By: Olwethu “Olly” Maqalekana (NRF-SAIAB/ SANBI Groen Sebenza Intern)
It was an afternoon after a long day of fieldwork at St. Francis with my team, when I checked my emails before preparing to nap. Catching my attention at first sight was an inbox message from Seamester which I immediately opened and was thrilled to read the first line: “your application was successful”, leaving me with excitement for this life-changing experience that awaited me!
The Seamester programme was founded by Professor Isabelle Ansorge, the head of the Oceanography Department at the University of Cape Town. Her love for the ocean began during a six-month voyage to Africa with her father. Inspired by her experience and her position at UCT, she created an educational voyage for postgraduate students specialising in marine science to connect them with the ocean.
This year marks the seventh year of the Seamester programme’s success, voyaging with the SA Agulhas II. A Seamester voyage is a unique educational experience that combines sailing and academics, offering students the opportunity to learn through hands-on experiences while traversing the world’s oceans. Personally, the Seamester programme has been a life-changing experience because I had never taken a voyage on such a large ship or ventured so far into the ocean. Before this, I had little practical knowledge of marine science, and the programme has allowed me to apply everything I learned in my postgraduate studies.
We travelled aboard using SA Agulhas II, which provided us with an ideal teaching and research platform for the programme. Its size, comfort and shipboard facilities allow large groups of students and lecturers to interact productively over ten days. The first day of our Seamester voyage proved challenging as many struggled with seasickness and acclimating to our new maritime surroundings. However, as we sailed, most of us adapted.
Our journey began at the port in Cape Town (Waterfront), where we boarded the vessel that would be our home for the coming ten days. We handed in our passports and received our key cards for our cabins, which accommodated four students per cabin. I met three remarkable students (Tamara, Alwande and Alice) and we were united by our shared passion for the sea and a thirst for exploration, becoming cherished companions on our maritime journey. Each of us brought our own stories and aspirations, woven together like the intricate ropes that hanged above our cabin.
Our days began with the sunrise over the waves, marking the start of adventure-filled days. Students, lectures and crew members gathered one by one, drawn by the promise of a hearty breakfast before the day’s activities began. Around the wooden dining table, laughter and friendly banter filled the air as we enjoyed our meals. After breakfast, we gathered in the auditorium for the morning briefing to plan the day ahead.
Students were divided into two streams of their choice: OCEANS IN THE CHANGING CLIMATE and TOOLS OF THE TRADE. My passion to explore, understand, and protect one of our planet’s most vital and vulnerable ecosystems led me to choose the oceans in the changing climate stream. Eager to put theory into practice, students were separated into teams for deck work. Some manned the lab work, CTD hangar, mosaic, sketching, ocean rhythms and QGIS analysis. Others gathered on the bow, scanning the horizon with binoculars for signs of marine life and record everything. Each task brought us closer to understanding the ocean’s vastness and complexity, forging bonds of teamwork and mutual respect among us.
By late afternoon, everyone reassembled back in the auditorium after supper for an evening talk on planets around stars, lighting up the ocean, seabirds and underwater cultural heritage. As night fell and stars dotted the sky above, some people lingered on deck, exchanging stories and dreams under a blanket of twinkling constellations, while others headed straight to bed, exhausted. Each day unfolded much like the one before, with routines blending seamlessly from sunrise to sunset. However, as we neared the second-to-last day of our voyage, the crew had planned something special: a lively “Barbie” themed party on board. Laughter and music filled the vessel as we gathered sharing fun and dancing. On the last day on board, emotions ran high as we gathered for heartfelt presentations, reflecting on our shared experiences and the bonds forged during our time at sea.
The Seamester voyage had become more than a journey to me. It was a voyage of discovery, education, and camaraderie, a testament to the enduring spirit of exploration that bound us together on this extraordinary maritime adventure.
Memories on-board SA Agulhas II
