Introduction to Marine Sciences

Introduction to Marine Sciences | July 2026

This course primarily focuses on oceanography, with a few elements of marine biology. It provides important basic environmental and oceanographical information including enrichment for students interested in marine life.

Course Content

1. Course Introduction
2. Pre-Course Evaluation (Survey)
1. Introduction to Marine Sciences
2. Marine Biology
3. Physical Oceanography
4. Chemical Oceanography
5. Geological Oceanography
6. Marine Meteorology
7. Humans and the Ocean
8. Presentation
9. Downloadable Notes
1. The Ocean Currents
2. Biogeographic Zones
3. West Coast – Cold Temperate Region
4. South Coast – Warm Temperate Region
5. East Coast – Subtropical Region
6. Presentation
7. Downloadable Notes
1. The Two Oceans of South Africa
2. The North West Coastline
3. The South West Coastline
4. The Southern Cape Coastline
5. The Eastern Cape and Southern Kwa-Zulu Natal Coastline
6. Central to Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal Coastline
1. Applying scientific method
2. Scientific Method
1. Definitions
2. Feeding relationships
3. Competition & Predation
4. Symbiotic relationships
5. Downloadable Notes
1. Basic Classification
2. How Are Organisms Classified
3. Taxonomy: Life's Filing System
4. Scientific Name Binomial Nomenclature
5. Downloadable Notes
1. Marine Arthropods
2. Pycnogonids (Sea Spiders)
3. Crustaceans - Barnacle
4. Crustaceans - Amphipod & Isopod
5. Crustaceans - Shrimp
6. Crustaceans - Rock Lobster & Hermit Crab
7. Crustaceans - True Crabs
8. Downloadable Notes
1. Marine molluscs
2. Bivalva - Mussel
3. Polyplacophora - Chiton
4. Gastropoda - Limpet, Abalone, Whelk, Winkle & Sea Slug
5. Cephalopoda
6. Marine mollusc summary
7. Downloadable Notes
1. Introduction
2. Shark Jaw
3. Skin: Denticles
4. Locomotion
5. Reproduction
6. Gaseous Exchange
7. Teeth and Feeding
8. Downloadable Notes
1. Introduction
2. Fish Dissection
3. Downloadable Notes
1. The Water Molecule
2. States of Water
3. Density
4. Other Properties
1. Why is the Ocean Salty?
2. What Salts are found in the Ocean
3. How Salty is the Ocean?
4. Variation in Salinity
5. Salinity and Density
1. Introduction
2. Lunar/Tidal Day
3. Earth’s Rotation and Tides
4. Monthly Tidal Cycle
5. Tide & Time Charts for Cape Town
1. Rocky Shore Ecosystem
2. Rocky Shore
1. Introduction
2. Sediments
3. Beach Life
4. Sand Hoppers
5. Plough Snails
6. White Mussels
1. Introduction
2. Sediment Origins
3. Sediment Situation (Location)
4. Classification
1. Introduction
2. Salinity
3. Temperature
4. Organic load
5. Knysna Seahorse Status

About this course

93 lessons
0.5 hours of video content

Instructor(s)

Senior Teacher Wandiswa Jonga

Senior Teacher Anzio Abels

Anzio is an experienced environmental educator and outreach specialist with the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, he currently serves as Outreach Educator and Technology Coordinator. Anzio holds a qualification in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology from the University of the Western Cape and has dedicated his career to marine conservation education and community engagement.

Teacher Kaamilah Damons

Instructor(s)

Teacher Kurt Van Der Rede

Teacher Thabo Sabeko

Head of Core Education Programmes Chanelle Thomas

Chanelle Thomas is an environmental educator with over 15 years of experience in nature conservation. She is passionate about sharing the wonders of nature with young people and creating opportunities for meaningful connections with the environment. Through engaging, hands-on learning experiences, she inspires curiosity, appreciation, and stewardship of the natural world.