South Africa Shark conservation

Dive with Great Whites - and help save them from extinction

Get to see the world's largest underwater creature daily, spending your time out at sea contributing to an essential education and research mission. Volunteering along a beautiful stretch of South Africa's rich coastline, whilst seeing some of the greatest sea creatures the world has to offer, you become part of a passionate team contributing to worldwide scientific research on sharks. Help to monitor and observe the sharks in their natural habitat, finding out more about their behaviour. This research is crucial if we are to stop the continuing decline of shark populations around the world.

Your days will be spent out at sea, predominantly helping out with the tourist shark and whale watching trips, educating visitors about this commonly misunderstood creature. You will get to enjoy life out at sea, helping to identify the sharks and taking important pictures and data. For the lucky ones, you can take part in ongoing research and monitoring, linked with various universities worldwide, going out on the small research boat to help with this valuable work.

In return for your hard work, you get unparalled access to sharks, being able to get into the shark cages and see them from underwater as well as from the vantage points on the boat. You will gain new insights into conservation issues, both about sharks as well as the local penguin colonies- and enjoy the amazing attractions on this rugged stretch of South African coastline.

What Will I Be Doing?

Your days will invariably be centred around being out at sea during the morning and early afternoon, with many supplementary lectures and trips organised and on offer later in the day.

Your main focus of the morning will be the tourist trips, but on some days you will also be encouraged out onto the small research boat- weather conditions permitting!

• Tourist trips: The research team take groups of tourists on shark and whale watching trips. You will be working alongside them, operating equipment, as well as looking after the passengers. You'll never tire of seeing the wildlife along this coastline - whales lifting their flukes as they dive, penguins, dolphins and, of course, sharks! You are encouraged to get involved in the diving too!
• Monitoring: Help researchers in their work to identify the movement of the sharks throughout the year. This involves observing them from a boat or diving cage, photographing them and keeping records. You will be given plenty of training and development, with daily lectures on sharks and their habits as well as hands-on experience. It won't be long before you are contributing your own observations at lectures and feeling very much part of the team. The boat is very small, and can only take out volunteers in fine weather- but there is plenty more for you to help out in with the research mission

Other activities include cleaning down the boats and wetsuits, data recording, photography and marketing- there are daily blogs written, so help with writing and marketing is encouraged for budding writers.

Volunteers are also encouraged to take part in other conservation efforts, from painting penguin houses to helping out with local education programmes. These are great fun to get involved with, and really contributo to the local community.

There is plenty to do during your time off. You are located just off the beautiful Garden Route, and many trips are arranged for you- trips to the local vineyards, to the southernmost point of South Africa and to surrounding towns. There is a vibrant lifestyle in this area of South Africa, with lots of great shops and cafes and bars to keep you busy.

Getting there

A flight can be arranged to Cape Town. Your first night will be spent in a guest house in Cape Town, before being collected the very next day and transported out to the project site along the stunningly attractive Garden Route. Expect to see your first sharks that very same day!

Highlights - what will I get out of this?

• The thrill of having a shark swimming towards you - still exciting even after several weeks!
• Seeing the sharks from above- watching the fins slowly approaching is a heart in mouth moment!

• Being part of a friendly team, working and socialising around a fantastic stretch of coast.
• Coming away with a lot more knowledge and some wonderful memories
• Getting involved in the many volunteer opportunities, trips and the vibrant lifestyle on this rugged stretch of coast
• Helping a species that is dying out and contribute to reversing this sad trend.

Accommodation and food

Comfortable and secure accommodation is provided about 5 minutes walk from the office and boats in a really lovely neighbourhood. The house has great shower facilities, living area and fully equipped kitchen where you will be able to cook for yourselvesin the evening. A good breakfast is provided at the volunteer house, and lunch is given on the days that you are out at sea. There is satellite television, wifi, volunteer computer and dvd player.