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Marine Research Assistant Internship in South Africa

by: Roots Interns

Add first reviewVerifiedSince 2016

Make your first steps in a career in marine science in one of the most biodiverse regions of South Africa’s Western Cape. This is the ideal program for a young biologist to make a big difference protecting our oceans. You’ll receive theoretical and practical training, then gain real-world, in-field scientific research experience. You'll be joining a team of dedicated, passionate marine scientists to study a site of unique significance for ocean conservation. Found in the False Bay area of Cape Town - a global hotspot for marine biodiversity boasting over 3500 endemic species which include sharks, rays, cetaceans, seals, fish as well as kelp forests and natural coral systems - you'll be working at a marine field station committed to furthering knowledge of marine ecosystems so as to develop better methods of conserving our oceans. The program begins with a month-long field course to equip you with a comprehensive understanding of specialized marine research methods and equipment, as well as the opportunity to help maintain and develop the ongoing research projects, go on regular research dives, conduct underwater surveys, monitor habitats, process and analyze collected data.

Program Highlights

Receive theoretical and practical training in specialized marine research methods

Develop extensive knowledge of marine life of South Africa’s Western Cape

Help the furtherment of Marine conservation science

Work alongside experienced, knowledgeable experts

SCUBA dive in a global hotspot for marine diversity

Quick Details

Locations:
  • Cape Town, South Africa
Availability
Duration:
  • 5-8 Weeks
  • 9-12 Weeks
Age Requirement: 18-35
Types & Subjects
Fields:
  • Marine Science
Causes:
  • Marine Conservation
Guidelines
Nationalities:
  • Albanian
  • American
  • Andorran
  • Antarctica
  • Antiguan & Barbudan
  • Argentinian
  • Armenian
  • Aruban
  • Asian
  • Australian
  • Austrian
  • Azerbaijani
  • Bahamian
  • Bahraini
  • Barbadian
  • Belarusian
  • Belgian
  • Belizean
  • Bermudian
  • Bhutanese
  • Bissau-Guinean
  • Bolivian
  • Bonaire
  • Bosnian
  • Brazilian
  • British
  • British Virgin Islander
  • Bruneian
  • Bulgarian
  • Cambodian
  • Canadian
  • Cape Verdean
  • Caymanian
  • Channel Islander
  • Chilean
  • Chinese
  • Colombian
  • Comoran
  • Cook Islander
  • Costa Rican
  • Creole
  • Croatian
  • Cuban
  • Curacao
  • Cypriot
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dominican
  • Dutch
  • Ecuadorian
  • Egyptian
  • Emirati
  • English
  • Estonian
  • European
  • Fijian
  • Finnish
  • French
  • Georgian
  • German
  • Gibraltarian
  • Greek
  • Greenlandic
  • Grenadian
  • Guadeloupian
  • Guatemalan
  • Guinean
  • Guyanese
  • Haitian
  • Hawaiian
  • Honduran
  • Hungarian
  • I-Kiribati
  • Icelandic
  • Indonesian
  • Iranian
  • Iraqi
  • Irish
  • Israeli
  • Italian
  • Jamaican
  • Japanese
  • Jordanian
  • Kazakhstani
  • Kittitian, Nevisian
  • Kiwi
  • Korean
  • Kuwaiti
  • Kyrgyzstani
  • Lao or Laotian
  • Latvian
  • Lebanese
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuanian
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonian
  • Malagasy
  • Malaysian
  • Maldivian
  • Malian
  • Maltese
  • Manx
  • Marshallese
  • Martiniquais
  • Mauritanian
  • Mauritian
  • Mexican
  • Micronesian
  • Moldovan
  • Monegasque
  • Mongolian
  • Montenegrin
  • Montserratian
  • Moroccan
  • multi
  • Myanmar
  • Nauruan
  • Nepalese
  • New Caledonian
  • Ni-Vanuatu
  • Nicaraguan
  • Niuean
  • Norwegian
  • Omani
  • Palauan
  • Palestinian
  • Panamanian
  • Papua New Guinean
  • Paraguayan
  • Peruvian
  • Polish
  • Polynesian
  • Portuguese
  • Puerto Rican
  • Qatari
  • Reunionese
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Saban
  • Sahrawian, Sahraouian
  • Saint Helenian
  • Saint Lucian
  • Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
  • Salvadoran
  • Sammarinese
  • Samoan
  • Sao Tomean
  • Saudi Arabian
  • Scottish
  • Serbian
  • Serbian; Montenegrin
  • Seychelles
  • Singaporean
  • Slovak
  • Slovenian
  • Solomon Islander
  • Spanish
  • St. Barts
  • Statian
  • Surinamese
  • Swedish
  • Swiss
  • Syrian
  • Tahiti
  • Taiwanese
  • Tajikistani
  • Thai
  • The Vatican
  • Tibet
  • Timorese
  • Tongan
  • Trinidadian, Tobagonian
  • Turkish
  • Turkmen
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Tuvaluan
  • Ukrainian
  • Uruguayan
  • Uzbekistani
  • Venezuelan
  • Vietnamese
  • Virgin Islander
  • Welsh
  • Yemeni
See all program details
Last Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Awards

Innovative New Program, Intern Abroad Winner 2022Innovative New Program – Intern Abroad Finalist 2022

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Cape Town, South Africa

Types and Subjects

  • Fields
  • Marine Science
  • Causes
  • Marine Conservation

Availability

Duration:
  • 5-8 Weeks
  • 9-12 Weeks
Intern Duration:
  • 1-3 Months

Age Requirement

18-35

Guidelines

Nationalities:
  • Albanian
  • American
  • Andorran
  • Antarctica
  • Antiguan & Barbudan
  • Argentinian
  • Armenian
  • Aruban
  • Asian
  • Australian
  • Austrian
  • Azerbaijani
  • Bahamian
  • Bahraini
  • Barbadian
  • Belarusian
  • Belgian
  • Belizean
  • Bermudian
  • Bhutanese
  • Bissau-Guinean
  • Bolivian
  • Bonaire
  • Bosnian
  • Brazilian
  • British
  • British Virgin Islander
  • Bruneian
  • Bulgarian
  • Cambodian
  • Canadian
  • Cape Verdean
  • Caymanian
  • Channel Islander
  • Chilean
  • Chinese
  • Colombian
  • Comoran
  • Cook Islander
  • Costa Rican
  • Creole
  • Croatian
  • Cuban
  • Curacao
  • Cypriot
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dominican
  • Dutch
  • Ecuadorian
  • Egyptian
  • Emirati
  • English
  • Estonian
  • European
  • Fijian
  • Finnish
  • French
  • Georgian
  • German
  • Gibraltarian
  • Greek
  • Greenlandic
  • Grenadian
  • Guadeloupian
  • Guatemalan
  • Guinean
  • Guyanese
  • Haitian
  • Hawaiian
  • Honduran
  • Hungarian
  • I-Kiribati
  • Icelandic
  • Indonesian
  • Iranian
  • Iraqi
  • Irish
  • Israeli
  • Italian
  • Jamaican
  • Japanese
  • Jordanian
  • Kazakhstani
  • Kittitian, Nevisian
  • Kiwi
  • Korean
  • Kuwaiti
  • Kyrgyzstani
  • Lao or Laotian
  • Latvian
  • Lebanese
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuanian
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonian
  • Malagasy
  • Malaysian
  • Maldivian
  • Malian
  • Maltese
  • Manx
  • Marshallese
  • Martiniquais
  • Mauritanian
  • Mauritian
  • Mexican
  • Micronesian
  • Moldovan
  • Monegasque
  • Mongolian
  • Montenegrin
  • Montserratian
  • Moroccan
  • multi
  • Myanmar
  • Nauruan
  • Nepalese
  • New Caledonian
  • Ni-Vanuatu
  • Nicaraguan
  • Niuean
  • Norwegian
  • Omani
  • Palauan
  • Palestinian
  • Panamanian
  • Papua New Guinean
  • Paraguayan
  • Peruvian
  • Polish
  • Polynesian
  • Portuguese
  • Puerto Rican
  • Qatari
  • Reunionese
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Saban
  • Sahrawian, Sahraouian
  • Saint Helenian
  • Saint Lucian
  • Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
  • Salvadoran
  • Sammarinese
  • Samoan
  • Sao Tomean
  • Saudi Arabian
  • Scottish
  • Serbian
  • Serbian; Montenegrin
  • Seychelles
  • Singaporean
  • Slovak
  • Slovenian
  • Solomon Islander
  • Spanish
  • St. Barts
  • Statian
  • Surinamese
  • Swedish
  • Swiss
  • Syrian
  • Tahiti
  • Taiwanese
  • Tajikistani
  • Thai
  • The Vatican
  • Tibet
  • Timorese
  • Tongan
  • Trinidadian, Tobagonian
  • Turkish
  • Turkmen
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Tuvaluan
  • Ukrainian
  • Uruguayan
  • Uzbekistani
  • Venezuelan
  • Vietnamese
  • Virgin Islander
  • Welsh
  • Yemeni

This Program is also open to Solo

Program Cost Includes

  • Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
  • Airport Transfer (Pick-Up)
  • Airport Transfer (Drop-Off)
  • In-Country Transportation To & From Project
  • Required Equipment
  • On-Site / In-Country Staff Support
  • Pre-Departure Orientation
  • In-Country Orientation
  • Academic Credit
  • Letter of Recommendation

Accommodation Options

  • Dormitory
  • Group living

Qualifications & Experience

      Accepted Education Levels

    • Any/All Education Levels Accepted

    Application Procedures

    • Online Application
    • Resume

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do I need to have a prior experience in SCUBA diving?

    Dive qualifications are recommended for this program, ideally a DiveMaster certificate. However, dive training can be provided at an additional cost during your program, if necessary.

    What will I need to bring?

    All equipment will be provided and rentals are included in the price. You will need to bring your own laptop, other than that all you will need is weather-appropriate clothing and other travel essentials. If you have your own dive equipment, it’s recommended to bring this as well.

    Is it safe to travel to this area of Cape Town?

    Simon’s Town is a quiet suburb on the outskirts of the greater Cape Town area and one of the safer neighborhoods. Nonetheless, you should exercise precautions. Avoid going out alone at night, take care of valuables, and be aware of your surroundings.

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    Roots Interns

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    Ready to Learn More?

    Make your first steps in a career in marine science in one of the most biodiverse regions of South Africa’s Western Cape. This is the ideal program for a young biologist to make a big difference protecting our oceans. You’ll receive theoretical and practical training, then gain real-world, in-field scientific research experience. You'll be joining a team of dedicated, passionate marine scientists to study a site of unique significance for ocean conservation. Found in the False Bay area of Cape Town - a global hotspot for marine biodiversity boasting over 3500 endemic species which include sharks, rays, cetaceans, seals, fish as well as kelp forests and natural coral systems - you'll be working at a marine field station committed to furthering knowledge of marine ecosystems so as to deve...

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