About

Our Facility

Situated on the False Bay coast in Cape Town, South Africa, the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Education Centre overlooks the ocean opposite the incredible Dalebrook Marine Protected Area. This unique location is the perfect base for experiential educational activities.

Established in a beautiful heritage-status building in Kalk Bay, our centre is right on the doorstep of the incredible Dalebrook Marine Protected Area. Image by Danel Wentzel.

Established in a beautiful heritage-status building in Kalk Bay, our centre is right on the doorstep of the incredible Dalebrook Marine Protected Area. Image by Danel Wentzel.

An aerial view of the Dalebrook Marine Protected Area with the beautiful Kalk Bay mountains in the background. Image by Nic Good.

An aerial view of the Dalebrook Marine Protected Area with the beautiful Kalk Bay mountains in the background. Image by Nic Good.

The Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Education Centre is designed to meet the needs of the different groups we engage with and facilitate learning in multiple ways.

 

Using art to create awe

Many people struggle to connect with the ocean, with its inaccessible waters and seemingly frightening inhabitants. Art is a beautiful tool to communicate science, demanding our attention and appreciation of nature’s beauty. We have transformed our Centre into a magical underwater realm, using colourful murals and sculptures made of recycled materials.

At our centre, we want to create a unique immersive experience for learners while keeping the environment in mind. This sevengill cowshark sculpture is made from old ropes, washed up on beaches. Image by SOSF Shark Education Centre.

At our centre, we want to create a unique immersive experience for learners while keeping the environment in mind. This sevengill cowshark sculpture is made from old ropes, washed up on beaches. Image by SOSF Shark Education Centre.

With so much life within our kelp forest, our centre’s unique art installations aim to showcase the true diversity of life along our coast. Image by SOSF Shark Education Centre.

With so much life within our kelp forest, our centre’s unique art installations aim to showcase the true diversity of life along our coast. Image by SOSF Shark Education Centre.

A bronze whaler shark sculpture on one of our "deeper" walls. Image by SOSF Shark Education Centre.

A bronze whaler shark sculpture on one of our “deeper” walls. Image by SOSF Shark Education Centre.

Experience the ocean’s wonders first-hand

Observe and interact with the underwater life on our doorstep in the Dalebrook marine sanctuary in False Bay. When the sea is rough or the tide is too high, you can explore the touch tank and pretend you are rock-pooling. For those interested in deeper waters, we also have an aquarium tank showcasing some of the kelp forest animals.

Our touch pool offers a unique opportunity for learners to interact with some of the marine life found in the rocky intertidal zone of our coast. It’s the perfect solution when the rocky shore is inaccessible due to high tides or bad weather. Image by Danel Wentzel.

Our touch pool offers a unique opportunity for learners to interact with some of the marine life found in the rocky intertidal zone of our coast. It’s the perfect solution when the rocky shore is inaccessible due to high tides or bad weather. Image by Danel Wentzel.

The main feature in our centre is our state-of-the-art marine fish tank, showcasing the colourful creatures found off the coast of False Bay. Image by Danel Wentzel.

The main feature in our centre is our state-of-the-art marine fish tank, showcasing the colourful creatures found off the coast of False Bay. Image by Danel Wentzel.

There is no limit to the imagination when it comes to staring at the creatures in our fish tank. Image by Danel Wentzel.

There is no limit to the imagination when it comes to staring at the creatures in our fish tank. Image by Danel Wentzel.

Learning through play

Children and young people love to play, so by incorporating play into our programmes and exhibits, learners explore the underwater world while having fun. At our Centre, they can play a game of shark bingo, become a shark scientist for the day at our touch-screen table, or even play the shark tooth wheel of fortune!

Rocky shore bingo is a fun way to share ecological facts about intertidal animals and plants while adding an element of competition. Image by Danel Wentzel.

Rocky shore bingo is a fun way to share ecological facts about intertidal animals and plants while adding an element of competition. Image by Danel Wentzel.

Kids at play exploring our interactive exhibits. Image by SOSF Shark Education Centre.

Kids at play exploring our interactive exhibits. Image by SOSF Shark Education Centre.

Spinning the shark wheel of fortune to find the ‘tooth’ about shark diversity. Image by Danel Wentzel.

Spinning the shark wheel of fortune to find the ‘tooth’ about shark diversity. Image by Danel Wentzel.

Exploring nature using technology

Technology is becoming increasingly important in our lives. Although our team are big advocates for putting away those screens and connecting with the natural world, we also recognise the role of technology in learning. For example, our microscope allows you to zoom in and discover details of marine life too small for the naked eye. Or you could zone out in an audiovisual dome for a private Q&A with the world’s top shark and ray scientists.

Our microscope exhibit allows learners to observe sea creatures from a different perspective. Image by Danel Wentzel.

Our microscope exhibit allows learners to observe sea creatures from a different perspective. Image by Danel Wentzel.

If zooming in on animals on the rocky shore isn’t enough, learners can zone out in an audiovisual dome for a private Q&A with the world’s top shark and ray scientists. Image by Danel Wentzel.

If zooming in on animals on the rocky shore isn’t enough, learners can zone out in an audiovisual dome for a private Q&A with the world’s top shark and ray scientists. Image by Danel Wentzel.