Broadreach Fiji: Shark Studies

I loved the Fiji Shark Studies trip as it was a good 'trial' for what I want to do as a career. The trip was amazing starting with the things we learned about sharks, the culture, and the science. My Fiji Shark Studies trip remains one of my favorite trips of all time as I was diving with Bull Sharks almost daily while having two amazing instructors M.G. and Saskia teach us an abundance of diving and shark science!

Broadreach showed me what it’s really like to live outside of America in a completely different country. I learned so many life skills as well as learning about sharks. Since broadreach I realized I truly want to be a marine biologist. I wasn’t sure if that was really what I wanted until I was able to be hands on and living the life of a shark biologist for a month.

For the past few years I have slowly become more and more obsessed with sharks and their conservation. When my friend told me about the trip she took to Fiji, I just knew I had to check it out. As soon as I went to the Fiji Shark Studies page, I knew it was the program for me. As a student, the academic component was enticing for me because I know that Marine Biology is something that I want to pursue in college. Not only were the academics stimulating, but the environment, the diving, and the people were as well. Continuing to hone my diving skills was simple with the Broadreach instructors, and I know for a fact that I improved during my three week stay in Fiji. The most exciting part about receiving my Advanced certification was the fact that we could finally go on the Shark Dive!!! Diving at Shark Reef Marine Reserve was one of the best experiences of my life, and I will never forget the thrill I felt the first time I witnessed those bull sharks being hand fed tuna heads by the BAD guides. Diving multiple times a week helped us bond with the people that work for Beqa Adventure Divers and it really opened my eyes to the Fijian culture. Listening to their stories on the boat during surface intervals while munching on tea and cookies was never boring and I can easily say I made 20 something new family members. Fiji Shark Studies was the adventure of a lifetime and it gave me a whole new appreciation for the marine ecosystem, sharks, and those who care for the ocean so fondly. Thank you Broadbreach for the most amazing three weeks that I will surely never forget!