Whale Shark Marine Conservation Project Essential Info
This exciting Whale Shark Marine Conservation Project comprises of assisting in the gathering of scientific research data, to help assist with the conservation of whale sharks, coral reefs and other marine life. The perfect underwater adventure on your gap year.
Project Overview
Whale sharks are magnificent creatures and the oceans largest fish diving or swimming with them is an unforgettable experience. Although they are classed as sharks, they are in no way dangerous, in fact they dont even have teeth. Whale sharks are considered an endangered species but are relatively easy to study due to their massive size (some have been measured up to up to 20 metres in length!)
Considered good indicators of ocean productivity, Whale Sharks can play a significant role with marine conservation of efforts. Not much is understood known about the population dynamics of Whale sharks and Whale Shark Marine Conservation Project aims to understand and prevent the threats to whale sharks.
The Whale Shark Marine Conservation Project also involves protection of coral reefs. Reefs play an important role in the ecosystem, a lot of marine life is supported through health and living reef systems. Threats to reefs include coral bleaching, alien invasive species (like the crown of thorns star fish) and other ecological changes related to tourism and other man made activities.
One of the main The Whale Shark Marine Conservation Project course components involves monitoring the state of coral reefs in the Tofo area, Methods used are based on the international reef check system.
This will involve completing scuba diving transects amoungst the reefs and then recording coral data as an indicator of fish species, all the while you will be doing this in one of Africas greatest diving destinations.
The role of the Volunteer
Volunteers on the Whale Shark Conservation Project carry out marine research data collection and assist with monitoring activities under the supervision and guidance of the projects field Co-ordinator.
Joining other volunteers on this project, you will be hands on, collecting data via beach walks, boat surveys, swimmings and scuba diving off the stunning coastline of Tofo.
Your assistance is vital in not only to carrying out the required field activities, but also helping to fund the project. As you would expect the diving will be excellent and this will be a stunning environment to enjoy learning principals of marine conservation and learning about the worlds biggest fish, the Whale Shark.
Our volunteers are vital to help monitor whale shark populations, assist in understanding their behaviour and also you will be able to take underwater photos to help identify them.
Joining research scuba teams to assist with the monitoring of coral reefs, during certain seasons you may also get the opportunity to help with hump back whale surveys as well.
Accommodation
During your stay your will be housed in a comfortable volunteer beach house, dorm style rooms with communal bath rooms
Getting There
The programme begins in
If you would like assistance with your flights, we can assist with sourcing the best value flight options, just indicate on your booking form.
When To Go
The Whale Shark Marine Conservation Project runs all year round.
Price and Dates
- 4 weeks for 1999 including dive course
- 8 weeks £2999
- 12 weeks 3999
- Arrive 1st Monday of every month
- 2010: 4-Jan, 1-Feb, 1-Mar, 5-Apr, 3-May, 7-Jun, 5-Jul, 2-Aug, 6-Sep, 4-Oct, 1-Nov, 6-Dec
Included
- PADI Open Water course (or advanced course, or research dives for an equivalent value)
- Transfer to and from Inhambane airport to Tofo
- Full support and daily guidance from the project coordinator and assistant co-ordinator
- Project equipment
- Project activities including boat launches for whale shark snorkelling and research
- All accommodation
- Orientation upon arrival
- All meals included, volunteers help cook
Excluded
- Personal travel insurance for the duration of your placement (you can purchases here)
- All flights
- All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing (work and other)
- Telephone, internet, extra food and drinks, weekend activities
- Visas
- Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary
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Location,
Beach village of Tofo on the Inhambane peninsula, southern Mozambique
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Itinerary
There is a flexible itinerary, but this is the genaral overview:
Day 1-2: Arrival and orientation,
Week 1: PADI dive course (or equivalent dives)
Week 2-4: Project activities with an average of one or two dives per week and two or three whaleshark launches per week
Final day: End meeting and drop off
The day to day life of a whale shark volunteer is never really the same but this is how your day might look when you join us:
07:30 wake up and have breakfast
08:30 data entry on the computer from previous days research work
10:00 Go to the dive center (5 min walk) and get prepared for a whale shark launch. Jump on the boat and head out to sea to find whale sharks. Go snorkeling with the whaleshark, take pictures and track their movements etc. 13:00 Lunch
14:00 Depending on the time of year preparation for turtle work in the night.
15:30 here your working day ends and it leisure time.
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