Adventure & Research Diving, Madagascar

Vacancy: Adventure & Research Diving, Madagascar
Company: Blue Ventures
Category: Gap year projects (Conservation, Community development, Watersports & diving)

Dates: Ongoing

Description:

In the idyllic village of Andavdoaka, Blue Ventures volunteers work to contribute to the sustainable management of the region’s coastal resources. From the team’s basecamp on the edge of the village, volunteers use SCUBA-based research techniques to catalogue and monitor the areas’ uncharted coral reefs and coastal ecosystems. Working alongside an international group of coral reef ecologists and social scientists, volunteers receive intensive training in a variety of disciplines. In addition to PADI advanced SCUBA certification, volunteers are introduced to species identification, marine research methods and coastal ecology. Over the course of the six-week projects volunteers put these skills to work in daily research dives.

Volunteer activities are not limited to underwater reef research. Individuals have initiated projects from developing independent social research proposals to organising village wide football leagues.

By ensuring that volunteer numbers are kept low and staff to volunteer ratios kept high, BV ensure that volunteers receive an exceptional standard of scientific training, support and supervision, no matter what their work or educational background.

Volunteers are encouraged to immerse themselves in Malagasy culture and language. Endless opportunities exist to have conversations with villagers or accompany fishermen on a day of work, making lifelong friends and gaining a further understanding of the changes that have taken place in the community over the past decades.

Blue Ventures' Madagascar research program is undergoing rapid growth and diversification as we develop our understanding of the ecology, economy and community of Andavadoaka.

If you are thinking of coming out to help us respond to the resource conservation and management needs of the local community please click on the apply button for more info.