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WHITE SHARK PROJECT NEAR CAPE TOWN

THE GREAT WHITE SHARK: This is an extraordinary and exciting way to come face to face, learn about and enjoy one of the most exquisite and mysterious gifts of mother nature, the Great White Shark! This Great White Shark project is a unique opportunity to view the Great White Shark in its natural environment, either from a boat or an underwater cage. You'll also see other wildlife species, including Cape Gannets, Bryde Whales, Cape Fur Seals, Dolphins and Jackass Penguins.

"Look into the mouth of this ocean predator ... it's as big as a delivery van! Great White Shark cage diving is incredible!"

Also on this page:

• Work Content
• About the Great White Shark
• Accommodation
• Travel and Visas

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Sharks are intelligent and vulnerable, deserving of sympathy and respect. Education helps people to lose the Jaws phenomenon and gain the realisation that sharks are a complex and precious species, living in the water – just doing their best to survive.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:

• An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into Africa and the many diverse cultures in South Africa

• The enormous satisfaction of knowing that your work is contributing to marine conservation.

• New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.

• An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market

• And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!

ABOUT THE GREAT WHITE SHARK PROJECT:
On this project Travellers works with a world leading organisation focusing on the Great White Shark. Founded in 1989 purely as a research centre, it now collects information which is passed on to, and is used by, other research organisations. Since 1989 it has grown and broadened its services to include an excellent film department, diving and viewing centre and a separate conservation and educational department.  "Everything we do we aim to do in harmony with nature and the environment we are working in.”

The dedicated Shark Team led by Craig has been conducting population dynamics and behavioural research since 1991. Craig’s father formed the original shark project and was responsible for having the Great White declared as a protected and endangered species in South Africa.

After a shark attacked a girl further up the coast, several teams got together to form a research centre with the intention of creating a better understanding these animals. Up until then no real research had taken place. Contrary to popular opinion, shark attacks are rare, with only 20 to 30 fatal attacks each year worldwide.

The media hype of these attacks along with the classic movies have installed a primitive fear in humans – that of being eaten alive. This fear has been exaggerated, exploited and then marketed at the expense of the well being of the shark species. Sharks' natural feeding areas are seal colonies, not a beach packed with surfers.

The organisation we work with undertakes much cage diving with sharks. This was originally thought of as a bad idea, as it was believed that by baiting humans in cages, sharks would associate humans as food, through the process of conditioning.

However, our partner organisation disputes this as sharks are highly nomadic animals, their territory ranging over vast areas, even across continents. Research shows that a shark would never stay in one place long enough to become conditioned. They also disagree that cage diving is dangerous on the basis that a shark cannot mentally separate the human diver from the cage.

WORK CONTENT:
When you arrive, you'll be given a lot of training before starting your actual work. This training will consist of most of the elements of a two-week course which the project offers the general public.  However, whereas the general public go home after completing their course, you will be working with project staff to assist in their research and fight against the encroaching possible extinction of the Great White.

Your Training:
You'll receive training in White Shark biology, research, behaviour, conservation, changing attitudes, shark attacks, basic seamanship, underwater filming, still photography and shark tourism.

Part of the training will be in the form of slides and videos. They will take place in the evenings after you return from sea, or on off-sea days.

Weather permitting you will go to sea frequently. At sea, you'll get involved as much as possible with all aspects of sea work. This will be focused on working with the sharks from above and below the water. Much emphasis will be placed on observing behaviour and the interactions of sharks around the boat. You will be taught how to get in and out of the cage and how to remain secure and safe in the cage. Participants in the cages will record observations of the White Sharks. This will include sex, size, markings and behaviour.

You'll also be taught the basics of how to set the camera up, how to use it under water and how to obtain the best images.

This training is designed to educate you to a level of competence of a field assistant. During the training, you will be evaluated on how you handle teamwork, take your own initiatives, take interest in the work and activities, show interest in learning. Thereafter, you'll participate in assisting the shark organisation and the CEES (The SA White Conservation, Education and Exploration Society) with various duties and responsibilities, including helping to educate locals and children on the Great White.

The Conservation, Education and Exploration Society is an organisation dedicated to the exploration and conservation of the world's greatest predator, and the preservation of its environment. Your work with them will help to achieve their objectives of gathering sufficient accurate data on the white sharks to assist in management programmes for the ensured survival of the species, as well as striving to change negative public attitude towards sharks through awareness and education, because it is almost impossible to ensure the survival of a hated species!

Location: The program will run out of Gaansbaai, South Africa. The White Shark fieldwork will take place around Dyer Island and possibly other shark locations. Dyer Island (Shark Alley!) is possibly the best place in the world to see Great Whites. Gaansbaai is a seaside village, which depends on fishing and tourism for its survival. It is situated approximately two hours south east of Cape Town.

The shark team document much shark activity using aerial surveys of the island. On one of the main research sites, Dyer Island, many other wildlife species can be viewed from the boat. It is the breeding ground for Jackass Penguins, Cape Cormorants and Gannets, whilst Geyser Rock opposite, is a breeding mecca for Cape Fur Seals and currently home to approximately 20 000 seals. In season Whales and an occasional Dolphin can be spotted. This is a perfect habitat for the Great White.

The sharks have been awesome. The largest one I've seen so far was a 3.5m shark nicknamed "Slashfin" because her dorsal fin is cut. She looks a lot bigger up close, I can tell you! Got to see a "predation" as well - a shark take out a seal. Was all over in a matter of minutes, just a pool of blood on the surface to tell the tale. Also saw a Southern Right whale out on the water which was pretty cool. Andrew Burge

Skills learned from the Project:
You'll learn many new skills (depending on your previous experience) - everything to do with running a boat and keeping it in a good working order. You'll also learn ways to identify the sharks and study their behaviour. A lot of researchers use the boat trips to collect data, so speaking to them will teach you a lot as well.

Volunteer Requirements:
Any volunteer applying for this project should be hard working, have a genuine interest in the sharks and be up for mucking in at all times. We don't recommend it for anyone with a ‘shark curiosity’ as we feel you may get bored very quickly. The day-to-day routine does not change, the real thrill is seeing the sharks. If you are not passionate about the creatures, the novelty could wear thin quite quickly. There isn’t much to do outside of work hours, so you must be able to amuse yourself - the crew does go for drinks sometimes and our volunteers are invited along, but they all have families to go home to and it’s an early start, so no big parties.

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