Blue Ventures, Madagascar

Contents A word from the Chair About Blue Ventures About this guide Blue Ventures, Madagascar Velondriake Blue Ventures Projects Before you go Confirming your Place Paying your balance Forms Medical Forms Emergency contacts Flights When to fly Overland tour Internal flights Insurance Travel insurance DAN insurance Arriving and Departing International Domestic Money Visas Buying your kit Clothes/Equipment Dive Kit Dive Manuals

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Whilst you’re there Internal Logistics Between Tana and Toliara Accommodation Recommendations Getting to Andavadoaka Things to do in Toliara The Expedition The Site The Team When you arrive Rules and Regulations Training Diving Other Projects you may or may not be involved in during your expedition Practicalities on site Health and Safety When you get home Feedback Reviews Spread the Word Check-ups Social Media Blogs Appendices Expedition Checklist Recommended background reading General background and natural history Terrestrial field guides Travel guides Useful websites Local Malagasy Word List

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A word from the Chair

Dear Volunteer,

Many thanks for choosing to take part in a research expedition in Andavadoaka, Madagascar with Blue Ventures. Andavadoaka is particularly close to our heart as it is where Blue Ventures first begun back in 2003 and continues to be our flagship research site.

The work we undertake in the region continues to go from strength to strength and we are truly thankful to our volunteers, without whom our ground-breaking initiatives could never have been realised.

With the continued support of people like you, we can ensure that our work continues to improve the lives of thousands of the Vezo people of Southwest Madagascar and provide coastal communities the knowledge and skills they need to live sustainably.

I hope that you find your time in Andavadoaka fulfilling, not only in terms of gaining valuable diving and science skills, but also by experiencing living within a truly fascinating community and getting to know the people who are directly benefitting from your efforts.

Kind Regards

Jonathan Katz

Chair of Trustees

Blue Ventures Conservation

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About Blue Ventures

Blue Ventures believes that with the right knowledge, developing coastal communities can live in harmony with their marine environments. Our expeditions and research give coastal communities the knowledge and skills they need to live sustainably. To achieve this we have a team of dedicated researchers and volunteers who study all aspects of the marine ecosystem. The results from our work help us to propose new ideas to benefit coastal communities everywhere.

About this guide

Our expedition site in Andavadoaka, Madagascar is the perfect location for our work and a fantastic host community for our volunteers. It is, however, extremely remote and therefore it is imperative that you take time to ensure that you are fully prepared for your trip. We want you to have a safe, valuable, memorable and, of course, fun experience so we have put together detailed notes to help you with your preparations.

Please read these carefully and in plenty of time before your expedition. You may find that certain items you need to bring could take time to get hold of or bits of paperwork may take more time to get complete than you expect.

This guide will give you a brief introduction to Blue Ventures and the work we are doing in the country and then give you detailed information split into the following sections:

▪ Before you go; ▪ Whilst you’re there; ▪ When you get home.

If you have any questions about any aspect of preparing for your trip, please just drop us a line or pick up the phone!

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Blue Ventures, Madagascar

Starting as a small group of marine science students in 2001, the BV team has been working in Madagascar ever since. Back then our mission was focused on research, particularly in supporting our local partners in studying Madagascar's enormously important yet little known coral reefs. Year by year our work developed and we ventured from coral reefs to fisheries, then on to understanding the issues facing the communities that depend on Madagascar's marine biodiversity for their survival.

And as our research evolved, so did our understanding of the challenges facing Madagascar's fragile marine environments. We came to understand that research alone is not sufficient to ensure a sustainable future for marine biodiversity. Without a concerted effort to connect research to action, through the application of science and education, conservation will remain out of our reach. And so our research paved the way for education and finally conservation, built on a foundation of enduring partnerships with local institutions and communities, many of which continue today.

So far our unique, grassroots approach has led to the creation of the three largest community-managed marine protected areas in the entire Indian Ocean. We've built sustainable aquadive kit businesses, put many hundreds of children through school, funded scholarships for dozens of university students, published countless scientific reports and papers, and catalysed a new movement for marine conservation nationally. And our work must continue on: Madagascar has nearly 6000 km of coastline, one of the longest in the Indian Ocean. Hundreds of thousands of coastal people, amongst the poorest on earth, depend directly on the country's healthy seas for their survival. Our priority now is to build on our early successes, sharing our findings at a broader scale, and bringing communities together to communicate best practice and expertise in conserving coastal ecosystems. And at every level of this work we depend on the tireless commitment of volunteers to meet this goal, working both in field and office environments, above and below the waves. As we ourselves have discovered, your role in an expedition goes far beyond simply surveying coral reefs.

Velondriake Velondriake is a collection of 25 villages (Andavadoaka being one of them) in the southwest of Madagascar who have come together to protect biodiversity and improve livelihoods as well as increase environmental awareness amongst communities.

7000 people live within the Velondriake area and it is the largest Locally-Managed Marine Area (LMMA) in the Indian Ocean covering 640 square-km. The area protects coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, baobab forests and other threatened habitats and serves as a model to other communities for conservation, economic development, and local governance and management initiatives. For more information on Velondriake you can visit livewiththesea.org.

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As you will be diving within the marine reserve, we ask all volunteers to pay a £10 entry fee. This will automatically be added to your invoice. The money goes directly towards supporting Velondriake.

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Blue Ventures Projects

Whilst you are in Madagascar you will come across various initiatives which have been set up and continue to be supported by Blue Ventures as part of our holistic approach to marine conservation. The Velondriake Locally Managed Marine Area is just one of these and it is something that you will learn a lot about during your time in Andavadoaka.

Some other projects that you may help with, see or hear about are:

Fisheries Management: Blue Ventures manages a number of research and conservation programmes focusing on maintaining the sustainability of key fisheries. These include; development of temporary closures of fisheries to allow fish stocks to recover, bioeconomic analysis to prove the profitability of fisheries management and a shark and turtle research programme covering 400km of coastline.

Aquaculture: We manage community-based sea cucumber and seaweed farms offering communities lucrative and socially-viable alternatives to fishing. As well as reducing fishing effort and relieving pressure on fragile marine ecosystems, these alternative income sources are working to alleviate poverty in local communities.

Safidy (Community Health): This programme is working to address the unmet reproductive health needs of 40 communities in and around Velondriake, with local women trained to offer family planning counselling and contraceptives within their villages. Safidy means "freedom to choose" in Malagasy Vezo, and aims to provide couples with the information and means to freely choose the number and spacing of their births. As a result, the proportion of women using

Page 7 contraceptives has increased from 10% in 2007 to 55% in 2013. This programme also encompasses maternal and child health, water, sanitation and hygiene. Our village outreach tours include school workshops, youth club sessions and interactive community presentations covering both health and environmental topics. Safidy is an important part of Blue Ventures' integrated Population-Health-Environment approach which empowers coastal communities to live more healthily and sustainably alongside their unique marine environment.

Education: Every year BV supports around 200 children in Velondriake to attend school. The school scholarships programme provides them with the educational opportunities they need to create paths out of poverty and support marine conservation within their communities. This initiative was initially set up by some expedition volunteers who wanted to help children in Velondriake to go to school, and is funded by the donations and fundraising efforts of friends of Blue Ventures. We also have a UNICEF programme called ‘Connecting Classrooms’ which aims to promote e-learning about conservation and sustainable natural resource management among young people throughout Madagascar. We deliver environmental education in Andavadoaka through Saturday Schools for children and Club AloAlo for youth, and have a radio show called Feom'Bezo which means "The Voice of the Vezo" featuring updates and information about all of our programmes.

Climate change (Blue Carbon): The effort of our blue carbon programme is primarily focussed on REDD+ for mangroves. REDD+ is the reduction of emissions from deforestation and degradation, plus other measures to restore, enhance and conserve forest stocks. It basically encompasses a wide range of measures that aim to stop the loss of tropical forest. We want to put build the foundations to allow coastal communities to meaningfully participate in REDD+ and gain an equitable share of the benefits. Presently our focus is on both carrying out applied research, but also on developing community participation and capacity, so that we can build robust REDD+ projects.

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Before you go

This section outlines all the preparation you will need to make before you head off. You should aim to do all of these things in plenty of time to avoid any last minute panic!

In this section you’ll find information on:

● Confirming your place and paying your balance ● The forms and information we need from you ● International logistics and when to fly ● Arriving and departing ● Money ● Visas ● Insurance ● Buying your kit

Confirming your Place Once you have been offered a place on an expedition, you will be sent a link to a booking page where you can review and agree to our booking conditions and liability agreements and place down a £250 deposit. This can be paid via:

o Bank Transfer o PayPal o Sterling cheque

Further details will be given if you would like to pay via bank transfer or cheque. If you select PayPal, you will be directed to a page where you can either log onto your PayPal account, or there is an option to just pay with your credit or debit card (N.B. there is a 3% charge for all PayPal transactions which will automatically added to the deposit amount).

Further details on each of these payment methods can be found on the Payment Details Document. Once we have received your deposit we will confirm via email, but please allow 2-3 working days for the payment to clear, sometimes longer for international bank transfers.

Paying your balance Once we have received your deposit you will be sent an invoice outlining your remaining balance. This will be comprised of:

o The expedition cost – this will vary depending on your current dive level

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o The carbon offset amount – As the communities we work with in Madagascar are directly affected by climate change, we insist that all volunteers staff and visitor to site offset their carbon emissions via a £10 donation to Ades who supply solar stoves to communities near to where we work which reduced the amount of wood and coal which is burnt. More information on Ades can be found at: http://www.adesolaire.org. o Velondriake Marine Reserve Donation – £10 directly supports the area in which you will be diving daily o Overland tours – If you put that you would like to join either/both the overland tour north or south it will be included otherwise please let us know and we will add it to your invoice. More information on the overland tour can be found on the The Overland Tours section of this guide and the Overland Expedition page on the website. o Dive courses – Courses up to Advanced Open Water will be included in your expedition cost, but any extra dive course beyond that will be added here. If you haven’t been diving within 6 months of the start of the expedition you will need to do a tune-up (£49). Please ask to have this removed if you do not need it.

Your final balance is due 6 weeks before the start of the expedition. For more information on how this can be paid, please refer to the payment details document.

Forms Together with the email, which contains your invoice, you will receive links to forms to upload information, that we need from you. These links are specific to you, so please don’t lose them and don’t let any other volunteers use them. . Please work your way through these and contact the London office if you need any help. Information/documents we need from you are:

● BV Medical Form ● PADI Medical Form ● Copy of your passport with a minimum validity of more than 6 months from the beginning of your journey ● Flight details ● Insurance document ● DAN insurance ● Passport style photograph ● Emergency details SCUBA diving certification (if applicable) Please bring a paper copy of all documents along to your expedition.

Medical Forms These consist of the Blue Ventures Medical Form and consent form (3 pages) and the PADI medical form (2 pages).

Please make sure you book an appointment well in advance of the form due date as it can sometime take a while to get an appointment. Doctors can often a charge for filling out these

Page 11 forms. You just need to go to your standard GP unless we request you go to a specialist dive doctor.

BV medical form – This needs to be completed by anyone travelling to site, whether they are diving or not. If any questions on the first page are answered ‘yes’ to, please make sure further information is given on the following page. This is very important as it could delay you joining the expedition if we need to do any investigation. Please make sure your doctor signs the statement at the bottom of the second page.

PADI medical form – This can be signed by the doctor at the same time as the BV medical form. It has very similar questions and please make sure you write a clear ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ next to each question. Ticks or ‘Y’and ‘N’s won’t be accepted.

Patient consent form – This needs to be signed by you and your diving doctor if you went to see a specialist.

Whilst you are at the doctor’s, this is also a good opportunity to discuss any inoculations you will need and also malarial prophylaxis options. More information on both of these can be found in the Health and Safety section. Emergency contacts Please provide the name, email address and contact numbers for at least 2 people who can be contacted in case of emergency. Please note that they will need to speak English and please remember to include the country dialling code.

In case of an emergency, your emergency contacts can contact our field site in Andavadoaka by ringing: +44 (0)7909 525410. If normal communication are not working, a message will be relayed to the camp via satellite telephone.

Flights You will need to plan your internal travel to and from Toliara at the start and end of the expedition and information on this can be found in Logistics. The capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo (airport code TNR) is served by many airlines flying a variety of routes. The main ones are:

● Kenyan Airways via Nairobi ● Air France via Paris ● Air Madagascar via Paris ● South African Airways via Johannesburg ● Air Austral via Reunion or Mauritius ● Corsair via Reunion or Mauritius

We suggest that you book your flights as early as you can to get the best possible prices. Please note that if you are flying through Nairobi on your way to Antananarivo you may be asked for your Yellow Fever vaccination certificate on arrival. Please either take a copy of your Yellow Fever

Page 12 vaccination certificate if you have had it, or you can get an exemption letter from your travel clinic/GPs stating that it is not required.

We have recommended travel agents who know us and will be able to advise you on what flights will be best in terms with fitting in with the start and end of our expeditions and around any overland tours you might be taking part in. Make sure they know you are calling from Blue Ventures.

Raj Sandhu Adam Youngs Longreach Travel Corporate Traveller [email protected]. [email protected]. uk uk +44 (0)1932 753 429. +44 (0)208 6059 180

When to fly

Overland tour If you are taking part in our overland tour to Toliara you will need to arrive into Antananarivo at least the day before the start day of the tour. You will be picked up at the airport and we strongly recommend for you to stay at an airport hotel which we make a group booking for. This hotel is around £16 (50,000Ar) a night for a room, but this will be cheaper if you are sharing.

If you are doing the overland tour North at the end of your expedition do not book any onwards travel from Antananarivo until the day after the end of the tour, as there are no guarantees what time it will end on the last day.

Internal flights If you are getting an internal flight down from Tana to Toliara, you need to arrive at Toliara at least the day before the start date of the expedition. You will then need to get a taxi to Hotel Le Palmier from the airport, where our team will be waiting to meet you. The cost of this hotel is around £20 (67,000Ar) a night for your own room.

When booking an internal flight back to Antananarivo if you are not doing the overland tour north, please don’t book anything until the day after the expedition end date. A lot of volunteers choose to spend an extra day in Toliara at the end to meet the next group arriving. We will book you into the Le Palmier unless you wish to stay anywhere else.

Insurance For peace of mind a local villager is employed as the camp guardian to stay on site at all times, and keeps watch over the research site, boats and bungalows. Nevertheless, things can go missing, and small personal possessions such as jewellery can easily become lost in the challenging and sandy environment in which you will be living and working. Consequently, we do not advise that you bring personal valuables on an expedition.

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The combination of sand and salt water can be particularly unforgiving to delicate electrical items such as personal stereos, iPods or CD players. If you plan to bring such items on an expedition, please be sure to have suitable protective equipment and/or casings to prevent damage.

Travel insurance Blue Ventures requires all volunteers to purchase adequate travel insurance to cover you throughout the duration of your stay with us. It is very important that your insurance includes and will cover any pre-existing medical conditions.

We would encourage you to research a number of companies and insurance policies to ensure you get the best policy for you.

You may want to consider if your insurance covers;

o Any pre-existing medical conditions (please make your insurer aware of these)

o The full period you are travelling (including departure and arrival days)

o Medical treatment and costs associated with hospitalisation for accidents (out of the water) and illness

o Evacuation costs (air lift, living costs, personnel costs etc.)

o Repatriation and family costs for missing person

o Costs associated with disrupted transport, trip postponement, cancellation, missed flights etc.

o The replacement of valuables lost, stolen, damaged

This is not an exhaustive list so please read your policy carefully and consider what you will need. Because of the remoteness of the field site and the nature of the work which you will be undertaking with us, we recommend not purchasing the cheapest travel insurance that you can find but ensuring that the company has a good reputation and is reliable.

You will be asked to provide the travel insurance company name, the policy number and the emergency assistance number on the insurance page you will be sent a link to. We also ask that you upload a scan of your policy document.

For more information on the importance of travel insurance and advice on choosing the right policy, please visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice page.

DAN insurance We also require that all volunteers obtain a DAN (Divers Alert Network) insurance policy to cover their safety whilst taking part in all diving and water based activities in Andavadoaka.

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DAN is aware of the specific nature of our research in Andavadoaka, and is therefore able to efficiently evacuate anyone in the case of emergency. For European volunteers this costs about 60 Euros and can be ordered online at www.daneurope.org/eng/english_.htm. You will need a minimum of DAN Sport Bronze cover (which will cover you for one year).

Volunteers from North America should purchase DAN cover (minimum of ‘Basic’ plan required) via https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/. There is also the option to purchase travel insurance through DAN (https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/trip/), which we recommend.

Volunteers from South Africa need to purchase DAN ‘standard’ cover from DAN Southern Africa (http://www.dansa.org/).

Anyone from Australia, New Zealand or anywhere else in the Asia-Pacific region needs to join DAN Asia Pacific (http://www.danasiapacific.org/). You only need to become an individual member unless you also wish to purchase your travel insurance with them.

All other nationalities can find information on joining DAN at: https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/contact/international.asp

Once you have purchased your insurance you will be sent a confirmation email with your membership number. Please upload this online at the same time as your travel insurance details. Arriving and Departing

International If you are arriving on an international flight, you will come into Antananarivo airport. Whilst on the plane you will be issued an embarkation card. If they run out on the plane you can get one before you go through immigration.

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You will need to go through immigration where you will need to show your visa if you obtained one prior to arrival, or purchase a 90-day visa from the visa counter on the right hand side of the room (for more information please see the visa section). You will then be in the luggage hall where you can collect your bag and walk straight out to arrivals. In the main airport building there are ATMs and a bureau de change as well as a Telma shop where you can buy a local SIM card.

If you are on the overland tour there will be someone waiting for you in arrivals holding a sign with ‘Auberge de Cheval Blanc’ and/or ‘Blue Ventures’ on it. You will then go straight to your hotel.

When arriving at Antananarivo airport to depart the country, you will need to go to the departures area at the right-hand side of the building and check-in. Once you have checked in you can go through security. There are Duty Free shops and a Café in the departure lounge, but they do not accept Ariary, so make sure you change any money back to Euros, US Dollars or Pounds before going through security.

Domestic If you are getting on a domestic flight straight from your international flight at Antananarivo you will need to go right as you come out of arrivals and into domestic departures. You will need to have your ticket ready to show before you are allowed to check-in on the right hand side. If your luggage weighs more than 20kg you will have to pay 1 Euro per kilogram you are over. If this is the case, you will be issued a ticket which you have to go and pay at the cash desk on the opposite side of the hall. There are no money changing facilities or ATMs in this part of the airport, so make

Page 16 sure you get everything you need in the international arrivals building. Once you have passed security there are some seats and a small café.

On arrival at Toliara airport, you will go straight to collect your bags and through to arrivals. Taxis wait right outside the airport and will take you into the centre of town for 10,000-15,000 Ariary – make sure you have local currency.

Money The local currency in Madagascar is the Malagasy Ariary (MGA).

Many volunteers choose to get most of their currency from ATMs using cash cards as opposed to carrying cash with them from home and that is the recommended option. We would suggest taking a backup amount of cash in case you lose your card as Blue Ventures cannot lend you money. When taking cash with you the most widely accepted currency for changing is the Euro, but US Dollars and British Pounds are also fine. Please be aware that most banks in Madagascar require you to change at least £50 worth of money.

For amounts smaller than this there are several bureau de change in Tana and Toliara but please bear in mind that they are likely to be closed on the weekend. There are no ATMs or places to change money in Andavadoaka. The recommended budget is £50 (please check online for the most current exchange rate) per week whilst on the expedition, so please make sure you have access to a sufficient amount of money whilst abroad.

Please only take Visa cards as other cards such as MasterCard, Maestro and Amex are not widely accepted.

Visas Every nationality needs a visa to enter Madagascar. Below are the different types of visa for foreign visitors and you will need to obtain the one that is appropriate for your stay:

30 day tourist visa 90 day visa Anyone staying in the country for no longer For anyone doing a longer expedition, than 30 days can simply obtain a visa on including the overland tours can get a 90 arrival at Antananarivo airport for about 35 day visa. One can be bought on arrival at Euros. Antananarivo airport for around 60 Euros.

Buying your kit

A list of everything you need to bring with you can be found on our Expedition Checklist and our regularly updated Dive Kit List. Clothes/Equipment Getting all your kit together for an expedition doesn’t have to be as expensive as people think. A lot of the day to day clothing you need you will already own and you certainly don’t need anything

Page 17 new or flashy for around site! For any extra clothes you may need; insect repellent, mosquito net and any other outdoor equipment, you can take advantage of 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor stores. Please contact the London office to obtain a letter with your discount code. Dive Kit In terms of your dive equipment, you may already own all or some of this if you have dived before, but if you haven’t then you may well be starting from scratch. It is a good idea to go to a dive shop so you can try on equipment, but then there are lots of online retailers that you can purchase from which can work out a lot cheaper. You may be able to borrow equipment or pick up some second hand. If you see anything online that you are not sure about and want to check that it is suitable, just drop us an email. More detailed information on the dive kit you will need to bring can be found on our Dive Kit List. Dive Manuals Dive manuals can be purchased from your local dive shop or many online retailers. If you are having trouble finding them, please get in touch.

Whilst you’re there

Life on a Blue Ventures’ expedition is rewarding and challenging and probably completely different from anything you’ve ever done before.

This section will give you some information about what to expect without spoiling it for you!

In this section you’ll find information on:

● Internal logistics: options for getting to and from the meeting point ● Dive and science training ● Other projects you may get involved with ● Practicalities on site e.g. communication with home, food, accommodation ● Health and Safety

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Internal Logistics

This section is designed to give you all the information you will need in terms of internal travel from Antananarivo (Tana) to Toliara (the meeting point) and then on to Andavadoaka (the expedition site). For information regarding international travel to Madagascar, please refer to the International Logistics section.

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Between Tana and Toliara

You will need to arrange travel between Tana (where international flights arrive and depart) and Toliara (the pickup/drop off point) at the beginning and end of the expedition. Transport is included from Toliara to our site in Andavadoaka, details of which follow this section.

There are 3 options for travelling from Tana to Toliara: o The overland tours, highly recommended by all volunteers o Internal Flights o Taxi Brousse (local public transport)

The Overland Tours Travelling from Antananarivo to Toliara can be done by air, but that option restricts the opportunity that you would have to fully explore the beautiful scenery around you.

Tana to Toliara (Overland tour South)

We have a service for volunteers to travel with a small mini-van seating up to 15 people, from Antananarivo to Toliara. The trip lasts 4 days and 3 nights, and covers a total of 1,000km of land. Please see here for an online summary of this exciting trip.

We believe that this method of travel to Toliara allows volunteers to get more from their visit to Madagascar, as they have the opportunity to see some of the country's many different landscapes and cultures whilst on the journey. The trip is also carried out at a leisurely pace, for volunteers to admire scenery and have more time to adapt to their surroundings. It is cheaper than flying, safer than taking a taxi brousse, and also allows volunteers to become acquainted with each other whilst exploring their new environment. Overnight accommodation will be arranged en-route in the town of Fianarantsoa, and Isalo National Park. Isalo National Park offers dramatic sandstone rocks, canyons, natural swimming pools and waterfalls, as well as lemurs (Ring-tail lemurs, brown lemurs and sifakas) and unique plant species including the Elephant’s Foot tree (Pachypodium rosulatum).

Cost

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The trip start dates and associated costs can be found on our dates and costs page. Payment is to be made to Blue Ventures in advance of your trip What’s included: o 3 nights’ accommodation en route o Transport costs What’s not included: o Accommodation prior to scheduled start date th o Accommodation on last day of tour (equivalent to 4 night) o Meals, drinks, snacks, guide tips and other expenses. We recommend a minimum of £100 in local currency to cover this and other unexpected purchases.

Logistics

Your flight details will be provided to Dave who runs the overland tours. He will ensure our recommended hotel near the airport (the Auberge du Cheval Blanc) have them so they know when to collect you from Antananarivo Airport if you are coming straight. We will automatically book you into this hotel as part of a group booking the night before the tour starts (or two nights if necessary) unless you state otherwise but you must cover this cost on departure (about 16EUR). The overland trip departs at about 06:30 from the Auberge du Cheval Blanc hotel on the scheduled start date. It will end when it reaches Toliara on the scheduled end date where volunteers will be dropped at the Mahayana Hotel. Again, we will automatically book you into this hotel for the two nights prior to the expedition start date and you will need to cover this cost on departure (about 20EUR per night) There are plenty of attractions in Toliara including the botanic garden (with 900 species, 90% endemic to the region), the IHSM and marine museums, Masikoro tombs, a bustling local market and shops, internet cafés and many restaurants.

Toliara to Tana (Overland Tour North)

At the end of the expedition there is also an overland tour back up to Tana. This is 3 days and 2 nights long and costs £160. This trip is a little more drive-intensive than the trip down, but is a great way to absorb the landscape and see more of Madagascar before you fly home. Although the trip travels along the same road as the first one, it stops at different places, so many people opt to do both. The main attraction of the tour north is the visit to the popular Ranamofana National Park.

Should you decide that you would like to take either or both of these trips, but have already made internal flight arrangements with Air Madagascar, cancelling flights with them is often possible with no penalty. If you do want to take up this fantastic opportunity please contact us as soon as possible.

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By Air For those who do not wish to travel by road, Air Madagascar (www.airmadagascar.mg) runs daily internal flights from Antananarivo to Toliara. If you are flying into Toliara you should make sure you arrive at least the day before the scheduled start date as sometimes these flights can be unreliable. If you are flying back up to Tana at the end of the expedition, please do not book any onward travel until the day after the end of the expedition.

Taxi brousse Travelling by the local taxi brousse between Tana and Toliara is an option, but we only suggest it for more seasoned travellers who have a good knowledge of French. The journey takes 2 days, with a stopover at a town half-way. If you do wish to do this, please contact the London office for details.

Accommodation Recommendations

Tana If you are on the overland tour then you will automatically be booked into the Auberge de Cheval Blanc airport hotel based on your arrival details. However, if you are arriving a day or two early, you may wish to stay more central. Some recommendations we have are:

Budget: Hotel Niaouly, Lot VE49, Ambatovinaky 101 Antananarivo. Tel : + 261 20 22 627 65, E-mail : [email protected]. Approx. 9-14 Euros/night. Madagascar Underground Hostel, cheap shuttle bus service from/to airport, address: 18 Lalana Raintitovo, Antsahavola, Atananarivo, 101, Tel: +261 34 29 909 07, email: [email protected], approx. price: 8 – 15 Euros/night depending on room type (slight discount for BV volunteers so do mention this when booking)

Mid-range: La Résidence Lapasoa, 15 rue de la réunion, Isoraka, Antananarivo 101. Tel: +261 20 22 611 40, Email: [email protected]. Approx. 45 Euros/night Luxury: Le Pavillon de l’Emyrne, 12, rue Rakotonirina Stanislas, Isoraka, BP 4106 Antananarivo. Tel: + 261 20 22 259 46, Email: [email protected]. Approx 60-100 Euros/night

Getting to Andavadoaka Blue Ventures provides the transfer from Toliara to Andavadoaka to everyone starting on a standard expedition date. Unless told otherwise you should meet at The Le Palmier Hotel in Toliara, our recommended hotel, at 6pm the evening before the scheduled start of your expedition to meet the team and make plans for your departure the following day. We will automatically book this for you for the night before the start of the expedition or 2 nights if necessary. The cost of this hotel is not included in the expedition or overland tour cost and is approximately £15 a night.

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Typically, the departure to Andavadoaka will leave Toliara at around 8am on the scheduled start date. It is therefore imperative that you arrive in Toliara in time to meet the team for the pickup. The fascinating journey to Andavadoaka is something of an expedition in itself, typically taking anything between 9 and 15 hours depending on a number of factors including the weather conditions at the time – the lack of any metalled road for the route means that driving conditions are at the mercy of any surface water that may be around. There is also a river to cross en-route to the site that can be difficult to cross after rain. Volunteers make the journey in 4x4 vehicles and it can be extremely bumpy. Volunteers are advised to take lots of water and snacks for the trip as well as any travel sickness pills if necessary.

If you arriving at a different date to the scheduled start date then you will be responsible for the cost of your transfer from Toliara to Andavadoaka. Whilst we do offer flexible start dates, this options is more challenging in some respects as you are unlikely to be travelling with anyone else and will not be met by a team member when you reach Toliara. Therefore we recommend you stick to the standard dates as much as possible. We can arrange for a 4x4 and driver to take you on the journey and the standard rate is 600,000 Ariary (approx. £200). This cost can be spilt equally with any other volunteers or staff travelling on the same journey. We always try and coordinate journeys as much as possible, but you should be prepared to pay the maximum amount. Things to do in Toliara ● Last chance to use an ATM ● You can purchase a local sim card from Telma or Orange, or a dongle (credit can be purchased in Andavadoaka, more details in ‘communicating with home’ section) ● Fruit, sauces, jams, chocolate spread, etc … ● Skype home and tell friends and family you’re safe and already having an amazing time!

The Expedition

The Site For the majority of the 6 weeks expedition, volunteers are based on our purpose built site next to the main village of Andavadoaka. The volunteer huts are situated on Half Moon Beach, with the classroom (Nosy Cao) and the Dive hut (The Bat Cave) a stone’s throw away. A few minutes’ walk down the path and you will reach the staff huts and the restaurant where 3 meals a day are served up. Head in the other direction and you’ll soon end up in Andavadoaka village which boasts a bustling ‘high street’ lined with fruit sellers and second-hand clothes stalls as well as 2 shops where you can buy cold drinks, treats and phone credit. As a volunteer you will attract a lot of attention when in the village and it will be known that you are with Blue Ventures. It is important that you behave in an appropriate and culturally sensitive manner

Page 23 at all times as any negative attention reflects directly on your fellow volunteers and Blue Ventures as an organisation.

There is lots to do in Andavadoaka during your free time with amazing beaches, great snorkelling sites, eco-guides who can take you out in pirogues or into the forests, beach volleyball, football with the locals and even just chilling in a hammock.

The Team Staff on site are there to help you, train you and support you wherever needed. However, expedition staff are not tour guides, and as such we expect all volunteers to support staff wherever possible, assisting them in day-to-day activities.

Below is a list of the expedition’s team members, but you will come across many more Blue Ventures staff who are involved in various aspects of our conservation work. For a full list, you can take a look at Our Madagascar Team.

David Parreno Duque – Expedition Manager Joe Sharman – Field Scientist Catherine Pigeon – Field Scientist Bic – Dive Manager James Paul – Assistant Instructor and field scientist Patty – Divemaster

When you arrive The first few days of the expedition are designed to help familiarise you with the local area, have a bit of a rest and acclimatise to your new surroundings. You will be given an orientation and tour of the village of Andavadoaka, as well as an introduction to Blue Ventures Madagascar and all the staff. These first few days will also involve a briefing on health and safety, both in and out of the water. You will be required to do a 400m open water swim test. This is not a race and you can take as long as you need to finish, but you will need to complete this before you start diving/swimming.

Rules and Regulations You will be briefed on the site rules and regulations when you arrive and be asked to sign to say you have read and agreed to them. We try and give you as much freedom as possible, but some rules are necessary to ensure the safety of you and your peers, the reputation of Blue Ventures and to ensure an enjoyable expedition. Please note that the breaking of rules may well lead to your expulsion from the expedition.

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Training During the first few weeks or the expedition there will be a strong emphasis on training, both for the science and, for some people, the dive courses.

Dive Training All volunteers who want to take part in research dives on an expedition need to be an Advanced Open Water Diver or higher. Everyone will get trained up to this level within the first couple of weeks, if they are not already and then any further courses people wish to take will begin after this.

For your Advanced Open Water course, you do not need to complete all knowledge reviews, only the following chapters:

● Underwater Naturalist ● Deep Diving ● Peak Performance Buoyancy ● Underwater Navigation ● Boat Diving

For divers who have not dived within 6 months of the start of the expedition, you will need to complete a PADI SCUBA tune-up when you first arrive. If this is going to be the case, please make sure you let the London office know, so it can be added to your invoice (£49).

If you are doing any dive courses (apart from the Tune-up) you are required to purchase your own PADI manual for every course you are taking. You do not need the whole crewpack (except for the Divemaster course) just the manual.

Prices for additional courses are as follows:

● Emergency First Response - £95 ● Rescue Diver - £245 ● Divemaster (need to stay for 12 weeks) - £395

The Emergency First Response course must be taken with the Rescue Diver course unless you are a medical professional or have a comparable First Aid certificate. If you think this is the case, please get in touch with the London office. The Rescue Diver course is a prerequisite for the Divemaster course.

These extra dive courses can be added to your invoice prior to departure or you can choose to do them whilst you are out in Andavadoaka. For any course you decide to take whilst on site, you will be required to sign an agreement that you will purchase the relevant PADI manual on your return.

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Science Training The science training will be a large part of the expedition, especially in the first couple of weeks. It will be taught by our field scientists and will be in the form of classroom lectures and underwater point outs. There will also be workshops, where you can discuss any problems you are having directly with staff and take practice tests. You will be taught coral formations and fish species as well as about the environment within which you will be collecting data.

You will be required to pass both computer and underwater tests to ensure that you have learnt everything sufficiently and can record accurate data on the science dives. The majority of volunteers pass these within the first 2 weeks, but those who have done reading prior to the expedition are always able to get into science dives quicker. It is very important for you to have a copy of either Ewald Lieske’s “Coral Reef Fish” or Gerry Allen’s “Reef Fish” – either will help you immensely in mastering your species identification.

We have a marine science training guide on our pre-departure briefing pages which gives you a good overview of the site and some work to be getting on with before you arrive.

Diving Much of Andavadoaka’s marine environment is uncharted and undived. Varying from shallow fore reef channels to deeper sea-fan forests, the sites we visit offer divers the chance to encounter a wide range of the habitats you will learn about during your time with Blue Ventures. As an added bonus, when conducting reconnaissance dives, there is a very good chance that you are amongst the very first people to ever dive in that area of this remote part of Madagascar.

Our primary consideration when working in such a remote location is safety: all diving is carried out according to the Blue Ventures Diving Protocol, and under the guidance of the Diving Manager. You will be fully briefed on the Diving Protocol upon your arrival on site.

Part of this protocol is that one day a week is taken as a compulsory “no-dive” day, to let volunteers rest after being in the water each day. The day off is also to ensure that any residual nitrogen build-up from the week’s diving is completely cleared from your system. There is another day taken off each week to allow volunteer to engage in other project work and activities as well as adventure and cultural experiences.

A rigorous casualty evacuation plan is in place with links to the nearest recompression facility and is constantly updated to ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible in the case of an emergency.

In the interests of safety, we also ask volunteers to help out on Boat Marshalling and Shore Marshalling duties. As Boat Marshall you will look after the safety and wellbeing of other volunteers on one of our research boats, and as Shore Marshall you act as first point of contact between our research boats and our site. You will be fully briefed on these roles during your first few introductory days.

Depending on local weather and sea conditions, each volunteer should be able

Page 26 to complete one or two dives per day. This is only a guide, and depends on local conditions and group numbers. There are also recreational dives, so if you have an underwater camera, we very strongly urge you to bring it with you.

The SCUBA Diving sites in Andavadoaka offer many different habitats for you to explore. From shallow fore-reefs, many of which are degraded by overfishing and climate change to deeper pristine patch reefs and more remote fringing reefs that are less disturbed by fishing activity and have so far avoided the effects of rising sea temperatures and sedimentation from Madagascar's rivers. As a volunteer you will be helping to survey these areas to determine how effective marine protected areas are at improving the health of the reefs and whether other factors are causing reef degradation.

Other Projects you may or may not be involved in during your expedition Our research in Andavadoaka is not restricted to underwater and ecological monitoring, and the wide diversity of terrestrial and social-based projects currently underway will be introduced to you on your arrival on site.

None of the projects available to volunteers require any formal scientific training or background, and all necessary support is provided by research staff on site. Should you choose to take part in an individual project, after meetings and discussions with science staff you will become responsible for continuing the research, normally carried out in the afternoons.

Species inventories Blue Ventures is in the process of developing an online marine species identification website for the western Indian Ocean. The project can be seen at www.wiomweb.org. Volunteers in Andavadoaka have managed the collection and identification of images to feature in this multi-taxa library, the first resource of its kind in the Indian Ocean.

Fisheries landing monitoring Fisheries landing analysis forms a key component of the long term monitoring being developed by Blue Ventures in the Andavadoaka region. Twice every month volunteers work with local data collectors to sample the species and weight of all catches landed in on Andavadoaka beach. Results of this ambitious monitoring programme are providing an unprecedented long term data set which is enabling identification of temporal changes in landings.

Octopus The octopus fishery during extreme low tides is the primary source of income for women of the Andavadoaka region. Depending on the season, Blue Ventures volunteers collect data on the size of octopus and fishing locations to assess the sustainability of the fishery. Volunteers can spend from 10am until 2pm on three consecutive days meeting local women as they bring octopus to the commercial collector.

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Education Each Saturday morning Blue Ventures volunteers help teach English at the local village school. It is very useful if you are able to bring out teaching materials, stationary, picture books, stickers, etc. to help you and the children get more from the lessons. Classes are split into two groups based on age and ability so materials for all levels are useful.

On Monday, Wednesday and Fridays volunteers teach English to our local staff, which for the most part is the only opportunity they have to be taught English. Volunteers are also highly encouraged to help teach them basic computer skills.

Baobab forest A unique forest of dwarf baobabs lays just an hour’s walk from Andavadoaka. Each baobab in this forest has been mapped, and the position, habitat, height and circumference of each tree has been recorded. Blue Ventures volunteers have the opportunity to visit this forest along with our field scientists and eco-guides to learn more about this extraordinary ecosystem. On the way back, there’s often the opportunity to learn to drive a Zebu cart, the local form of land transportation!

Bird surveys Volunteers and staff often spend afternoons and/or mornings visiting different habitats in the Andavadoaka region identifying bird species, and playing back pre-recorded bird calls in the field. These walks are a great way to explore the coast. A keen birder is needed to lead these walks and inspire fellow volunteers. There are many different species of bird in the region surrounding Andavadoaka so volunteers with an interest in birds can visit different habitats identifying bird species and exploring the coast.

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Tortoise monitoring Volunteers and staff visit the village of Lamboara, south of Andavadoaka, to monitor the critically endangered population of spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides) in the spiny forest. This trip provides an opportunity for volunteers to visit another village and sleep under the stars.

Sea cucumber monitoring Every spring tide sea cucumber farmers in the village of Tampolove monitor the numbers and weights of juvenile and adult sea cucumbers to prepare them for sale. Volunteers are needed to help the fishermen survey their pens as part of this aquaculture project.

Malagasy lessons Volunteers are also given twice weekly Malagasy lessons by Blue Ventures staff, and are encouraged to take part in teaching English to teachers alongside the weekly lessons for children at Andavadoaka’s school. See the Local Malagasy Wordlist at the end of this guide for some simple words and phrases.

Practicalities on site

Accommodation Volunteers stay in shared eco-cabins on the beautiful Half Moon Beach for the majority of their stay. The huts are owned by Coco Beach Hotel, but are exclusively used for Blue Ventures’ volunteers. There is a maximum of 4 volunteers to a hut, with a bathroom with a cold, salt water shower in almost all of them. The huts are quite basic as you would expect, but if it is a small group we try and spread out volunteers as much as possible and keep them single-sex. The rooms have bunk beds and sheets and blankets are available, but please bring your own towel. If you would like a hut to yourself you are welcome to do this for a 10% supplement (or 5% each as a couple). Please let the London office know well in advance if you would like to do this.

A stone’s throw from the huts are the classroom (Nosy Cao) and the Dive hut (The Bat Cave). We do ask volunteers to help keep these areas tidy and there will be duties assigned to ensure everything is covered.

The water on site is filtered and we have a hut next to Nosy Cao with 3 large water filters. You can fill up your drinking bottles at any times from these, but we do ask that you refill them when they run out to ensure there is enough for the next person. You will be shown how to do this when you first arrive.

During your expedition you will also spend some time living in local Homestay accommodation with local families. The Homestay programme is an incredible opportunity to experience local life

Page 29 and provides direct economic benefits to our host communities in Madagascar, Belize and Timor-Leste.

Food All meals at Coco Beach are eaten at a covered area just outside the main hotel. This is exclusively for Blue Ventures’ volunteers and you will eat your breakfast lunch and dinner here.

If at any time you want any extra food, chips, omelettes and sometimes even pizza is available to order at the restaurant, as are drinks. So that volunteers don’t have to carry money on them all the time, the hotel allows volunteers to set up a tab for extra food and drink they buy. This tab needs to be cleared every week to ensure there are no outstanding payments after you leave. The meals are extremely nutritious and make the best of the local produce. Most meals will be rice-based and the local catch almost always makes an appearance. If you have special dietary requirements please let us know before-hand and let the expedition manager know on arrival. We get a great deal of vegetarians on our expeditions, so can be very accommodating, however all vegetables have to be brought in from Toliara (200 km away) so they can be a little limited. It is a good idea to bring vitamin supplements as well as spices, sauces etc. to vary your meals.

Laundry Washing can be done yourself by hand or a lady from the village can wash your clothes very inexpensively. She comes up to the volunteer huts to collect clothes and usually has them washed and return the same day or the next. Please note, it is not culturally acceptable for women to wash other female’s underwear, so please wash this yourself.

Communication with home Even though Andavadoaka is 200km from the nearest large town, it is fortunate enough to have mobile and internet access, albeit sometimes quite limited! There will be times when you aren’t receiving signal, so do let your friends and family know not to worry if they haven’t heard from you in a few days.

Mobile (Cell) Phones Telma is the local mobile provider and generally has reasonably good signal at our site. You can buy a Telma SIM card in Tana or Toliara and credit can be bought from Andavadoaka village. We suggest bringing along an unlocked handset (one that can take any SIM card) or handsets can be bought in Toliara and other large towns. The price per text to an international number is about 300Ar and call costs vary hugely, but they will be much cheaper than using your SIM card from home.

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Having people call you If your friends and family would like to call you on your Malagasy number then they will need to ensure that they add on the Madagascar country code (+261) to the front of your number and omit the first zero. E.g. if the number is 03456789 they would need to dial +261 3456789.

Emails Currently the best option if you wish to have regular contact with home is to bring an unblocked smart phone/mobile as there is now mobile phone coverage in Andavadoaka. Pay as you go Telma SIM cards can be bought in Antananarivo or Toliara prior to your arrival in Andavadoaka. You can add a pay-as-you-go data package and go online on your handset, alternatively you can create a personal wireless hotspot. Note that connection speeds are slow. Credit is available for purchase in Andavadoaka.

Alternatively, volunteers are able to write emails which are then sent weekly. Each volunteer can do one email per week. For people wishing to email you, then can direct their emails to [email protected]. These will be downloaded weekly and printed out for volunteers by our expedition manager. Please ask them to put your name in the subject line of the email.

There is also the option of bringing your own laptop/tablet and buying your own dongle in Toliara for about 89000 Ar which can be used on a ‘pay as you go’ basis using Telma credit available in the village. If you would like to purchase one, please let our team know when you arrive in Toliara and they will be able to direct you to one of the two Telma shops in the town.

Post There is no postal service to and from Andavadoaka. Please tell loved ones to contact the London office if they need to get something to you urgently.

Power The electricity on site runs from a generator and is for around 7.5 hours a day (9.30am-11.30am and then from 3.30pm-9pm).

There are plugs in the volunteer cabins (2-pin French plugs) and also plugs in Nosy Cao (2-pin French plugs and British 3-pin plugs). We recommend that you charge any electrical items in Nosy Cao as these are earthed and surge protected. Please be aware though that Nosy Cao is a public area, so don’t leave expensive items unattended.

Money

There are no money changing facilities in Andavadoaka or the local area. For this reason we ask that you bring all the cash you need on site with you from Tana/Toliara. We have

Page 31 a suggested budget of £50 (160,000 Ariary) a week to buy drinks, treats, extra snacks, phone credit, eco-guide tours and souvenirs. As was previously mentioned, please make sure you pay off any tabs every week and ensure that all outstanding amounts are cleared before leaving site.

Any large amounts of cash can be left with the expedition manager to keep in the safe.

Please be aware that under no circumstances can Blue Ventures lend you money. For more information on bringing money to Madagascar, please refer to the Before you Go section.

Health and Safety

Andavadoaka is a remote tropical village where you will be diving five days a week. In such conditions there are many health and safety hazards above and below the water and therefore safety is a priority on all our expeditions. Throughout your time with Blue Ventures you will be provided with information and advice on all aspects of working and diving safely in the environment in which you will be based. However, we do ask that you also take it upon yourself to exercise common sense, follow advice and take necessary precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable expedition.

Healthy Eating and Hygiene We do our utmost to provide a balanced diet but it is always worth packing some supplementary vitamin pills to take whilst in the field. These are supplementary and so should not replace an adequate diet.

Washing your hands frequently with soap and clean water is a vital part of staying healthy on in the field and although our medical staff will remind you, you are ultimately responsible for

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ensuring that you keep yourself as clean and healthy as possible. We recommend that you take antiseptic hand-gel with you to Madagascar for use when water is unavailable to clean your hands before eating

Water may be treated on site or bottled water can be purchased from the bar. Volunteers are recommended to bring some water purification tablets/droplets for emergencies.

Malaria Malaria is present in Madagascar and is transmitted by mosquitoes. It is very important that you take malaria prophylaxis whilst in the field to reduce the risk of infection. But as the old saying goes, prevention is better than a cure – it is essential that you reduce that chance of being bitten:

● Apply mosquito repellent to exposed areas of the skin every 6 hours and impregnate your clothes with repellent for further protection ● Keep legs and arms covered with clothing ● Choose a mosquito net impregnated with repellent and make sure it is tucked securely under your mattress at night ● Use mosquito coils in the evening

Volunteers are required to bring their own mosquito nets and coils on each expedition. A ‘box’ (4-point) mosquito net is recommended.

Prophylaxis A malaria prophylaxis can help protect you against malaria but none can give you guaranteed protection. Blue Ventures recommends that you use a combination of repellents, suitable clothing, mosquito net and prophylaxis to be as safe as possible.

Prophylaxis include:

Mefloquine (Larium®) is a prophylactic, advised to be taken in areas of high chloroquine resistance, where it offers good protection against malaria. It can cause vivid dreams and is not recommended for those with a history of psychiatric problems. Mefloquine is taken once weekly. Doxycycline (Vibramycin®) is an antibiotic that is advised to be taken in areas of high resistance to other common anti-malarial prophylactics. Reported side effects are heartburn, photosensitivity and diarrhoea. Malarone® (proguanil combined with atovaquone) it is suitable as both a preventative and treatment of P. falciparum malaria. Malarone® is used as an alternative to mefloquine or doxycyline, and is particularly suitable for short trips to highly chloroquine-resistant areas. It is the most expensive prophylactic, but has the fewest reported side effects.

Blue Ventures does not recommend any one prophylaxis. There are pros and cons to each of these medications, please discuss with your Doctor or travel clinic for the best option for you, but remember to start your medication at least one week before travelling so that you can change to

Page 33 a different one if you notice any negative side effects. Because of the seriousness of this disease we advise all volunteers to find out more by visiting the following website: ● www.preventingmalaria.info

Immunisations Vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to protect yourself against infection whilst abroad. Unfortunately, many infections, such as diphtheria and measles, are prevalent in other countries due to lack of vaccines. While most of us received a full series of vaccinations as children, adults should confirm that boosters or new immunisations are not needed. All volunteers should be vaccinated for the following diseases before the expedition commences. Please consult your GP or travel clinic regarding the vaccines that you will personally require. We do not require proof of any of these vaccinations, but we highly recommend that you follow the advice of your GP.

● Polio, tetanus and BCG (Tuberculosis) ● Yellow fever (only necessary if staying in sub-Saharan Africa en-route to Madagascar) ● Diphtheria ● Meningitis (A & C) ● Typhoid ● Hepatitis A ● Hepatitis B ● Rabies

More information can be found on the British Airways travel health clinic website: ● www.british-airways.com/health

Cuts and Grazes From our experience, the main cause of infection in the field is through small cuts and abrasions, mostly around feet. It is very important that you keep cuts clean to prevent the risk of them get infected. Bring an old pair of trainers or good quality sandals to keep feet protected at all times. It is also important that you bring antiseptic spray and plasters so that you can cover up cuts to stop sand getting in them while at camp, or to keep them relatively dry whilst diving.

We recommend obtaining a dry powder antiseptic spray for this purpose. Experience has shown Betadine® to be one of the most effective products available for this purpose.

We have a ‘shoes’ policy at site, and all team members are required to have footwear on at all times when around camp, to minimise the risk of cuts and scrapes.

In the tropical environment in which you will be working, a simple scratch or cut can quickly become infected when given daily exposure to the nutrient-rich warm sea water in which you will be regularly swimming. In the first instance it is up to you (not the Expedition Medic) to look after cuts and scrapes, and make sure they don’t get infected!

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The Sun As Andavadoaka is located in the tropics, daytime temperatures - particularly during the austral summer - can get extremely hot. As a result you may be at risk from heatstroke or sunburn. This is particularly important during your first weeks on site when you may be unused to the sun. It is advised that you bring and wear a rimmed hat. It is also very important to bring adequate sun protection; this includes broad spectrum sun lotion with a high SPF and aftersun lotion. Sun lotion must be biodegradable and reef-safe. We can almost guarantee a suntan when leaving the field site, however severe sunburn is always unpleasant and can be dangerous, therefore we do not advise you spend long periods sunbathing whilst on site.

The Heat Whilst on site it is critically important that you make sure you remain well hydrated throughout the day, drinking well over two litres of clean water each day. On site, heat exhaustion has been one of our most common problems, as volunteers occasionally fail to make sure that they are adequately hydrated. Therefore, especially before going out on boats or on walks away from site, it is vital to take on extra fluids and make sure that you have adequate re-hydration available to hand.

Travellers’ Diarrhoea Diarrhoea is the most common illness among those who travel to tropical locations. It can be caused by any food or drink from an infected source. It often happens 4-5 days after infection and can last up to a week.

The best way to avoid it is to maintain good personal hygiene (i.e. wash hands before eating and after using the toilet). If you do get ill it is very important not to become dehydrated. Drink plenty of purified water and take re-hydration treatment if necessary. If you feel like eating, bananas or rice are recommended. Avoid alcohol as this dehydrates you.

Most cases are self-limiting and will go away after a few days. If treatment is necessary, the Expedition Medic is able to prescribe medication. If you are a female on the contraceptive pill, diarrhoea may interfere with the absorption of the pill. Please consult your GP about this before travelling.

So what happens if I get ill? You must inform the Medical Officer and the Expedition Manager as soon as possible no matter how small the incident. It is likely that it may just be a small infection, in which case a team member qualified in first aid will treat you. If hospital treatment is needed then there is a hospital located in Toliara that you will be moved to. The Blue Ventures casualty evacuation plan is designed to ensure first class medical assistance can be obtained in the shortest time possible.

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Female Volunteers There are a few things to think about whilst in the field. Remember that travelling can disrupt your normal menstrual cycle. If you are worried that your period is late or stops altogether it is best that you take a test upon returning to your home country, although this is commonly a side effect of travelling. Please remember to take enough sanitary supplies with you - although available in Madagascar, they may not be your preferred variety.

Urinary infections and thrush are also common, especially if wearing a wetsuit for long periods and as a result of taking certain forms of malarial prophylaxis. Take along a tube of Canesten® or your regular treatment as a precaution.

If you are taking doxycycline as your malarial prophylaxis, please consult your GP if you are on the contraceptive pill. Remember to bring enough with you for the duration you will be away from home.

When you get home

Getting home from an expedition and fitting back into the real world can often be an underwhelming experience, but we strongly encourage returned volunteers to stay in touch and remain involved with Blue Ventures.

In this section you’ll find information on:

● Giving us your feedback ● Writing reviews ● Spreading the word ● Going for a medical check-up ● Joining our social media network ● Writing a blog

Feedback We are keen to provide volunteers with the best experience possible out in Madagascar and in order to do this we heavily rely on volunteers’ feedback. Once you return home you will receive an email asking you to fill out an online survey. We greatly appreciate people taking the time to fill this in and all feedback is taken on board. If you would prefer to email a member of the London team directly with your comments, then please feel free to do so.

Reviews If you would like to further share your experiences about your time with us, then you like to write a review. This can be done at:

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Go Overseas - http://bit.ly/H5z8Bl Or if you heard about us through Responsible Travel, you will be invited by them to write a review about your time with us.

Spread the Word If you are keen to share your experiences with others at your school, university or other venue then please let us know and we would be happy to provide you with a PowerPoint presentation that you can add your own photos to and personalise!

Check-ups Our medical staff advise that when you return to your home country you make a visit to your doctor for a routine check-up. This is due to the fact that you may be exposed to various bugs and diseases that are not native to your home country. If you at all concerned then please mention to the doctor that you would like a referral to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (www.lshtm.ac.uk), who will be more than happy to do a full check-up. It is also extremely important that, where necessary, you continue to take the malaria prophylaxis you have been using in Madagascar for the prescribed amount of time after your return. If you are in any way unsure about this please contact our home medical staff at [email protected] for more information, or ask your doctor.

Social Media We are constantly posting and tweeting about marine conservation news and updates and news from our sites, so join our Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.org/blueventures and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/blueventures. Blogs During the expedition you will be encouraged to write a blog to share your experience in the field. If you don’t manage to do one, or just want to write more about your time in Andavadoaka, then please do send us through any articles and we will post them up on our Beyond Conservation Blog.

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Appendices

Expedition Checklist

The following is a list of items we recommend you bring. Volunteers should note that conditions do change throughout the year and therefore certain items (such as a warm jumper during the hot season) are not essential. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Travel Essentials ● Prescriptions ● Malaria prophylaxis ● First aid kit ● Dive certification (if applicable) ● Passport & Madagascar visa (if not obtaining on arrival) ● Tickets ● Travellers Cheques and cash, Credit/Debit card (VISA ONLY) – We recommend carrying 200/300 Euros in cash in case of lost card. ● Photocopies of passport, Insurance cover, medical forms and travellers’ cheque details including receipts

Insurance ● Divers Alert Network (DAN) for Dive emergencies. ● Travel insurance which includes medical cover and possessions

Clothes The amount of clothing you take is up to you. Clothes can be washed cheaply in Andavadoaka ● Warm jumper for the evenings (bring a couple if you’re coming during winter (May – October) ● Long-sleeved top and trousers for protection against mosquitoes in the evenings ● Lightweight waterproof cagoule / jacket ● Underwear and socks ● T-shirts and shirts ● Shorts, skirts, trousers. Please note that women should cover their thighs whilst in villages so please consider this when packing ● Sturdy pair of shoes ● Boat shoes, booties, old trainers or sturdy sandals (not shoes you can slip in!) ● Hat, cap or bandana ● Sunglasses with high UV filter ● Swim wear (including rash vest) ● Towel

Diving Equipment For information all the specifications for the items you need and the most up to date information, please refer to the Dive Kit List.

Personal Kit

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● Permethrin-impregnated single mosquito net (Box-shaped) ● Mosquito coils (can be bought easily in Toliara) ● Insect spray (alternatively, the British military use “Avon skin so soft” as apparently this has mosquito-repellent properties) ● 1.0litre+ water bottle (camping/cycling bottle – alternatively you can use a 1.5l Eau Vive water bottle purchased in Madagascar) ● Natural, biodegradable sunscreen, sun block and lipscreen (waterproof and very high factor) ● Biodegradable soap/ shampoo (e.g. Faith in Nature, Lush, Jason) ● Dry bag to keep your possessions safe when you’re on a boat or pirogue (note a thick plastic dry bag is better than a thin plastic one – these are often referred to as “damp bags”) ● Head torch ● Camera, waterproof housing if you have it (make sure it’s insured) ● Personal stereo/music ● Laptop (not essential but many volunteers find it useful – please make sure you bring a good protective case for it) ● Rechargeable batteries for any electrical items along with charger. There is electricity 7 hours per day at our expedition site. French plug sockets are available in your room; UK plug sockets in the classroom ● A few good reading books which you won’t mind leaving behind! And maybe some games ● Species identification book ● Gaffer/ duct tape for repairs e.g. of mosquito nets ● Sleeping bag (essential in cooler months from May – October) ● Sports kit if you fancy running / basketball ● Unlocked mobile phone if you would like to use a local Telma sim card ● Goggles if you would prefer to use these for the swim test and other swimming activities

Personal Medical Kit ● Any prescription medications (you must inform the medical officer both in the UK and at the site) ● Malaria prophylaxis, enough for the duration stay in Madagascar plus a few spares ● Vitamin supplements ● Daily disposable lenses and glasses will save bring out cleaning fluids ● Insect repellent ● Antihistamine cream and/or tablets ● Imodium and re-hydration salts e.g. Dioralyte ● Canestan and sanitary supplies (females) ● Iodine or chloritabs for water purification (just enough for emergencies) ● Painkillers ● Sore throat lozenges ● Antiseptic wipes and Antiseptic cream or dry spray ● Sterile dressing pack and Bandage pack ● Scissors, tweezers and Safety pins ● Waterproof plasters (Band-aids) ● Syringe-pack ● Rehydration salts ● Photocopy of your completed Blue Ventures and PADI medical forms (for site Medical Officer)

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A good quality medical kit that contains all-important First Aid items is hard to come by. We recommend the Travellers First Aid Kit by InterHealth or the Active Max First Aid Kit by the First Aid Warehouse: ● shop.interhealth.org.uk ● www.firstaidwarehouse.co.uk

Both kits come with nearly all items needed for personal First Aid. Items that will have to be bought separately are: ● Hand sanitising gel ● After sun ● Anti-bacterial hand wash ● Re-hydration salts ● Sore throat lozenges

Miscellaneous ● USB pen drive (for storing presentations, your camera pictures, friends’ pictures, emails etc.) ● Picture books from your home country or French or Malagasy books (available in Antananarivo) to donate to the Environmental Club that BV supports in the community. The age group of club ranges from 5 to 15 so any books should be aimed at this age -range. ● A travel hammock, so you can relax whilst you learn your fish species (hammocks can be bought from the Women’s Association in the village) ● Email addresses of your friends & family in case you want to write any emails. When on site, you won’t be able to access Hotmail/Gmail/Yahoo, but you will be able to send plain text emails. ● Alternatively, if you bring an unlocked smart phone you can purchase a Telma sim card and set up a data package.

To help our staff onsite who have very little contact with the outside world, please bring any newspapers and magazines!

We advise volunteers to place essential items, such as a change of clothes, malaria pills, and important travel documents in your hand luggage in case your main luggage gets delayed at the airport