Shark populations worldwide are increasingly threatened, and in scientific circles there is still research needed to fully understand and interpret shark behaviour. Shark education features as a prominent part of the programme.

The programme will enable you to see sharks in their natural environment, either from a boat or from a cage.

You will learn about coastal eco-systems in the region, and about what work is going on to help preserve them. Each link of the chain needs to be supported in order to ensure ocean sustainability. Because of this you will have a wide variety of tasks and activities to participate.

South Africa is the only country in the world to have a ‘fair trade’ label for its tourism products. A strict criteria must be in place to qualify for and earn this prestigious accreditation: fair wages and equal employment, democracy, transparency and environmental conservation.

Dyer Island Cruises and Marine Dynamics is the only marine wildlife company in the Walker Bay area to have been given this accolade.

Practical experience will include:

What will I do on the boats?

On the white shark dive boat (Shark Fever) you will work with the tourists, assist the crew with baits, chum, cage, dive gear and cleaning.  Here you will gain very good boat and team experience. You will record data and you will assist in logging this data. On the whale boat, you will assist the tourists but your main task will be data collection and observations. We are particularly interested in bite marks on seals, birds and dolphin. You will also be looking out for entangled animals.

You will work very closely with white sharks and you will also get very close to whales at certain times of the years, seals, dolphins and marine birds.  The white sharks come right up to the boat and the whales often come very close.

Will I dive in the cage?

You will definitely have opportunities to cage dive. We will allow you to cage dive as much as we can.

What will I do on land?

You will work with the tourists in the briefings, dressing them with jackets and life jackets, pack the boats, prepare the boats and equipment, wash and maintain equipment, log data and clean your accommodations. You can sometimes assist with penguin nest building and placing or caring for injured birds before they get sent to Cape Town, as our crew does.

Accommodation is in comfortable, private self- catering homes in the immediate area. Here you will be able to relax in your spare time,and mix with fellow volunteers.  You have to be willing to share a room with another volunteer.  You will not be more than 2 people in one room.

The houses are within walking distance of the coast, and Kleinbaai. Provisions can be purchased in nearby Gansbaai.

The Western Cape enjoys a temperate climate, with the majority of its rainfall in the winter months of July and August. However, our pleasant winter days compare favourably to European summer days.

What do I need to bring?

We live by our motto: