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SHARKSLIVE FILM INTERNSHIP

The team of Sharkslive consist of some of the worlds top shark scientists, wranglers, filmmakers and conservationists. Join our team as an intern on the Sharklive production crew to immerse yourselves in bringing the Sharkslive live production to life.

We are seeking interns to assist in producing our live shark expedition broadcasts and short shark documentary series. As an intern, you will receive extensive training in producing live productions and working with and filming great white sharks. Our team works daily from three locations, including the shark expedition, the broadcast studio, and our roving production team. As a Sharkslive intern, you will be assigned daily to one of these teams and turn the daily shark adventures into live streaming entertainment and education for our online audience.

Overview

Are Sharks and Television your passion?

Sharkslive is seeking interns to assist in running our daily shark expedition broadcasts. As an intern, you will receive extensive training in producing live productions and working with and filming great white sharks. Our team works daily from three locations, including the shark expedition, the broadcast studio and control room, and our roving production team, which follows the daily work of the shark scientist and students. As a Sharkslive intern, you will be assigned to one of these teams and turn the daily shark adventures into live streaming entertainment and education for our online audience.

Our internship program is by application. We request that applying interns have some experience in using consumer–prosumer video equipment, be comfortable at sea, and contribute for a minimum period of one month. If this sounds like you, please submit an application form or send us a note to answer any further questions you may have.

Program Details

PROGRAM TYPE – Shark filming internship PROGRAM LOCATION – Mossel Bay, South Africa PROGRAM FOCUS – Shark filming, live broadcast, shark awareness and education

Program Highlights
  • Eight dedicated great white shark research filming expeditions at Mossel Bay, South Africa. These expeditions include shark cage diving tourism, shark breaching expeditions, shark research expeditions; and
  • Expert training in live streaming and online broadcast of actively edited productions; and
  • The opportunitiy to present and host sharkslive short documentaries and live stream broadcasts.
Duration and Price of Program

The program consists of both on-site and off-site work. Prior to arrival in South Africa, participants are required to complete a two week online eLearning program focussed on live streaming, documentaryproduction and working with large sharks. This is aimed at giving your a thoretical grounding in the shark and filming skills required to enable you to make a meaningful contribution to the Sharkslive broadcast. Onsite, participants will focus on practical work in producing short sharkslive documentaries and live streaming shark diving and breaching expeditions. Applicants can join for a minimum period of 1 month and a maximum period of three months.

Cost of Program for you
Indicate which month you would be interested in begining your participation in 2022
Indicate which month you would be interested in begining your participation in 2023
Eligibility

The Sharkslive film internship program is open to everyone with the time available and desire to contribute to our shark awareness and education work through the Sharkslive broadcasts. If participants have little, or no, experience in film production, it is critical to fully complete the online eLearning section of the program before joining our team.

Expedition numbers presented are based on a 4-week participation period on the Sharkslive Film Internship. The real expedition numbers will be proportional to how long you participate on the program. 

Includes
  • 2 Week online training course
  • Onsite expert training
  • 8 x Mossel Bay great white shark filming trips
  • 6 Day filming additional sharkslive documentaries
  • Broadcast and editing equipment
  • Accommodation (dorm)
  • Meals (3/day)
  • Internet
  • Local transport (incl. airport shuttle)
Excludes
  • International Flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Laundry
  • Weekend experiences
  • Additional drinks and food
  • Souvenirs
  • Single Accommodation (optional addon)
  • Specialized meal plan (optional addon)
Skills Development

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 employability 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. Biopsy Sampling Train in the collection and storage of biological shark samples that will be used in a variety of research projects from genetic analysis to colour manipulation experiments. 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. Baited Remove Underwater Video Deploy, maintain and analyze footage collected from BRUV’s used in our ongoing research projects.

Crewing Train in crewing on shark ecotourism vessels and handling and attracting great white sharks to vessels. Education officer Develop skills to be an effective education communicator who can inform and entertain tourism guests during shark ecotourism expeditions. Free Diving (Apnea) Train in the art of free diving to learn to collect data and samples on breath hold. A vital scientific skill for marine scientists. Seabird Rehabilitation  Train in providing care and husbandry of oiled and entangled seabirds at the SANPREC seabird rescue center.

eLearning courses

Hit the ground running, by compleating our world class eLearning speacality filming and live streaming courses prior to your arrival in South Africa. On acceptance you will be granted access to the following eLearning programs:

    • Great white shark speciality course
    • Live streaming course
    • Wildlife Filmmaking course

ALUMNI REVIEWS

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Who will you be working with?

Ryan Johnson M.Sc.

Research Scientist

Craig Ferreira

Shark Conservationist

Frequently Asked Questions
Visa's - Do I need one?

No. You will not be employed by the Shark Research Unit nor paid. On this internship you are entitled to enter on a temporary visitors permit (e.g. tourism permit). Tourist visiting visas are usually issued for three months/90 days upon entry in South Africa. However, we do recommend that you contact the South African Embassy or Consulate in your country and confirm this fact.  If you plan to travel in South Africa prior or after the course for a period extending 90 days, you will have to apply for a Volunteer VISA application through your home embassy. Quickly evaluate the visa status of your country when visiting South Africa here 

Medication - Can I get my meds?

South Africa is far from Malaria areas, and there are no strange African diseases which you could pick up (that is if you respect the same safety rules as anywhere else in the world). Please ensure that you bring any medication required. If you will require medication whist in South Africa, please contact us to ensure that it is available.

Extra money - How much must I bring?

A lot of interns enjoy extra trips and tourism activities when time permits. We recommend you have around USD1000 extra per month if you wish to go on these. Please note you do not have to go on ANY of these extra trips. This is simply for your information should you wish to.

Arrivals - What happens when I arrive?

When it comes to support, we ensure that each participant is provided with unparalleled, 360 degree support, from your initial contact with the Shark Research Unit, all the way through your program, and even after, as you become part of the SRU Alumni Team. As part of this promise, we will ensure that one of our dedicated staff will be available to meet you at George airport or the Mossel Bay bus station. We also set up a Whatsapp group to help with managing airport arrivals and assist you during your travel. We will arrange with you prior to your departure that, should you arrive in the agreed upon pick up window, a member of our staff will be there to welcome you, easily identifiable in a Shark Research Unit t-shirt and wearing a friendly smile. This means there will be someone there to greet you as you land, and from there you will be transported to the SRU base base to start your adventure and meet the rest of your team.

Packing - What must I bring?

If you are getting ready to pack, here is a rough packing list of items you should consider bringing. Clothing

  • Work clothes. Bring what you are comfortable in, but ensure that you have warm, strong work clothing of neutral colours, solid work shoes such as hiking boots or trainers, a good sun hat with a wide brim and a warm hat/beanie. Gloves can be helpful for early mornings. Bring a tracksuit or something similar to lounge around in during the evenings, which can get cold. Also, face buffs help keep off the cold in the evenings.
  • Social clothes. Mossel Bay is a small town, so social clothing should reflect a casual, non-formal style.
  • A swimming costume.

 Video and electronic gear You are more than welcome to bring any personal videography or photographic equipment, however, this is totally optional.  Miscellaneous 

  • Covid negative test results
  • Toiletries &  strong sunscreen (there are also plenty of shops to purchase from).
  • Prescription medication.
  • Passport & photocopy of passport.
  • Bank cards (inform your bank of your travels).
  • Spare cash.
  • Phone & cables.

Mail

  • Accommodation address – 182 Aalwyn Way, Aalwyndal, Mossel Bay.
Insurance - Do I need extra insurance?

When you are accepted into this internship program, you will have to sign liability, copyright documents, as well an agreement that you are knowingly partaking in potentially dangerous activities. You will not be covered for accidents, breakages, theft or illnesses, so please do organize your own medical and travel insurances. Chances that you will be injured by a shark are very slim if you follow the safety guidelines, and do not try anything foolish of which we would not approve. However, you will be working in an ocean environment which can result in accidents. So it is important to be covered in case of an emergency or accident. Be sure to have an insurance cover for your entire stay in Southern Africa.

Duration - How long can I participate?

The program consists of both on-site and off-site work. Prior to arrival in South Africa, participants are required to complete a two week online eLearning program aimed at grounding you in the theoretical skills required to enable you to make a meaningful contribution to the program. Onsite, participants can participate for a minimum period of one month and a maximum period of three months.

Board an Accommodation

Throughout your participation on the Sharkslive Film Internship you will be staying at our dedicated shark centre in Mossel Bay, South Africa. The guesthouse is located in the rolling hills of Mossel Bay on an 11 hectre ecofarm. Here you will enjoy three daily meals, with personal meal plans available. Accommodation will be in single sex dorm rooms, unless you select a single accommodation option. All rooms are spacious, built in cupboards, in room safes and full en-suites. 

Covid-19 Safety Protocols

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.

PROGRAM FEE

FROM

$2,400

EXPRESS BOOKING

Is your dream to work with sharks?

ABOUT US

The Shark Research Unit is a shark and marine research and conservation institute driven by a passionate team of shark experts. We are located in South Africa and work in two regions of priority – Aliwal Shoal and Mossel Bay. 

Our core purpose is to conduct and support original shark research, conservation and education programs through strategic partnerships with marine scientists, postgraduate students, ecotourism operators and academic institutes. 

Our focus extends to nurturing a new generation (of all ages) of shark scientists, professionals and enthusiasts. We achieve this through our great white shark research internship, learner outreach programs and expert guided shark edu-tours  

CONNECT

MOSSEL BAY CENTER

  • 182 Aalwyn Way
  • Aalwyndal
  • Mossel Bay 6520
  • South Africa

ALIWAL SHOAL CENTRE

  • 34 Egerton Rd
  • Freeland Park
  • Schottburgh 4180
  • South Africa

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