Sharklife Conservation Group
Sharklife Conservation Group is a South African non-profit operating a marine research field station in the iSimangaliso UNESCO World Heritage Site, delivering fee-based marine biology internships, PADI Divemaster training, and graduate thesis placements alongside ongoing shark and reef ecosystem monitoring programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersSodwana Bay, South Africa
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sharklife Conservation Group does
Sharklife Conservation Group is a South African non-profit organization founded in 2005, registered as NPO 064-326-NPO and Company 2005/002273/08, operating a marine research field station and experiential education programs out of Sodwana Bay in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The organization runs three focal research platforms — Sharks & Rays, Reef Ecosystems, and Coastal Ecosystems — using a proprietary suite of non-invasive methodologies including Stereo-BRUVs (depth-rated to 300m), Remote Underwater Video Systems, Passive Acoustic Monitoring hydrophones, a 30+ receiver VR2W acoustic telemetry array, Stereo-DOVS, Underwater Visual Census, photo-quadrat intertidal surveys, CoralWatch coral health assessments, and the Roving Diver Technique. These platforms generate continuous biodiversity, elasmobranch, and reef health datasets used in peer-reviewed publications.
The commercial operation is a fee-based experiential education business layered on top of the research infrastructure. Sharklife offers four paid programs: the Marine Conservation Volunteer (2-4 weeks, from $2,250), the Marine Biology Training Internship (1-6 months, from $3,170), the 12-week PADI Divemaster Internship ($6,450), and the Research Thesis Placement (3-6 months, from $5,365). The portfolio is sold direct-to-consumer through the Sharklife website with no paid advertising, supplemented by membership donations and recurring online shark courses via the Learning Portal. The customer base consists of marine biology students from 7+ partner universities, gap-year travelers, graduate researchers, and aspiring dive professionals, with organic growth driven by alumni testimonials and university referrals.
Governance is provided by four directors (Grant Smith as Managing Director, Mike Fraser, Fiona Ayerst, Mike Wood), supported by an 8-person core team including a Research Coordinator and General Manager, and a 15-person scientific advisory board drawn from SAIAB, ORI, KZN Sharks Board, WildTrust, EKZNW, SANBI, and international universities including Michigan State, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, and Scripps. All program surplus is directed back into field station operations under the non-profit mandate.
Sharklife Conservation Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sharklife Conservation Group
- Legal name
- Sharklife Conservation Group
- Website
- https://sharklife.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Sharklife Conservation Group is a South African non-profit operating a marine research field station in the iSimangaliso UNESCO World Heritage Site, delivering fee-based marine biology internships, PADI Divemaster training, and graduate thesis placements alongside ongoing shark and reef ecosystem monitoring programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sharklife Conservation Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Conservation Education & Research Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Guided Diving & Snorkeling Excursions (boat/shore trips) (THAAAIAB), Dive Centers & Scuba Training (PADI/SSI, certifications) (THAAAIAA), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
Keywords
Where Sharklife Conservation Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sodwana Bay
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sharklife Conservation Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Internship Program Fees: Fee-based marine biology internship and training programs ranging from 2 weeks to 6 months. Programs include Marine Conservation Volunteer (MCV), Marine Biology Training Internship (MBTI), Divemaster Internship, and Research Thesis Placement. Fees are discounted for longer stays as a non-profit organization with all surplus directed back to field station operations.
- Membership Donations: Monthly membership contributions that provide ongoing operational support for long-term conservation initiatives. Described as the 'backbone of the organisation' enabling sustained projects beyond one-time funding.
- Shark Course Fees: Revenue from online and in-person shark education courses designed for ocean enthusiasts at beginner to intermediate level, covering shark biology, behavior, and conservation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Marine Conservation Volunteer (MCV) - 2-4 week introduction to marine conservation |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Marine Biology Training Internship (MBTI) - 1-6 month structured skills development program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Divemaster Internship - 12-week professional certification program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Research Thesis Placement - 3-6 month academic research program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Sharklife Conservation Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sharklife Conservation Group operates a marine research field station in Sodwana Bay, South Africa, delivering fee-based marine biology internships, volunteer programs, professional divemaster certification, and academic thesis placements. Its core offering combines experiential marine conservation education with active scientific monitoring of elasmobranchs, reef ecosystems, and coastal habitats within the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area, supported by an online learning portal delivering shark education courses.
Product overview
Sharklife Conservation Group offers a suite of experiential education and field training programs based at its marine research field station in Sodwana Bay, South Africa. The portfolio includes five interconnected offerings: the Marine Conservation Volunteer (MCV) program for short-term introductory experiences; the Marine Biology Training Internship (MBTI) for structured 4-24 week skills development; the 12-week Internship + Dive Master for professional certification; the Research Thesis Placement for graduate-level research support; and the Sharklife Marine Research Field Station as the operational hub providing infrastructure for ongoing conservation science across three research platforms (Sharks & Rays, Reef Ecosystems, Coastal Ecosystems). All programs are non-profit funded, with surplus fees directed back into field station operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Long-term research projects generating publishable data on 30+ elasmobranch species in the iSimangaliso MPA
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sharklife Conservation Group
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sharklife Conservation Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Sharklife Conservation Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- iSimangaliso Wetland Park AuthoritycoreFormal partnership with iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority for conducting research within the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sharklife collaborates with local management to collect data and develop effective conservation strategies. Research projects require valid permits from DFFE and alignment with park priorities.
- Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW)coreCollaboration with EKZNW conservation authorities. Scientific advisors Mr. Welly Qwabe and Mr. Craig Mulqueeny from EKZNW provide local expertise and regulatory guidance for marine conservation activities.
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)coreResearch collaboration with SAIAB scientists Dr. Anthony Bernard and Dr. Kaylee Smit who serve as scientific advisors, providing expertise in aquatic biodiversity research and species identification.
- KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board (KZN SB)minorCollaboration with KZN Sharks Board researchers Dr. Geremy Cliff and Prof. Matt Dicken who serve as scientific advisors, contributing expertise in shark research and management.
- WildTrustminorPartnership with WildTrust conservation organization. Scientific advisors Dr. Jean Harris and Dr. Jennifer Olbers contribute to marine conservation research initiatives.
- Licensed Dive Charter OperatorminorStrategic partnership with a licensed dive charter operator for field access to two RIB research vessels, enabling boat-based research operations and scuba surveys in the MPA.
- PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)coreAuthorized PADI dive center offering professional Divemaster certification, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Rescue Diver courses as part of program offerings.
- Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI)minorScientific collaboration with ORI researcher Dr. Ryan Daly who serves as a scientific advisor to Sharklife's research programs.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sharklife Conservation Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WildTrust: South African marine and wildlife conservation organization sharing scientific advisors with Sharklife (Dr. Jean Harris, Dr. Jennifer Olbers). Operates in overlapping ecosystems and collaborates on KwaZulu-Natal conservation initiatives with comparable scientific and educational missions.
- Blue Ventures: Global marine conservation organization that runs paid expedition-based volunteer programs combining marine research, citizen science, and community-led conservation. Closely comparable model to Sharklife's internship programs spanning citizen science, scuba fieldwork, and capacity building.
- GVI (Global Vision International): International volunteer and internship organization offering marine conservation programs combining field research, scuba training, and citizen science at multiple global locations. Closely comparable participant-funded model targeting students, gap-year travelers, and career breakers.
- Project AWARE Foundation: Global marine conservation NGO focused on ocean citizen science, shark and ray protection, and policy advocacy. Comparable mission around shark conservation education and underwater citizen-science data collection.
- Reef-World Foundation: International marine conservation organization focused on reef ecosystem education and citizen-science monitoring. Directly comparable in reef conservation focus, training of citizen scientists, and education-driven methodology.
Emerging players
- Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI / SAAMBR): South African marine research institute that conducts elasmobranch research in the same KwaZulu-Natal waters and shares scientific advisors with Sharklife (Dr. Ryan Daly). Adjacent rather than direct since ORI is research-first rather than participant-funded.
- Volcanoes Safaris Conservation Programme: East African conservation-tourism hybrid that combines paid guest experiences with field research and community conservation. Comparable hybrid model that could indicate a path for Sharklife to expand from marine-only into broader ecotourism offerings.
Regional players
- Coral Divers (Sodwana Bay): Long-established PADI dive operator in Sodwana Bay that shares Sharklife's operating geography and offers scuba training. Comparable as a dive training provider but focused on recreational diving rather than conservation programming.
Broad incumbents
- Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL): Large international reef conservation organization with global programming and coral reef monitoring initiatives. Comparable on reef ecosystem conservation mission but operates at a much larger institutional scale.
Others
- PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors): Global dive certification body that Sharklife is an authorized center under. Ecosystem enabler rather than competitor; relevant for understanding the certification framework Sharklife depends on for its Divemaster program.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sharklife Conservation Group social profiles
Digital presenceSharklife Conservation Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sharklife Conservation Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles24 records
Sharklife Conservation Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sharklife Conservation Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sharklife Conservation Group
What does Sharklife Conservation Group do?
Sharklife Conservation Group operates a marine research field station in Sodwana Bay, South Africa, delivering fee-based marine biology internships, volunteer programs, professional divemaster certification, and academic thesis placements. Its core offering combines experiential marine conservation education with active scientific monitoring of elasmobranchs, reef ecosystems, and coastal habitats within the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area, supported by an online learning portal delivering shark education courses.
Is Sharklife Conservation Group a public or private company?
Sharklife Conservation Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sharklife Conservation Group founded?
Sharklife Conservation Group was founded in 2005.
Where is Sharklife Conservation Group based?
Sharklife Conservation Group is headquartered in Sodwana Bay, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Sharklife Conservation Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Internship Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are membership Donations and shark Course Fees.
Who are Sharklife Conservation Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WildTrust, Blue Ventures, GVI (Global Vision International), Project AWARE Foundation and Reef-World Foundation. Emerging players are Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI / SAAMBR) and Volcanoes Safaris Conservation Programme. Coral Divers (Sodwana Bay) is listed as a regional player. Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is listed as a broad incumbent. PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is listed as an others.
Does Sharklife Conservation Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sharklife Conservation Group.
What industry is Sharklife Conservation Group in?
Sharklife Conservation Group's product category is Marine Conservation Education & Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAIAH, Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks), with a secondary code of THAAAIAB, Guided Diving & Snorkeling Excursions (boat/shore trips).