This is (most of) the stuff I'm planning on taking. I think I must be mad!
So my departure date is getting closer and closer. I can’t believe I only have three days left! I now have all of my kit and just have the rather daunting task of packing it all and then probably leaving half of it at home. Apart from a few little bits and bobs to sort out and some frantic learning of fish species I’m all ready.
I thought I’d better let everyone know a bit more about why I’m actually going to some exotic location and how exactly I’ve got someone to pay for (some) of it. As you know I’m going to work/volunteer for an organisation called Coral Cay Conservation who are based in London. They’re working in a range of different places to help conserve coral reefs. In order to effectively implement conservation efforts you need scientific data to find out, for example, how healthy a reef is, if this is changing and what specific threats the reef is facing. You also need to find out if the things you are doing are actually working! Obviously, it would cost lots of money to employ professional scientists to do all of this work and this is where volunteers come in. Coral Cay volunteers pay to come out to the research site and are trained in SCUBA diving and coral reef surveying techniques. As Science Officer I will be helping out with this training and the management of the data we collect. Volunteers are really good for doing this type of work because the survey techniques are pretty straight forward and they are really enthusiastic.
Coral Cay is also highly involved with the local communities. They train local people to survey too so they can help look after their reefs. Volunteers are also involved in education initiatives and visit local schools. Coral Cay have set up several ‘no fishing’ zones in the area too and are working to provide alternative employment for fishermen.
But don’t just take my work for it. Checkout the Coral Cay website for loads more (and possibly more accurate) information.
Abi
xxx
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