Let me get something off my chest…. after 20 years of diving around the world, 10 of those years regularly in Southern Africa, and mostly in Cape Town, when people first hear about diving in Cape Town, the response is often the same: “But isn’t it cold?” ….
Yes. It is. And that’s exactly the point.
Don’t get me wrong, I too love the odd trip up to Mozambique or Sodwana to dive in 29 degrees water which is so clean you can see into the future. but one thing I’ve noticed from my years of cold-water diving, divers and early career scientist students who are looking to build some hands-on field experience, but they don’t want to be uncomfortable…
In a world that increasingly prioritises comfort, convenience, and ease, where you can Uber the world to your door, never have to go out in the rain, and many people can now work/study from bed. we’ve started to forget something important, real growth rarely happens in perfect conditions and when we are comfortable. Seek discomfort.
One of the first things I state to my students on day one of our field course, is ‘ this IS NOT a dive holiday’. What I mean by this is, we are not going to be necessarily picking the best dive conditions to dive in, we want to dive in all conditions. You will not be presented with all the answers, YOU must think critically in the field and make decisions. This can sound quite intimidating, but you should see the difference from day 1 to the end of their training program.
You see, field biology, true, hands-on field research, and even just experiencing the natural world generally isn’t about warm water, flat seas, and 30 metres of tropical visibility. It’s about learning to work with nature exactly as it is. How to read the environment and ‘tune in’ to the wild. This sounds a bit arty farty for a scientist, but it’s all part of the development as a water person.
Here in Cape Town, the ocean is raw, dynamic, and sometimes challenging. The open Atlantic conditions can be cold. Visibility can change from day to day. The swell and wind constantly reshape the underwater landscape. But within that challenge lies one of the greatest classrooms a marine biology student could ask for, Accessible unpredictability.
At Cape RADD, we believe that learning to operate in a temperate, high-energy marine environment builds something far more valuable than just technical skill. It builds confidence, competence, and resilience. knowing that if you can read the situation, develop critical thinking with an understanding of the challenges, limitations and safety assessments necessary to work in such an environment, you will become much more valuable. We often say, if you can dive Cape Town, you can dive anywhere.
When you work as a Field scientist, you can’t always choose perfect conditions. Research vessels still launch when the water is rough. Data still needs to be collected when the weather is unpredictable. Marine ecosystems, especially temperate ones are constantly shifting, and the scientists studying them must be able to adapt just as quickly. This is something we instil into our students.
This adaptability is learned through experience. Seeking discomfort one step at a time under guidance.
It’s learned when a student pulls on their damp wetsuit on a cold Cape morning and realises, they’re capable of more than they expected. It’s learned when they enter the water unsure of the conditions and what they’ll see, but emerge an hour later having navigated kelp forests, recorded species observations, and contributed real data to ongoing research in somewhat challenging conditions.
It’s in those moments that students stop being guided observers of the ocean and start becoming field biologists.
We live in a time where it’s easy to stay comfortable. Climate-controlled rooms, warm showers, delivered groceries. There’s nothing wrong with comfort, I love my air conditioning, and will complain profusely if my coffee is not hot enough… but when it comes to ‘Work time’ if we never step outside the comfort, we limit our ability to truly engage with the natural world. Another phrase we live by here at Cape RADD is ‘Do the hard things’ to discipline yourself to make the decision, do the thing, face it head on.
Seeking discomfort within reason, and always with safety and training can be incredibly powerful.
It sharpens awareness.
It builds mental resilience.
It reminds us that nature doesn’t operate according to our preferences. (let alone the health benefits that come with the cold water emersion)
And when you learn to work within that unpredictability, you gain a deeper understanding of the ecosystems you’re studying. That’s why our training programs try to safely push boundaries to grow our student’s ability. It’s about curiosity, exploration, and learning to read the subtle signals of an ever-changing ocean.
In Cape Town, the reward for embracing that challenge is extraordinary. Towering kelp forests sway with the swell with rays of light twinkling through the canopy. An incredible diversity of species in abundance fills the reefs. Cold, nutrient-rich waters fuel one of the most productive marine ecosystems on the planet. It’s wild, complex, and endlessly fascinating.
Cape Town is one of the most Awe-inspiring cities in the world, with the drama of the mountains and coastline which define the city, but beneath the surface lies another world entirely and If you’ve never put your head underwater in Cape Town, you’re only experiencing half of this city.
So, next time your considering experiencing nature, whether it’s a dog walk on a rainy day or a dive experience in a temeprate ecosystem, don’t worry about the cold, consider the wilderness as its meant to be. After all, the hot shower is waiting when you’re done. You go home, sit on a comfortable sofa, and order an Uber eats….
Maybe we could all benefit from seeking discomfort a little more often?
From embracing the wildness of nature instead of avoiding it with convenience.
Because the most meaningful experiences rarely come from the easiest environments. They come from the ones that challenge us to grow. Which can be applied to all areas of life.
just a thought…
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