Description
Every day people can play a part in science by helping Cape RADD collect data on the fish and sharks of False Bay!
Cape RADD’s “Snorkel for Science” program invites everyday individuals to participate in marine conservation by assisting in data collection on fish and sharks in False Bay. Participants join marine biologists for a guided snorkel to search for species like puffadder and pyjama sharks. The program includes a briefing on False Bay’s ecosystem and the trips objectives, with the aim of balancing scientific value and customer enjoyment. Divers will assist with spotting and photographing sharks and their patterns to submit them to Fin Spotter for population estimation and movement tracking.
The activity is beginner-friendly, with all equipment provided, and is subject to weather conditions. Participants are advised to provide valid contact details for communication regarding meeting points and any changes
You will meet your Marine Biologist host at the Ocean Hub for a short briefing on the unique ecosystem of False Bay and the Cape Peninsula, and discuss our dive objectives over a coffee or tea. Then… we go and explore!
PHOTO Opportunity; As well as taking photos of the sharks, our guides will also be taking photos of the entire experience from all the other critters we see and the beautiful ocean landscapes to YOU swimming through the kelp being a Citizen Scientist!
What To Bring?
Bring a swimming costume and towel. All other equipment is provided!
Experience level – Beginner
Entrance type – Shore entry
Communication
Please make sure to provide a valid email address or phone number. We’ll communicate meeting points and any changes via these methods!
Payments
You’ll be redirected to our third party payment platform, PayFast to complete your booking. However, if you are paying by EFT, please contact us directly for our banking details.
Cancellation Policy
- This activity is weather dependent and we do our best to make availabilities accordingly. A full refund or option to reschedule will be provided if we cancel due to unsuitable conditions. We try to cancel within 12 hours of the trip but we reserve the right to cancel on short notice if necessary.
- If you are unable to attend your activity and wish to reschedule, please kindly give 48 hours advance notice. If less than 48 hours notice is provided, we reserve the right to offer no option to reschedule and will provide no refund. Any cancellations prior to 48 hours without rescheduling will incur a 50% administration fee.
André Laäs –
We did the citizen science snorkeling trip with Cape RADD and it was a phenomenal experience. The team are extremely professional, friendly and informative. The snorkeling was absolutely beautiful. On this trip we got to snorkel effortlessly in patches of kelp forest whilst seeing a vast array of fish species, sharks, molluscs, crustaceans and even a stigray the size of a small car. The trip is very educational and is a must do activity for any resident or visitor to Cape Town. It is very safe, and if you are new to snorkeling you don’t need to worry at all, no previous experience is needed. Fantastic experience!
Lucas Vegezzi –
Hello I did the citizen science scuba diving and had a great time learning with great explaining of the ecosystem and goals of Cape Radd and most certainly enjoyed the dives seeing a vide variety of fish (including sharks)and rays and all questions I had went answered.
Overall I had a great time and will definitely remember the dives! 🙂
Kemp Elsje –
It was very enjoyable and memorable the sight’s in one little cove were great and knowing I helped research the little cutie sharks makes me very happy one complaint i have is the little lack of explanation of the ecology while diving i think that would be nice but were swimming it is rather hard to talk and it might be because we were late……. So in all 5 star experience
Heidi H. –
I joined the snorkeling tour offered by CAPE RADD and absolutely enjoyed it. I think it’s such an important project you guys are doing and hope you’ll have many more people joining your tours so that they can experience the beauty of our oceans as well. What a magical world it is that awaits us underneath the waves!
Sarah Mae Trenerry –
Had such an amazing time!
Dylan Boswell –
We did the citizen science snorkeling trip with Cape Radd and it was a very enjoyable time. The team was very informative and friendly throughout the trip. The kelp forests we explored were incredible to watch as all the different species interacted with the environment and each other. Definitely had an amazing experience and a must try out for any other curious and adventurous souls out there.
Fiona Berrisford –
We thoroughly enjoyed snorkeling with Gaz. Myself and two 14 yr olds have done a fair bit of snorkeling but we all learnt new things, identified unknown (to us) species, and have a deeper appreciation and understanding of our kelp forests. Highly recommended for everyone.
Jane –
Thanx mike. Enthusiastic and accommodating. Unfortunate the viz wasn’t great but so beautiful. It was a lovely gift for me to receive.
Annemarie Steyn –
What an amazing experience!!! My son and I enjoyed it immensely! Visibility was awesome, we saw loads of little sharks, wish I had an underwater camera to capture the beautiful scenery. Our guide, Gaz, was wonderful and very knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend doing this, we can’t wait to bring the rest of the family and DO IT AGAIN!!!
Mike Barron –
Awesome! Thanks for the review and support, glad you enjoyed it.
Phillip Kent –
Insightful and informative experience. Friendly, knowledgable and passionate guides. I was lucky enough to have a perfect day, on my own, with a huge variety of sightings: four types of shark and endless jellyfish. Absolutely breathtaking.
Maura Robinson –
What a wonderful morning: Dylan was super informative; his passion for the ocean and the research was palpable! We saw some super cure puffadder sharks and the snorkeling in the kelp forests was just therapeutic. We were greeted by a rainbow when we finished our adventure and even saw a humpback whale off in the distance. What a blessing to be able to experience such beauty right on our doorstep! Thanks so much!
Neil –
Had a great morning out doing the kelp forest snorkel. Gaz was passionate and knowledgeable and our 11-year old described it as ‘one of the best days of his life’. Thanks Cape RADD
SHELLEY JANSSONIUS –
That was not only educational, but also so much fun. Thanks Mike and Dylan for sharing your passion of the ocean and its’ precious creatures with us in such an amazing way. We will definitely be back!
Charl Geldenhuys –
We had an absolute blast with Cape Radd. We learned a lot on the day and had so much fun snorkeling with Dylan and Gaz.
Leila Nefdt –
Thanx so much Dylan for the warm welcome and enthusiastic lesson provided before the snorkel. It really was amazing to hear about the cool projects that Cape RADD is working on. Unfortunately, the viz wasn’t that great on Saturday and the wind really started picking up, but it was absolutely lovely being in the water and facing some of my fears. My favourite part of the experience was seeing the leopard shy sharks that Dylan pointed out for us and meeting the amazing group of people that joined the citizen science snorkel session! Thank you for the opportunity Cape RADD, it was a lovely gift for me to receive.
Sue Barron –
What a fantastic experience our snorkelling session with Cape RADD was. Gareth gave us lots of information to help us to spot the different species prior to entering the water, and he had great knowledge of the waters and the variety of species. Once in it was amazing to see the underwater world and to swim amongst the kelp Forrest’s, quite magical in fact. Gareth pointed out various fish of interest whilst we were snorkelling. A great experience I highly recommend it to anyone and will certainly be going again. Thank you Cape RADD.
Annerie Visser –
The citizen science snorkeling experience is a must for all ocean enthusiasts. No better way to start off exploring the kelp forests than with a marine biologist who is keen to teach and answer questions.
James –
Thanks Dan and the team at CapeRADD for a first snorkelling experience and the chance to explore the clear waters of the Bay. Look forward to visiting Cape Town and its surroundings from the UK again
Eric Ribot –
Such a wonderful experience to snorkel in the kelp forest. Absolutely vibrant with life! The welcome and atmosphere at Cape Radd was superb. Good presentation before going out. It is a a safe but exciting activity that I would love to do again. Thanks and all the best for your great work!
Liisa –
We had an incredible time snorkeling with Dani, Nadine, Nicholas, and the team. They were so kind, patient, and supportive, especially since my sister and I are beginners with limited swimming experience and knowledge of the underwater kelp ecosystem. Thanks to their guidance, we were able to complete the snorkeling experience and even spotted several octopuses, schools of fish, and starfish. It was truly an unforgettable adventure. I highly recommend and I am definitely do this again!
Aina Andima –
My snorkelling adventure with Cape RADD was exceptional and exceeded all my expectations! From start to finish, the team’s professionalism, enthusiasm, and dedication to marine conservation truly shone through.
Our main guide, Dani, started the experience with a fascinating overview of the marine life we might encounter. She gave an insightful talk about the various non-dangerous shy sharks we could spot and explained how Cape RADD uses photos of these sharks for statistical and conservation purposes. This added a meaningful and educational layer to the adventure.
Although the day began looking rainy and cold, I was pleasantly surprised to find the water warm and calm once we got in. As a first-time snorkeler, I initially struggled to adjust to breathing through my mouth instead of my nose, but after some practice, I found my rhythm and began fully enjoying the experience. The water’s clarity revealed vibrant marine life in stunning detail—truly magical!
The guides were incredibly attentive, with Nadine, in particular, checking on me every other minute to ensure I was comfortable and safe. This level of care made the experience even more enjoyable. They pointed out interesting species, shared fascinating facts, and even took pictures of us holding some of the fish, adding a fun and memorable touch.
I highly recommend Cape RADD to anyone seeking an unforgettable snorkelling adventure that blends fun, learning, and a deep appreciation for nature—even if you’re not a strong swimmer. I’m already looking forward to my next snorkelling trip with them!
Rozanne Burger –
What an amazing experience! The team was helpful and friendly with a lekker vibe and made us feel safe and comfortable.
Our dive guides were very helpful and enthusiastic.
It was a beautiful sunny day close to Boulders Beach in Simons Town and we saw beautiful ocean life in between the Kelp. We kept our eyes open for shy sharks to help the guides capture photos and data for their investigations.
The wet suits are a mission to get dressed into, but even then the crew help you! The wet suits keep you warm and afloat, so you have to grab onto the Kelp to pull yourself deeper down if you wish to explore a bit deeper.
The crew took some amazing underwater photos to capture the beauty and memories of the experience.
It really was incredible and I’ll go again anytime!
Keep up the good work, Cape RADD!