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If you're short on time, but really want to become a diver, the PADI Scuba Diver course might be what you're looking for! The PADI Scuba Diver course is a new offering at the Two Oceans Aquarium, suitable for new divers, bridging the gap between the Discover Scuba Diving one-day experience for the scuba-curious, and the comprehensive PADI Open Water Diver course which some people struggle to fit into a busy schedule.

Thanks to the efforts of 42 marine and social scientists, The MPA Guide: A Framework to Achieve Global Goals for the Ocean has been launched in Science (you can read it here). The Guide sets a common language for the conversation around MPAs, allowing the conservation community to better understand ocean protections and get us closer to the goals of reversing biodiversity loss in our ocean ecosystems.

Everyone loves Bob, the green sea turtle that has been in long-term rehabilitation at the Two Oceans Aquarium after he was rescued in 2014. Bob became compromised due to a gut full of ingested plastic pollutions, leaving him vulnerable to an infection that caused brain damage. Although Bob has made a full recovery from his physical injuries, his behaviours and levels of activity suggested a loss of brain function, and the expert opinion at the time was that Bob would not be able to survive in the wild. But now, a new rehabilitation technique might be able to help Bob return to the wild at long last!

We recently added a school of 50 new Atlantic bonito to the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit at the Two Oceans Aquarium and were asked an interesting question - why don’t the sharks eat the new fish? Good question - let's investigate!

With the support of DHL, the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is able to offer an outreach programme to under-resourced primary schools, bringing lessons about sustainability to Grade 6 and 7 learners. Known as "Smart Living" these lessons cover topics like energy, water, biodiversity and waste, and are designed to give learners a better understanding of the connections between their lifestyles and the environment, as well as tie in with their school CAPS curriculum.

Meet the black musselcracker, one of the most iconic species in our I&J Ocean Exhibit, and one of the fish most often commented on by our visitors. "Look at its big nose!" "It looks so grumpy!" "It looks like an old man!" Despite its unique look, there's nothing grumpy about this fish - the black musselcracker is an important member of the South African coastal ecosystem.

On 13 July 2021, a 50kg female loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) was delivered into the capable hands of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation's turtle team. She was found stranded near Gansbaai, entangled in a ghost fishing net. Sea turtles breathe air, so becoming entangled in abandoned fishing gear can easily result in them drowning - this turtle was very lucky that she washed up before that could happen. She was named Nobomvu, a reference to the unusual red tint of her shell that was caused by tiny microorganisms living on her carapace. Initial health checks indicated no immediately obvious injuries, but the stress of partial drowning, dehydration, and possibly drifting in the sun can have internal effects (as we saw with Anette, another rescued entangled sea turtle), so Nobomvu will receive close care over the coming months to be sure she is 100% healthy before being released.

When walking through the Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release Programme's recovery areas, it's easy to get wrapped up in the conservation stories affecting the precious endangered sea turtles being cared for by their amazing team. But, as important as those stories are, there are also a lot of interesting things going on - so let's look at five of the unexpectedly interesting things we learn from these turtles and their carers:

It's that time of year when Grade 9 learners are making some very important decisions, picking high school subjects that could affect their futures! We'd like to remind kids, parents and teachers that there's a new subject choice available for 2022 - Marine Sciences! High school Marine Sciences is being offered in certain node schools, but it is further available online as an additional subject under the tutelage of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. Here's how Grade 9 learners can apply for the Marines Sciences school subject online for 2022:

Brainless, heartless, spineless, and 95% water - jellyfish don't seem to have much going for them. But with over half a billion years of success, and making up a third of all ocean biomass, there's clearly something more to these animals than they get credit for. Let's take a look as some of the superpowers that help jellies rule the ocean.

There's no doubt that octopuses are the ultimate masters of camouflage. With the ability to rapidly change their colours and shape, the intelligence to use their environment to their advantage, and the skill to mimic other objects, octopuses are ink-credible!

If you've had the chance to meet Ann Lamont, the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation's new Executive Chairperson, you'll know that passion and love for the oceans are at the heart of the organisation's leadership. Ann took the reigns of the Foundation in April 2020, taking on the role from outgoing chair Maryke Musson. The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is the NPO / PBO partner of the Two Oceans Aquarium and focuses on education, conservation and research work.