Marine conservation & research, Seychelles

We have been invited by the Seychelles government and local NGO's, to assist their priority biological study and conservation programmes, coral reef research, whale shark migration, turtle nesting research, and in water turtle, octopus and lobster surveys. As an expedition member joining the team, you will spend your time diving upon the coral reef, collecting characterisation and monitoring identification and abundance data on invertebrates and fish species. The expedition base is set within the Cap Ternay Marine National Park, on the west coast of the main island, Mahe. The base is within a 5 minute walk of a sandy beach with scenic views, and a 30 minute walk to the nearest village. This is an amazing opportunity to work in an untouched area.You will also be able to increase your dive qualifications to PADI Advanced Diver and take some PADI Speciality courses You can also extend your dive qualifications further at a discounted rate at a local dive centre.

As an expedition member, you will be involved in some/all of the following projects:

• Invertebrate fisheries surveys
• Coral reef and bleaching recovery monitoring through SCUBA diving surveys.
• In-water sea turtle, octopus and lobster surveys.
• Sea Turtle nesting surveys (in season).
• Whale shark incidental surveys.
• Cetacean sighting recordings
• Assisting in research in Curieuse National Park alongside local rangers
• Assisting in the development of the environmental education and awareness programmes.

Most volunteers spend the majority of their time diving upon the coral reef, collecting characterisation  and abundance data on invertebrates, fish and coral species. The first two weeks are the hardest as volunteers have to push themselves to learn both the research diving skills, marine survey skills, and scientific knowledge that they will need to assist in the collection of data. These skills are then tested to a quantifiable level of 95% to ensure that all the research data we collect is accurate. Survey dives should be conducted twice a day, four and a half days a week and volunteers will rotate between different projects to maximise enthusiasm and minimise ear problems. Weather permitting, divers should have approximately 6 to 8 dives per week.

Days are long and hard with an early start to make the most of daylight hours: travel to the survey sites, survey work, returning from sites, washing down the equipment, filling air tanks ready for the next day and generally a late finish once all the data collected has been reviewed and input in the database. At the end of the day, the whole team gathers for the evening debrief, and eat and socialise. Volunteers will rotate between projects, thus taking some time away from the hard diving work, and you can spend some of your time participating in additional projects.

Saturdays are usually half day diving, with boat and site maintenance and sport in the afternoon, and then the well deserved Saturday Night Fiesta! Sundays are a day of rest to de-gas and catch up on some well-earned sleep, or head to the nearest internet café to keep in touch with the family and friends at home. Alternatively, Expedition Members are free to leave the base on Saturday and explore Mahe or the other islands, returning on Sunday night. Mondays are back to work!

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