ABOUT SHARK & MARINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE – SHARK RESEARCH IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA.
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Shark & Marine Research - 2 week Support
Shark & Marine Research - 3 Month Support
Shark & Marine Research - 3 week Support
Shark & Marine Research - 1 Month Support
Shark & Marine Research - 2 Month Support
- Volunteer with one of the few Conservation-Focused Shark Diving Companies in SA!
- Be trained as a marine research assistant, interact with sharks and gain essential skills for your future career!
- Students, Post-Graduates, Early-Career Scientists and Marine Biologists are encouraged to apply!
- White Shark Diving Company has a 100% safety record in the 25 years we have been operating.
Volunteer with the Shark & Marine Research Institute in Gansbaai, South Africa, and gain practical experience in shark research, marine conservation and field-based data collection.
SMRI was established through a deep commitment to great white shark research and conservation. Our long-term white shark monitoring work remains an important part of our history, and the results of this research are currently being prepared for publication.
However, as white shark presence in the Western Cape has changed, our programme has naturally evolved. Today, volunteers support research on a wider range of shark and elasmobranch species, helping us collect valuable baseline data on species diversity, abundance, movement patterns, habitat use and population health.
This programme is ideal for students, graduates, early-career scientists, aspiring marine biologists and conservation-minded travellers who want to gain real-world experience in a working marine research environment. Volunteers may assist with shark observation, dorsal fin identification, ethical handling and tagging techniques, BRUV surveys (when active), data entry, marine debris surveys, rocky shore surveys, outreach projects and educational activities.
The programme is weather-dependent and no two weeks are exactly the same. Some days may involve sea trips, shark cage diving vessel support or research boat activities, while others may focus on data processing, practical training, conservation work, lectures, outreach or local environmental projects.
Our goal is to provide a personal, educational and career-building experience while contributing to research that supports the long-term protection of sharks and the marine ecosystems they depend on.
Opportunities are available all year round; the only time we do not take on volunteers is from the 15th December to 1st February.
What’s included?
- One night’s accommodation in CT on arrival
- Transfers from and to Cape Town international airport
- Transfers to and from Gansbaai (the project site)
- Transport provided for all programme related activities
- Accommodation in our volunteer house
- All food basics
- Lectures
- Waterproof deck boots to use for the duration of your stay
- Trips on our White Shark cage diving tourist boat run with White Shark Diving Company.
- Tagging trips on our research boat
- Practical training in all running projects
- Training in fin identification and analysis
- Training in ethical handling, angling and tagging techniques
- Training in boat handling skills
- Outreach activities e.g. beach clean ups and school talks
- Some excursions organised on bad weather days
Accommodation
All Shark & Marine Research Institute volunteers will be housed in our volunteer house, located just a 10 minute walk or a two minute drive from the harbor we launch from. The house can accommodate 16 volunteers at a time, with between two to four volunteers per room. It is spacious, comfortable and a home away from home. All linen will be provided along with Breakfast and lunch basics on working days, WiFi, and a cleaning service.
Excursions
Please note excursions are for your free time and not sea days, and whilst transport will be provided, the excursions are the volunteers choice and any entry fees, extra accommodation, equipment rented etc. will be at the volunteers own expense. Furthermore, any trips up the garden route or further afield will be at the volunteers own cost, but please don’t hesitate to let us know if we can assist you with planning and arrangements.
- A trip to Cape Agulhas – the southernmost point of Africa.
- A visit to Betty’s Bay to see the Stony Point penguin colony
- A visit to the local heritage site Klipgat Cave
- Hikes in the local area
- Horse riding trips in the local area
- Shopping excursions and wine tasting in Hermanus or Cape Town
- River boat cruises along Stanford River
- Surfing or SCUBA diving
- Visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Waterfront in Cape Town
- Offshore dive past Cape Point to see blue and mako sharks can be arranged
- Dive to see sevengill sharks in Cape Town can also be arranged
- A trip up the East Coast to do the highest bungee jump in the world
Not Included In The Package
- Flight ticket
- Visa (if needed, RSA allows most countries to enter on a 90 day tourist visa – we can offer assistance if needed.
- medical and travel insurance
- Any additional lodging in Cape Town prior to the programme or on departure, if required.
- Transport further afield in Cape Town or Garden Route
Programme Fee
1 Week: USD$900
2 Weeks: USD$1 375
3 Weeks: USD$1 860
1 Month: USD$2 310
2 Months: USD$3 850
3 Months: USD$5 200
As we rely on good weather conditions, we recommend staying for a minimum of one month to obtain the full experience of working at WSDC and to ensure you have adequate sea time to assist with shark research and other data collecting for our multiple shark research projects.
Once accepted on to the programme you will be sent an information pack with additional details about the programme including where you will be staying, the research projects currently running, a rough idea of your daily schedule, further information on your arrival and departure, and also details of how to submit your fees.
A 25% deposit will be required to secure your booking at least three months before your programme start date. For placements outside of our peak season, the balance of payment is due two weeks before you arrival.
Applications must be cancelled at least 30 days before the programme starts. If the volunteer cancels less than 30 days before their programme start date the deposit will be forfeited, and less than 14 days before the programme begins, a 100 % cancellation fee will apply. During our peak season, June July and August placements, cancelations less than thirty days will forefeit the full amount.