Marine Dynamics in Gansbaai, Western Cape, is opening a Field Guides Association of Southern Africa-endorsed (FGASA) Marine Guide Training School for local and international students.
The course will run over seven weeks and will include modules on the ‘Marine Big 5’ (sharks, whales, dolphins, seals and penguins) and other seabirds. The course will also have a practical element that will include experience in shore and dune walking, aquarium guiding, birding and marine conservation as well as shadowing on-board guides on off-shore tours.
The first course will start on June 18. Accommodation is provided and lectures will take place at the International Marine Volunteer Centre. Principal trainer, Grant Hine, has 30 years’ experience in the guiding industry, and has spent significant time working on developing the FGASA field guide training material. Guiding students will also have the opportunity to learn from Marine Dynamics’ sister company, Dyer Island Cruises.
Hine says: “Marine Dynamics has embarked on providing the industry with professional marine guides due to the growing need of this profession. This will qualify students to register as legally qualified guides and seek employment.”
Marine Dynamics CEO, Wilfred Chivell, notes the importance of responsible marine tourism for education purposes. “Non-consumptive marine tourism is a priority and we need more qualified guides and businesses in this field.” To this end, Marine Dynamics works with biologists on a number of key projects, including research on sharks as well as the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary in Kleinbaai, Western Cape, which is involved in environmental clean-ups, strandings and scientific sampling.
