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South Africa's national fish is not the powerful great white shark, the colourful South African butterflyfish or the commercially important sardine - it is the galjoen, a fish that many of us would fail to recognise. Why was such an obscure fish chosen - and why do we agree that it is the perfect choice as a national symbol?

The Marine Science Discoverer course is a free, introduction to marine biology and marine careers. This course is ideally suited for Grade 8 learners who have an interest in marine life and science and who are considering this as a future career path. The course runs over five days, covering various aspects of the oceans, with a few animal examples added to the mix. We ensure that the course is as hands-on as possible, with various activities and outings included.

The Marine Science Explorer course is a content-packed offering of the Two Oceans Aquarium's Marine Science Academy. This course is the ideal opportunity for environmentally-minded Grade 9 learners who love a hands-on lesson to learn about what goes into being a marine biologist, and be introduced to what a career in marine science is all about.

It is during the Western leopard toad breeding season in Cape Town that we often get to see some of the other species of frogs which share the breeding pond sites with the toads. These include arum lily frogs, Cape river frogs, clicking stream frogs, Cape sand frogs, common platannas, flat cacos and, in recent years, painted reed frogs (not seen in Zeekoevlei, but they are present at the Bergvliet and Kirstenhof breeding sites). Here is some information about these species.

Sea urchins are amazing animals - it's a pity they don't get as much love as they deserve. We took a closer look at some of the urchins that live in the Aquarium to reveal the tiny curiosities and incredible intricacies of these prickly echinoderms.

Crabs belong to a group of animals called "decapods", literally ten-legged crustaceans which include other ocean dwellers like shrimp, prawns, crayfish and lobsters. Because of the diversity of the decapods, the word "crab" is often used to describe animals that have a similar appearance but are not closely related (similar to the situation with eels). True crabs, belonging to the infraorder Brachyura (meaning "short tailed" - yup we don't get it either) - a family with more than 7 000 species! That means crabs have a greater species diversity than us mammals do.

Making a contribution for a good cause doesn't have to cost you anything. Now you can help make environmental education accessible to children in Cape Town's communities and support active conservation and welfare of vulnerable marine life, like Cape fur seals and endangered turtles, in our waters - simply swiping your MySchool | MyVillage | MyPlanet card with your purchase can help us continue to make a real difference.

Scuba diving, whether you are a complete newcomer, learning to dive for the first time or an experienced scuba pro who has been doing this for years is a vastly different experience at the Two Oceans Aquarium from anything you may have done before. Explore the world of our ocean animals from their point of view - experience what it is like to enter their underwater habitat.

Become everyone’s favourite teacher with a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium! Getting out of the traditional classroom and visiting the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation's Discovery Centre is a great way to augment the learning experience. The Education Foundation wants to make it easier for you by offering a "Back to School" special: Book an educational activity and visit the Aquarium for just R55 per child!

The most fulfilling part of rescuing and rehabilitating sea turtles at the Two Oceans Aquarium is, of course, their release back into the ocean when they are fully recovered. Thanks to modern satellite tracking technology and the collaboration of government, Aquariums and generous donors are able to follow the journeys of some of our releases turtles closely - and provide you with their inspiring ocean adventure stories. Let's take a closer look at their travels.

At the Two Oceans Aquarium, we believe that a "close encounter" is when you become so close to an animal, that a connection is formed - one where you can experience a little bit of what it is like to be that animal, live in its alien ocean world and can learn to empathise with it and its fellow sea creatures. Here in Cape Town, we offer you the opportunity to experience close encounters of the animal kind - there is no better way to surround yourself with the wonder and mystery of South Africa's underwater world.

Now you can get up close to the Two Oceans Aquarium's shiver of ragged-tooth sharks, swim among the schools of yellowtail and giant kob, and learn about the awesome predators that inhabit the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit.