<h4>What inspired you to work for <a title="undefined" href=https://www.goabroad.com/providers/sharklife rel="" target="_self" class="clickTracker" rev="domainID=0&amp;refererType=1&amp;refererID=3359&amp;abbreviation=CSCT&amp;clientID=62659" data-ga-client="Sharklife" data-contentlink=""><ins>Sharklife</ins></a>?</h4>
<p>I was inspired to work for Sharklife after seeing how misunderstood and undervalued marine animals are.</p>
<p>Many people admire the ocean’s beauty yet remain unaware of the suffering caused by harmful human activities. I wanted to build an organization that reconnects people with the ocean through education, ethical encounters, and compassion-driven conservation.</p>
<h4>Describe a typical day at work.</h4>
<p>A typical day at Sharklife blends fieldwork, research, and education.</p>
<p>Mornings often start on the water, deploying cameras or monitoring marine life in the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area. Afternoons are spent mentoring students, analyzing data, or developing conservation materials that inspire awareness and change.</p>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1764054037/images2/interviews/1QLmwWPzF30EKpU86CSUHTD65aO6FcuQR8rwdOX2.jpg" alt="A diver taking a selfie with a shark underwater."><div class="caption"><p>Grant conducting field observations with a ragged-tooth shark in Sodwana Bay, demonstrating Sharklife’s approach to respectful, non-invasive interactions that promote understanding and conservation of South Africa’s marine predators.</p></div></div>
<h4>Why do you do what you do?</h4>
<p>I do this work because I believe meaningful ocean conservation begins with empathy, not just policy. Marine animals suffer quietly from human activities, yet few people recognize their sentience.</p>
<p>Through Sharklife, I aim to shift perceptions—helping others see these animals as living beings worthy of compassion and protection.</p>
<h4>What is your favorite part of your job?</h4>
<p>My favorite part of my job is seeing people experience genuine connection with the ocean. When a student observes a shark peacefully or recognizes the intelligence of a ray, something shifts—the fear fades, and respect grows.</p>
<p>Those moments of awareness remind me why education and empathy are the most powerful tools for conservation.</p>
<h4>How do you use your education and international background in your current role?</h4>
<p>My education and international experience have shaped how I bridge science, communication, and cultural understanding in marine conservation. Working with researchers and students from around the world helps me translate complex research into accessible, practical training while promoting collaboration that benefits both people and the ocean.</p>
<h4>What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?</h4>
<p>One of the biggest challenges is balancing conservation ideals with the realities of operating in a regulated marine environment. Funding limits, permit restrictions, and public misunderstanding often slow progress.</p>
<p>I overcome these by focusing on collaboration, clear communication, and creating practical, lawful ways for people to engage meaningfully in ocean conservation.</p>
<h4>What are some current projects you are working on?</h4>
<p>Long-Term Key Species and Biodiversity Monitoring Using Stereo-BRUVs in the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area (2025–2029): Using stereo-BRUV cameras to monitor sharks, rays, and other large marine species across time to track biodiversity trends.</p>
<p>Long-Term Rocky Shore Biodiversity Monitoring in the iSimangaliso MPA (2024–2029): Surveying intertidal and rocky-shore zones to understand ecosystem health and change in a dynamic habitat.</p>
<p>Understanding In-shore Habitat Use and Spatial Risk Factors for Endangered Elasmobranch Species in the iSimangaliso MPA (2025–2028): Investigating how endangered sharks and rays use shallow habitats and identifying human-related risk factors in those areas.</p>
<p>Long-Term In-Water Sea Turtle Monitoring in the iSimangaliso MPA (2024–2029): Studying sea turtles beyond just nesting beaches—focusing on their in-water activity, behaviour, and habitat use over the long term."</p>
<h4>What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?</h4>
<p>I’d tell my pre-travel self to stay open-minded and patient. Working in marine conservation abroad isn’t just about the science—it’s about adapting to new environments, cultures, and challenges.</p>
<p>Every obstacle becomes part of your education. Embrace the unpredictability; that’s where the real growth happens.</p>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1764054038/images2/interviews/cVNm3uCvNgBnyoiUs5t8Y6AK0N9zTzcu0uDLtdON.jpg" alt="Man leading a safety briefing with students before sailing."><div class="caption"><p>Grant leading a hands-on safety briefing with Sharklife students, explaining key vessel checks and safe operating procedures before heading out to sea.</p></div></div>
<h4>What makes your Sharklife special?</h4>
<p>What makes Sharklife special is its balance of science, ethics, and education. We’re not just collecting data—we’re changing how people think about the ocean. Our programs allow students and visitors to experience marine life respectfully, without exploitation or disturbance.</p>
<p>Every activity, from training to research support, is grounded in conservation integrity and compliance with protected-area laws. By combining hands-on learning with empathy-driven communication, Sharklife bridges the gap between scientific research and public understanding, creating real, lasting change for marine wildlife.</p>
<h4>Why should someone choose Sharklife over competitors?</h4>
<p>Someone should choose Sharklife because we offer more than a marine experience—we offer perspective. Our programs are built on scientific credibility, ethical practice, and meaningful engagement, not tourism packaged as conservation.</p>
<p>Participants work alongside professionals in a real conservation setting, gaining practical skills while contributing to a purpose larger than themselves. We prioritize safety, integrity, and genuine education within a legally compliant framework. In short, Sharklife isn’t about selling ocean adventures; it’s about shaping future conservationists who understand and respect the marine world.</p>
<h4>What hopes do you have for the future for Sharklife?</h4>
<p>I hope Sharklife continues to grow as a platform that reshapes how society values marine life.</p>
<p>Our aim is to expand education and research partnerships that inspire empathy and drive informed action for ocean conservation. I’d like to see Sharklife become a model for how ethical, science-based programs can operate sustainably within protected areas while empowering the next generation of ocean stewards.</p>
<p>Ultimately, I hope our work helps shift global attitudes from dominance over the ocean to coexistence with it.</p>
<h4>Are there any developments with Sharklife that you would like to share with us?</h4>
<p>Yes, Sharklife is entering an exciting new phase of growth. We’ve recently formalized a marine research network within the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area to strengthen collaboration between scientists, students, and conservation partners.</p>
<p>Alongside this, we’re launching new field-based training programs that teach ethical marine monitoring techniques and support local capacity building. These developments align with our long-term vision: to create a hub where education, research, and community engagement work together to protect South Africa’s marine ecosystems.</p>
<h4>What makes Sharklife easy to market to potential participants?</h4>
<p>Sharklife is uniquely easy to market because it’s based in one of the most spectacular marine settings on Earth—the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on South Africa’s northeast coast.</p>
<p>Here, students can experience pristine reefs, sharks, turtles, and dolphins while being just a short drive from Big Five game reserves and vibrant Zulu cultural experiences. It’s the ultimate African adventure where world-class marine conservation, iconic wildlife, and cultural immersion all meet in one place.</p>
<p>For anyone seeking purpose and discovery in Africa, it’s a clear choice.</p>
<h4>What is Sharklife's mission, and how do you continue to work toward it?</h4>
<p>Sharklife’s mission is to foster empathy and respect for marine life through education, research, and ethical engagement. We work toward this by running hands-on training programs that build real conservation skills, supporting collaborative research within the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area, and creating public outreach that challenges harmful norms like trophy fishing.</p>
<p>Every project—whether it’s a student workshop, field deployment, or awareness campaign—contributes to one goal: reconnecting people with the ocean and inspiring long-term protection of its wildlife.</p>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1764054076/images2/interviews/SfHcXvTdZQE2Q9YI93lM20GEbmnTZwHggB6FT3t8.jpg" alt="a guided reef ecosystem field session and shark observation."><div class="caption"><p>Grant (right) guiding students during a field session on reef ecosystems, observing a reef shark in its natural habitat as part of Sharklife’s ethical marine research and education program in the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area.</p></div></div>
<h4>What do you hope participants take away from your programs?</h4>
<p>I hope participants leave with a deeper understanding of the ocean as a living, feeling system—not just a place for recreation or study.</p>
<p>Beyond skills in marine monitoring or fieldwork, I want them to gain empathy and perspective. If they return home seeing a shark, turtle, or ray not as an object but as a sentient being deserving of respect, then we’ve succeeded.</p>
<p>Ultimately, the goal is for each participant to carry that awareness into their careers and communities, becoming advocates for more compassionate, science-informed ocean conservation.</p>
<h4>How do you help support participants?</h4>
<p>We support participants through a structured, mentorship-based approach. From the moment they arrive, they’re guided by experienced marine professionals who provide training, safety oversight, and academic support. Our team helps them build confidence in the field while ensuring every activity aligns with ethical and conservation standards.</p>
<p>Outside the water, we foster a supportive community at the field station—sharing knowledge, daily briefings, and collaborative learning. Whether assisting with research methods, adapting to local culture, or pursuing academic goals, participants are never left to navigate their journey alone.</p>
<h4>Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?</h4>
<p>Traveling abroad opens perspectives that no classroom or screen can provide. Experiencing new cultures teaches adaptability, empathy, and humility—qualities essential for both conservation and life.</p>
<p>When you immerse yourself in another way of living, you begin to see how interconnected we truly are, and that understanding fuels more respectful, globally minded action. In marine conservation, especially, cross-cultural collaboration is vital—protecting oceans requires shared knowledge and mutual respect between people from every background.</p>
<h4>What does meaningful travel mean to you?</h4>
<p>Meaningful travel, to me, is travel with purpose—where personal growth and positive impact go hand in hand. It’s not about ticking off destinations but about forming genuine connections with people, places, and ecosystems.</p>
<p>In my work, it means leaving a destination better than you found it: contributing to conservation, respecting local cultures, and learning from the environment rather than simply consuming it. True meaning in travel comes when your experiences help both you and the world around you grow.</p>
<h4>What issues do you see in the world of international education that don’t line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial &amp; educational relationships between providers/programs and the communities in which they are located within?</h4>
<p>One major issue in international education is the surge of for-profit companies crowding out genuine non-profits. Many use appealing buzzwords like “conservation,” “sustainability,” and “community upliftment” to attract participants, yet operate primarily for profit, often with minimal long-term benefit to local ecosystems or people. This undermines the credibility of true conservation and exploits both communities and well-intentioned students.</p>
<p>For this reason, only registered non-profit organizations should be eligible to run or list programs on international education platforms. NPO status ensures transparency, accountability, and genuine reinvestment into local environments and capacity building. It also protects participants from misleading “voluntourism” operations and preserves the integrity of what educational travel should be—mutually beneficial, ethical, and purpose-driven.</p>
<h4>What does ethical global engagement mean to you?</h4>
<p>Ethical global engagement means forming relationships that respect both people and place. It’s about collaboration, not extraction—working with local communities, not on them.</p>
<p>True ethics in global engagement require transparency, cultural sensitivity, and ensuring benefits flow back to those who host and protect the environment. It also means avoiding tokenism or “feel-good” projects that serve participants more than local needs.</p>
<p>In marine conservation, this translates to lawful, science-based work that uplifts local capacity, protects ecosystems, and fosters mutual learning rather than exploitation.</p>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1764054039/images2/interviews/Vci2RdNGv6MpEVNdiTkgmHZbqz7575vLvZmZIcMm.jpg" alt="Happy group of men on a boat at sea."><div class="caption"><p>Grant with Sharklife students and team members during a field training day off Sodwana Bay, preparing for a marine monitoring session in the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area</p></div></div>
<h4>What hopes do you have for the future of international education?</h4>
<p>I hope the future of international education returns to its core purpose—mutual learning, cultural respect, and genuine contribution. Too many programs today are profit-driven, using the language of conservation and community upliftment while delivering little real impact.</p>
<p>For international education to retain its meaning, non-profit organizations must once again outnumber and outshine for-profit operators. NPOs ensure that programs remain transparent, accountable, and rooted in local benefit rather than commercial gain.</p>
<p>If this balance shifts back toward genuine public-good initiatives, international education can once again be a powerful force for understanding, empathy, and lasting global impact.</p>
<h4>What qualities in program &amp; host community relations are important to you? (And Sharklife?)</h4>
<p>For Sharklife, meaningful program and host-community relations are grounded in authentic conservation outcomes rather than symbolic community projects.</p>
<p>As a marine conservation organization, our priority is to conduct research that produces tangible ecological benefits—protecting species, informing management, and strengthening marine protection efforts. While we value respectful collaboration with local communities, we focus our energy where our expertise has the greatest impact: advancing science-based conservation.</p>
<p>Ethical engagement, to us, means contributing real value to the ecosystems and management frameworks that sustain both marine life and the people who depend on them.</p>


Grant Smith

Get to know the people behind Sharklife! Check out this GoAbroad Staff Interview with Grant Smith.

Grant Smith | Sharklife Staff Interview

Sharklife Staff Interview with Grant Smith

The Marine Biology Internship is an intensive skills-development program designed for students and early-career ocean enthusiasts who want structured, professional training in marine fieldwork. Based at Sharklife’s established field station in Sodwana Bay, the internship combines full scuba-diver development with guided field exercises that build real competence in marine environments. Participants learn reef and species identification, snorkel and scuba-based survey fundamentals, ocean-safety skills, ecological interpretation, and practical methods used in modern marine field training. 

All activities are taught by experienced instructors and follow a clear progression from foundational skills to more advanced field confidence. The program is entirely training-focused and does not involve participation in permitted research. It is ideal for students preparing for marine-science degrees, gap-year learners seeking strong field exposure, or anyone wanting structured, hands-on experience in a world-class marine environment. No prior diving experience is required.

Sharklife Marine Biology Internship

Based in the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area, this program offers a practical introduction to ocean conservation on one of Africa’s most diverse coastlines. Sharklife is a long-standing marine conservation non-profit with an established field station in Sodwana Bay, providing a secure and professional base for all activities.

Volunteers take part in guided snorkelling sessions, intertidal and beach-health observations, turtle-nesting awareness walks (seasonal), and short workshops that build a clear understanding of local marine ecosystems.

You’ll learn how to identify common reef and coastal species, understand key conservation pressures, and develop confidence in the water under the guidance of Sharklife’s field staff. Activities are structured, simple, and purposeful—designed to offer real exposure to conservation work without requiring research experience.

The program suits anyone seeking an immersive, ethical, and accessible ocean-focused experience. Optional scuba diving and additional ocean-skills activities can be added directly through Sharklife. No prior experience is required.

Marine Conservation Volunteer Program – Sodwana Bay, RSA

Sharklife

Sales Wolves

Founded in 2005 as a non-profit, Sharklife is committed to safeguarding marine ecosystems by conducting research, launching conservation efforts, and fostering environmental education. Working within the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area in South Africa, we partner with local authorities and research teams to gather data and create impactful conservation approaches. 

Our efforts aim to ignite a passion for marine science and conservation in the next generation, with a unique highlight being our immersive marine internship program, offering hands-on experience to aspiring scientists. 

Sharklife is made up of dedicated marine conservationists, researchers, and advisors who share a passion for preserving our oceans. With a wealth of knowledge and expertise, they work tirelessly to adva...

Founded in 2005 as a non-profit, Sharklife is committed to safeguarding marine ecosystems by conducting research, launching conservation efforts, and fostering environmental education. Working within the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area in South Africa, we partner with local authorities and research teams to gather data and create impactful conservation approaches. 

Our efforts aim to ignite a passion for marine science and conservation in the next generation, with a unique highlight being our immersive marine internship program, offering hands-on experience to aspiring scientists. 

Sharklife is made up of dedicated marine conservationists, researchers, and advisors who share a passion for preserving our oceans. With a wealth of knowledge and expertise, they work tirelessly to advance Sharklife’s conservation goals.

Founded in 2005 as a non-profit, Sharklife is committed to safeguarding marine ecosystems by conducting research, launching conservation efforts, and fostering environmental education. Working within the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area in South Africa, we partner with local authorities and research teams to gather data and create impactful conservation approaches. 

Our efforts aim to ignite ...

<p>Our day begins with preparing the boat and equipment for sea before heading to the beach. Interns and volunteers play a crucial role in supporting beach and boating logistics. Once launched through the surf, we journey along the coastline to our study area, where we conduct in-water surveys, document sightings, and swap out equipment as needed.&nbsp;</p>


What is a typical day like?

<p>Absolutely! With our skilled scuba partner, beginners are welcome to start here with no prior experience and progress through courses from Open Water to Dive Master certification. Each course package includes all necessary equipment, pool training sessions, and certification fees.&nbsp;</p>


Do you offer scuba courses?

<p>2 – 4 weeks is just enough time to complete a scuba course and get exposure to the research components. We must tell you that 99% of students always wish they had booked for longer. 6 – 8 weeks as a Intern is a more realistic time to become familiar with the diving and boating tasks and possibly do another scuba course (advanced or rescue).&nbsp;</p>


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