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Lengd

15 dagar

Byrjar í/á

Suva

Endar í/á

Suva

Stærð hóps

Maximum 24

Dive in crystal blue water and discover the rich biodiversity of the South Pacific while assisting with research which will aid the local management of marine protected areas. Contribute to national efforts to conserve Fiji’s delicate coral reefs and marine ecosystems while living on a research base in Dawamasu. Travel to idyllic traditional Fijian villages; gain your PADI Advanced Open Water qualification and contribute towards tangible, long-term community benefits.

On this program, you will learn all about coral reef ecology and conservation issues facing tropical marine organisms and the communities that depend on them. Participants typically spend time in the water every day, in what can only be described as a vibrant marine ecosystem.

Receive the Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Speciality segment of the PADI Divemaster course. This unique offering by GVI & PADI teaches you about best practices when conducting underwater coral reef surveys. This is offered to participants staying for 2 weeks or longer.

There is a possibility of seeing endangered species such as sharks, rays, humphead wrasse and turtles while participating in the program. While on dry land, you will spend time in the Dawasamu communities helping with our environmental education and sustainable livelihood projects.

Highlights
Develop conservation diving skills
Gain diving skills and conduct underwater marine conservation surveys in the warm waters of the Pacific.
Explore Fijian coral and culture
Experience Fiji’s colourful coral reef systems and unique local culture.
Be part of the real deal
Contribute to ongoing environmental projects that address critical challenges aligned to the global UN SDGs.
Join ethical initiatives
Join local conservation partners and qualified professionals to ensure your efforts are highly ethical, meaningful and sustainable.
Experience unreal adventures
Venture outside typical travel itineraries to get exclusive access to extraordinary remote habitats, rare species and unique ecosystems.
Make friends for life
Share epic experiences with like-minded, passionate changemakers from all over the globe.
Enjoy a hassle-free, safe trip
With expert local staff and 24/7 support at every step - can relax and enjoy the experience stress-free.
Take a break
Disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with nature, yourself and your purpose.

Scuba Diving Requirements & Additional Courses
You will spend the majority of your time on this expedition scuba diving and as such you need to be qualified to at least PADI Open Water, or equivalent. Non-divers can join for 8- and 12-week durations, our partner will supply you with all the training you need to be certified up to PADI Advanced Open Water. The 4 week duration is only open for divers already qualified to PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent. For non-divers wishing to attend for 4 weeks, we can recommend local dive centers that will help you qualify before your intended start date.

Ferðaáætlun

Our base is located in Silana, a small fishing village in the Dawasamu District of Tailevu Province, located approximately 6 hours from Nadi, home of Fiji's international airport. Tailevu is one of 14 provinces in Fiji and is located in the east of the mainland Viti Levu. The villages of Dawasamu are traditional Fijian settlements with limited sources of income, remaining relatively untouched by the tourist industry.

You will first complete an initial training phase where you will learn to accurately identify locally targeted fish, invertebrate or coral species. Training will involve snorkel and dive point outs with local staff, as well as learning benthic, fish, coral and invertebrate species.

Depending on weather conditions, we aim for everyone to have 1 or 2 dives/snorkels each day, 5 days a week, during which you will conduct underwater surveys after you complete your training. Besides diving, you should expect to be involved in additional projects and activities, including training sessions, marine debris surveys and removal, environmental education session or alternative income training, depending on local and project needs. You will also be required to complete base duties.

You will stay on Caqalai Island base in basic dormitory accommodation with your fellow volunteers with a communal kitchen, living and work area, taking turns with base duties on a rotational basis.

Weekends are usually yours to rest up and relax, or perhaps even explore some of the surrounding area, all depending on the project needs and requirements.

Our partner has joined with local NGOs and organisations in order to identify the best ways to assist the community to conserve their marine resources. The following research priorities have been identified:

Data collection on targeted fish species.
Habitat mapping for coral reefs and mangrove (Coral Reef and Mangrove Habitat mapping).
Development of an environmental education and awareness program for local schools and communities.
Development of terrestrial and marine environmental best practice on Caqalai Island

Our partner works closely with the Fiji Department of Fisheries and the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network to ensure that the impact of this research and program remains is both relevant and useful for the wider community.

The communities with which we work do not have access to the necessary resources to carry out regular data collection in their fishing grounds and there has been a significant detriment to coral and fish stocks due to natural disaster events and unsustainable fishing practice.

Data collected on our volunteer powered surveys is presented to the local community land owners along with alternative livelihood methods and management strategies to help local stakeholders to make informed decisions with regards to their vital marine resources and long term food security.

Some of the example typical activities you could participate in on this program.

Fieldwork training
Learn how to identify species and conduct surveys so that you can contribute to data collection efforts and help build an inventory of marine species in Dawasamu.

Conservation surveys
Assist with benthic (coral) or fish target species surveys. You will be taught several survey techniques while you work as a member of the GVI data collection survey team tasked with building an inventory of marine species in Dawasamu.

Support community conservation
Deliver lessons focused on environmental awareness in the local community and participate in community-based work, such as improving water security and sustainable fishing practices.

PADI Open Water course
Learn how to scuba dive or brush up on pre-existing skills. Go over the required theory and practice in confined water dives before undertaking open water dives at sites suited for beginners. Only applies to programs longer than 8 weeks.

PADI Advanced Open Water course
Gain more diving experience and sample different types of diving with 5 adventure dives: deep water, underwater navigator, peak performance buoyancy, underwater naturalist, and AWARE fish identification.

PADI Emergency First Response
Learn primary and secondary care theory and then practise applying these 8 skills in role playing scenarios designed to improve your first aid skills and prepare you for an emergency.

PADI CRRD Speciality
The Coral Reef Researcher Diver Specialty is unique to GVI and focused on advancing your conservation diving skills and teaching you how to conduct coral reef surveys.

PADI Rescue Diver
Increase your awareness of diver safety, manage more complex situations and apply direct intervention techniques via role playing rescue scenarios. Only applies to programs longer than 8 weeks.

- If staying for 21 days or less need a Fiji business entry letter which is provided by our partner ( takes 2-24 hrs to process) - must be submitted to immigration at least 1 week prior to arrival.
- If staying for more than 21 days you need a Fiji work permit, this takes longer
- Vaccination requirements according to destination
- Minimum age of 18
- Police Clearance Certificate (not older than 6 months)
- PADI Open Water certificate to join the 4-week program
- Medical form
- All marine expedition volunteers must ensure that their travel insurance covers diving to 30m and medical evacuation in the event of a diving emergency.
- Basic level of competency in English
- Volunteer Work Permit - $452 FJD (approx.$225 USD) to be paid when the application is submitted
- Acceptance subject to availability

Pick-up at Suva Airport (specific pick-up times apply)
Transfer to base location
Welcome meeting
Location orientation
Safe and basic accommodation (shared)
Meals while on project
PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water (for 8 and 12 week volunteers)
PADI Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Speciality
Coral reef ecology
Diving compressor training workshop
Use of O2 equipment workshop
Community work workshop
All necessary project equipment and materials but not your own personal diving gear, the full list of requirements is included in the field manual for example, wetsuit, diving mask, fins etc
All necessary project training by experienced long term staff
First Aid & CPR training
24-hour in-country support
24-hour emergency phone
Access to alumni services and discounts

Volunteers MUST bring the following equipment:

Mask & snorkel
Fins & booties: Open-heel fins to wear with booties are highly recommended; if bringing closed-heel (bare foot) fins you must also bring booties for walking in shallows
Wetsuit (recommended 3mm Nov-May & 5mm June-Oct)
Waterproof watch (suitable for 30m depth); ideally, a dive computer is highly recommended
Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB) with spool reel
Certification cards
Dive slate and pencil
Dive log book

The rest such as BCD's, regulators and weighted belts are provided locally.

Volunteers need to be flexible and keep an open mind concerning their placements as situations can arise beyond our control which could require you to be placed at a different project than the one you have initially chosen. We will of course always do our utmost to fulfill your initial wishes but do remember that where you are going is quite different from where you are coming and as such one should be prepared for things not always going according to plan.

Volunteering and intercultural travel share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups that are prepared to adapt to the local environment and its current needs. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. Alterations in activities are mainly due to changes in local conditions, which we believe is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that they are.

Our projects range from 1 week up to approx. 30 weeks. Projects have a specified minimum stay, then it’s up to you how long you can commit. In our experience the longer you stay the more you will gain, as your understanding of the project broadens and you take on more responsibilities. Every volunteer will be given a certificate of appreciation at the end of their stay as a symbol of volunteering stay.

In the villages, women must cover their shoulders and knees at all times. It is perfectly fine to wear short sleeved shirts as long as shoulders are covered. Men should bring a sarong too but it is a bit more flexible and they may not need to wear it all the time. Also a short sleeved shirt for school and to village functions but at other times it is acceptable to wear trousers or shorts. On base, volunteers are free to wear what they wish.

Samantekt

Aukakostnaður á áfangastaðnum

None

Included Activities
There is 1 experience offered per month. Volunteers on longer durations will not be eligible to repeat Experiences. Please note, Experiences are subject to change or substitution and are optional. Volunteers who elect, or are unable, to participate will not be eligible for any refunds. Volunteers must ensure their travel insurance covers any activities.

Fiji Marine Conservation Expedition
• Learn to cook iTaukei food
• Make a traditional drink from kava root
• Learn indigenous plant medicine
• Hike to the top of Tova Peak
• Fish with iTaukei women
• Weave a traditional mat
• Visit Vatu-i-Ra Conservation Park
• Boat to Leleuvia Island

Free Time
In your down time you will be free to travel in the local area and you will be free on the weekends. In this time you could do day trips such as dolphin watching, visiting other islands, scuba diving, or relaxing in a nearby resort. You could travel to the capital city of Suva, take a ferry to Taveuni, 'the garden of Fiji' or explore the interior of Viti Levu - the possibilities are endless!

Accommodation during your stay includes basic mixed-gender dormitory style rooms in a Fijian bure with wooden walls and a tin roof. There is a communal kitchen, work area, and general living space where you can prepare for project work and socialise with your new friends. We rent this accommodation from the Silana Youth Project. Providing these community members with a sustainable income is a unique arrangement, and a local success story.

If you need to stay additional nights before or after your project you need to book these separately, ask your travel consultant for help.

Arrival
Most volunteers arrange international flights to arrive at Nadi International Airport and then a connecting flight to Suva the day before the Program starts.

Airport pick-ups can be arranged at Nausori Airport, Suva on the Friday prior to project start for the 2 flights below:
• Fiji Airways (FJ7) Arrival: 09:00 AM Nausori International (SUV)
• Fiji Airways (FJ11) Arrival: 12:00 PM Nausori International (SUV)

You will be greeted by a GVI member of staff who will wear a Forest Green Shirt and transport will be arranged to drop you at Pisces Hostel in Suva, please let your Support Coordinator know if you require picking up at the airport . GVI have special rates at the Pisces hotel for your night before the program starts which you can prebook.

If you choose to stay elsewhere, you can easily get a taxi from Pisces Hostel to your accommodation.

Meeting Point on Start Date (Saturday)
The pick-up point for your transfer to the project is at 11:00 in the lobby of Pisces Hostel.

Departure
If you are flying out on a Saturday, you will be dropped off at the airport in Suva on Saturday at around 10:00. Please make sure that you book flights from Suva to Nadi after midday 12:00 to allow yourself enough time to check in and catch your flight. If you are using other transport options to get to Nadi, we will drop you off at Pisces Hostel.

Volunteers take it in turns to prepare meals for the group. Food on base is mostly vegetarian, consisting of locally-sourced seasonal produce which participants take turns in preparing for the group. Breakfast varies but could include porridge, eggs and beans, fruit or pancakes. Lunch and evening meals consist of sandwiches, rice, beans, vegetables, pasta with sauce, noodles, roti, cassava or dalo, and occasionally some meat. When eating out, you will find that the cuisine is quite diverse and includes a lot of seafood and has an Asian influence. Please note, no alcohol is permitted on base.

Diving Info
During our summer months November to April, the water temperature rises to a very comfortable 27-30°C. Past volunteers recommend 2mm short suits for these temperatures and although this is cyclone season, this time of year is known for calm seas. However, the higher temperature does increase the oceanic plankton growth reducing visibility to around 24-26m. Winter is May to October, when water temperatures are 24-27°C. 3 or 5 mm steamers would be recommended. This time of year is known for fabulous visibility of up to 30m.

Dive Equipment Rental
If you are renting dive equipment locally, pick it up before meeting the team at the pick-up point on Saturday (project start date) and transferring to the project.

Internet Access
You will have limited access to long-distance communications whilst on the program, so make sure friends and family know how often they can expect to hear from you. Mobile/cell phone reception is available on base, although it can be poor at times. It is possible to purchase pay-as-you-go Fijian SIM cards for unlocked phones in Nadi pre-departure. There is no general internet access for volunteers on base. The SIM and credit must be purchased prior to island deployment. It is possible to purchase a pay-as-you-go mobile internet USB stick or WiFi modem, however, internet signal can be poor at times.

Flugmiðar eru ekki innifaldir í verði nema annað sé tekið fram. Við munum með glöðu geði aðstoða þig við að finna ódýrustu flugmiðana.
Hvað er innifalið?

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Marine Conservation Expedition in Fiji

Marine Conservation Expedition in Fiji

Marine Conservation Expedition in Fiji

About Your Location

Project Life

Project Details

How This Program Makes a Difference

Activities

Mandatory Volunteer Requirements

Inclusions

What to Bring

What Makes a Good Volunteer?

How Long Should I Volunteer?

Please Note

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Marine Conservation Expedition in Fiji