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Outstanding 4.92rating (10)

Sharklife Marine Biology Internship

location
2 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

Highlights

  • Experience working in challenging ocean environments.
  • Learn essential boating operational skills.
  • Bridge the gap between scientific theory and practical application.

Highlights

  • Experience working in challenging ocean environments.
  • Learn essential boating operational skills.
  • Bridge the gap between scientific theory and practical application.
  • Develop your work ethic.
  • Encounter diverse marine mega fauna and dive in warm clear ocean environments.


  • Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Groups

    About the program

    Based in the heart of the Zulu Kingdom, this marine biology internship offers adventurous students and volunteers a unique platform to gain hands-on experience.

    Established in 2005 as a non-profit organization, Sharklife works to address the alarming exploitation of both shark populations and ocean fisheries in South African waters. Our marine internship programs aim to nurture shark conservation ambassadors through knowledge developmenthands-on ...

    About the program

    Established in 2005 as a non-profit organization, Sharklife works to address the alarming exploitation of both shark populations and ocean fisheries in South African waters. Our marine internship programs aim to nurture shark conservation ambassadors through knowledge developmenthands-on training, and many hours on the ocean encountering a multitude of marine wildlife. 

    "The overall goal of the program is to imprint a deeper understanding of the shark species in the minds of participants" 

    The Sharklife Research Assistant program provides a unique platform for students and volunteers to gain field experience working on shark research projects in South Africa's largest coastal Marine Protected Area. With direct involvement in all the research components, you will build your skill base through knowledge developmentpractical training, and many hours on the ocean. 

    There is a maximum of 6 research assistants at any time allowing for more valuable experiences in the field and increased personal development. 

    Sharklife has been driving shark conservation initiatives since 2005 and has a wealth of experience to offer enthusiastic research assistants. So whether you are an early career marine biologist, student, or passionate volunteer we need you to help drive our shark research projects!

    Please note: All our data collection methods are non-invasive, and not harmful to the animals we study, and there is no catching, handling, or feeding of sharks in this program. In addition, we dive in small groups to limit the disturbance of marine wildlife. 

    The core goal of this program is to develop your fieldwork experience and watermanship skills. During this month you will steadily practice freediving, clock up scuba dives, and learn routine boating tasks. A series of workshops focused on shark ID, behavior, and biology are given during this month to enhance your understanding of the animals you are researching. You will also be introduced to the data collection, input, and analysis methods used in the projects we are conducting.  

    Scuba Diver Training: Optional extra, completed in the first week of your stay.

    If you want to complete one of the following courses whilst here, please specify it in the inquiry form.

    • PADI Open Water Course - $ 385
    • PADI Advanced Diver Course - $ 385

     These courses are delivered through our PADI 5 Star scuba training partner.

     Highlights:  

    - Up to 5 boat-based field trips per week (weather dependent)

    - Diverse marine wildlife encounters

    - Crewing a research vessel

    - Snorkeling and freediving (5 – 10m)

    - Rolling over VR2 receiver stations

    - Deploying stereo-BRUVS

    - Collecting water samples

    - Rolling over RUVS

    - Conducting intertidal zone surveys


     Duties:

    Prepare the boat and dive gear

    - Prepare research equipment

    - Assist with crewing the boat

    - Perform water data collection tasks

    - Maintain dive gear and boating equipment

    - Data collection, input, and analysis


    Sodwana Bay is a small rural town bordering the pristine world heritage site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

    The park includes South Africa's largest coastal Marine Protected Area, spanning 280 km of coastline, and is one of the top ten dive destinations in the world. The coral reefs contain over 1,200 species of fish, various underwater seascapes, and marine megafauna. The warm tropical waters (20-27C, 60-80F) year-round and good visibility make for awesome research conditions! 

    Sodwana Bay is also a short drive from several Big 5 Game Reserves, which you will visit on your days off.

    “The wetland park must be the only place on the globe where the world’s oldest land mammal (the rhinoceros) and the world’s biggest land mammal (the elephant) share an ecosystem with the world’s oldest fish (the coelacanth) and the world’s biggest marine mammal (the whale).” Nelson Mandela 2001.





    Typical day

    Depending on weather conditions, your days will be divided into land and ocean days.

    Typical Field Days: 07:00 – 15:00 

    After preparing the boat and equipment for the sea we head to the beach. Interns and volunteers are an integral part of the team and assist directly with all beach and boating ...

    Typical day

    Depending on weather conditions, your days will be divided into land and ocean days.

    Typical Field Days: 07:00 – 15:00 

    After preparing the boat and equipment for the sea we head to the beach. Interns and volunteers are an integral part of the team and assist directly with all beach and boating logistics. 

    We launch through the surf and make our way along the coastline to the designated study area, where we conduct in-water surveys, record sighting data, and change out equipment. Interns get the opportunity to develop seamanship and diving skills while encountering a wide variety of marine life. On returning, we rinse, de-kit the boat and diving equipment, and break for lunch. 

    After lunch, we meet in the research office where interns and volunteers are tasked with the daily data management functions or or maintenance tasks. We end off with a debrief and planning session for the next day’s research activities. 

    If we are unable to go to sea due to inclement weather we conduct theory sessions in our auditorium using graphics, videos, and models to enhance your theoretical understanding of sharks. Interns and volunteers use this opportunity to ask questions and discuss prevalent conservation topics. 

    We also use this time to conduct various examinations of the shark and ray specimens we have preserved. These specimens enable participants to get a feel of the various anatomical features of each animal. 

    The rest of the day may be allocated to extra activities happening in the center at the time such as; assisting with school groups, museum display development, boat maintenance etc


    Free-time activities

    1. The most popular free-time activity is a day trip to the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve. The park is home to Africa's big five: elephant, rhinoceros (black/hook-lipped and white/square-lipped), Cape buffalo, lion, and leopard.
    2. You can just relax on the pristine beaches of Sodwana Bay.
    3. There are also ...

    Free-time activities

    1. The most popular free-time activity is a day trip to the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve. The park is home to Africa's big five: elephant, rhinoceros (black/hook-lipped and white/square-lipped), Cape buffalo, lion, and leopard.
    2. You can just relax on the pristine beaches of Sodwana Bay.
    3. There are also quad bike tours of the local lake systems and forests. 
    4. You can scuba dive on the world-renowned reefs of Sodwana Bay. 

    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

    Language Skills

    You need to speak English (intermediate level)

    Education Requirements

    Marine Sciences, Biology & Conservation (not essential) at High school level

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Other Skills

    be enrolled as a marine science student or post-grad be a passionate ocean conservationist be between 18 – 35 yrs old be from any country speak English at an intermediate level enjoy communal living and work well in a team

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 07:00 - 16:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    Services by Sharklife Conservation Group

    As the project is based in a remote rural area there are extra expenses involved in providing similar services to those found in developed countries. Nonetheless, we have tried our best to balance the costs to make your trip both affordable and comfortable. 

    Costs Include:

    The majority of your program cost goes toward the implementation of research projects.

    • Costs include

      Boat-based field trips (research expenses)

      Scuba surveys and Park entry

      Airport transfers

      Private room

      Workshops

      All dive gear

      Wifi

      24hr support

    Excluded: 

    Scuba courses (see pricing)

    Flights 

    Travel insurance / DAN Insurance

    Meals * (Budget $50 -$100 p/w)

    Weekend activities: (scuba diving or out-of-town trips)

    * Meals – The research accommodation has a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare your meals. There are regular trips to the local supermarket where you can purchase all common food items.  Alternatively, there is a restaurant across the road where you can order lunch and dinner from a large menu. 


    Cost Structure Explanation

    At Sharklife, our pricing for interns reflects the high costs involved in running a remote marine field station.

    Initial Weeks: The first few weeks of your stay not only include the high costs of airport transfers but also include scientific workshops, lectures, and scuba courses if required. This intensive training period is essential for equipping you with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to our monitoring and research efforts.

    Extended Stays: We encourage students to stay for longer periods because, as you gain more experience, you can take on more responsibilities and assist with a wider range of tasks. To incentivize longer stays and recognize your increased skill sets, we reduce the costs progressively after the initial 4 weeks, making the program more affordable. By structuring the costs this way, we aim to provide a high-quality educational experience while also fostering long-term commitment and contribution to the conservation projects.

    Airport Pickup at Richards Bay Airport

    FLIGHT BOOKING IMPORTANT INFO:

    If your program starts on the 1st of January you need to arrive at the airport on the 1st of January, not before. If your program's last day is the 2nd of December, you need to book your flight for departure on the 2nd of December.

    You need to fly into Richards Bay airport via Johannesburg O.R Tambo Airport or Cape Town International Airport. Please book your flight to arrive no later than 1 pm as it's a 4-hour drive back to Sodwana Bay and there is a stretch of road that is very dangerous to drive at night due to stray cows, goats, and dogs.

    If all the available flights on the arrival date only arrive after 1 pm you would need to arrive the day before and stay over in Richards Bay to meet us at the airport the next day at the arranged time.

    For the departure flight please book a flight for after 1 pm – Lunch time.

    If you need assistance with travel arrangements, please let me know, I’m happy to help.

    A Sharklife staff member will pick you up from the airport on your arrival day, the staff member will more than likely be me, and I will be in contact with you via WhatsApp a few days before your departure date to start planning.

    Accommodation

    You will be situated within the intern camp located next to the Sharklife Ocean Center. 

    We have a total of ten rooms.

    Nine rooms are small yet secure and private, these nine rooms share four bathrooms.

    One room is en-suite.

    The kitchen and communal areas are spacious and well-equipped. We do have a washing machine in the common area for you to do some laundry.

    Restaurants within walking distance.

    Internet Access

    Limited access at the project site

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Food & Beverages

    Food, snacks or beverages are at extra costs.

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Richards Bay Airport (RCB) in Richards Bay. We assist you to find cheap flights to South Africa. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for South Africa provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in South Africa you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for South Africa. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    Start Dates: 2025/2026

    March03/03/202517/03/2025April02/04/202515/04/2025May (Full)02/05/202516/05/2025June (Full)02/06/202516/06/2025July (Full)02/07/202516/07/2025August01/08/202516/08/2025September02/09/202515/09/2025October02/10/202516/10/2025November03/11/202517/11/2025December02/12/202516/12/2025January 2026
    02/01/202616/01/2026February02/02/202616/02/2026
     

    FLIGHT BOOKING IMPORTANT INFO:

    If your program starts on the 1st of January you need to arrive at the airport on the 1st of January, not before. If your program's last day is the 2nd of December, you need to book your flight for departure on the 2nd of December.

    You need to fly into Richards Bay airport via Johannesburg O.R Tambo Airport or Cape Town International Airport. Please book your flight to arrive no later than 1 pm as it's a 4-hour drive back to Sodwana Bay and there is a stretch of road that is very dangerous to drive at night due to stray cows, goats, and dogs.

    If all the available flights on the arrival date only arrive after 1 pm you would need to arrive the day before and stay over in Richards Bay to meet us at the airport the next day at the arranged time.

    For the departure flight please book a flight for after noon – Lunch time.

    If you need assistance with travel arrangements, please let me know, I’m happy to help.

    A Sharklife staff member will pick you up from the airport on your arrival day, the staff member will more than likely be me, and I will be in contact with you via WhatsApp a few days before your departure date to start planning.

    If you are unsure please do not hesitate to ask for help.

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program fees

    2 weeks (min. stay) 2,080€
    4 weeks 2,930€
    6 weeks 3,466€
    8 weeks 4,007€
    10 weeks 4,508€
    12 weeks (max. stay) 4,959€
    Average fees 726€/week

    Program fees

    726€ per week 2 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    2 - 12 weeks

    Deposit

    The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


    Final Payment

    Your final payment will be agreed with Sharklife Conservation Group during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

    4.92
    10 reviews

    Location

    Africa > Southern Africa > South Africa > Kwa-Zulu Natal

    Meet your project coordinator

    Candice
    10
    reviews
    4.92
    Outstanding
    2005
    Founded

    Verified by Volunteer World

      Excellent response rate
    Spoken languages: English, Afrikaans
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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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