Volunteer - Teresa Allen

May 2009

I have always watched documentaries and read books on Great Whites but nothing can describe the feeling of seeing them in the flesh. I can’t believe that people kill them for sport or that so many are taken through nets/lines and all other human created obstacles. I think for many people they are fascinating due to the unknowns that surround them – where they travel, where they breed etc. I can’t believe more isn’t being done to protect them or money supplied to do advanced research. I cannot wait to get the opportunity to come and view them again in the future and see again what stunning creatures they are. I hope that within my lifetime more will be done to ensure that the greatest apex predator in the ocean will never become extinct.

I absolutely loved it and didn’t want to leave. I am not always great on boats but the first few days of sickness were worth every second of being able to see amazing sharks at such close proximity. I loved being part of the team and getting to know all the staff and other volunteers. Never a day went by that I didn’t laugh or have lots of fun. I didn’t mind the hard work or getting up early because I knew I was doing something that not that many people get to do and the excitement of seeing any shark is still the same even after a fortnight of viewing them.

The only thing that would have made my trip move from 99% to 100% would have been to have had an exclusive for us volunteers with the staff. It would have been nice to have had the boat to ourselves without the pressure of overseeing clients so that we could have had the opportunity to view the sharks in more detail. I would have also been able to take more pictures of the sharks as I often found that I was too busy either with data or helping with wetsuits etc to have any opportunity to get my camera out and focus on taking some worthwhile shots that could record what an awesome experience I was part of. There is always next time . . . . . !!

And what were the highlights of my stay?  Too many to mention!! Just an amazing opportunity to see great white sharks in the most famous location in the world. Becoming part of the team on the boat was great – everyone was so friendly and welcoming, their patience with our endless questions was remarkable and I felt that I settled in perfectly from day 1. I also loved seeing the Sting Rays on the way to Cape Aghulhas.  Adrian and Julia were great as our ‘team leaders’ – always very helpful and I got on with them both really well. They both gave up some of their spare time to chauffeur us around and take us places, which we were all very grateful for. I also loved meeting Mandla – what a lovely guy. He, Maoli and Sean did a great job on the boat and they are all valuable members of the team.