAPE COD, MA — The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy is now accepting online reservations for private white shark charters for the 2023 summer season.

The charter experience provides passengers with an opportunity to observe white sharks in their natural habitat and experience the Conservancy’s efforts to study them while conserving Cape Cod’s biologically diverse marine ecosystem, officials said.

Each 2.5 to 3-hour charter is guided by a spotter pilot aircraft and accompanied by a Conservancy naturalist.

Passengers are also encouraged to participate in “citizen science” by assisting the naturalist in adding white shark sightings to the Sharktivity app, using a hydrophone to determine if a shark has been tagged and assisting the white shark research team by recording observations.

“Our private white shark charters provide an incredible opportunity to witness these magnificent apex predators in their natural habitat and to learn about AWSC’s efforts to study the species,” said Cynthia Wigren, CEO and co-founder of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

“The charters book up far in advance, so we highly recommend that reservations be made as soon as possible to ensure the best selection of preferred dates and times.”

Charters operate multiple times per day, weather permitting, from July 5 through Oct. 15. Total cost is $2,500 for up to six passengers, which includes a $500 deposit fee payable when a reservation is made. A portion of the trip fee is tax-deductible.

The vessel and Lower Cape departure location are dependent upon group size.

The Conservancy also offers one-hour receiver tours throughout the summer in collaboration with Chatham Bars Inn Resort and Spa. During the cruise through Chatham Harbor and out to the sandbars where grey seals haul out, passengers will have the opportunity to bring up a shark receiver and analyze the data to determine whether any tagged sharks have recently been nearby.

Tickets are $80 per person.

For more information and to make reservations, click here.