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90%Overall
Rating
Program Description
Marine Dynamics - Great White Shark Project
Description
For shark-lovers, volunteering at Marine Dynamics is the perfect way of getting up close and personal with carcharodon carcharias, more commonly known as the great white shark. Every volunteer is taught how to record data for shark research and take fin identification photos in order to assist the biologists. The perk to having this job is that you can often catch the perfect photo when a great white breaches for the bait or seal decoy. Volunteers also prepare the boat on a daily basis, assist clients in and out of the cage. Visit the Marine Dynamics website to learn more!
Ratings and Reviews
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
Highly recommended!
90%Overall
Rating
2 of 8 people found this review helpful
Marine Dynamics Great White Shark Project: an unforgettable experience!
100%Overall
Rating
My time working at Marine Dynamics was without a doubt the greatest month of my life, and by the end of it, I was only thinking about when I could go back or how i could stay longer. The Marine Dynamics Great White Shark Project was not only a fun and exciting way to spend some of my gap year, but educational as well and gave me a fantastic pre-degree taste of marine biology in the field. The staff in the Great White house, the Marine biologists and the crew on the boat, all of them made me feel welcomed and allowed me to quickly feel comfortable working there throughout my time volunteering. Working on the cage diving boat was amazing, seeing the majestic Great Whites up close is definitely something I would say everyone should do at some point as it is an experience to remember! On the occasion that i could go out on the research boat 'LWASI' i was able to get a first hand experience of tagging and tracking a white shark, something that was an amazing experience and gave me an insight into how they move and how they hunt, i even got to witness a predation, which is amazing to see!
After boat work the social scene is amazing, whether its having a casual night in, going to a braii (BBQ) or going out to the pubs, the social aspect left nothing to be desired and was a seriously good time!
Overall, my time with Marine Dynamics was unforgettable and I would sincerely tell anyone thinking of going to see the white sharks to definitely go down to Ghansbaii and see the Sharks with Marine Dynamics! Truly an amazing experience without compare. I HIGHLY recommend this volunteering program, after all, I personally have already made plans to go back!
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Very nice programme, must do if you're looking for a 'different' holiday!
80%Overall
Rating
At the end of 2010 I spent 2 weeks with Marine Dynamics with the great white shark programme. I can only say my experience was fantastic! They have a volunteer house and during my time I shared it with one other person (it's big enough for 8). The people from MD are all very friendly and flexible and always willing to help out in any way possible.
Your day to day activities include mostly prepping the boat for departure, helping the tourists with their lifejackets / wetsuits and getting them in and out of the cage. If there are more people available to help, you can help the marine biologists with identifying the sharks and there are also opportunities to go with them on the research boat. Unfortunately I didn't have that chance, purely bad luck. I was there for only 2 weeks and during that time the boat had some mechanical problems. I think going along on that boat would have made my experience even better.
After work there's loads of other stuff going on, such as braai's (South African barbecues) and when Pepe's around there's definitely no time to get bored anyways. All in all, this was one of my best holidays so far and I can highly recommend.
2 of 5 people found this review helpful
Amazing Shark and Tourist Experience
90%Overall
Rating
I was completely satisfied with my volunteer placement with Marine Dynamics, volunteering on a tourist boat.
The boat trip was essentially designed to experience cage diving with Great White Sharks, but it was also an opportunity to see other breathtaking sea life during the trips, such as Southern Right wales, dolphins and seals. Every trip was different and never failed in it's excitement and beauty.
Having always taken interest in travel and tourism as well as aquatic life, I couldn't have chosen a more perfect trip.
As well as having access to this wonderful boat trip, I was also surrounded by brilliant people including the marine biologists, fellow volunteers and various others working for the company. There were constantly braai's being held and some kind of party taking place!
It was so fulfilling to share these amazing sights daily with the friendly crew and awed tourists. It's definitely something I would consider going back to.
The only bad thing I can say about my time here is that it went too quickly!
This project is fantastic if you really want to get under the skin of Great White Conservation, or if you are just a white shark fanatic! The tagging permit really gives you the opportunity to see the un-touristy side of the great whites world! You will always be kept busy, and, being a person who has done many volunteer projects, you really walk away with the feeling that what you have done really does help towards making a difference to the sharks future - something that I have never had in any other projects I have done! I would really recommend this for an one who is in 2 minds about sharks and shark lovers alike! You walk away with a greater respect for the animals and the people that are working so hard to keep them alive for future generations.