Seychelles

I did the Marine Conservation Expedition in The Seychellen: What an amazing experience. You live on a base camp in Cap Ternay, Mahé island. The island is absolutely breath taking beautiful, with it's white beaches and clear blue sea. And that's the office! You have 1 or 2 dives a day to do underwater surveys in either fish/coral/invertebrates. The first two weeks of the program are pretty fully booked with PADI Advanced, EFR, Marine Biology and your survey domain training. And of course everybody needs to help out on base as well, to make sure it's all clean and that you get a nice meal :) But of course you'll spend most of your time on the stunning coral reefs. When I was there, the age range of the volunteers was very wide, from 18 to 44, and we had about 20 volunteers and 8 staff. You get two days off a week in which you can go to one of the many stunning beaches, or keep your family posted on your adventures from the internet cafe in Victoria (the capital). This expedition was truly an amazing experience, I would highly recommend it.

I volunteered for a month in the Seychelles after browsing the internet endlessly trying to find the best place and program to go on. Stepping off the aeroplane into the humid environment was a shock at first, you could feel the sweat drip down your face. My first thought was it was going to be a hot, sticky, smelly month of volunteering and working outdoors all day - it was. Yet I had enrolled in the terrestrial expedition so was based on Curieuse Island, which to my relief was not quite so hot. The staff were all extremely friendly and the facilities were pretty good, a lot better than I had expected at any rate. The first week was mainly dedicated to learning about the different activities we would participate in, the scientific procedures that went with them and undertaking a first aid course. We went on many long and short 'wurtles' (turtle walks) to the other side of the island where we generally saw a turtle nesting or a hatchling each time we went. The turtle beaches are not accessible to the public, so it was great being able to go to them by being apart of GVI. We also started bird surveys - we were the first group to begin recording the different species found on the island which was a fun but sometimes challenging task. When the ground was dry we were able to go 'Coco de Mering', braving through dense scrub to find the trees and record their locations. It was a lot of fun, but you got very dirty and covered in red paint! We went snorkelling as much as possible, seeing many reef fish, rays, the odd shark and looking out for turtles to record. It was great to come back to base after a hot days work to dive into the nice warm ocean and then lay on the hammocks and read before dinner. The week ended with a Friday Night BBQ, generally themed and was a great time to relax and have fun. On the weekends you had free time so were able to do whatever you wanted. Being associated with GVI also gave us many local discounts, so travelling was quite affordable. We went to a couple of different islands, my favourite being La Digue where we hired bikes and relaxed on the beach. The experience was quite unreal, if I had the opportunity again I would definitely go back!

In two words: Just awesome! The time in the Seychelles doing marine conservation with GVI was the best time of my life! I expected it would be cool, but like this? Fantastic! When I arrived everything was new and I didn't know anyone but the stuff did really well to bring us together very quickly! But let's talk about what you're doing there? You go diving with millions of fish and record data! Those who stay for one ore two months, concentrate on common fish and those who stay three months concentrate on much more difficult corals! At the beginning it might be a little bit tricky to handle your buoyancy, note the fish and communicate with your buddy but it gets easier every day! With your new friends every dive is a adventure..... At the weekends you are off so you have time to take the bus into town, go for a hike, visit other islands of the Seychelles or just go snorkeling in the bay together! This is really fun! You also organize special days or orphan children and go for a snorkel whith them. To the more hygienic people of you: don't be afraid! You have running water, the bathroom is cleaned (by the volunteers) every day and the beds are disinfected :) I hope this will help you with the decision....Go for it and have the fun of your life!

I decided to go on the marine conservation expedition to the Seychelles to gain field experience, as I had just completed my honours thesis in marine biology - but spent all my time in the lab! I thought this was a perfect way to gain valuable skills whilst contributing to marine conservation - and there was no better place than the Seychelles! Initially I was quite nervous, not knowing what to expect and whether I would be able to manage the 2 months. I was originally signed up for the 1 month expedition, however the phone call from the GVI office informed me that the 1 month program involved mainly lectures and learning how to correctly identify and survey the marine species of interest - not the actual field surveys which I was wanting to do. So I decided to join the 2 month expedition and was very glad I did - however it still did not feel long enough once I got there! The other volunteers were all like minded and everyone got along really well. It didn't take long to become friends with everyone because of the close living quarters. The weather was hot and humid and it took a couple of weeks to settle in and get used to drinking so much water to stay hydrated! The first month consisted of lectures and exams to be able to accurately identify the groups of fish or corals we were delegated and other lectures on turtle biology, mega fauna and survey methods and DVD sessions with appropriate documentaries such as the BBC Coral Reefs. We had dives every day to spot fish (or corals if that was the group you were assigned prior to departure) and accurately name them and get signed off by the staff. We also completed out Emergency First Response training, and some volunteers did their Advanced Open Water diving Certification. It was not until the second month of the expedition we got the conduct the in water surveys with our dive buddy, and the first month of training really made sure we were up to scratch on our skills! In second month of the expedition we had a lot more spare time than we all expected, so we watch a lot of movies, read, husked coconuts and did our daily duties throughout the days. We had 2 days off a week, and usually went to Victoria (the capital of Seychelles on Mahe Island) to use the internet. It was a 40 minute walk from base to the bus stop and another hour on the bus into town - and sometimes the internet wasn't even working! I definitely think this expedition was worthwhile, and it is something everyone should consider - for a short or longer period! I learnt a huge amount of information about the marine environment, in particular the fish which was a nice change from studying corals at home. I also learnt a lot about myself, and found this to be a very special and memorable trip. I can't wait until my next one!

I joined GVIs volunteer programme on Mahé in the Seychelles. The programme focuses on marine conservation and during my four weeks there I got to participate in the monitoring of the beautiful reefs surrounding the island. Living on a tropical island, diving almost every day, exploring the incredible Indian Ocean was fore me, to fore fill a lifelong dream. The beauty of the ocean is breathtaking. Diving opened my eyes to a whole new world. My experiences as a volunteer and all that I have learned during my stay in the Seychelles are to me invaluable. All of the wonderful people that I got to meet, all the friends that I have made, everything that I have seen, felt and been a part of will stay with me fore ever. I have learned so much, not only about marine conservation and diving, but also and most importantly I have learned a lot about life and about myself. These four weeks was amazing in every way, and the memoirs that is now a part of me, will be as long as I live.

This summer I went to the Seychelles to participate on the marine conservation project in the Seychelles. The information given by GVI before I left was excellent! All the information was well up to date and was a great help. Because I arrived one day late they had informed me how to get to base by cab, how much it would cost and they gave me a phone number of a cab driver that they use a lot (and is cheaper than the others). The packinglist was very usefull too. I used every single thing that I had taken. When I arriived at the base at Cap Ternay everyone was very welcoming. One of the staff took my bags to my room and the others gave me a quick introduction to the base, other volunteers and the health and safety procedures around base. Everything that could be a danger was introduced to me very clearly (like how to handle a machette and the dangerous fruits and insects). The base was less basic than I had expected there was running water and electricity (though at the curieuse base everything is more basic!) The other volunteers were the most amazing people I've ever met! Every evening we had a lot of fun and especially at the thursday "BBQ" night where once we dressed up as vikings. Every evening a native boy came by to play football or cardgames with us and everyone loved it! In the weekends you had a lot of time to do fun things. Me and to others went on a nine hour walk from a little town to our base through the forest some went to the waterfalls and a lot of us went to "la digue" another island near Praslin. On normal days you dived once or twice (occasionally a fun dive), did your duties (cleaning, cooking, filling the tanks or loading the boat), went to lectures about marine conservation and had a lot of fun with the other volunteers and everyone went to snorkel with the children of the orphanage at least once in those weeks what everyone loved because it made the children so happy to get some personal attention. After two weeks of training it was finally time for our first real survey! The staff had prepaired us really good for this and everything went perfect! All the dives were amazing! We've seen turtles, little sharks and some of us even saw a whale shark and some dolphins! I've had the best four weeks of my life on the Seychelles and I've met a lot of new people who've all become great friends of mine. We've become a very close group within this short period what I didn't expect when I applied for this expedition. This all because of GVI! I will definetely use GVI again next year together with some of the other volunteers of last time!

My experience at the Seychelles base camp was absolutely wonderful. The only thing I wish I could change would be choosing to stay longer! A month was really not enough! The staff were really friendly and helped us out whenever we needed it. The amount of information that we had to learn was made a lot easier by great teaching. Although camp life is basic, I quite enjoyed the simple things in life and not needing to "connect" with the world all the time. We were kept busy with chores on base, studying and the best part - diving. The diving was absolutely gorgeous, even though the visibility wasn't great when I was there. The plankton in the water got increasingly visible every day and eventually they brought over the whale sharks! That would probably be my favourite part of the trip - getting to see a whale shark!! They are beautiful creatures and I really wish I was there longer to see more of them. The friends I made in Seychelles are wonderful and I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to be there at the same time as me. If I had the opportunity to, I really would go back for more!!

I booked my GVI expedition only a few months before I was due to go out to the Seychelles. It was a spare of the moment choice, I quit my job and left other responsibilities behind to go out there. at first I was a bit worried about leaving my job but when I got on the plane and landed in the Seychelles nothing else mattered. I was there and it was amazing. When I arrived at the base I would be spending my 10 week expedition at it hit me, I didn't want to leave. ever! the Staff - amazing, the other volunteers - amazing, the place - amazing! It was very well organised and the staff new what they were doing! Food was what you expect from a small set of islands in the middle of know where, quite basic, but it didn't bother us as we were having the time of our lives! I was there no longer than two weeks when I found out I could extend my trip and stay for an extra 12 weeks after my 10 were up. I jumped at this opportunity and was accepted to stay. I had an AMAZING time out there and I would Highly recommend it to anyone! We had a wide age group from 18-65. All I can say is.... DO IT!!! :D

My time in the Seychelles, was an unforgettable experience. With a degree in a relevant field I was excited about getting the opportunity to gain field work experience. The internship broadened my knowledge of coral reef systems, provided practical training and experience, expanded my communication skills, interpersonal skills, team work and leadership skills. In terms of living on base with ~30 other people, you gain some life long memories and friends who you can always contact and be like....Hey do you remember that time we followed a turtle for 40minutes during a dive?!?! And the time the little kids nearly drowned us when we took them snorkelling.....and when the orphanage kids painted our faces?!?! Everything about GVI internships is extremely well-run, providing an excellent overall experience, with valuable memories and qualifications to Boot!! Woop!

.I arrived in the Seychelles feeling very excited and apprehensive about what the next 3 months would hold. When I arrived I had never dived in my life but as soon as I put on my cylinder on my back and got in the water it just felt right. I can’t explain in words how beautiful and calming diving in the Seychelles was. Before I arrived I looked at the sea and saw it as a vast mass of water but now I appreciate it for what life it holds. Sharks that make your heart race , the chilled out turtles , the graceful rays and the masses of colourful fish .What makes it more rewarding was the fact that I was able to identify the fish (through the science training we were given and exams we took) and start to notice their behaviour which made diving far more enjoyable . Furthermore it’s good to know that the survey dives that we conducted were creating valuable data and were giving us an insight into the health or the reef. It’s a great feeling knowing that our surveys are increasing the knowledge of the local reefs and thus helping to conserve these delicate ecosystems. I can now say that I am totally hooked on diving and can’t wait to get back in the water GVI Seychelles was an amazing experience and I couldn’t have wished for a better 3 months, it far outstretched my expectations. The GVI staff were very professional and you could easily see their passion for the ocean, there knowledge was extensive and they were always there to help with any problems whether it being personal or in regards to the science training. The staff were also very friendly and made you feel very welcome especially in the 1st few days, when everything was new and a little overwhelming. As expedition life is so different to normal life, but you soon get used to it and never want to give up the simple way of living, who needs a TV when the ocean is a 10m walk ?!? Top Memories Island Hoping Making new friends from around the world Helping turtle hatchlings to the sea Going to the local beach knowing know one else will be there , what more could you ask for ? Hearing the waves from our huts Watching the world go by in the hamocks Diving