mardi 16 août 2011

FIELD COURSE IN SHARK BIOLOGY (7 DAYS - JANUARY 2012)

ENCOUNTER WITH THE GREAT SHARKS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Apex Shark Expeditions and Alessandro De Maddalena organize a field course in South Africa, where the participants will encounter great white sharks, mako sharks, blue sharks, cow sharks and other shark species in their habitat and learn about biology of these predators. This is the sixth edition of this field course, after the great success of the previous editions. This is an important opportunity to learn more about these large predators from three of the world's foremost shark experts: Alessandro De Maddalena, Chris Fallows and Monique Fallows. Chris and Monique Fallows' Apex Shark Expeditions ( apexpredators.com ) is the foremost company for the observation of great white sharks in South Africa.

Apex Shark Expeditions has worked with many research institutes and with the foremost media (BBC, CNN, National Geographic, etc.). Alessandro De Maddalena ( alessandro-demaddalena.webs.com ), is one of the major shark experts in the world, he is the author of a hundred articles in popular and scientific magazines and sixteen books on sharks.

We take a maximum of 11 guests for the January 2012 field course. Departure from Europe on January 1 and arrival to Europe on January 9 (7 days course in South Africa). Departure and arrival from most important European airports can be arranged. The cost of the package varies depending by the departure airport, fly taxes and variations of the Euro-Rand change but it is approximately Euro 3200.
The cost includes:
- flight with KLM from most important European cities to Amsterdam to Cape Town and back,
- land transport,
- 7 nights accomodation, including 6 nights in Simon’s Town, at The Grosvenor, and 1 night in Gansbaai, at Nell's B&B, 
- course on biology, ethology and ecology of sharks teached by Dottor Alessandro De Maddalena,
- 3 trips to observe great white sharks from the boat in the inshore waters of the False Bay with Apex Shark Expeditions,
- 2 trips to observe great white sharks and, weather permitting, cage dive off Gansbaai with Marine Dynamics,
- 1 trip to observe shortfin mako sharks and blue sharks and, weather permitting, cage dive off Cape Point with Apex Shark Expeditions (from Simon's Town),
- 1 trip to freedive (for both scuba divers and snorkelers) with cow sharks and some endemic shark species, at Pyramid Rock in the False Bay, with Pisces Divers,
- 1 helicopter trip to spot great white sharks in the False Bay, 
- all dive gear,
- possibility to observe many other marine animals (Cape fur seals, common dolphins, Southern Right and Brydes whales, tunas, African penguins and many other sea brids),
- light lunch and snacks on board. 

All trips are weather dependant. Everyone can dive, no scuba qualification is needed.
Bookings and program: a-demaddalena@tiscali.it
Information: http://www.corsi-squali-sudafrica.webs.com
Photos: © Chris Fallows / Apex Shark Expeditions, Jacques de Vos.