Mossel Bay Marine Lab Internship, Oceans Research

Interns attending the Mossel Bay Marine Lab will gain practical training skills in the following areas. In addition, a number of additional opportunities will be available for interns to partake in on arrival at the laboratory.

• Assisting in running research vessels
• Tagging and genetic sampling of white sharks
• Manual acoustic tracking of white sharks
• Recording and entering behavioural data of free swimming white sharks
• White shark and bottlenose dolphin photo identification
• Surveys of wounded and entangled seals on Seal Island
• Shore and boat based observations of seal/shark interactions and seal movement patterns
• Assisting in managing and running The Shark Lab, (Oceans Research´s aquarium and research facility)

Availability

Application information

Early Booking Special : Reduced price of 1300 Euro for those who book before Christmas 2009

Oceans Research offers interns the opportunity to get in-depth field experience in one of the world´s most exciting and challenging marine research projects.

Interns will assist in conducting all of Oceans Research´s ambitious research projects on the great white shark and other marine predators. The Oceans Research internship program is limited to students enrolled at accredited tertiary institutes, or qualified scientists with a minimum qualification of a B.Sc. or equivalent. Unqualified naturalists with a proven track record in research and/or conservation will also be considered.

Participants will be required to enroll for a minimum of one month.

Application Process

1. Complete the below enquiry form.

2. Our administrative manager will then forward you the application form.

3. Forward your completed application form along with a photograph of yourself and your curriculum vitae.

Submit your enquiry

Your name:	Your email address:
Phone Number:	Nationality:
Interested in the following internship(s):
- Mossel Bay Marine Lab - Ponta Region - Skeleton Coast Marine Lab - Zavora Marine Lab
Enquiry:

Eligibility?

The internship program is aimed at assisting in the development of students, training them in the area of biological sciences. Eligibility is thus limited to (a) Current students enrolled in academic institutes and studying towards a science major, (b) Graduated scientists with a minimum of a B.Sc. (or equivalent) with a scientific major, (c) Exceptional naturalists who can show ´real world´ dedication to research, management or conservation of animals or ecosystems.

Specific qualifications

Interns attending Ponta Region and Zavora Marine Lab must be competent SCUBA divers with a minimum of an advanced diving qualification. Training on site for open water divers is offered by Ponta Region, Ponta Zavora and Mossel Bay at the interns own cost. Interns unable to SCUBA dive will be considered for internships at Mossel Bay, Skeleton Coast and Ponta Region (the August ¯ October Humpback Whale season only) Marine Labs.

For how long?

Interns will be asked to stay for a minimum of one month and maximum of four months (in exceptional cases shorter or longer internships will be considered at some research stations). If attending multiple laboratories, interns will be required to stay a minimum of one month at each laboratory. If you are interested in applying for postgraduate study, and initial internship period of three months is required.

Where?

The four research labs are situated at:

• Mossel Bay Marine Lab: Mossel Bay, South Africa - a coastal town located approximately 400 kilometres from Cape Town.
• Ponta: Ponta Region, Mozambique - situated in the Maputo Province of Southern Mozambique. The resort is located some 25km north of the South African ¯ Mozambique boarder.
• Skeleton Coast Marine Lab: Walvis Bay, Namibia. One of only 3 coastal towns along the sparsely populated Namibian coast, Walvis Bay is the largest harbour in the country and has all modern amenities, but is surrounded by miles of untamed desert in all directions. Lies 400km west the capital Windhoek (WDH), through which most flights will be routed.
• Zavora Marine Lab: Zavora, central Mozambique. Is the most remote laboratory, and is situated approximately 2-3 hours south of Inhambane town and 6 hours north of the South African ¯ Mozambique boarder.

Flights?

If, for your first month, you are interning at:

• Mossel Bay: travel arrangements must be made from your home town to George Airport, South Africa.
• Ponta Region: travel arrangements must be made from your home town to Richards Bay Airport, South Africa.
• Zavora: Travel arrangements must be made from your home to Inhambane airport, Mozambique.
• Skeleton Coast: travel arrangements must be made from your home town to Walvis Bay Airport, Namibia (Windhoek airport is an alternative arrival site, an interns can shuttle (at their own cost) to Walvis bay).

Arrival dates and arrangments:

Interns arriving at Mossel Bay must arrive on the last or the first day of the month for organised pick ups from the airport. Interns arriving outside this time will be required to arrange transport from the airport to Mossel Bay at their own cost.

Interns arriving at Richards bay will be picked up from Richards Bay airport and transported to either Ponta Region on the first day of each month. Interns arriving early will be required to board at Richards Bay until the first of the month at their own cost.

Domestic flights within South Africa can be easily arranged one of the following companies (www.kulula.com, www.1time.aero , www.flysaa.com, www.flynationwide.co.za, www.flyairlink.com, www.flysax.com).

Overland travel arrangements between stations will be facalitiated by Oceans Research at interns own cost (circa 500 Rand per transfer).

Cost?

Funding is not allocated to cover running expenses of this program in terms of food, accommodation, travel expenses and additional living expenses for interns. These costs must be covered by applicants. Living costs are set on an annual basis. The equivalent of 1500 euro per month is therefore requested from all the applicants, which will cover accommodation, food and boarding.

Early Booking Special : Reduced price of 1300 Euro for those who book before Christmas 2009

Air travel to and from the research sites are not included in the 1500 euro. The cost includes:

• Your transfer from the airport to the research site when you arrive (if on 1st of month)
• Your transfer from the research site to the airport when you leave (if on 1st of month)
• Food for your entire stay
• Lodging (the rooms will be shared with other students)
• A house keeper who will clean and cook
• Water and electricity for the house for the students
• Every day transport from the house to the research sites and back
• All SCUBA diving equipment (although we recommend you bring personal soft equipment) and air fills.
• All training, couses and lectures

Other services provided by external companies will be available at additional costs:

• Wireless internet
• Transfers between research laboratories
• SCUBA diving training
• Laundry service
• Excursions
• Bar fridge drinks
• PADI reef check qualification (15USD)

Depending on the applicant habits and lifestyle, we usually suggest adding to their monthly budget about 2000 to 3000 South African Rand (SA Rand is used at Ponta Region) for their souvenirs, excursions, entertainment and other personal daily needs.

Can I cancel or change the dates of the internship?

Due to the number of applications received and limited places, we unfortunately do not accept all applying interns. Therefore, we do not welcome cancellations or date changes after the final confirmation has been sent to us. Please, make sure that the dates you indicate in your application form suit your own schedule/budget before applying.

We request that a 1 month deposit (the equivalent of 1500 Euro) is paid on acceptance into the program as confirmation (foreign and local bank fees are at the applicant´s cost). The remaining fee must be paid in full within two weeks following arrival in South Africa. Cancellations prior to 6 months before internship begins are accepted without cancellation fee (deposit will be refunded in full). Cancellations between 6 and 3 months before the start of the internship will be charged a penalty of 50% (50% refund of deposit). Cancellations that are done less than 3 months before the start of the internship will include a 25% refund. We would, however, appreciate it if you could let us know of any changes or cancellations as soon as you are aware of these, so that we are able to welcome another applicant.

Do I need a VISA?

Mossel Bay, South Africa: No. As a research intern you are volunteering and entitled to enter on a temporary visitor s permit (e.g. tourism permit). Tourist visiting visa´s are issued for three months / 90 days upon entry in South Africa. However, we do recommend that you contact the South African Embassy or Consulate in your country and confirm this fact. If your application period is for a period longer than three months, or if you plan to travel in South Africa prior or after your internship for a period extending 90 days, you will have to apply for a Tourist / Visitor VISA application through your home embassy.

Ponta Region/Zavora, Mozambique: No - you will be issued with a three month visitor´s visa on arrival to South Africa, and can travel into Mozambique without a pre-arranged VISA. On entering Mozambique, you will be issued with a one month visa (at a cost of 185 SA Rand). For interns spending longer than one month in Mozambique, a quick trip to the border to pass out of Mozambique is required to extend the VISA by a month (a further 185 Rand must be paid).

Skeleton coast, Namibia: Very few countries need visa´s for Namibia. Please check the following site to confirm that you do not require a permit (http://www.namibia.org.za/consular.html)

Do I need insurance?

Yes. When you are accepted in this program, you will have to sign liability, copyright documents, as well an agreement that you are knowingly partaking in dangerous activity. You will not be covered for accidents or illnesses, so please do organize your own medical and health insurances. You may apply for a normal travel insurance policy. Chances that you will be injured by a marine predator are non-existent if you follow the safety guidelines and do not try anything foolish which we would not approve. But you will be working on a boat in conditions which can, at times, be less than comfortable. Accidents on a boat may occur, so it is important to be covered in case of an emergency or accident. Be sure to have an insurance cover for your entire stay in Southern Africa. For SCUBA divers, you also need to be insured by the Divers Alert Network (DAN). Oceans Research can organise this for you at an extra cost.

Do I need any specific vaccination or medication before coming to southern Africa?

Mossel Bay/Skeleton coast: No, these research stations are far from Malaria areas, and there are no strange African diseases which you could pick up (that is if you respect the same safety rules as anywhere else in the world).

Ponta Region: Profolactic medication against Malaria is not necessary, but can be used if desired. Malaria treatment is also available on site. Bear in mind that SCUBA diving whilst using some Profolactic medications is not recommended ¯ your choice of medication should be made accordingly.

Zavora: Profolactic medication against Malaria is necessary. Malaria treatment is also available on site. Bear in mind that SCUBA diving whilst using some Profolactic medications is not recommended ¯ your choice of medication should be made accordingly.

What do I need to bring?

Some old jeans; tops and shoes/boots to use on the boat; warm clothing; a wind breaker jacket; good waterproof clothing; factor 30+ sun block and a wide brim hat; polarised sunglasses (allows you to see through the water better); diving certification, and/or skippering licence, and/or VHF certificate (in case you have). Bed sheets will be provided. You may either bring a towel and a face cloth or buy in southern Africa. For underwater research at Ponta Region and Zavora, you will require your own mask, snorkel and fins as well as any other diving equipment you would like to bring (Oceans Research will suply Cylinda, BCD, Regulator, weight belt & surface marker bouy, and wetsuit if required). Working at sea off the Skeleton Coast and Mossel Bay can be quite cold due to wind chill factor off the ocean and occasional seafog in the mornings, thermals and wind/waterproof jackets are required. Conditions on land tend to be sunny, warm to hot and windy in the afternoons.

Do we have weekends off?

No, but yes... The weather along the coast of southern Africa is not stable, and the sea does not allow field work every day. You will have days off whenever the weather and sea condition do not allow field work, and no other work on the data or maintenance is needed.

Sometimes we have long periods during which the weather is nice and after 4-5 days at sea, we will then take a couple of days break. Why? Well, being at sea is very tiring, constantly balancing yourself, baking in the hot sun, scuba diving and being blown by the wind, so after a few days at sea, your body will need a rest.

Can I dive with Great White sharks or dive recreationally?

The internship project is not a white shark cage diving trip, nor a holiday, and cage diving is not part of the internship program at Mossel Bay Marine Lab. Nevertheless, we can try to organize a cage dive with the commercial operator if time and conditions allow it (this will be at an interns own cost). At Zavora and Ponta Region, SCUBA diving is only for research purposes. Recreational diving, in your own time, is allowed with the resort dive centres at your own cost.

How can I get more information?

On acceptance of your formal application, you will be asked (if you are not already) to be registered on Facebook (www.facebook.com). Then you will be invited to join a communication group run by the institute. This forum will enable you to ask questions and seek out any additional information, meeting and networking with us and other interns.

Further information is also available by writing to Lezanne Brits: internships@oceans-research.com