Africa Travel WeekMarine Dynamics is a Shark Cage Diving company based in Kleinbaai, a small harbour town, part of Gansbaai in the Western Cape of South Africa. This area is known as a hotspot for the Great White Shark and the best place in the world to see and dive with these iconic creatures in their natural environment.
Sister company Dyer Island Cruises is a boat based Eco-Marine Tourism Company, allowing visitors an unforgettable experience to see the Marine Big Five – whales, dolphins, seals, penguins and sharks, as well as many species of rare pelagic birds that reside close to the shore.
Marine conservation has historically been grossly neglected and this vacuum in the scientific arena necessitates new, exciting and ongoing research projects to find out more about our precious marine species and the ecosystems in which they live. And this is exactly what Marine Dynamics does!
Every trip on either our shark cage diving or whale watching boat is an awesome adventure and an exciting crash-course in marine biology, educating you about the trends, traits and troubles of the endangered Great White Shark and our other amazing marine species, as well as the ecosystem!
Q&A with Wilfred Chivell, CEO Marine Dynamics and Founder Dyer Island Conservation Trust
Why do you think responsible tourism is important? We all understand that travelling has an impact on the environment and the conscious traveller wants to give back where possible. This is important in the preservation of wildlife, culture and community in the areas that people travel to.
What is the one thing you always highlight, when someone asks you why they should travel sustainably? Tourism partners and guests are encouraged to choose wisely knowing that their choice of activity can, and should, make a real difference to conservation and community. We also encourage them to do their homework to ensure the validity of the work done.
What makes Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Cruises a responsible tourism destination? We have been Fair Trade Tourism Certified since 2008 and we support other businesses in the Fair Trade Tourism family. There is still much change required across the tourism industry, but the market is changing and thus driving that change. Our eco-tourism model has been used in case studies worldwide and is replicable with commitment and effort. It is imperative that we preserve the environment that we rely on for a living.
Why should people visit Africa? Africa offers so much – incredible wildlife, scenery, culture, food and wine experiences, vibrant cities. By visiting Africa, the traveller is supporting local communities through their direct employment, cultural art, and enterprise development.
Marine Dynamics & Dyer Island Conservation Trust, South Africa received a Gold Award at the 2020 Inspirational Africa Responsible Tourism Awards. Read the judges’ reasons here.
