When I joined Cape RADD for my field course with the University of Reading, I expected a unique and amazing trip. What I didn’t anticipate was just how much I would learn in 16 days, or how much I would love every second of it. Between gaining my SSI scuba diving licence, conducting surveys, collecting data, and exploring Cape Town, the experience was equal parts challenging, inspiring, and unforgettable.
From Freezing Swim Tests to Scuba Certification
Our adventure began with SSI scuba diving training, completed with Impact Divers. Training in what I can only describe as icy water was a real shock, I don’t think I’d ever been that cold before. The first swim test left me shivering, but it set the tone: we were in for an incredible experience that would push us out of our comfort zones.
Before starting SCUBA, we learned freediving and snorkelling skills. One group even saw a shark on their very first day in the water! Then came the tidal pool training, where we practiced essential skills such as mask clearing, buoyancy control, and regulator recovery. As a confident swimmer, I was surprised at how difficult it was to get my head around breathing underwater. But with patient instruction, encouragement, and perseverance from the Impact Divers team, I eventually got it. By the end of the week, it felt like second nature.
Not all challenges were underwater. One session was interrupted by a troop of baboons raiding our camp. Let’s just say I was glad to be in the water while that was going on! Eventually, though, we all qualified and celebrated our success at the pub. Spirits were high, there was plenty of laughter, and a few of us definitely felt the effects of the celebrations the next morning.
Life by the Beach
One of the best parts of staying with Cape RADD was the location. Stunning beaches were literally at the end of our garden, and it wasn’t unusual to see penguins wandering around. One even swam right next to us after a training session. We were lucky enough to spot humpback whales on one occasion too, which made the setting feel even more surreal. Waking up to views like that every day made the experience even more special.
Exploring Cape Town
After a week of diving, we spent Sunday exploring Cape Town. Some of the group hiked up Table Mountain, while I opted for the cable car, a decision I didn’t regret when they returned describing the hike as more of a climb. From the top, the views of the city and coastline were breathtaking. We also visited the Two Oceans Aquarium, wandered through the shops, and spotted seals lounging around the harbour.
Diving into Marine Science
With our scuba licences complete, we began scientific diving. Our first quadrat survey underwater turned into a comedy of errors. The surge made it almost impossible to stay in place, and at one point Katie was nearly thrown into a wall of sea urchins. Once we adjusted, though, the difficulties became part of the fun.
We also had a species ID session with Dani, revising around 120 of the common species in False Bay. From sea stars to nudibranchs, learning to identify them underwater made each dive more meaningful. Dylan then introduced us to R, the statistical software we’d use to analyse our data, which helped us prepare for our group projects.
Projects and Public Presentations
Each group designed its own project, collected data, and presented the results. My group focused on how starfish abundance changes with tides and substrates. One particularly entertaining data collection session happened after karaoke night: Heading out to the rocky shore at midnight, slightly tipsy, to collect samples. It was chaotic but hilarious, and somehow we still managed to gather useful data.
We worked on our projects throughout the week and finished by presenting them to the public at the Simon’s Town Museum.
Boat Dives and Kelp Forests
Our first boat dive focused on nudibranchs, colourful little sea slugs. It was also our first time on Top Banana, the dive boat. Let’s just say, I hadn’t realised how fast it went, and while I clung on wishing I was back in the water, my friends found it absolutely hilarious.
That dive was our deepest yet, and we saw an incredible variety of life: walls covered in invertebrates, crabs tucked into rocks, and octopuses camouflaged in crevices. We also carried out rocky shore surveys, using quadrats to study algae in the intertidal zone.
The following day, we were back on the boat for a dive into the kelp forests. This quickly became my favourite dive of the trip. Giant kelp swayed above us as we recorded macroinvertebrates and fish species. It was also this dive that I finally spotted my first couple of sharks, including a spotted gully shark swimming around us. Another group was lucky enough to see a stingray swim above them, which I was sad to miss, but even without it was definitely a dive to remember.
Later that day, Dani introduced us to BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video) analysis, showing how researchers monitor fish populations. Our footage featured a bold octopus literally punching fish out of the way to get to the bait, which had us all in giggles.
A Shark-Filled Finale
Sadly, the trip had to come to an end, but our final dive made sure it finished on a high. We set out in search of sharks and collected photos for the Cape RADD FinSpotter project, which identifies individuals by their unique fin markings.
That dive gave us countless shark encounters, including a baby puffadder shyshark that couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old.
To wrap up the two weeks, we went on an Ocean safari aboard Top Banana. We visited Seal Island, home to thousands of seals, and saw sharks, penguins, and humpback whales, including a mother with her calf. It was the perfect conclusion to an incredible trip.
Reflections on an Unforgettable Experience
Looking back at my time with Cape RADD, I realise it was so much more than just a field course. It was a crash course in resilience, marine science, and discovery. From freezing swims and late-night data collection to shark encounters and kelp forests, every moment pushed me to grow and learn.
I’ve never seen so much wildlife in its natural habitat; penguins, octopuses, crabs, seals, sharks, and countless other species beneath the waves. The combination of hands-on scientific diving, independent research, and unforgettable times in the water made this one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It has encouraged me to pursue my interest in marine science even further as a future career.
For anyone considering marine science, I can’t recommend Cape RADD enough.