GREAT WHITE SHARK RESEARCH INTERNSHIP

The program consists of both on-site and off-site work. Prior to arrival in South Africa, participants are required to complete a two – three week online eLearning program aimed at giving your a thoretical grounding in the shark and research skills required to enable you to make a meaningful contribution to the program. Onsite, participants will focus on practical work and can participate for a minimum period of two weeks and a maximum period of three months.

Expedition numbers presented are based on a 4-week participation period on the great white shark research internship program. The real expedition numbers will be proportional to how long you participate on the program. 

Comprehensive Training Programs

Elevate your skills and knowledge with our diverse range of training courses tailored to your interests and aspirations.

Guided Expert Training Onsite

Benefit from hands-on, expert-led training sessions conducted right at our facility. Our experienced professionals ensure you gain practical skills that are both valuable and immediately applicable.

Thrilling Great White Shark Excursions (Subject to Weather)

Experience the apex predators of the ocean up close during our captivating Great White Shark trips. Note that these expeditions are subject to weather conditions for your safety and comfort.

Plettenberg Bay White Shark Expedition

Participate in our unique land observation expedition in Plettenberg Bay during the peak shark season. Witness the great white sharks in their natural habitat from a new perspective.

SCUBA and Free Diving Shark Expeditions

Dive into the depths and encounter these majestic creatures on SCUBA or free diving trips. Immerse yourself in their world while adhering to safety protocols and responsible practices.

Seabird Rehabilitation Conservation Journeys

Make a meaningful difference by joining our conservation trips dedicated to seabird rehabilitation. Contribute firsthand to the protection of these vital marine species.

Engaging Learner Awareness Trips

For those eager to learn, our awareness trips offer an immersive educational experience. Gain insights into marine conservation and ecology through engaging activities and discussions.

Introduction to Freediving Course

Embark on a journey of discovery with our Introduction to Freediving course.

Comfortable Accommodation (Dormitory Style)

Rest and recharge in our comfortable dormitory-style accommodations. Connect with fellow participants in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Delicious and Nutritious Meals

Indulge in three daily meals that cater to your culinary preferences: enjoy a continental breakfast, a hearty cooked lunch, and a satisfying cooked dinner.

Stay Connected with Internet Access

Stay in touch with the world with included internet access, allowing you to share your experiences and stay updated during your stay.

Effortless Local Transport

We’ve got your transportation needs covered, including airport shuttles. Experience seamless travel arrangements that ensure you focus on what truly matters – your enriching experience with us.

• • International Flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Laundry
  • Weekend experiences
  • Additional drinks and food
  • Souvenirs
  • Single Accommodation (optional addon)
  • Specialized meal plan (optional addon)

Great White Shark Population. Monitor and determine the local population of great white sharks using photo identification of dorsal fins, pigmentation patterns, and additional measures (e.g. CPUE) collected through citizen science research on white shark cage diving tourism vessel.

Predator prey techniques. Conduct visual observations and utilise behavioural ethograms to describe and assess the predator prey dynamics of great white sharks and Cape fur seals.

eDNA. Contribute to the genetic profiling of the resident great white shark population through environmental DNA sampling.

Diversity assessment. Monitor shark abundance and diversity on local reefs through observation recreational dives.

Tracking. Contribute to ORI shark tracking studies using visual tags. These studies conducted on sharks other than great white sharks under project guidelines of the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI).

Beach & reef clean. Assist in our biweekly efforts to keep the beaches and reef systems of Mossel Bay clean with dedicated cleanups.

Seabird rehabilitation. Contribute biweekly to the husbandry and maintenance of injured and oiled seabirds by volunteer working with the SAPREC foundation

Stop shark fining campaign. Assist in our ongoing online social media awareness campaigns fighting for the cease of unregulated shark fishing and the practice of shark fining.

Save sharks production. Host and produce our monthly podcast and vlog series highlighting conservation needs and efforts of sharks throughout the world.

Tourism educator. Adopt role of educator on great white shark ecotourism expeditions. Ensure that cage diving is presented correctly and guests depart as ambassadors for shark conservation.

Learner educator. Travel with the team as we visit schools throughout South Africa’s garden route and engage with learners on the importance of ocean and shark conservation.

Visitor Education. Join in on our biweekly presentations on shark research and conservation to tourists visiting Mossel Bay. Enjoy these evenings of education and enlightenment at some of the towns top hotels.

Attending the Great White Shark Research Internship Program is an investment in your career. No matter your current expertise, you will be working toward improving your employ-ability by mastering new social skills, gaining further technical expertise, and potentially earning an additional qualifications. We have helped many of our Alumni discover, move toward, and earn their own personal dream jobs, be in in shark research, ecotourism, underwater filmmaking or conservation. Our program includes introductory workshops, ongoing eLearning presentations, as well as on-the-ground support provided by our very own trained scientists. 

Photographic Identification

Master the photographic skills required to produce mark recapture data on a variety of shark species. This includes establishing the camera settings to ensure clean, sharp and valuable identification photographs.

Visual Tags

Train in the skills to safely and ethically place visual ‘mark recapture’ tags on ragged tooth sharks and small endemic shy sharks.

Behavioural Ethograms

Develop and employ behaviour ethograms to understand the behaviour and social interaction of shark species. Including great white sharks, ragged tooth sharks and others.

eDNA Sampling

Learn to conduct and process environmental genetic sampling procedures to detect the diversity and concentration of different shark species in the target area.

Education officer

Develop skills to be an effective education communicator who can inform and entertain tourism guests during shark ecotourism expeditions.

Seabird Rehabilitation 

Train in providing care and husbandry of oiled and entangled seabirds at the SANPREC seabird rescue centre.

ALUMNI REVIEWS

The Shark Research Unit is dedicated to producing tangible scientific result. Be assured that your contribution to our research will benefit the understanding of South Africa’s shark populations.

Since our inception, the Shark Research Unit has prioritised the health and safety of our staff, participants, partners and local community members. In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, SRU has created the SRU health and hygiene team to put in place new standards of cleanliness, norms and behaviours that meet international recommendations to ensure the ongoing safety of  participants, staff and the local community. Internationally recommended practices, such as advice from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the governments Australia, UK and US, continue to be monitored and the standards are likely to change if and when international advice changes.