What inspired you to travel abroad?
I was inspired to go abroad because of what I heard from friends who said that they learned so much more than they could have imaged in their time overseas. I saw going abroad as an opportunity to learn about life in new ways and in radically different environments.
When researching different ways of learning about the ocean I came across diving internship programs all over the world and I knew that it was right for me. I have always loved the sea and to have the opportunity to live and work with people who experienced that feeling seemed like the best place for my developing interests.
Team mates
Why did you choose Deep Blue Conservation?
I chose Deep Blue Conservation because of the message they shared—”we care about our blue planet and we want to share that experience with you.” They seemed professional and devoted to their work in exploring what Sodwana Bay had to offer in terms of marine biodiversity and wildlife. I found them on Facebook first and then I reached out to Marius and Joanne. They were really welcoming and I knew it was the right fit.
What was your favorite part about Sodwana Bay, South Africa?
My favorite part about Sodwana Bay was the community I formed, the exceptional diving conditions, and overall natural beauty. Sodwana is a very small rural town but this is a big part of its appeal. Away from any big cities the natural beauty is just stunning, the reef system has remained one of the most intact in the whole world, and above the water you can find chameleons, as well as a vast variety of bugs, snakes, and birds populating the dense bush.
After a few weeks, you feel like you know people around town and the people you work with in Deep Blue become close friends. When you are sharing such special experiences together doing what you all love, there is no end to the laughs. Marius and I spent many dinners together as well as sharing incredible dives where he taught be about nudibranchs (now some of my favorite marine creatures) and how to become a more professional diver. My Sodwana friends will always stay with me.
One rescue
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
My experience abroad was most extraordinary because of the wildlife. I am unable to express what it means to begin to understand what ecosystem means though experiencing it and coming to know it over weeks or months. Often I find myself trying to explain my experiences in Sodwana to my family and know that they don't get it. Everyday was like a dream, and getting to know the different species on the reef was like learning to see. Leaving with these memories which will last for ever has been such a gift. The ability to share in the beauty of the sea blew me away.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The staff supported me by helping set goals with me and by teaching me the ropes in small practical ways throughout the day. You get a really hands-on experience with diving and with the work that comes with it. Local staff helped me find my feet on the beach and in fish, nudibranch, and marine identification. After a dive we would often spend time trying to identify unusual species or learning more about some interesting future of the dive. You spend a lot of time with your comrades and so you learn from them everyday too.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
The only thing I wish I would have done differently while I was abroad is to be more responsible at night. There are several places to go out drinking in Sodwana and it can be a big part of the culture when you are around a lot of new people that you want to get to know, yet sometimes it would have been better to take it easy. Absolutely this is a personal choice and one could simply make better choices than I did.
A new friend
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day in the life abroad means starting early. You wake up often times when the sun is just coming up and you get ready to pack up for the day. After you are prepared for the day, all geared up and finished with daily work at camp, we head down to the beach where we unload cylinders. From there we see what dives we will do that day and do a planning meeting making sure everyone is on the same page.
After that, we would gear up and head out diving. Depending on the day we could come back to camp quite late, other days we would end around 2:30 p.m. From there you could do camp work and projects, or spend your time however you like. The day-to-day experience changes so it would be best to contact Deep Blue Conservation for details about the current daily schedule.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I enjoyed hanging out with new friends. We would go on hikes to local game parks or go watch the sunset. Often we would share drinks in the evening, go out for dinner or cook together. Personally I enjoyed my time at camp, reading and drawing in the natural spaces there.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
The accommodation was a good, clean, and shared space. They were happy to arrange what you needed to feel comfortable there.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
You should know that diving is hard work. Diving is not a laid back lifestyle. For this reason, you should feel really excited about your experiences underwater and be prepared to do the physical work to get you there. If you do, I assure you that you will find diving incredibly rewarding and build strong bonds with those you work with.
Would you recommend Deep Blue Conservation to others? Why?
I would absolutely recommend this program to others. If you are interested in diving or ocean conservation this can be an experience of a lifetime. I think that what you learn abroad can help give you direction into what you want to do in your future and what it really means to you.
Sunrise
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit you get from going abroad is being able to interact with people who have a different background from you. You can learn a lot from the people around you if you listen and be present in the experiences you have with them. Another benefit is how it changes you; once you spend time in multiple places you really learn to see outside of your bubble and imagine how there are so many different life paths to choose and so many places in the world with different knowledge to offer.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Now that I’m home, diving and doing conservation has affected my life in that I have new perspectives about the world and beautiful memories of the ocean with friends.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means devoting time to getting to know a new environment fully. It means looking for spaces where your character and skills can come in handy and people will see you for what you are. If you can, meaningful travel means leaving a place, group of people, or environment in a better way than when you arrived. Being conscious in how you travel helps you have more long-term friendships and connections to such places.