Gap year case study - Simon volunteers in the Bahamas

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Marine conservation in the Bahamas with Greenforce

With global warming, over fishing, tourism development exploding, and increasing numbers of divers all over the world it’s no wonder our coral reefs could do with a little assistance. Marine conservation projects are not only a great way to spend an extended dive holiday but it’s also a rewarding way to give something back to the marine life you love to see and a community who need the ocean to survive.

Greenforce have been running a conservation project from Andros island in the Bahamas for the past 9 years and in that time they have help survey a huge area of the reef, set up marine parks, no take zones and coast management systems which are all now managed by the local communities. The areas they work in are far from the stereotypical Bahamas tourist traps that you might imagine, the reefs are unspoiled, seldom dived, and Greenforce are going to try and keep it that way.

Simon Wilkie-Smith was a volunteer on the Bahamas project in April this year, he said:

"The project is a great way to spend 10 weeks, I did it as part of a gap year after university and really enjoyed it. I was already an Open Water diver but I did my Advanced Course on camp and my Emergency First Response course too. The instructors are excellent and as well as improving my dive skills I also learn about marine science and conservation, and research techniques."

"After the science training, and fish and plant identification training we started on the survey work. This consisted of three main research techniques – transect swims where we swam along a line along the reef counting the plants and animals we saw, reef quadrant readings where we places a one metre square on the reef and estimated the damage or growth in that quadrant, and individual species recording where we measured the size and wellbeing of key organisms on the reef."

"We completed two science dives a day, weather and tide permitting, five days a week; on Saturday we could do fun dives and Sunday was a no dive day."

"Another part of the project is working with local communities in the area and educating them about the marine world and why it is important to preserve it. We were invited into local schools to talk to the children and also to local fishing markets to talk to fishermen – I found this side of the project the most rewarding."

"As the camp is impermanent we stayed in large army tents, which were very comfortable but basic, we all took turns cooking and the food which consisted of high carbohydrates – needing the energy for all the diving, and of course vegetable and meat too."

"Overall I had an amazing time and made some great friends in the 10 weeks I was there. The diving was great and the work was interesting, I would recommend a marine conservation project like this one to anyone interested in marine life who wants to give something back to the environment - and have a good time doing it!"

10 weeks in the Bahamas including all dives food and accommodation but excluding flights and insurance is £2300 – shorter trips are also available. Please check out www.greenforce.org for more details on this marine conservation projects and other projects around the world, or call 020 7470 8888 or email info@greenforce.org to request a brochure.