Marine Dynamics Academy
Welcome home.
Welcome to your future.
We offer marine enthusiasts a range of life-changing experiences, each designed to improve their skills and employability prospects.
View training programsMarine wildlife training experiences in South Africa
The Marine Dynamics Academy has one very simple goal - to help future marine ambassadors surpass their potential through diverse, skills-based training programs tailored to their very needs:
- Experience life in the home of the Marine Big 5.
- Live in luxury accommodation and use varied facilities.
- Enhance your career prospects with specialist training.
- Learn directly from seasoned ocean experts.
Specialist Training Programs
Careers involving the marine environment are broad and varied. Our programs have been designed by experienced specialists who are actively involved in their field, allowing us to offer training content which is forward thinking and informed by real-world professions.
Your marine career - starts here:
- Become a guide
Marine-Coastal Guiding
Comprehensive training and development for prospective guides, wishing to conduct dedicated marine environment tours or gain experience. Learn more
- Change your life
Marine Volunteers
An inspirational experience for people who want to create awareness through eco-tourism, research and community outreach. Learn more
- Enhance your career
Scientific Internship
A series of exclusive, high level academic and field-based skills training modules for marine science undergraduates and recent graduates. Learn more
What makes these programs special?
Marine Dynamics Newsroom
Life never stops at the Marine Dynamics Academy. Our newsroom is regularly updated with new wildlife stories, blogs from our various students and experiences from our own team.
Discover and Protect
Dive into the seabirds of the Dyer Island ecosystem Data Collection on Slashfin: Shark Diversity & Conservation In-Situ vs Ex-Situ Conservation Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) deployments and analysis Catshark Tagging in De Kelders Volunteering vs Interning Volunteering vs Interning
By Marie-Laure Veys, Aug 29
Linking Fields: A Day at Stellenbosch University Searching for Answers: Trying to Spot Orcas
Work with the Marine Big 5
One of the many ways in which Gansbaai is a truly unique, special prospect for people who want to work with marine wildlife, is how diverse the area is. Between The Marine Big 5 and countless other species, few places in the world are home to so many incredible animals.
South Africa's ocean wildlife - right on your doorstep:
Species we work with:
Great white sharks
Gracious, beautiful, misunderstood - three words used by guests of Dyer Island Cruises after witnessing South Africa's most infamous marine species: The Great White Shark.
The Great white sharkSouthern right whales
These gentle giants are one of the strongest draws for our visitors, as thousands come back every year to experience the majesty of the Southern Right Whale.
The Southern Right WhaleCape fur seals
With a local population of 60,000, it's no wonder our guests capture so many photographs of these wonderfully playful marine mammals.
The Cape fur sealAfrican penguins
As one of only 17 penguin species left in the world (and the only one on the african continent), the african penguin often breed in offshore colonies, such as Dyer Island.
The African penguin