MARINE CONSERVATION EXPEDITION Overview Travel to the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean as a member of an expedition and work on critical marine conservation projects amongst the beautiful islands of the Seychelles.

You will contribute towards various conservation-related surveys aimed at providing data to the local government on coral reef research, fish, and invertebrate surveys and assist with the development of an environmental education and awareness program as well as marine plastic pollution cleanups and surveys.

You will spend the majority of your time on this expedition scuba diving and as such you need to be qualified to at least PADI Open Water, or equivalent. For non-divers wishing to attend, we can recommend local dive centers that will help you qualify before your intended start date.

HIGHLIGHTS ● Learning how to identify fish and coral in the Indian Ocean. ● Earning your PADI Advanced Open Water and PADI Coral Reef Research Diver certificates. ● Exploring different dive sites among the tropical islands of Seychelles, searching for the incredible ‘mega-fauna’ in the area, such as sharks, rays, and dolphins. Take other extra dive courses with local dive shops. ● Developing the techniques needed to survey coral reefs.

Life On Base Our base is located in Baie Ternay Marine National Park, a 3-minute walk from the beach. The building was originally a school that has been transformed into an eco- friendly research base with classrooms for presentations, a recreation room to relax after a day of diving, giant hammocks for more relaxation, and a large grassy area with benches for eating or studying. Life on base is much like a big family and we share and tidying duties on a rotation basis. Those who have completed their intensive survey and dive training, can look forward to a short boat trip to the dive site once or twice about 5 days a week, depending on the quality of weather conditions. On other days, participants conduct either marine debris surveys or environmental education sessions with the local community depending on the project needs at the time. Days start early with boat preparations, or training, and are rounded off with an evening debrief, followed by dinner and time to relax, take in the beautiful sunset, and share stories. ACCOMMODATION Participants sleep in dorm rooms of up to 10 people. Bathrooms are shared but split- sex, with showers and flush toilets. The entire building is equipped with electricity. Sample the many flavours of Seychellois , from water sipped fresh out of the fruit to green papaya salad. All is provided by us and prepared by participants. include the usual eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, cereals, and fruit. and dinner varies based on the tastes of participants at the time. Common meals include , stir fries, , pies, and salads. Many participants also buy their own snacks, like banana chips and dried salted fish.

COMMUNICATION We are based in a protected natural reserve which means that signal does not cover the entire area. There are spots with good phone cover and we have a phone on base for emergencies. For high speed connectivity, our participants travel to Victoria’s many internet cafes. TRANSPORTATION We provide transfers from the airport to our base in Baie Ternay National Park, which is about an hour’s drive. The beach is very close to our accommodation so we simply walk down the water to the boats, which are available to take participants out for a dive. CLIMATE Seychelles has an equatorial climate, which means sunshine and warm waters year round. Tropical rainfall is common but more frequent from January to May and October to December. Weather is warmest from September through to May, and coolest in the middle of the year, from June to August, and water temperatures reflect these changes too.

What’s included ● 24-hour emergency phone ● 24-hour in-country support ● Access to Alumni Services and Discounts ● Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated) ● All necessary project equipment and materials ● All necessary project training by experienced staff ● Certification and summary of training and experience received ● Community work workshop ● Confidential professional reference ● Coral reef ecology ● Diving compressor training workshop ● First Aid & CPR training ● Location orientation ● Long term experienced staff ● Meals while on project (except on work placements for long term internships) ● Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared) ● National Park fees and permits ● PADI Advanced Open Water ● PADI Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Speciality ● Use of O2 equipment workshop ● Welcome meeting

What’s not included ● Additional drinks and gratuities ● Extra local excursions ● Flights ● International and domestic airport taxes ● Medical and travel insurance ● Personal dive kit, e.g. mask, fins, wetsuit, timer etc. ● Personal items and toiletries ● Police or background check ● Visa costs (where necessary)

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1. Provide a long-term and consistent collection of data, assessing the overall health and development of the reef system in Northern Mahe on behalf of the Seychelles National Parks Authority, SNPA, to be used for regional coastal marine management and international understanding of changing reef systems.

2. Increase the scientific output and awareness of the project through the publication of findings.

3. Continue to support the International School of Seychelles by providing their students with environmental education with a strong focus on marine ecosystems and their inhabitants.

4. Increase in-country capacity by providing training in environmental education and training to local communities.

5. Continue to minimise our environmental impact at Cap Ternay and raise awareness of environmental issues amongst participants and visitors.

YOUR IMPACT

All of our programs have short, mid and long-term objectives that fit with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or UN SDGs. This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.

Upon arrival to base, you will be educated about the history of the UN SDGs. You will learn about the specific goals of your location, the long-, mid- and short-term objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these goals on a global level.

Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to act as active global citizens after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.

Healthy corals are key to the health of our planet. They help fish populations regenerate themselves providing shelter for young fish, they assist in removing excess carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, and protect living spaces near the shore from damage by waves and storms.

In 1998 a massive coral bleaching event decimated many coral reefs around the globe, including the reefs surrounding the inner granitic islands of Seychelles. Coral bleaching occurs when rising water temperatures cause the algae that live on corals to detach themselves from their hosts. Algae is the main food source for corals and helps to maintain the structure of the corals. Warm waters are the result of climate change caused by excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Efforts to monitor the recovery of reefs in Seychelles were initiated after the 1998 event. This began with a 3 year project, named the Shoals of Capricorn, which extensively monitored the entire inner islands. The Seychelles Centre for Marine Research & Technology, SCMRT, was set up at this time to continue the work, and to aid the Seychelles National Parks Authority, SNPA, with the management of the marine parks. After the Shoals of Capricorn project the monitoring was then taken over by Reef Care International.

In addition to the high seasonal sea temperatures, the coral reefs around Seychelles, face numerous other threats such as population pressure, poaching, and unsustainable tourism, all of which are challenging to quantify without a solid, scientific basis. In order to effectively manage and conserve the reef, a continuous monitoring program is necessary to build up a comprehensive picture of the ecological health of the reef.

Coral and Fish Surveys

We established our project in Seychelles in 2004 with the aim of aiding SNPA. At over 20 sites across the North-West coast of Mahe, GVI staff and participants use the protocols of Reef Care International in order to survey the reefs noting the health of existing coral, evidence of new young coral growing on the reef, as well as fish species present and their numbers. Data on coral recovery, as well as fish abundance and diversity is passed on to the SNPA to assist with their management decisions, which might include updates to policies, expanding currently protected areas, or protecting additional areas. In addition, participants use a different coral monitoring technique, to provide data to CoralWatch, a worldwide coral monitoring methodology, based in Queensland University, Australia, which aims to monitor coral bleaching and recovery events around the globe.

Commercial Marine Species Surveys

Unsustainable fishing is also a threat to the health of the Seychellois marine life. In addition this also affects the wellbeing of the local community, because many rely on fish for daily sustenance, and the growth of the local economy, because from Seychelles is sold to international visitors to the islands and consumers abroad. Its underwater treasures are also the reason why many visit every year, bringing capital into the country. We assist Seychelles Fishing Authority, SFA with monitoring commonly harvested species like octopus, lobster, and sea cucumber populations.

Marine Megafauna Sightings

Incidental sightings of marine megafauna like tiger sharks and manta rays, occur frequently during dives, and this information is noted and passed on to the Ocean Biogeographic Information System or OBIS Seamap, an online database designed to keep track of various larger marine species around the world.

Marine Plastic Pollution Cleanups

Ocean floor clean up dives are also regularly conducted as part of the Dive Against Debris or DAD initiative. The data about marine plastics collected is sent on to Project AWARE an organisation established to monitor the abundance and diversity of marine debris around the world.

Environmental Education

Environmental education is also an important part of our GVI Mahe program. The main aim of this program is to get locals involved in discussions around issues affecting their marine environment.