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 training (optional 10 -15m)
• 10-20 research 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
• Perform in water 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 10-minute presentation on an elasmobranch species you encountered here

3 Month

The third month is where 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 training (optional 15 - 20m)
• 20 - 40 research 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
• Perform in water 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 10-minute presentation on an elasmobranch species you encountered here

Scuba Courses

Scuba Diver Training:

Sodwana Bay is a world-renowned diving paradise, the warm clear waters make learning to dive easy 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.

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, dive deeper on 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 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 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. 

These courses are delivered through our PADI 5 Star scuba training partner.

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, 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

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-July - 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

Turtle Assessment Study:

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

Being a non-profit organization 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:

Excluded:

• Scuba Courses - more info here
• Flights 
• Travel Insurance
• Meals *
• Vaccinations 
• Weekend Activities: These can be scuba diving or field trips

*Meals - The research camp has a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare your meals and there are daily trips to the local supermarket where you can purchase food.  Alternatively, there is a restaurant on site where you can order lunch and dinner from a large menu.