Staff Interview with Dylan Irion

What inspired you to create Cape Research & Diver Development?

I helped create this organization to accomplish two things: To better understand the biodiversity of our planet, and to help students discover their own passion for the ocean.

Describe a typical day at work.

A typical day at work involves a refreshing dive in the ocean followed by an enriching classroom session. Wake up with a view of the sea and then jump in!

Why do you do what you do?

I have a never-ending curiosity and enjoy problem solving. Marine biology lets me fulfill both of those by asking questions about nature, and then discovering how to answer them.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I feel most rewarded by teaching when students ask questions. This feedback reaffirms that what I am teaching is interesting and that students are grasping the concepts.

How do you use your education and international background in your current role?

Knowledge is power. I was fortunate enough to benefit from a great educational system. Part of my job now is to pass on those benefits to the South African community.

What are some current projects you are working on?

The kelp forest is one of my favorite places to dive and so we run several projects that aim to better understand this ecosystem, such as what is the density and distribution of kelp along the South African coastline, and what is the risk of overgrazing from sea urchins?

What advice do you have for future students traveling to South Africa?

South Africa truly is a Rainbow Nation, diverse in people, ecosystems, and wildlife. Expect to hear many different languages, and meet people from all walks of life. Bring a pair of comfortable hiking shoes and conquer Table Mountain. Bring a pair of binoculars and spot the elusive Verreaux's Eagle or a troop of baboons. Bring some extra room in your luggage for a bottle of wine or two. Bring your dive log, a laptop for our course, and a camera for the memories. And lots of sunscreen!

What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?

Take a year off before college. Discover yourself, discover what inspires you. Develop a curiosity and a desire to learn. Use that passion to fuel your studies so that you are always thirsty for knowledge.

What makes your organization special?

Our organization is all about you! We want to teach what interests you! Each month brings different students with different interests. And we never know what the ocean is going to show us!

What is the mission of Cape Research & Diver Development and how do you continue to work toward it?

We aim to better understand the ocean, but at the core of our values is passing on our expertise to early career scientists and those with a passion for the ocean. We work toward this by teaching! We offer one-on-one time to help students develop the skills they are most interested in.

What do you hope participants take away from your programs?

We always hope that students take away new skills that will help their careers as marine scientists, but more importantly, we hope that students learn about themselves! Part of traveling abroad is learning about yourself and contextualizing your own background.

What can future students expect to learn through Cape Research & Diver Development?

I found it very difficult to be passionate about subjects in my undergraduate studies when I was being taught from a textbook, about things I may never actually use. Take stats for instance—I hated it, and now I'm completing a PhD in statistical ecology. This is because I didn't see the value in the subject, until I could actually use it to answer questions I was curious about, and textbooks don't often inspire curiosity. Our program offers many opportunities to foster that curiosity, which we then use to teach data analysis skills like geographic information software, and statistical programming in R. And every day along the way our students are improving their SCUBA diving skills.

How have you seen students benefit from their time with your program?

Each of our students leave with an improved knowledge and marketability as marine biologists and conservationists, and each learns a little more about themselves. Past students of ours run their own coral reef restoration programs, are wildlife and freediving photographers and videographers, and manage research centers in the Maldives. I like to believe that their time at Cape RADD was critical in providing them the skills to achieve these goals.

How do you help support participants?

We encourage and maintain contact with our students after they complete our program to provide advice, offer help in their own research, and remain friends.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

All travel is meaningful provided you travel with a willingness to learn something about you and the place you are visiting. There are many things that can ruin a trip, but the one that we have most control over is ourselves! Travel with an open mind!