Overview:
The Sharklife Research Assistant program provides a unique platform for students and volunteers to gain field experience working on shark research projects in South Africa's largest coastal Marine Protected Area (MPA). With direct involvement in all the research components, you will build your skill base through knowledge development, practical training, and many hours on the ocean.
There is a maximum of 10 research assistants at any time allowing for more valuable experiences in the field and increased personal development.
Sharklife has been driving shark conservation initiatives since 2005 and has a wealth of experience to offer enthusiastic research assistants. So whether you are an early career marine biologist, student, or passionate volunteer we need you to help drive our shark research projects!
Please note: All our data collection methods are non-invasive, nor harmful to the animals we study, there is no catching, handling, or feeding of sharks on this program. In addition, we dive in small groups to limit the disturbance of marine wildlife.
1 Month
The core goal of this program is to develop your fieldwork experience and watermanship skills. During this month you will steadily practice freediving, clock-up scuba dives, and learn the routine boating tasks. A series of workshops focused on shark ID, behavior and biology are given during this month to enhance your understanding of the animals you are researching. You will also be introduced to the data collection, input, and analysis methods used in the projects we are conducting at the time.
Highlights:
- 10 - 20 boat-based research trips
- Marine wildlife encounters
- 30 - 60hrs in the field
- Research freediver coaching (5 - 10m)
- 5 -10 scuba dives (if certified)
- Shark workshops
- Optional Big 5 Game Park day trip ($100)
Duties:
- Prepare the boat and dive gear
- Prepare research equipment
- Assist with crewing the boat
- Assist with data collection tasks
- Maintain dive gear and boating equipment
- Data collection, input, and analysis
Deliverables:
- 1 page (500 words) blog article on a relevant conservation topic
- A five-minute presentation on an elasmobranch species you encountered here
2 Month
During the second month, you will continue to develop your watermanship skills by practicing your freediving and doing more research dives. Every hour on the ocean teaches you something, whether you encounter a species you have never seen before or experience diving in a current for the first time. In addition, you gain further insight into the data collection and analysis tools used by the researchers to answer project questions.
Highlights:
- 20 - 40 boat-based research trips
- Marine wildlife encounters
- 60 - 120hrs ocean time
- Research freediver coaching (5 - 10m)
- 10-20 scuba dives (if certified)
- Optional Big 5 Game Park day trip ($100)
Duties:
- Prepare the boat and dive gear
- Prepare research equipment
- Assist with crewing the boat
- Assist with data collection tasks
- Maintain dive gear and boating equipment
- Data collection, input, and analysis
Deliverables:
- Additional 1 page (500 words) blog article on a relevant topic
- An additional five-minute presentation on an elasmobranch species you encountered here
3 Month
The third month is when all your training and experience begin to take hold. You can be relied upon to perform data collection, analysis, and reporting on research findings. You will round off your watermanship skills by diving in a variety of conditions and have greater confidence in your freediving diving abilities. These skills are earned through practice and repetition over the 12-week period and will yield results serving you for your ocean-based future.
Highlights:
- 40 - 60 boat-based research trips
- Marine wildlife encounters
- 120 - 180hrs ocean time
- Research freediver coaching (5 - 10m)
- 20 - 40 scuba dives (if certified)
- Optional Big 5 Game Park day trip ($100)
Duties:
- Prepare the boat and dive gear
- Prepare research equipment
- Assist with crewing the boat
- Assist with data collection tasks
- Maintain dive gear and boating equipment
- Data collection, input, and analysis
Deliverables:
- Additional 1 page (500 words) blog article on a relevant topic
- An additional five-minute presentation on an elasmobranch species you encountered here
Scuba Courses
Scuba/Freediver Diver Training:
Sodwana Bay is a world-renowned diving paradise, the warm clear waters make learning to dive easily while you enjoy the abundance of marine life there is to encounter.
If you would like to complete one of the following courses whilst you are here, please specify it in the inquiry form.
PURE APNEA ADVENTURE FREEDIVER LEVEL 1 - $230
Duration: ±2 days
This internationally recognized freediving course covers the basics of recreational freediving. This course will train you and your buddy to safely freedive on reefs between 5-10m and interact with marine animals like dolphins, seals, and turtles. It includes breathing, relaxation, physiology, equipment, equalization, open-water freediving techniques, and recreational freediving safety procedures.
The course consists of theory and 2 ocean sessions, full gear, and certification.
PURE APNEA ADVENTURE FREEDIVER LEVEL 2 - $300
Duration: ±3 days
This advanced freediving course focuses on the skills and techniques that will allow you to safely reach the same depths as scuba divers. You will learn to become efficient with each movement of a freedive and learn to extend your bottom times at depths between 15-20m. Emphasis is placed on equalization techniques and minimizing the risk of hypoxic blackouts.
The course consists of theory and 4 ocean sessions, full gear, and certification.
SCUBA REFRESHER - $50
Duration: ±4 hours
If you haven't dived within the last 6 months of your arrival, you will need to do a refresher with an instructor. This is an efficient way to refresh your scuba skills, move quickly through topics you know well, and dive deeper into topics where your knowledge may have lapsed.
The course consists of theory and pool sessions.
PADI OPEN WATER DIVER - $350
Duration: ±4 days
The PADI Open Water Course is an entry-level course and an internationally recognized certification. It allows you to dive with your buddy anywhere in the world up to a depth of 18m/59ft.
The course consists of theory, pool sessions, 4 training dives, full gear, and certification.
PADI ADVANCED OPEN WATER - $350
Duration: 3 Days
The Advanced Open Water Diver course helps you increase your confidence and build your scuba skills so you can become more comfortable in the water. It also extends your diving qualification to a depth of 30m. There are two mandatory dives: Deep and Navigation. You can discuss with your instructor which three additional Adventure dives to choose from.
The course includes theory, 5 training dives, full gear, and certification.
PADI RESCUE DIVER COURSE - $360
Duration: 4 Days
The Rescue Diver Course prepares you to prevent problems and if necessary, manage dive emergencies using a variety of techniques. It increases your knowledge beyond the purely recreational level. Divers describe the course as challenging, but very rewarding and a lot of fun! It builds your confidence in your diving ability and teaches you how to perform minor and major rescues, manage emergency situations and give proper first aid.
The course includes all theory, pool sessions, 2 open water training dives, full gear, and certification.
PADI DIVEMASTER COURSE - $(POA)
Requirements: Rescue Diver Qualification
Duration: The course varies depending on the Student’s level of comfort and the number of logged dives, usually 4-8 weeks are needed.
Becoming a Dive Master is the first step in becoming a Dive Professional. This course includes your all qualifying dives, PADI Divemaster Crew pack
Please let us know if you would like to take this course and we can discuss the itinerary with you.
All the above courses are delivered through our accredited training partners.
Philosophy
Now more than ever the ocean needs passionate people to broker for its conservation. Through the program, we hope to create opportunities for ocean conservationists to grow and develop to meet this challenge.
Key Mantras for all Sharklife volunteers and staff:
- “You learn the hard way”
Making mistakes is the best way to learn and retain information, it develops your self-confidence to get back up and try again with a new perspective.
- “How you do anything, is how you do everything”
Every task you find yourself doing is an opportunity to do your best, this develops into an attitude of how you approach life and ultimately your success in the world.
- “You got to be in it, to win it”
Simply put, you must engage in life, and be an active participant in every opportunity that comes your way. In the context of this program, get in the water at every stop, even if you are cold or tired you never know what you are going to encounter.
Grant Smith -Sharklife Managing Director
Location
Sodwana Bay is a small rural town that borders the pristine world heritage site known as the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
The park includes South Africa's largest coastal Marine Protected Area, spanning 180 km of coastline, and is one of the top ten dive destinations in the world. The coral reefs contain over 1 200 species of fish as well as a variety of underwater seascapes and marine megafauna. The warm tropical waters (20-27C, 60-80F) year-round and good visibility make for awesome research conditions!
Sodwana Bay is a short drive from a selection of Big 5 Game Reserves which you can visit on your days off.
“The wetland park must be the only place on the globe where the world’s oldest land mammal (the rhinoceros) and the world’s biggest land mammal (the elephant) share an ecosystem with the world’s oldest fish (the coelacanth) and the world’s biggest marine mammal (the whale).” Nelson Mandela 2001
Research
Sharklife conducts several research projects with varying focus and seasonality. These projects enable research assistants to gain insight into fundamental marine research methodologies and implementations.
Current Studies include:
Ragged-tooth Shark Movement Study:
The study, in collaboration with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, aims to identify key congregation areas and movement patterns of pregnant spotted Ragged-tooth sharks within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Skill Development Areas:
- Freediving
- Scuba Diving
- Underwater Photography
- Shark Behavior
- I3s ID Database Management
Season: Oct-Sep - Read Project Overview
Elasmobranch Assessment Study:
The study aims to describe the species diversity, relative abundance, distribution patterns, and habitat associations of elasmobranches occurring in Sodwana Bay.
Skill Development Areas:
- Freediving
- Scuba Diving
- Underwater Photography
- Shark Behavior and Identification
- BRUV Deployments
- Bathymetry Mapping
Season: Year-Round - Read Project Overview
The study, in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela University, aims to describe the ecology and population dynamics of non-nesting sea turtles occurring in Sodwana Bay. Season: Year-Round
Skill Development Areas:
- Freediving
- Scuba Diving
- Underwater Photography
- Turtle Behavior and Identification
- I3s Database Management
Season: Year-Round - Read Project Overview
Costs
As with many training and experience-building programs, there are costs involved. Sharklife is a non-profit organization and all funds are used to further the aims of the organization, your involvement directly supports the research components.
- 1 Month - $1995 USD ($498 per week)
- 2 Month - $2995 USD ($374 per week)
- 3 Month - $3995 USD ($332 per week)
Costs Include:
- Research expense contribution (fuel, equipment, consumables, etc.)
- Airport transfers
- Private room
- Shark Lectures and materials
- Dive gear/air fills
- Wifi
- 24hr support
Excluded:
- Scuba/Freediving Courses - more info here
- Flights
- Travel Insurance/ DAN Insurance
- Meals *
- Vaccinations
- Weekend Activities: These can be scuba diving or field trips
*Meals - The research accommodation has a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare your meals. There are daily trips to the local supermarket where you can purchase all common food items. Alternatively, there is a restaurant on site where you can order lunch and dinner from a large menu.
Program Dates: 2024-2025
* 4 months or more will require a Volunteer Visa, which we can help you with. 9 -12 month placements are also available. If you can't make these exact dates let us know and we can discuss the options.
Some FAQ's
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What do I get from the program?
- Through the program you will gain bona-fide field experience with sharks and their environments.
- You will receive freediver training and gain water confidence
- Examining real shark and ray specimens is a rare opportunity and will greatly enhance your understanding of elasmobranch anatomy.
- By being involved in our research projects you will be exposed to varied research processes and methodologies.
- Sodwana Bay is a remote rural town alongside South Africa's first world Heritage site and has some of the best diving in the world.
- Optional Big 5 Game Park tours.
- Your participation in our program directly supports the shark conservation efforts of the organization.
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Who is the program for?
Over 18’s, in good health, good swimming ability and an affinity for the ocean. If you are considering a career that involves being in the ocean or are just passionate about marine conservation, then this program will benefit you.
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Do I need a Scuba qualification?
No, but it would be beneficial. Many of the research trips are all snorkel based but some projects do include scuba surveys.
If you would like to complete one of the following courses whilst you are here, please specify it in the application form.
PADI Open Water Course - $350
PADI Advanced Diver Course - $350
Freediver Level 1 - $230
Freediver Level 2 - $300You will receive basic freediver coaching from an accredited freediving instructor. This will enable you to improve your freediving ability, if you would like formal training then select the level 1 freediver course.
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Arrival & Departure Day - Flight Details?
If your program starts on the 1st of January you need to arrive at the airport on the 1st of January, not before. If your program's last day is the 2nd of December you need to book your flight for departure on the 2nd of December.
You need to fly into King Shaka Durban via Johannesburg O.R Tambo Airport. Please try to arrive no later than 2pm as it's a 4hr drive back to Sodwana Bay.
If you need assistance with travel arrangements please let us know in the booking form.
A Sharklife staff member will pick you up from the airport on your arrival day.
If you are unsure please do not hesitate to ask for help.
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What is available in Sodwana Bay?
There are most products and services available within walking distance of the accommodation.
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Do I need a Visa?
Nationals of the following 48 countries/territories who hold valid national passports are not required to obtain South African visas for visits of up to 90 days: If you are coming for longer than 90 days we will work with you to get the appropriate Visa.
But please double check this as changes can occur at anytime. visit http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/exempt-countries
African Union Laissez Passer
Andorra
Angola (ordinary passports 90 days per annum visits not to exceed 30 days)
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Botswana
Brazil
Canada
Chile (only ordinary passport holders)
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Finland
France
Germany (except in diplomatic staff due to assume duty at the Embassy and Consulates of Germany in SA)
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Liechtenstein
Luxemburg
Malta
Monaco
Namibia (only ordinary passport holders 90 days per annum)
Netherlands
Norway
Panama
Paraguay
Portugal
Russian Federation
San Marino
Singapore
Spain
St Vincent & the Grenadines
Sweden
Switzerland
Tanzania (90 days per annum)
Trinidad & Tobago (only ordinary passport holders)
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (only ordinary passport holders)
British Islands Bailiwick of Guernsey and Jersey, Isle of Man. British Oversees Territories namely: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Gough Island and Tristan da Cunha), Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the Turks and Caicos Island.
United States of America (except in respect of diplomatic staff due to assume duty at the Embassy and Consulates of the USA in SA, as well as service passport holders)
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zambia (90 days per annum)
Zimbabwe -
Deposit and Cancellation?
- A non-refundable 50% deposit needs to be paid within one week of being accepted into the program to secure your spot.
- The remaining fee must be paid in full 3 weeks prior to the arrival date.
- All cancellations within 3 weeks of arrival are non-refundable.
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When is the best time?
Although seasonal changes in Sodwana Bay are mild there are changes in the sea conditions and mega fauna during the year.
Generally the best weather months are between Dec-July, but its not imperative.
Some noteworthy species seasonality:
- Ragged-tooth Sharks, Sep - July (peak Dec - May)
- Humpback Whales, June - Nov (peak July - August)
- Turtle Nesting, Nov- Feb
- Turtle Hatching, Jan - April
- Big Five game viewing, Year Round
Feel free to reach out to us if you need more info on seasonality :)
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A typical day?
Typical Day: 07:00 - 15:00
After preparing the boat and equipment for sea we head to the beach. Interns and volunteers are an integral part of the team and assist directly with all beach and boating logistics. We launch through the surf and make our way along the coastline to the designated study area where we conduct in water surveys, record sightings data and change out equipment. Interns get the opportunity to develop seamanship and diving skills whilst encountering a wide variety of marine life.
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On returning we rinse, de-kit the boat and diving equipment and break for lunch.
After lunch we meet in the research office where interns and volunteers are tasked with the daily data management functions or or maintenance tasks.
We end off with a debrief and planning session for the next day's research activities.
If we are unable to go to sea due to inclement weather we conduct theory sessions in our auditorium using graphics, videos and models to enhance your theoretical understanding of sharks. Interns and volunteers use this opportunity to ask questions and discuss prevalent conservation topics.
We also use this time conduct various examinations of the shark and ray specimens we have preserved, either frozen, dried or in solution. These specimens enable participants to get a feel of the various anatomical features of each animal.
The rest of the day may be allocated to extra activities happening in the center at the time such as; assisting with school groups, museum display development, boat maintenance etc.
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Typical day off?
- The most popular free-time activity is a day trip to the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Big 5 Game Reserve. The park is home to Africa's big five game: elephant, rhinoceros (black/hook-lipped and white/square-lipped), Cape buffalo, lion and leopard.
- You can just relax on the pristine beaches of Sodwana Bay.
- For the more adventurous, you can embark on a microlight flight over the coastline.
- There are also quad bike tours of the local lake systems and forests.
- You can scuba dive on the world renowned reefs of Sodwana Bay.
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Do I need vaccinations?
Depending on where you are coming from there are a few vaccinations that you may need. Check the link below for more information.
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/201/south-africa#Vaccine_recommendations
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