Scuba Diving with Sharks Overview Location Duration Dates Simons Town (near Cape Town), South Africa. 3 weeks this is a fixed 3-week programme. All year round. Requirements Minimum age: 18. You must have an Upper Intermediate level of English. Special skills: You must be physically fit and able to swim. Your impact The impact of your volunteer work depends on the nature of the project. In addition, it may also depend on whether the project offers a full volunteering experience or a combination of volunteering and tourism. For details, please see the description of the project and what s included in the project fees. Documents required Day of arrival Day of departure Enrolment form, curriculum vitae, letter of motivation, passport copy, proof of medical insurance. Saturday. Saturday.
Highlights Meet the Marine Big 5: sharks, whales, dolphins, penguins and seals. Enjoy this opportunity to dive with great white sharks. Experience different shark species in their natural habitat. Get your Open Water Diving qualification. Learn about shark behaviour, biology and ocean conservation. Get personal support from the volunteer coordinator. Make new friends from all over the world. Project information The project is based in Simons Town, a town on the shores of False Bay which lies on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula. Southern Africa is a shark hotspot with one of the most bio diverse shark faunas in the world. The project offers customized shark-diving expeditions that bring you face-to-face with these unique sharks. They will make sure you are in the right place at the right time for the best chance of diving with your shark of choice. False Bay is one of the only places in the world that you can consistently dive with between 10 and 70 of this ancient species. Sevengill Sharks are formidable predators of Cape Fur Seals, other species of shark and fish. Their mission statement is: We believe that we can make a difference by showing people a positive experience with sharks. We don t believe in misrepresenting them as potential killers for an adrenalin experience to sell tours. We do believe that sharks should be respected as the critically important predators they are.
Programme details This project is designed for unqualified divers. It sets high standards and guidelines for responsible shark diving and interactions high. They provide a holistic experience which includes avoiding sensationalistic, adrenaline-hyped advertising, treating sharks with respect, reducing the impact human beings have on them and their environment and educating divers about their behaviour and the threats they face. Most importantly, they want to show you the sheer beauty of these fascinating sharks and give you an experience you won t forget. The project is active in several studies, including worldwide awareness and conservation projects involving sharks and rays. Whether it s sponsoring boats and equipment, assisting with fieldwork, or donating images and video, they are passionate about contributing towards the conservation of sharks and the oceans. You will learn to dive with Pelagic sharks of the open ocean. Blue and mako sharks are arguably two of the most beautiful shark species, with colours of blue and silver that stretch beyond your imagination. You will dive in to the chilly, blue water and experience these awesome creatures of the deep. Schools of yellow and longfin tuna together with sightings of pelagic birds, like albatross, round off this amazing experience. This is another world which every ocean enthusiast should experience at least once in his or her lifetime. You will also be introduced to the best dive buddies you will ever have, the Cape fur seals. Dive with up to 40 of these energetic characters at a time. The fur seals are masters of the underwater world and they will amaze you with their acrobatics. Your role Becoming an SSI Open Water Diver is the best way to start your scuba adventure as it is recognised! On this project you can complete your course in the dynamic Cape Town waters. During your dive training, your day will starts at 08:00 with a brief meeting with the instructor in the diving centre. From there, you will be participate in either class, pool, or open water training depending on what stage in the course work you are at. During dive expeditions, days start early depending on what dive is taking place. These dive expeditions include offshore open-water diving, inshore open-water diving, and white shark cage diving. Dive expeditions vary between half-day and full-day trips. Your instructor will use time in between or after expeditions to cover further course work and/or review areas of the dive training that require further consideration by the group. With personalized training and taking enough time, the project will make sure you are truly comfortable under water with the skills and equipment you will use. In general, an Open Water Diver course consists of 3 parts: Academics, Pool Training and Open Water Sessions. Other activities at the project could include: going on regular beach clean ups with the community; working with the Shark Spotter programme the only one in the world; gathering data on the Great White Sharks; getting involved in the project s conservation efforts. Please note that this project is dependent on a certain number of participants we will need the confirmation from the project before you book your flight. It is important to note that this description serves as an example only. Everything at the programme is dependent on the weather and diving conditions. The final job description can therefore vary from the above substantially.
Arrival You will need to arrive at Cape Town International Airport. Our driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your accommodation. Accommodation You will be accommodated in a large communal house in Simons Town. The house is equipped with shared bedrooms that accommodate between 2 to 4 volunteers per room. Two to 4 volunteers share a bathroom. There is a self-catering kitchen as well as a lounge area that can be used. Bedding is provided. Towels are not provided. A laundry service is located next door to the dive shop which can be used by volunteers at any time costs are about +/- ZAR 50 per load. WiFi is available at coffee shops that are close by. Meals Self-catering. If you are on a diving expedition, snacks and sandwiches will be provided. The main shopping areas as well as restaurants, pubs, etc. are within walking distance of the volunteer accommodation. Free time Simons Town is just about 40 minutes away from Cape Town and easily accessible by public transport. It is located on the shores of False Bay. You can book tours to see the greater Cape Town area, i.e. Table Mountain, Robben Island, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Boulder s Beach and more. On weekends you can go on exciting tours and excursions to various hot spots in South Africa. Simons Town is also very close to Muizenberg, which is melting pot of travellers from around the world as well as one of the top 20 best surf towns in the world. How to get to the project There is a daily transfer from the accommodation to the project and back. What to bring Diving equipment is provided by the project but if you prefer to use your own mask or suit, you are welcome to bring this along. We recommend bringing a warm waterproof jacket, sun glasses, T-shirts, swimwear, open and closed shoes, a hat, sunscreen, towels, camera - you should be prepared for all weather types! Anything else you might need can be bought at local supermarkets in South Africa. While there is no specific uniform, volunteers are asked to wear sensible clothing, e.g. long shorts and closed shoes. Hot pants, string bikinis and flip-flops are not suitable for work.
Medical insurance It is required that you take out medical insurance before travelling to South Africa. For stays exceeding 90 days, it is compulsory to take out a South African medical insurance. We recommend NetworX from Compcare, which is specifically designed for people who visit South Africa for 3 to 12 months. You will receive an information leaflet and an application form together with your confirmation of booking. Health No vaccinations are required except for travellers going to the north-eastern areas of South Africa, where anti-malaria precautions are recommended. Clients should consult their doctor for recommendations. A yellow fever certificate is compulsory for those persons who have travelled from, or intend travelling through, countries in the yellow fever belt: Africa: Angola, Burundi, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire. South America: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela, Argentina and Paraguay. Bring medication just in case you suffer from any travel-related illnesses, e.g. stomach upsets, since your body needs to adjust to the change in food and water during your first few days in South Africa. It is important to keep in mind at all times that HIV and Aids are widespread diseases in South Africa. Safety While all safety precautions are followed by the project, you must be mindful that you will be working with wild animals and must be aware at all times and follow the safety guidelines. What s included / not included Included: Project placement Airport transfer on arrival Accommodation (shared room, shared bathroom, self-catering) Daily transfer to and from the project Good Hope Volunteers welcome pack Weekly site visits by our coordinator SSI Open Water Dive Certification SSI Advanced Adventure Certification 3 deep expeditions to dive with Blue Sharks and Makos 4 inshore expeditions to dive with Cow Sharks and Seals
2 white shark expeditions to cage dive/view great white sharks Local support including a 24-hour emergency number Electronic certificate (printed copy on request) Not included: Food Local transport Any items of a personal nature WiFi Visa You can volunteer in South Africa on a visitor s visa for up to 90 days. Nationals from certain countries (e.g. Brazil, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, France, Netherlands, Spain) will receive their visa when entering South Africa. Other nationals need to apply for a visitor s visa at a South African Embassy in their home country before travelling. If you come to South Africa on a visitor s visa, you can extend once by another 90 days. If you plan to come for more than 90 days, you need to apply for a visa at a South African Embassy in your home country. This visa is restricted to registered NGO s and therefore not available for this project. For the latest information contact the South African Embassy or Good Hope Volunteers.