Suitability: All levels
Summary: Entry level diver training (if required), marine conservation training and surveys
Duration: 6 - 10 weeks
Courses: Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver and EFR Courses are available to those that need training at an additional cost

• PADI Courses from Open Water to EFR (available as an extra cost)
• Variable programme lengths from 6 weeks to 10 weeks
• 3 months traineeship available afterwards
• Community projects, including teaching and sports
• Marine surveying techniques
• 2 dives per day 5 days a week surveying reefs and marine life
• 1 day recreational diving per week
• Beachside location
• Fijian 'Savu Savu' welcome ceremony
• Diving with dolphins

Come and join a volunteer marine survey group living on a stunning South Pacific island. You will be working on a remote outer island far from any world you would know! Living in traditional grass 'bures' on the beach (around 20 minutes by boat from the nearest village), you will be actively involved each day surveying reefs and marine habitats in order to create a United Nations Seascape plan.

The dive and science training takes place in the initial weeks for beginner divers. After dive and science training have been completed, sea state permitting, volunteers may carry out survey dives up to twice a day from Monday to Friday. Saturday is a recreational dive day where you might do a deep dive or a long shallow water dive.

The scientific data you collect is on behalf of the World Conservation Society (WCS). The work involves using line transects to record fish diversity and surveying techniques to chart the coral with the aid of GPS.

One of the principle goals of the research is to identify fish and marine movements to determine specific breeding and feeding grounds. All of your effort and understanding of this underwater world will contribute towards the long term goal of creating an effective United Nations Seascape plan.

As it is only the population of a small village and our volunteers living on the island, you become very much involved in daily life; from rugby games to traditional ceremonies and celebrations. Run by the Ratu (Chief), the Fijian village is a self supporting community who we work very closely with. Most volunteers will pair up with a Fijian family for their time on the island which often leads to some incredible friendships. Whether it’s playing rugby, celebrating a birthday or a partial involvement in a ceremony; you will soon live at Fijian pace of life where many of your previous worries or cares become less important

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