Great White Shark Projects

  South Africa

• Cape Town: 
Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Dates: 1st Monday of every month

Description: What could be better than waking up to a good wholesome breakfast pack your gear out to sea in search of the Great White Shark. The hour is early and the morning sun has just climbed over the horizon. The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. A slight breeze is coming in from the ocean bringing with it the smell and feel of primordial adventure.

The little fishing harbour is boiling with activity as the fishermen launch their boats to go out and catch their livelihood. Somewhere out there the Great Whites are making their way through the temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean, to make their livelihood.

With a feeling of huge anticipation we launch our vessel and start our half hour journey to Dyer Island.

Dyer island is home to a huge marine bird population and amongst the species to be found there are Cormorants, Oyster catchers, Gulls, Turns, Gannets and last but not least it host a population of approximately 20,000 of the protected Jack Ass Penguins. Geyser Rock on the other hand is home to approximately 60,000 of the protected Cape Fur seals.

Separating the two islands is a shallow channel which we call the "shark alley". The channel is roughly 150 meters wide and 600 meters long and is without a doubt, one of the absolute Great White Shark Mecca's of the world. In this area we have seen White Sharks attacking seals and birds, we have seen Great White Sharks jumping completely clear out of the water and on occasions we have seen White Sharks inflicting wounds on each other while in combat. Thousands of days have been spent around the island working, some of them very successful and some of them less successful. On one occasion we sighted 21 Great White Sharks in one day. That was a very successful day indeed!

A normal day at sea is a lot of fun and a lot of hard work. As a volunteer you will be part of the team. You will take part in day to day activities of our work. In the morning before going to sea we will load the boat with all necessary equipment including cages, diving gear, lunch, baits, chum, recording equipment and everything else we need for the success of our objectives.

Once the site is reached we will start recording all environmental conditions. At the same time the crewmembers will start preparing the chum and the baits. Once we have started baiting and chumming we will wait for the sharks to appear. The wait can be anything from a few minutes to several hours. Once the sharks arrive our day is taken up by observing, recording, photographing, filming and cage work.

We will spend quite a lot of time in the cages photographing and filming the white sharks. This way we acquire material that cab be used to study behavior, markings, pigmentation etc. it is also an aid in the sexing of younger Great White Sharks which are often difficult to sex from the surface.

Once back on shore the boats and the equipment will be washed and prepared for the next day. Baits and chum will be prepared and anything else needing attention will be taken care of for the next research day. When all duties are taken care of we will relax and ponder over the day at sea. On some of the evenings we will give interesting lectures about the great White Shark and its different aspects. During the lectures we will also show slides and videos etc.

The expeditions are designed to educate and train members in the field of natural biological research of the Great White Shark, By the end of your stay, the potential volunteer will have gained enough experience to qualify as competent field assistant. This level of competence will then enable that person if he/she so wishes, to apply to the South African White Shark Research Institute for a voluntary position on future expeditions and filming trips.

Highlights:
* Meeting the Great White Shark face to face in his own world.
* Being part of the Shark Team.

Cost in US$: 1,700

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups of 8

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad

White Shark Projects's Mission Statement: In South Africa, we are privileged to have access to great white sharks & if you know where to go, and when. The general public, too, can enjoy great white sharks face-to-face. Observing and diving with these creatures under the correct conditions and guidance is a wonderful experience. Even anti-shark people return from an expedition or diving trip with love, and certainly respect, for the great white. White Shark Projects is without doubt the most successful white shark diving organisation in the world: Working in the unique marine area off the southern Cape coast, our skippers log more contact with great white sharks than anyone else worldwide.

Year Founded: 1989