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WHITE SHARK PROJECT NEAR CAPE TOWN
Come face to face with, 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!"
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►SUMMARY
FACTFILE |
| Start Dates |
All year round - you choose your
start and finish dates! |
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Duration |
From
4 weeks and up to 1 year, subject to visa
requirements |
| Requirements |
No qualifications needed, but you
must have a passion for sharks and be prepared to work hard and muck
in with whatever is required while you're there. |
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Price |
From £2,095 /
US$3,145 for 4 weeks, ranging to £3,695 / US$5,545 for 12 weeks.
Full Price List and other
Currencies |
| What's included |
►Accommodation
►One night in a hotel in
Cape Town (usually)
►Meeting you at the Airport
►Transfer to your accommodation
►Transfer
to your project
►Full pre-departure support
►Local in-country team support
and backup
►24-hr emergency support |
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What's not included |
Flights, Insurance, Food,
Cost of Visas (if a visa is required, but we'll provide necessary documents and
assistance),
Return transfer to airport. |
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Who can do this Project? |
All our projects are
open to all nationalities.
Unless otherwise stated, you need to be aged between 17 and 70+ |
Also on this page:
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.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.
WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:
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An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into
Africa and the many diverse cultures in South Africa
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The enormous satisfaction of knowing that your work is contributing
to marine conservation.
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New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding
of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional
development.
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An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head
and shoulders above most others in the job market
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And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!
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
A Typical Day:
The first boat trip usually goes out at 8:30am. The tourists arrive from
Cape Town around 7:30am for a breakfast at the Lodge. Volunteers get up
around 6:00am to help with preparing the equipment (wet suits, masks,
etc.) for the day. You'll have breakfast and be ready to welcome the
guests at 7:30am. You'll walk the guests a short 5 minute walk to the
launch site. Once on the boat, you'll help the crew in any way you can.
This includes getting the boat anchored, helping the guests get kitted
out for their cage dive, help with the chumming, and anything else that
crops up. Once the boat trip is over, you'll wash the boat down and pack
all the kit up to take back to the lodge. The equipment needs to be
washed and hung to dry for the next day. If it is busy there might be a
second boat trip so all the above is repeated. If not, you have the rest
of the day off. This daily routine takes place 7 days a week. If it’s a
quiet day, you may have the opportunity to go on the Whale Watching boat
(if there is space) for no charge.
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.
Research:
Volunteers help the project staff
to fill in data sheets for the sharks they spot day to day. There is no
scientific research carried out by the project itself. It is a tourist
operation, but their sightings are sent back to Cape Town to the
researchers and this information is used by them.
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.
Positive aspects of this project are the
sharks (obviously!) and an active outdoor lifestyle in a stunning
environment. Generally, our volunteers can go on the boat everyday - if
there is room. You'll usually be able to dive in the cage as many times
as you like as well, depending on tourist numbers. There is generally
space on the boats most days, a full boat is not a daily occurrence.
ADDITIONAL
ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WHILE ON THIS PROJECT:
- 5-DAY OR 7-DAY SAFARI from
Cape Town up the renowned Garden Route: taking in Dolphin and Whale
Spotting, visits to many tourist attractions, such as a visit to a
brewery(!), the Bloukrantz Bungy Jump (reportedly the highest in the world),
and a guided tour of the Cango Caves.
- 1 WEEK WHALES, SHARKS AND DOLPHINS
Project: This is
an extraordinary and exciting project in a beautiful location, surrounded
by white beaches and blue ocean. And two hours from the world's third
favourite city - Cape Town.
What more could anyone want?
- SURFING COURSES: In the buzz
city of Durban.
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PARAGLIDING COURSE: Soar over the impressively beautiful Drakensburg
Mountain. You'll get a licence at the end of the course which qualifies you
to do solo paragliding around the world.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OPTIONAL ADD-ONS
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ABOUT
THE GREAT WHITE SHARK
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About Dyer Island:The name of the island originated from an African
American, Samson Dyer, who went to live on the island in the 19th century.
He collected "guano" (bird droppings), and made a living from supplying it
to farmers on the mainland as fertilizer. The boats that transported the
guano from the island are today in the Maritime Museum at the Waterfront in
Cape Town.
Dyer Island (larger island) is the breeding
ground of Jackass Penguins, Cape Cormorants and Gannets, while Geyser
Rock (smaller island) is a breeding Mecca for Cape Fur Seals and
currently home to approx. 50 000 seals.
In season, whales and dolphins may also be
spotted.
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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.
100,000,000 sharks are killed each year by humans, usually through fishing. They
are, as a result, on a collision course with extinction. Great White Sharks are
the last wild predator on earth that we cannot tame; from that point of view
alone it deserves our respect and attention.
How could our oceans be the same without the glorious Great White beneath its
surface.
Great White Sharks are very stable animals,
displaying stable and predictable behaviour. They do not like to fight with or
bite one another. They are highly intelligent animals, able to learn quickly and
to remember. This is all new and contradictory evidence in the field and it is
apparent that the Shark Team are just scratching the surface now.
Finding the Great White, or letting them find you,
is a skill, involving years of practice, the water temperature, depth,
visibility, swell height, current and wind direction are all major factors. Once
the site is found, the bait is prepared and the team awaits the shark,
respecting it as a free animal. A recent tagging project was very successful
allowing a number of Great Whites to be tracked.
Possible Extinction:
Considering the incredible number of between 150 - 200 million sharks
destroyed each year, there is a potential threat of extinction to these species.
Most sharks are slow growing, have late maturation and low fecundity and this is
the shark's downfall. They cannot replace their stocks to keep up with human
exploitation, such as say, sardines can. Lets look at the Great White Shark. The
Great White Shark female takes approximately 15 years to become sexually mature,
and the male about 8 years. At these ages the female will be around five meters
long and the male around four meters long. The Great White Sharks' fecundity is
low, so the female may possibly only give birth to several litters of pups in a
lifetime and these litters are relatively small, ranging from about seven to
eleven pups in a litter.
So due to the shark's inability to reproduce
quickly, stock replacement is not occurring and subsequently the populations of
the world are fast diminishing. In fact, they are being wiped out far quicker
than most people realise, with many species critically endangered and some
species literally on the brink of extinction.
The Great White Shark is now protected in South
Africa, California, South Australia and Tasmania, and although this is only one
of almost 400 species of shark, its protection is a step in the right direction.
The Great White is a key stone species on this
planet and its protection, subsequent media attention and high public profile
allows us to use it as a battering ram to push for the protection of other shark
species.
Have been
in the cage twice so far. As amazing as it is to see them from the boat, it's
awesome to view them in the water, in their own domain. First time I went in the
cage, a shark took the bait and came thrashing up against the cage. Its pectoral
fin actually came inside the cage. I could have shaken hands with him!
Andrew
Burge
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YOUR
ACCOMMODATION |
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You will stay in a house in Kleinbaai. It is
very comfortable, quiet and has some lovely views.
The house has a dorm room and two double rooms,
one bathroom, a nice kitchen, a lounge area and an outside patio for those
hot evenings. With a comfortable seating area, television and video for
entertainment, you will be very relaxed in your new home and shark briefings
will take place here from time to time too.
You will be taken into Gansbaai for shopping
and anything else you may need.
To read about the extensive Support & Backup
we provide in our countries, please
click here.
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TRAVEL: |
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You'll fly into Cape Town where you'll be met at
the airport by one of our staff. From the airport you'll be taken to your work
and your accommodation and introduced to your hosts. You'd be well advised to
prepare yourself for an almost overwhelmingly friendly welcome!
You have the option to arrange your own flights or
we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If you would like us to do this
for you, we will liaise with you regarding available flights and dates to suit
you. All arrangements for your flight bookings/payments will be fulfilled by
Murray Rogers Travel Limited,
ATOL No. 6856. Where possible, we arrange for two or more people to travel
on the same flight and we will let you have the names and telephone numbers of
other volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to each other or even meet
up before leaving for your placement.
VISAS: For many
nationalities, visas are not required for a stay of 90 days or less. If you’re
not sure whether you need a visa or not, please visit
http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/visa_schedule.asp
to see whether your country is exempt. If you do need a visa, we will assist you
and help make the visa process as easy as possible.
Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have
changeable return tickets because many of our volunteers choose to extend
their stay once they are in their destination country. Changeable return tickets
enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa and the level of your air
ticket, of course. If you choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour
to get a changeable ticket.
To read about the excellent Support & Backup we
provide before you leave and during your programme, please
click here.
We can also arrange your flight dates to give you
additional time at the end of your project for travelling around and sightseeing
- this is a fascinating and wondrous country!
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