Oceans Research Institute
@oceansresearch.bsky.social
Oceans Research provides innovative & dynamic research relevant to the management & conservation of Southern Africa's sharks & marine mammals.
As our @flindersuniversity students head home tomorrow, we want to say a very special goodbye.
This group brought so much enthusiasm, kindness, curiosity, and hard work into every day — from early mornings in the field to long hours learning, questioning, and growing as marine scientists.
This group brought so much enthusiasm, kindness, curiosity, and hard work into every day — from early mornings in the field to long hours learning, questioning, and growing as marine scientists.
December 14, 2025 at 8:35 PM
As our @flindersuniversity students head home tomorrow, we want to say a very special goodbye.
This group brought so much enthusiasm, kindness, curiosity, and hard work into every day — from early mornings in the field to long hours learning, questioning, and growing as marine scientists.
This group brought so much enthusiasm, kindness, curiosity, and hard work into every day — from early mornings in the field to long hours learning, questioning, and growing as marine scientists.
Ever wondered why we actually film great whites with our GoPros? 🦈📹
It’s not just for epic social content — it’s a key part of our scientific methods!
How? By helping us determine each shark’s sex.
It’s not just for epic social content — it’s a key part of our scientific methods!
How? By helping us determine each shark’s sex.
December 10, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Ever wondered why we actually film great whites with our GoPros? 🦈📹
It’s not just for epic social content — it’s a key part of our scientific methods!
How? By helping us determine each shark’s sex.
It’s not just for epic social content — it’s a key part of our scientific methods!
How? By helping us determine each shark’s sex.
A very special visitor returned to our boat today! 🌊🤍
We re-sighted a humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) with a distinctive, wonky mouth — a feature that has made this individual stand out in the South African catalogue for over a decade.
We re-sighted a humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) with a distinctive, wonky mouth — a feature that has made this individual stand out in the South African catalogue for over a decade.
December 8, 2025 at 9:33 PM
A very special visitor returned to our boat today! 🌊🤍
We re-sighted a humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) with a distinctive, wonky mouth — a feature that has made this individual stand out in the South African catalogue for over a decade.
We re-sighted a humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) with a distinctive, wonky mouth — a feature that has made this individual stand out in the South African catalogue for over a decade.
Here at Oceans we LOVE sharks — but every now and then we bring up one of their neighbours instead. 🐟🌊
Our fishing isn’t recreational — it’s scientific.
Our fishing isn’t recreational — it’s scientific.
December 4, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Here at Oceans we LOVE sharks — but every now and then we bring up one of their neighbours instead. 🐟🌊
Our fishing isn’t recreational — it’s scientific.
Our fishing isn’t recreational — it’s scientific.
This week, some of our @flindersuniversity students have the chance to discover the heart of South Africa at Scotia—guided by none other than Dr Enrico Gennari, whose passion brings every moment to life.
December 2, 2025 at 4:53 PM
This week, some of our @flindersuniversity students have the chance to discover the heart of South Africa at Scotia—guided by none other than Dr Enrico Gennari, whose passion brings every moment to life.
Halfway through our programme with Flinders University, and the learning curve has been as exciting as the fieldwork itself. These students have thrown themselves into every shift with energy and curiosity.
November 30, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Halfway through our programme with Flinders University, and the learning curve has been as exciting as the fieldwork itself. These students have thrown themselves into every shift with energy and curiosity.
Seems like this month is all about smoothhounds for our team! Even though we encounter them regularly in Mossel Bay, our @flindersuniversity students were shocked to learn that smoothhounds are exported to Australia and sold as “flake.”
November 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Seems like this month is all about smoothhounds for our team! Even though we encounter them regularly in Mossel Bay, our @flindersuniversity students were shocked to learn that smoothhounds are exported to Australia and sold as “flake.”
There’s something undeniably magical about being out on the water after dark — and this week our students got to experience the science behind it. 🌙✨
November 26, 2025 at 5:20 PM
There’s something undeniably magical about being out on the water after dark — and this week our students got to experience the science behind it. 🌙✨
At Oceans Research Institute, our daily work with the elasmobranchs of Mossel Bay — through different types of surveys and long-term student training — consistently shows that conservation cannot be approached through a single lens.
The threats are interconnected.
The solutions must be too.
The threats are interconnected.
The solutions must be too.
November 19, 2025 at 8:04 PM
At Oceans Research Institute, our daily work with the elasmobranchs of Mossel Bay — through different types of surveys and long-term student training — consistently shows that conservation cannot be approached through a single lens.
The threats are interconnected.
The solutions must be too.
The threats are interconnected.
The solutions must be too.
What a start to the week! 🌊
Our visiting group from Flinders University, Australia kicked off their first day in Mossel Bay with an early morning start, getting everyone briefed, geared up, and ready for a full day in the field.
Our visiting group from Flinders University, Australia kicked off their first day in Mossel Bay with an early morning start, getting everyone briefed, geared up, and ready for a full day in the field.
November 18, 2025 at 7:42 PM
What a start to the week! 🌊
Our visiting group from Flinders University, Australia kicked off their first day in Mossel Bay with an early morning start, getting everyone briefed, geared up, and ready for a full day in the field.
Our visiting group from Flinders University, Australia kicked off their first day in Mossel Bay with an early morning start, getting everyone briefed, geared up, and ready for a full day in the field.
✨ Little treasures between shifts.
Every now and then the ocean leaves something special on the sand — like this delicate moon jelly we found today. Those four “petals” in the centre are actually its gonads — and in females they turn pink, while in males they stay white.
Every now and then the ocean leaves something special on the sand — like this delicate moon jelly we found today. Those four “petals” in the centre are actually its gonads — and in females they turn pink, while in males they stay white.
November 16, 2025 at 8:43 PM
✨ Little treasures between shifts.
Every now and then the ocean leaves something special on the sand — like this delicate moon jelly we found today. Those four “petals” in the centre are actually its gonads — and in females they turn pink, while in males they stay white.
Every now and then the ocean leaves something special on the sand — like this delicate moon jelly we found today. Those four “petals” in the centre are actually its gonads — and in females they turn pink, while in males they stay white.
A magical moment today — a Sousa plumbea (Indian Ocean humpback dolphin) stayed with our boat for nearly two hours, curious and playful the entire time. Even with a deformed beak, it looked healthy and full of energy.
November 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
A magical moment today — a Sousa plumbea (Indian Ocean humpback dolphin) stayed with our boat for nearly two hours, curious and playful the entire time. Even with a deformed beak, it looked healthy and full of energy.
A very special find for us today!🤩
Our students caught, tagged, and safely released a white-spotted smoothhound — a shark so rarely seen that none of our current team have encountered one in years of working these waters.🦈
Our students caught, tagged, and safely released a white-spotted smoothhound — a shark so rarely seen that none of our current team have encountered one in years of working these waters.🦈
November 12, 2025 at 8:50 PM
A very special find for us today!🤩
Our students caught, tagged, and safely released a white-spotted smoothhound — a shark so rarely seen that none of our current team have encountered one in years of working these waters.🦈
Our students caught, tagged, and safely released a white-spotted smoothhound — a shark so rarely seen that none of our current team have encountered one in years of working these waters.🦈
🦈 Not all sharks fit the story you’ve been told.
Here, you can see just how gentle these incredible animals truly are — simply cruising around our boat, curious and calm.
Here, you can see just how gentle these incredible animals truly are — simply cruising around our boat, curious and calm.
November 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
🦈 Not all sharks fit the story you’ve been told.
Here, you can see just how gentle these incredible animals truly are — simply cruising around our boat, curious and calm.
Here, you can see just how gentle these incredible animals truly are — simply cruising around our boat, curious and calm.
🎧 Listening to the Ocean’s Hidden Conversations
At Oceans Research, our students dive into the fascinating world of bioacoustics — learning how to record, analyze, and interpret the underwater sounds that reveal the secret lives of marine animals 🌊
Learning how to decode the languages of the deep!
At Oceans Research, our students dive into the fascinating world of bioacoustics — learning how to record, analyze, and interpret the underwater sounds that reveal the secret lives of marine animals 🌊
Learning how to decode the languages of the deep!
November 9, 2025 at 6:48 PM
🎧 Listening to the Ocean’s Hidden Conversations
At Oceans Research, our students dive into the fascinating world of bioacoustics — learning how to record, analyze, and interpret the underwater sounds that reveal the secret lives of marine animals 🌊
Learning how to decode the languages of the deep!
At Oceans Research, our students dive into the fascinating world of bioacoustics — learning how to record, analyze, and interpret the underwater sounds that reveal the secret lives of marine animals 🌊
Learning how to decode the languages of the deep!
📡 Teaching our students the basics with a vintage theodolite — proof that precision doesn’t age.
Learning to track angles and movements manually builds real field skills before they move on to the high-tech gear. Old-school science still delivers.
Learning to track angles and movements manually builds real field skills before they move on to the high-tech gear. Old-school science still delivers.
November 7, 2025 at 8:07 PM
📡 Teaching our students the basics with a vintage theodolite — proof that precision doesn’t age.
Learning to track angles and movements manually builds real field skills before they move on to the high-tech gear. Old-school science still delivers.
Learning to track angles and movements manually builds real field skills before they move on to the high-tech gear. Old-school science still delivers.
🎣 Why do we teach so many fishing methods?
Because every technique reveals something unique about the ocean. 🌊
Because every technique reveals something unique about the ocean. 🌊
November 5, 2025 at 5:52 PM
🎣 Why do we teach so many fishing methods?
Because every technique reveals something unique about the ocean. 🌊
Because every technique reveals something unique about the ocean. 🌊
🤿 ROV Training in Action! 🌊
Operating an ROV takes practice — it’s all about:
🎮 Developing fine motor skills to control movements
🧭 Staying aware of the tether and learning how to untangle it underwater
⚙️ Understanding the ROV’s functions and remote settings to capture the best possible footage
Operating an ROV takes practice — it’s all about:
🎮 Developing fine motor skills to control movements
🧭 Staying aware of the tether and learning how to untangle it underwater
⚙️ Understanding the ROV’s functions and remote settings to capture the best possible footage
November 3, 2025 at 3:19 PM
🤿 ROV Training in Action! 🌊
Operating an ROV takes practice — it’s all about:
🎮 Developing fine motor skills to control movements
🧭 Staying aware of the tether and learning how to untangle it underwater
⚙️ Understanding the ROV’s functions and remote settings to capture the best possible footage
Operating an ROV takes practice — it’s all about:
🎮 Developing fine motor skills to control movements
🧭 Staying aware of the tether and learning how to untangle it underwater
⚙️ Understanding the ROV’s functions and remote settings to capture the best possible footage
🦈 Safely tagging and releasing a dark shyshark
This little dark shyshark (Haploblepharus pictus) was one of our recent tag-and-release encounters along the South African coast.
This little dark shyshark (Haploblepharus pictus) was one of our recent tag-and-release encounters along the South African coast.
November 1, 2025 at 7:47 PM
🦈 Safely tagging and releasing a dark shyshark
This little dark shyshark (Haploblepharus pictus) was one of our recent tag-and-release encounters along the South African coast.
This little dark shyshark (Haploblepharus pictus) was one of our recent tag-and-release encounters along the South African coast.
Guess who’s back? 👀🦈
After months without white sharks, one of our old friends has returned — seen two days in a row around the boat!
Welcome home, Apex Legend.
#GreatWhiteShark #WelcomeHome #OceansResearch #SharkSighting #SharkConservation #MosselBay
After months without white sharks, one of our old friends has returned — seen two days in a row around the boat!
Welcome home, Apex Legend.
#GreatWhiteShark #WelcomeHome #OceansResearch #SharkSighting #SharkConservation #MosselBay
October 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Guess who’s back? 👀🦈
After months without white sharks, one of our old friends has returned — seen two days in a row around the boat!
Welcome home, Apex Legend.
#GreatWhiteShark #WelcomeHome #OceansResearch #SharkSighting #SharkConservation #MosselBay
After months without white sharks, one of our old friends has returned — seen two days in a row around the boat!
Welcome home, Apex Legend.
#GreatWhiteShark #WelcomeHome #OceansResearch #SharkSighting #SharkConservation #MosselBay
🎮 Steady hands, clear focus.
During our drone training course, students practice fine motor skills and precision piloting — essential for capturing high-quality imagery and accurate data in the field.
During our drone training course, students practice fine motor skills and precision piloting — essential for capturing high-quality imagery and accurate data in the field.
October 19, 2025 at 7:48 PM
🎮 Steady hands, clear focus.
During our drone training course, students practice fine motor skills and precision piloting — essential for capturing high-quality imagery and accurate data in the field.
During our drone training course, students practice fine motor skills and precision piloting — essential for capturing high-quality imagery and accurate data in the field.
🧽 Scrubbing the boat isn’t just about keeping it shiny — it’s about learning respect for the gear that makes fieldwork possible.
Teamwork, responsibility, and care for equipment are just as important as the science itself. A clean boat = a smooth research day. 🌊✨
#MarineScience #Fieldwork #Oceans
Teamwork, responsibility, and care for equipment are just as important as the science itself. A clean boat = a smooth research day. 🌊✨
#MarineScience #Fieldwork #Oceans
October 17, 2025 at 10:36 PM
🧽 Scrubbing the boat isn’t just about keeping it shiny — it’s about learning respect for the gear that makes fieldwork possible.
Teamwork, responsibility, and care for equipment are just as important as the science itself. A clean boat = a smooth research day. 🌊✨
#MarineScience #Fieldwork #Oceans
Teamwork, responsibility, and care for equipment are just as important as the science itself. A clean boat = a smooth research day. 🌊✨
#MarineScience #Fieldwork #Oceans
🪸 Red Algae – More Than Just Seaweed
These deep red tufts may seem simple at first glance, but red algae (Rhodophyta) are some of the most fascinating and important organisms in our coastal ecosystems 🌊✨
These deep red tufts may seem simple at first glance, but red algae (Rhodophyta) are some of the most fascinating and important organisms in our coastal ecosystems 🌊✨
October 13, 2025 at 7:23 PM
🪸 Red Algae – More Than Just Seaweed
These deep red tufts may seem simple at first glance, but red algae (Rhodophyta) are some of the most fascinating and important organisms in our coastal ecosystems 🌊✨
These deep red tufts may seem simple at first glance, but red algae (Rhodophyta) are some of the most fascinating and important organisms in our coastal ecosystems 🌊✨
🔬 Fieldwork find: Paper nautilus shell
During an intertidal invertebrate assessment, we came across this delicate paper nautilus shell, which is actually not a true shell at all — but the eggcase of a female Argonauta octopus.
During an intertidal invertebrate assessment, we came across this delicate paper nautilus shell, which is actually not a true shell at all — but the eggcase of a female Argonauta octopus.
October 11, 2025 at 6:40 PM
🔬 Fieldwork find: Paper nautilus shell
During an intertidal invertebrate assessment, we came across this delicate paper nautilus shell, which is actually not a true shell at all — but the eggcase of a female Argonauta octopus.
During an intertidal invertebrate assessment, we came across this delicate paper nautilus shell, which is actually not a true shell at all — but the eggcase of a female Argonauta octopus.
📸 Tongue-eating hitchhiker alert!
🫱 For the common folk:
This little critter drinks a fish’s blood, then becomes its tongue — and lives there rent-free. 😳
Not dangerous to people, but definitely one of the ocean’s strangest parasites.
🫱 For the common folk:
This little critter drinks a fish’s blood, then becomes its tongue — and lives there rent-free. 😳
Not dangerous to people, but definitely one of the ocean’s strangest parasites.
October 9, 2025 at 7:30 PM
📸 Tongue-eating hitchhiker alert!
🫱 For the common folk:
This little critter drinks a fish’s blood, then becomes its tongue — and lives there rent-free. 😳
Not dangerous to people, but definitely one of the ocean’s strangest parasites.
🫱 For the common folk:
This little critter drinks a fish’s blood, then becomes its tongue — and lives there rent-free. 😳
Not dangerous to people, but definitely one of the ocean’s strangest parasites.