Marine Dynamics is a Shark Cage Diving company based in Kleinbaai, a small harbour town, part of Gansbaai in the Western Cape of South Africa. This area is known as the best place in the world to see Great White Sharks in their natural habitat.

Marine Dynamics is made up of a team of shark enthusiasts who constantly strive to place shark conservation and education foremost. This is done through educating clients on a daily basis, by conducting research and by maintaining structured marine education and development projects.

We collect data on the White Sharks and their environment on a daily basis.  This data is for our own research and is forwarded to the Department Marine and Coastal Management. All participants will be involved in the different aspects of this work. Currently, this work involves sexing, sizing and recording markings on white sharks, recording environmental parameters, bite marks on seals and marine birds. Some of the recordings are made directly from the shark boat while other recordings involving bite marks and behaviour on seals and birds is conducted from our whale boat which often puts to sea twice per day, thus allowing us to obtain very important data.

There is much controversy surrounding shark cage diving and the effects of this industry on the sharks and their environment, is little known, thus, the data collection is of great importance.

Marine Dynamics staff will meet you in our Marine Room at the Great White House in Kleinbaai before your trip. There are bathroom facilities, as well as a restaurant and gift shop here.
Breakfast is provided at the restaurant before the boat launch. Every trip is preceded by a brief introductory talk about the route and what to look out for. Passengers are fitted with comfortable inflatable life-jackets. Safety is of the utmost importance. We have extensive public liability insurance. We usually launch around 9:00 am in the morning (note that launching times may vary due to tide and weather conditions), arriving at the anchoring spot in 20 to 25 minutes. The anchor is lowered, the cage goes into the water, a scent trial is made, and we settle down. Final preparations for the diving are made, and the rest of the day is spent watching, diving and enjoying the day. After spending time with the sharks, we make our way to Dyer Island, if possible. We do not go to the island everytime as that depends on weather and sea conditions. At Dyer Island we can approach close enough to view African penguins, Cape cormorants and many other species. We also often spot giant petrels, Cape gannets, white chinned petrels and storm petrels.  Neighbouring Dyer Island is Geyser Rock, home to thousands of Cape Fur Seals. The stretch of water between the two islands is Shark Alley. We visit Shark Alley to view the seals. The colony is thriving and there is always lots of activity, especially around November time when the tiny pups are born.  After about 3 to 4 hours, depending on the day, we head back to land. Should you wish to return to shore earlier, a transfer can be arranged.

Both Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Cruises are dedicated to conservation and protection of the environment and wildlife.Wilfred Chivell, owner of Dyer Island Cruises and Marine Dynamics, is certainly the most knowledgeable person about the ecosystem and varied wildlife found onand around Dyer Island. His care and dedication for thehealth of this sensitive ecosystem has lead to the launch of differentconservation projects for the area:

Faces of Need - Artificial Penguin Nest Project' which aims? to create 2000 artificial nests on Dyer Island by 2008.

His 'Bird Rescue Initiative' has made him the prime transporter of injured and oiled marine birds from the island to shore,from where they are transported to SANCOB in Cape Town for further treatment.

The 'Marine Litter Project' aims at educating the public and local communities about the devastating effects of pollution on wildlife whilst also initiating clean ups of the coast.

He has vouched his commitment to support there search field work conducted by the White Shark Trust during 2006 in allowing the population information to be gathered from Shark Fever.

The boat, Shark Fever, was specifically designed and built by Gecat in St Francis Bay, Port Elizabeth. It is 10.7 metres in length, has a cabin, toilet, open deck and a diving platform. We operate with environmentally friendly 300 hp Suzuki 4 stroke outboard engines which exceed the EU 2006 standards for low emissions. The boat is surveyed annually by the SA Maritime Safety Authority, conforms to its specifications and is licensed for 20 passengers and 4 crew. Safety equipment includes first aid kit, radio and cellular phone. She also has a lovely observation deck for photography enthusiasts.

Cost per person for 4 weeks: R15 000-00 (ZAR)

Any additional weeks: R3500 per week

The learning part of the programme will consist of the following:
- Learning about climatic conditions pertaining to seamanship.
- How shark cage diving operates
- Shark behaviour and biology
- The history of shark attacks
- Lectures by qualified marine biologists
- How to film and photograph marine wildlife
- Ocean conservation needs at the tip of Africa
- Learning about South Africa’s conservation organisations

Practical experience will include:
- Experience out at sea, weather permitting
- Photographing sharks and observing them around the boat
- Learning how to Identify individual animals through newly discovered dorsal fin recording, measurement and markings
- Boat safety and seamanship. Learning how to maintain standards and equipment needed for the operation
- Assisting with the monitoring other marine animals in the area, and learning about hierarchy in the ecosystems

More about the volunteer programme...