Independent Field-Based Assignments
Complete a 3–6 month ecological monitoring assignment in a World Heritage Site with Sharklife support and standardised ecological methods.
Photo: Tomáš Kotuč
Overview
The Independent Field-Based Assignments (IFBA) track is designed for university students who want a structured, research-style experience. Over a minimum of 12 weeks, participants develop their own ecological monitoring project, apply established survey methods, analyse data, and produce structured outputs that can support university learning goals or professional development.
Who is it for
- University students who need to complete an independent ecological field assignment as part of their coursework.
- Students who want to the experience of collecting real ecological data using recognised monitoring methods and turning it into assessed outputs such as reports, posters, or presentations.
- Those who are academically enrolled, motivated to work independently, and looking for a structured, credible fieldwork experience that complements their CV.
Program Structure
The Independent Field-Based Assignments (IFBA) track follows four phases:
Phase 1 — Pre-Arrival
Focus: Project development
- Define your monitoring focus and select suitable methods.
- Develop your project remotely with Sharklife support.
- Draft a short project plan with university supervisor sign-off.
Outcome: Approved project plan
Phase 2 — Weeks 1–4
Focus: Orientation & core training
- Complete station induction, safety briefings, and site orientation.
- Finish diver training if needed, or begin methodology workshops.
- Finalise protocols and logistics for independent fieldwork.
Outcome: Project implementation
Phase 3 — Weeks 5–8
Focus: Field implementation
- Apply monitoring methods in the field.
- Maintain rigorous logs and metadata.
- Share findings in a short poster-style presentation.
Outcome: Midpoint poster delivered
Phase 4 — Weeks 9–12
Focus: Analysis & final outputs
- Analyse data using appropriate tools.
- Interpret findings in a conservation context.
- Present results in a seminar-style presentation.
Outcome: Final report submitted
Extended Placement (4–6 Months)
Students staying beyond the core three-month structure continue with additional fieldwork and analysis, allowing them to deepen their Independent Field-Based Assignments within the same methodological framework. Typical activities include:
- Repeating surveys across different seasons or time periods to build temporal replication.
- Expanding spatial coverage to additional sites for stronger ecological comparisons.
- Increasing sample sizes to improve analytical robustness.
- Allocating more time for data analysis, interpretation, and extended written components where required by the university.
This extended structure is ideal for students undertaking longer coursework projects, capstone assignments, or developing advanced portfolios. The methodology remains consistent, avoiding unnecessary complexity while enabling more substantial academic outputs.
What you will produce
Independent Field-Based Assignments are designed to help you leave with more than field experience — you’ll produce a suite of structured outputs that demonstrate your ability to plan, implement, and communicate an ecological monitoring project. These deliverables can support university coursework, contribute to your academic record, or strengthen professional portfolios.
- A project plan defining your ecological monitoring focus, chosen methods, and expected outcomes — developed with supervisory guidance.
- A poster-style midpoint presentation summarising your methods and preliminary findings for peer or mentor feedback.
- A seminar-style final presentation delivered to staff and peers, showcasing your results, reflections, and methodological insights.
- A structured final report or equivalent coursework deliverable, written to an academic standard suitable for university submission or inclusion in a portfolio.
- Optional verification letters detailing supervision, assessment criteria, and methods used, if required by your institution.
More details
- Project Level
- Project Themes & Methods
- Supervision & Assessment
- Costs
- Travel Info
Projects are intentionally scoped at a foundational–intermediate level, focusing on well-established monitoring techniques rather than equipment-heavy methods such as BRUVs or tagging. This ensures projects remain methodologically sound and feasible within the placement period, while still generating meaningful ecological data.
The focus is on building strong field and analytical skills through methods such as roving diver UVC surveys, coral health assessments, and intertidal photo-quadrats, supported by clear QA/QC and analysis steps.
This level of work allows students to produce credible academic assignments and contribute to ecological baselines while operating within realistic time, permitting, and resource limits. It provides a solid platform for future progression to more advanced methods in postgraduate or extended research contexts.
Independent Field-Based Assignments are built around a set of standardised, non-invasive ecological monitoring themes. Each theme uses established survey techniques that are achievable within a 3–6 month timeframe, academically rigorous, and fully aligned with iSimangaliso MPA regulations.
Participants select one primary theme, ensuring a clear methodological focus suitable for university coursework or capstone assessment. All fieldwork is supported through structured training and supervision at the Sharklife Field Station.
1. Coral Health
- Method: SCUBA-based roving diver surveys using CoralWatch colour slates.
- Focus: Live coral cover, growth forms, bleaching indicators, and site-level environmental variables.
- Ideal for students interested in habitat monitoring, reef health, and climate-related impacts.
2. Turtle Monitoring
- Method: Opportunistic SCUBA sightings during standard roving diver surveys.
- Focus: Species identification, behaviour, and GPS-referenced encounter data.
- Ideal for students interested in megafauna monitoring and behavioural ecology.
3. Reef Fish
- Method: SCUBA roving diver surveys of selected indicator species or families (e.g. butterflyfishes, wrasses, surgeonfishes).
- Focus: Species occurrence and relative abundance as ecological indicators of reef condition.
- Ideal for students interested in fish assemblage structure and reef condition monitoring.
4. Elasmobranchs
- Method: SCUBA roving diver surveys with optional freediving at known aggregation sites.
- Focus: Shark and ray occurrence, relative abundance categories, and site characteristics.
- Ideal for students interested in predator ecology, spatial patterns, and elasmobranch monitoring.
5. Rocky Shores (Intertidal)
- Method: Photo-quadrat surveys along the intertidal zone at low tide.
- Focus: Benthic community structure, habitat composition, and spatial patterns.
- Ideal for students interested in coastal ecology and non-diving ecological monitoring.
Supervision
Academic supervision and assessment remain the responsibility of your home university, but you won’t be working in isolation. Sharklife provides structured, field-based support to help shape your project, train you in standardised monitoring methods, and keep you on track during your time on site.
Day to day, you’ll work independently — but within a clear framework, with staff available to guide, review milestones, and help resolve practical challenges as they arise.
- University supervisor: Oversees academic quality, approves your project plan, and assesses final outputs.
- Sharklife support: Provides methodological guidance, ensures use of standardised methods, and offers milestone feedback throughout your placement.
- Additional input: Visiting researchers or field instructors may contribute depending on your project focus.
assesment
Independent Field-Based Assignments focus on the development and demonstration of practical and academic competencies, rather than formal research outputs. Students are supported to build credible field-based assignments that can be assessed by their home university.
- Project planning: clarity of objectives, feasibility, and methodological soundness.
- Field implementation: accuracy of logs and metadata, safe and professional conduct, consistent participation.
- Analysis & interpretation: appropriate tools, sound reasoning, and well-supported conclusions.
- Communication: effective delivery of a mid-point poster, final presentation, and written outputs.
Please note: IFBA is a training and educational platform, not a formal research programme. Data collected under IFBA are intended for coursework and academic assessment, not for publication, theses, or dissertations without separate research agreements.
Program fees reflect the real costs of operating in a marine field environment. As a non-profit organisation, Sharklife directs all fees back into the Field Station, ensuring your contribution supports both your training and the wider conservation mission.
Costs
Note: scuba certifications available at a discounted rates $280 per course (OW or ADV).
- 3 months — $5 365 ($447/week)
- 4 months — $6 281 ($393/week)
- 5 months — $7 117 ($356/week)
- 6 months — $7 873 ($328/week)
Included per month
Excluded
* Meals — The IFBA accommodation has a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. There are regular trips to the local supermarket where you can purchase all common food items. Alternatively, there is a restaurant across the road where you can order lunch and dinner from a large menu.
Program start dates
The IFBA program runs on a rolling basis, with start dates on the first Monday of each month. The minimum duration is 12 weeks, allowing time for project design, field implementation, and final reporting. Longer placements can be accommodated depending on your institutional requirements and project scope.
IFBA application deadline: at least 4 weeks before your preferred start date.
Airport transfers
Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is about 200 km (±2 hrs) from our base. To streamline logistics, we provide one group transfer per month to align with program start and end dates:
- Arrivals: please book flights to arrive at Richards Bay Airport by 13:00 on the start day.
- Departures: please book flights to depart after 11:00 on the final day.
- If you cannot make these times, let us know in advance and we’ll do our best to accommodate alternative arrangements.
You will be met at Richards Bay Airport by a uniformed Sharklife staff member in a Sharklife-branded vehicle. A photo and contact details of your Sharklife representative will be shared in the Arrival WhatsApp group before your trip, so you can easily recognise them.
International travel
- Main gateway: all international students should fly into Johannesburg — O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).
- Connecting flight: from Johannesburg, take a domestic flight to Richards Bay (RCB). Flight time is about 1 hour.
- Customs & transfers: allow at least 2–3 hours between your international arrival and domestic connection.
U.S. students
- Direct flights are available to Johannesburg (JNB) from New York, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.
- After clearing immigration, connect to Richards Bay (RCB).
- Schedule your RCB flight to arrive by 13:00 on the program start day.
European students
- Most major European cities have direct flights to Johannesburg (JNB).
- From JNB, connect onward to Richards Bay (RCB).
- Some itineraries route via Doha, Dubai, or Addis Ababa before Johannesburg.
Just some of the universities we host students from:
Meet your support team
Grant Smith — Program Director
Founder of Sharklife with 20 years’ experience in marine conservation and training.
Angus van Wyk — Research Fellow
Final-year PhD candidate, oversees academic alignment and course integrity.
Gracie Mertes – Marine Field Trainer
Marine science graduate, delivers practical methods training and mentoring.
Lucas Ethgen — Marine Field Trainer
Marine science graduate, coordinates operations, manages logistics, and supports in-water supervision.
Life at the Sharklife Field Station
Our field station in Sodwana Bay is more than a base — it’s your home during the program. Between training days and ocean sessions, you’ll live, cook, and relax with fellow students in a supportive, conservation-focused environment.
What to expect
- Private room with bedding provided.
- Clean, shared bathrooms maintained daily.
- Fully equipped kitchen with regular supermarket runs; cooking together is common.
- Wi-Fi and laundry facilities on site.
- 24/7 staff support for safety and wellbeing.
- Walking distance to local amenities.
Daily rhythm
Mornings usually start with field prep and launches; afternoons wind down at the station with data work and debriefs. Evenings often include guest talks, group cooking, or downtime to recharge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use IFBA for university credit?
Yes. We provide assessed outputs (project plan, midpoint poster, final presentation, and report) and, on request, verification letters detailing supervision and criteria. Check your department’s requirements and share any forms before arrival.
Do I need prior scuba certification?
No. You can complete Open Water or Advanced as discounted add-ons ($280 each). Project methods are selected to match your certification level and experience.
How are projects chosen and approved?
Projects are developed collaboratively during the 8-week lead time before arrival. Once accepted, you’ll work remotely with a Sharklife supervisor to refine your ecological question, select methods that align with local regulations and available tools, and finalise your project plan. This ensures your project is fully approved and ready to implement when you arrive.
What tools and software will I use?
GPS and loggers, DOV survey gear, GoPros, spreadsheets, and standard analysis tools (e.g., R, Python, or QGIS). Bringing your own laptop is strongly recommended, and we’ll guide tool selection during the planning stage.
How is my work assessed?
Project plan quality — clarity, feasibility, method fit.
Field implementation — logs/metadata, safety, professionalism.
Analysis & interpretation — appropriate tools, sound reasoning.
Communication — midpoint poster, final presentation, and written report.
Can I use IFBA data for my university thesis or dissertation?
IFBA is not a research programme and does not grant permission to publish or formally submit collected data as original research. You may use your project plan, methodology, and analysis framework as part of coursework, but not the underlying data for theses, dissertations, or papers. If you need to conduct formal research, you must do so through a separate, approved research permitting route.
What does a typical week look like?
Expect 3–4 sea/field days (weather dependent) and 1–2 centre days for analysis, planning, and skills sessions. Weekends are generally free for rest or local trips.
What are the arrival and departure windows?
Arrive at RCB by 13:00 on the start day and depart after 11:00 on the final day to use the monthly group transfer. Tell us early if you need alternatives.
Deposit and cancellation?
50% non-refundable deposit due within one week of acceptance.
Balance due three weeks before arrival.
Cancellations within three weeks of arrival are non-refundable.
What should I bring academically?
Laptop (if possible) with Office/Google Docs and any preferred stats/GIS tools.
Any university forms or assessment rubrics for credit/verification.
External drive or cloud access for data backups.
Testimonials
My time at Sharklife was, without a doubt, the best experience of my life. From the knowledge I gained about marine science to the people I met, Sodwana Bay and Sharklife have become my favorite places in the world. As a recent university graduate, I went in hoping to deepen my understanding of marine biology and shark research—and I learned so much. I never imagined I’d connect so deeply with people from all over the world, and I’m so grateful to have made lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories.