Event information
Cape RADD( Research and Diver Development) facilitates SCUBA and freediving training courses for individuals who want to learn more about the marine environment, conservation and research through hands on field experience and diver development. Courses include training in multiple data collection and field operation techniques, and theoretical workshops and presentations from field biologists and dive experts.
Cape RADD is a marine field station that serves as a platform for researchers in the False Bay area of Cape Town. Specialising in projects that monitor and investigate the biodiversity of a global hotspot home to more than 3500 endemic marine species. Their work aims to better our understanding of the underwater world through a variety of techniques including transects, quadrats, remote underwater video and mark-recapture, with a particular focus on approaches that utilise citizen science. At the core of their values is passing on our expertise to early career scientists and those with a passion for the ocean.
The Marine Conservation Volunteer program is a conservation and community focused pillar of the Cape RADD research and education organization. The volunteer program focuses on citizen science research, community awareness, conservation projects and educational outreach. Volunteers participate in the citizen science initiatives alongside biologists and field course students on various field trips. Collecting data and taking Photo IDs of small shy shark species and observing and monitoring endemic fish and shark species along the Cape Peninsula. Volunteers are also involved in micro plastics projects that measure the densities of micro plastics in the surrounding waters.
These long-term monitoring projects and conservation programs depend on volunteer contributions to help record and collate data, communicate and engage with the public and join in local environmental events to increase the impact and further work in the field. This allows Cape RADD volunteers to contribute to the research, education and conservation of the marine world as much as possible.
Projects and activities include shark abundance, diversity and movement assessments, endemic fish and shark snorkel surveys, kelp forest sampling, shark tagging and tracking workshop and practical.
As well as microplastic sampling field work, public outreach: conservation education initiatives in local schools and at public events, shark egg collection and recording, introduction to freediving, drop camera fish diversity field work and video analysis.
Program costs:
2 weeks: $1,600
3 weeks: $2,000
4 weeks: $2,600
5 weeks: $3,200
6 weeks: $3,500
Costs include all equipment, airport transfers, program excursions and accommodation.
(*South African citizens contact for local rate. Longer periods are available)
