The Great White Life
Back in 2017 I had the incredible opportunity to go and work in South Africa for two months alongside The White Shark Diving Company who are based in Gansbaai, South Africa. It may have been nearly three years ago but the memories and love that I have for this amazing place only grow stronger every day. In this blog I’ll be talking about why going to work for this amazing institution in one of the most beautiful places on earth, should be at the top of your list.
Where to start, everything from the landscape & scenery, wildlife and the people themselves make this place a true wonder to behold, and the guys at The White Shark Diving Company made me feel right at home. I worked alongside the experts and crew of the White Shark Diving Company as part of the volunteering scheme that the company offers and is known as the ”Shark Marine Institute”, working in this part of the company gave me a truly incredible insight into the world of Marine Science and helped me see what it takes to be a scientist in the field and thanks to the guys here I gained some invaluable knowledge and experience that I’ll never forget.
I met some of the most amazing people along the way and all the same passion and interests which made my stay in this amazing place all the better. Everything you do is an adventure as you literally have no idea what’s going to happen next. One morning you can be out on the White Shark Boat aiding in vital White Shark Research and then in the afternoon you’ll be catching smaller Shark species to aid in a different research project.
The White Shark Diving company helps with several different research projects from White Shark identification and aiding in monitoring smaller shark populations all the way to researching White Shark behaviour around the cages. White Shark populations have dropped significantly in recent years and it has recently been found that White Shark populations have dropped to be below 500 individuals across the whole of the South African coastline, hence why keeping tabs on their numbers and the different individuals is so important.
The researchers are helping to better understand this incredibly misunderstood predator, an animal that even to this day we still can’t say where they mate, give birth or how they migrate around their home territories. We’re only just beginning to unravel the secrets that White Sharks have in store for us but unfortunately, white shark populations are on the decrease and right now are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Shark Nets to protect beaches, illegal fishing and hunting as well as a decrease in prey is all a factor in the decrease of these amazing animals.
But there is a positive in all of this, the white shark diving company is carrying out essential conservation work alongside their research, this is done through a process of “Education through Exposure”. Telling and showing are worlds apart in terms of the good that they do and its something that the guys at the white shark diving company do very well, they get the public and volunteers alike into the cage with the white sharks to show them these amazing animals in their natural habitat and give a very detailed talk on the animals themselves, this gives an incredible insight into the life of a shark and what its like to study and work with them.
For someone who has loved the ocean and of course sharks my entire life, this was truly a once in a lifetime trip and I came away from this experience with not only the fondest of memories and experience, I came away with a greater appreciation, love and understanding of a place, people and an animal that I have been obsessed with for as long as I can remember. Along with the research work and working days its truly an incredible place to work and is possibly the most wild place I’ve ever been, never in my wildest dreams did I think I could see White Sharks, Seals, Whales, Dolphins and Penguins in the same place never mind all in one day.
The wildlife here is only matched by its sheer ruggedness and beauty and it all combines to make one truly amazing place that should be at the very top of your list for travel and wildlife work and if you’re looking to gain invaluable experience in the field of marine research with the most beautiful animals that the world has to offer then look no further than The White Shark Diving Company in Gansbaai South Africa.
For more information on the volunteering visit: www.sharkcagedive.com/
For more information on Cage Diving with White Sharks visit: www.sharkcagediving.co.za/
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