Description

The Fijian archipelago lies scattered lazily in the achingly blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, bathed in the radiant antipodean sunlight. Its towns and villages are veritable melting pots of cultural influences - see multicoloured Hindu temples perched next to relics of the traditional indigenous spirit houses with their lingering sense of an ancient magic.

Fiji's irresistible shores are fringed with picture-perfect palm trees, and the azure waters that surround the islands are inhabited by an astonishing array of marine creatures; over 1,200 species of fish including clownfish, triggerfish, blue tangs, 12 species of whales including humpbacks, dolphins, anemones, soft coral and much more.

* What Will I Be Doing?

The marine research and conservation programme is run in association with the University of the South Pacific. The work aims to provide the local stakeholders, research organisations and government bodies with the information they need to design and implement management plans for the future protection of Gau's island marine ecosystem.

To gather the data needed you will be diving to locate and map the extensive coral reefs and study the various communities living on them. You will also explore and record the organisms that inhabit the luxuriant mangrove forests, dense sea grass beds and productive inter-tidal areas. To do this you will deploy a wide range of newly learned research skills and scientific techniques including: underwater visual census of reef and commercial fish such as triggerfish and parrotfish, assessment of algal and coral cover to determine the extent of coral bleaching and damage, and line intercept transects for benthic life and indicator invertebrate species such as nudibranchs. You will record observations of the feeding habits and behaviour patterns of a range of marine life. You may even get to study the impact of artisanal fishing on the coral reefs, report the effects of Global Warming on marine communities or observe the impact of the marine-curio trade on endangered marine invertebrates.

Highlights

* Get your PADI Advanced Open Water for free!
* Make lifelong friends.
* Dive at some of the best dive sites in the world.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

2,950

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Before you go:
* Pre-departure support
* Travel & medical advice & documentation
* Equipment advice
* Discounted medical kit
* Free Frontier T-shirt
* FREE UK residential briefing weekend (10 Week+ Volunteers)
* UK residential briefing weekend (£50 per person)

In-country:
* All field accommodation & food
* Local orientation & comprehensive project training
* Project equipment & camp diving equipment
* Research materials
* 24 hour in-country support
* International HQ emergency support & back-up
* Airport pick-up
* Internal ground transfers & in-transit accommodation (arranged only for 10 week & 20 week volunteers travelling with the main party in Jan, Apr, Jul & Oct)
* Diving projects: Dive training to PADI Advanced Open Water including PIC cards, PADI membership, & use of Frontier project equipment, personal dive kit is not included

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Animal Welfare
• Marine Conservation
• Water

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Phone/Video Interview

Frontier's Mission Statement

To conserve the world's most endangered wildlife and threatened habitats and to build sustainable livelihoods for marginalized and under resourced communities in the world's poorest countries. To create solutions that are apolitical, forward-thinking, community-driven, and innovative and which take into consideration the long-term needs of low income communities.

Year Founded

1989