Atlantic Shark Expeditions

Canada's first shark cage diving operation set up shop in Nova Scotia in 2023, and it has become one of the most distinctive tours on the East Coast. Atlantic Shark Expeditions was established by marine biologist Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, a scientist who has spent his career studying sharks from Miami to the North Atlantic, and every trip doubles as a working research day at sea. Guests search for great white, blue, and shortfin mako sharks off the Nova Scotia coast, watching from the deck or stepping into a surface-supplied cage — no scuba certification required. The company holds a 4.7-star Google rating from roughly 160 reviews and has drawn coverage from the Discovery Channel, Global News, Canadian Geographic, and The Weather Network. For visitors building a things to do in Halifax list, this is the most literal way to get below the surface of the Atlantic.

A Research Boat First, a Tour Second

The expeditions are built around working science. Each trip collects data that feeds a long-term research program on shark migration, population dynamics, and the role apex predators play in Atlantic Canadian waters, and guests take part as citizen scientists — helping with the work rather than watching it happen from a distance. The three species the crews search for tell their own conservation story: the great white shark is listed as endangered in Canada, the shortfin mako is endangered as well, and the blue shark is currently not at risk. Dr. Hammerschlag's tagging history runs through these same waters; the company notes that some sharks circling the cage in recent seasons were individuals he had previously tagged.

That framing changes the day. As one Tripadvisor reviewer put it after a trip, "While seeing sharks isn't in control of the team, a BEAUTIFUL 17ft Great White Shark graced us with his presence!" Another called the trip "one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had," praising a crew that was "professional, kind, and helpful every step of the way." A testimonial on the company's own site, from a guest named Melissa MacInnis, carries the local-pride angle: after putting shark diving on her bucket list back in 2008, she finally did it in her home province and found the crew "knowledgeable, polite, professional and beyond accommodating" — on a boat she describes as having a predominantly female crew with a female captain.

How a Day on the Water Works

Expeditions are full days, running from 8:00 a.m. to roughly 4:30 p.m., with a 7:50 a.m. meet-up. The ticket covers shark viewing from the boat and cage time in the water, all cage-diving equipment (7 mm wetsuits in sizes S through 3XL, masks, gloves, hoods, and boots), surface-supplied air through a hookah system, snacks onboard, and the guidance of marine biologists, a captain, and crew. The minimum age is 10, and anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 19.

The hookah system is the detail that opens the cage to nearly everyone: air arrives from the surface through secure lines, so guests breathe normally with their heads in the water and no certification is needed. Reviewers new to the water appreciated the preparation — one noted that the crew "prepared everyone for what the excursion will entail, leading to no surprises," adding, "As an inexperienced diver, I felt completely safe."

Halifax and Yarmouth Departures

Trips run from two ends of the province. Halifax departures meet at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront on Upper Water Street, steps from the historic waterfront. The Yarmouth-side operation runs out of Lower West Pubnico, about 35 minutes from Yarmouth, meeting at the parking lot of Dennis Point Café (214 Dennis Point Road) — a routing that pairs well with the CAT ferry from Maine for visitors looping through the province's southwest. The company says its first great white seasons were strong enough that some trips saw more than a dozen sharks circling the cage in a single day, including previously tagged individuals.

The 2026 season runs June 18 to October 30. Demand has been heavy: Yarmouth great white dates for 2026 sold out, with a cancellation list available by email (info@atlanticsharkexp.com — include your group size and desired date range). Day expeditions are priced around $395 per person, and the company offers automatic discounts of 10, 12, and 15 percent for bookings of three, four, and five days. Compared with whale watching trips in the province, it is a premium outing — but it is the only cage dive on offer in Canada.

An Honest Look at the Trade-offs

This is a full day on open water, and it is priced accordingly. Guests who struggle with motion sickness should plan medication and expectations; the crew can find sharks, but they cannot schedule them, and some trips see far more action than others — a point reviewers themselves raise, fairly, alongside five-star ratings. The price also puts the day in bucket-list territory rather than casual-afternoon territory, and the eight-hour commitment eats most of a Halifax day.

For the right guest, the trade reads as fair. As one Tripadvisor reviewer summed it up: "Knowing that every trip supports valuable shark research made it even more worthwhile. I would highly, highly recommend Atlantic Shark Expeditions to anyone of any age."

Practical Information

Address & Location
Halifax departure point: Halifax Marriott Harbourfront, 1919 Upper Water Street, Halifax. Yarmouth departure point: Dennis Point Café parking lot, 214 Dennis Point Road, Lower West Pubnico (about 35 minutes from Yarmouth).

Season
June 18 to October 30. Trips run 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; meet at 7:50 a.m.

Price Range
Around $395 per person for a day expedition. Multi-day bookings save 10-15 percent. All equipment and snacks included.

Reservations
Book online at atlanticsharkexp.com. Yarmouth 2026 dates are sold out — email info@atlanticsharkexp.com for the cancellation list. Questions: (902) 943-6139.

What to Bring
Swimwear for under the wetsuit, a towel, warm layers for the deck, seasickness remedies if you are prone, and a camera for the ride out.

Whether you cross it off the list from the deck or from inside the cage, an Atlantic Shark Expeditions day leaves you with a story nobody at home can top — and leaves scientists with data they will use for years. Few Halifax tours can claim either half of that.