HELLO
FRIENDS!
At ASMRI we are passionate about shark conservation and marine preservation through education. At our research institute we are committed to educating any willing marine enthusiast through hands-on experience with the beautiful marine life situated on our front door. Join our shark custodian program and help preserve our oceans for future generations.
OUR
Research Projects
RECREATIONAL SCUBA DIVER INTERACTIONS WITH THE VULNERABLE RAGGED TOOTH SHARK, CARCHARIAS TAURUS, AT ALIWAL SHOAL ON THE COAST OF KWAZULU- NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA
RESEARCH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS
We offer various Research Internship Programs for citizen scientist to participate in our research and conservation programs. For more information on our citizen scientist internship options please follow the link below
OUR
VISION
At ASMRI we are passionate about shark conservation and marine preservation through education. At our research institute we are committed to educating any willing marine enthusiast through hands-on experience with the beautiful marine life situated on our front door. We are all about setting up conservation projects that will ensure the marine life at Aliwal Shoal will survive for many generations to come. We strongly believe that education is the most efficient way of preserving the marine life and allowing for anyone to experience the underwater community that we are so passionate about protecting.
At ASMRI we are fully aware that shark populations are in decline all around the world due to overfishing and by-catch. We realize that if we do not take the responsibility to educate the general public about shark conservation then we may see the extinction of many well known shark species we still see in our oceans today. Our program allows for any individual to experience our shark species in their natural habitat whilst being taught general marine science skills from shark identification to analyzing shark behavior and data collection underwater. Come and join us as we conserve and protect!
MEET
THE TEAM
Rigardt Hoffman
Shark Biologist/ Director ASMRI
​
Rigardt is a shark and marine conservation enthusiast with a passion to protect the different shark species that Aliwal Shoal has to offer. He is the resident marine biologist and shark behaviorist at the Aliwal Shoal Marine Research Institute. With an undergraduate degree in marine science from the University of Newcastle in Australia and an honors degree from the University of Cape Town he is currently running a Ragged Tooth Shark behavioral research project at the shoal for his M.Sc. that will eventually lead into a PhD.
Pieter Scholtz
Conservationist/ Director ASMRI
​
Pieter is a PADI Master Instructor and Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer. As an avid shark conservationist he has been diving on Aliwal Shoal for close to 20 years. His passion for sharks and the marine enviroment has led him to become actively involved in shark conservation while teaching various professional level scuba programs worldwide. He is the Program Director at ASMRI and overseas all
training programs and logistics. He is also the co-owner of Crystal Divers South Africa that facilitates the reasearch programs for ASMRI
Mia Vorster
Shark Dive-guide / Tour-leader
Mia's passion and love for the the ocean reflects in her daily life, having been working as a kite surfing instructor world wide, she came back to South Africa to pursue a business in water-sports. She is a SUP/ surf instructor, divemaster, photographer, editor and the list carries on. Her vast experience working a a dive guide on the annual sardine run matches the enthusiasm she has for her love for the ocean. There are not many days you will not find Mia doing something in the sea.
KEEP
IN TOUCH
OUR ADDRESS
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday - Saturday
10:00 AM - 13:00 PM
Sunday