Philippines community based marine conservation

This is an intensive, fulfilling and truly conservation focused marine expedition that has been built on the shoulders of giants like David Bellamy OBE and Peter Raines MBE both knighted by the Queen for their services to biodiversity!

The tropical paradise that awaits you in the Philippines will mesmerise even the most seasoned diver but for how long? Many of the world’s reefs are threatened by over-fishing, tourism, shrimp farming and of course climate change. It’s never too late to contribute to the conservation of these beautiful and hugely important ecosystems, which in Asia alone supports 1 billion people.

The coral reefs of Southern Leyte remain some of the least disturbed and least researched habitats in the Philipines. Sogod Bay and adjacent areas contain some of the richest coral reefs in the Philippines, and are important feeding areas for a range of marine megafaunal species including pilot whale and whale shark and we need to help and survey them.

Please note: Departure dates listed above are for divers. Dive trainees start a week earlier. This coral reef research supports and assists local non-profit organisations including Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc (PRRCFI), the local communities around Sogod Bay, and the provincial Government of Southern Leyte. To achieve this, dedicated volunteers such as you will:

• Undertake all the dive and science training needed to contribute to our conservation work.
• Undertake a comprehensive assessment of coastal marine resources in Sogod Bay.
• Collect information on ecologically and commercially important marine species.
• Produce detailed coastal habitat maps for use as an educational and planning tool for Marine Protected Area (MPA) designation.

In line with all that, there is the very engaging and thoroughly rewarding community aspect that will see you undertake community education and capacity building programmes in order to:

• Increase local awareness of marine environmental issues.
• Highlight the importance and economic benefits of MPAs.
• Initiate the planning of an coastal zone management scheme for Southern Leyte with full stakeholder involvement.

This type of experience is great for any type of diver, for the seasoned diver you will be able to learn more about the fish, coral and crustaceans indigenous to the Philippines and make a valuable contribution to conserving them. For the novices out there this is the ideal way to begin, you will be immersed into an underwater world and within a couple of weeks will have seen more life beneath the waves than you would have expected to see in our lifetime!

Volunteers come from a range of different backgrounds and from ages 16 to 70+. Volunteers require no scientific background and are trained on–site in marine or ecology and survey techniques – so no prior training is needed. You will wake up in pure bliss on a daily basis, the sound of waves lapping on the shore, tropical bird singing as the first light breaks but don’t be fooled everyone is expected to do their bit, so you better not be shy to get stuck in – our expedition sites rely on the collective spirit and hard graft of everyone!

Your first dive is at 8 am and beats any morning shower, as you plunge yourself into the crystal clear waters of Bohol Sea, to see what’s out there. After two waves of morning dives its time to head back to shore and have some much needed and deserved lunch. After lunch and a digestion siesta it’s back out on the ocean to cool off and do some more marine surveys - being able to dive twice a day for five days straight is what dreams are made of. The evening are set aside to discuss the day past, the day ahead, relax, eat and socialise over a cold one or two under the clear night skies.

Although this may seem like a dream holiday you do get a weekend break from diving, oh life is so hard! Saturdays are set aside for community work, recreational diving (if addicted), sports tournaments and evening shenanigans. And finally the day of rest – Sunday is another community day where local schools may visit our expedition site. Beach clean or marine puppet show may also be organised and there are always a few a bits and bobs that need doing to ensure a nice, clean, efficient and homely marine site.