| |
Fiji Diving,
Culture and Marine Conversation Volunteering
Fiji, the stunning islands of the south Pacific, known
as the ‘friendly islands’, are a tropical paradise. Join us as you experience
Fijian culture, gain your PADI Diving certification, and use your diving
skill by volunteering on an important marine conservation project.
Start Dates: January, February, June, August,
October
There are five parts to the program
|
Diving Certifications
Become PADI dive certified. During the first two weeks we concentrate on
getting you dive certified and improving your diving experience and
skills.
Even if you have never dived before, or are an experienced diver, we
cater for you.
The PADI courses 'Open water' 'Advanced open Water', and 'Rescue
Diver' are all on offer (you normally take two of these courses,
depending on your starting level)
And of course, there is plenty of diving! all around us is world class
dive spots, so you will experience the very best of what is on offer!
|
 |
|
Fijian Culture!
Many Fijian still live like their ancestors, in a small traditional
village, adhering to the Fijian culture, and living a subsistence way of
life. For the first two weeks you will be based in the traditional
village of Nagigi.
After being welcomed to the village during a traditional sevusevu
ceremony,
the village adopts you! You will feel
extremely welcomed, and for many this is the cultural highlight.
Accommodation in the village is basic (power only happens for 3 hours
per day - by generator!)
It is not luxurious by any means. So, you
should expect to live as the majority of Fijians do. This may be a
challenge depending on your experience, but it will be extremely
worthwhile and eye opening. Your new Fijian 'Mum' Olivia will look
after you, teach you some basic Fijian (although many also speak some
English), how to cook Fijian style, native medicines, and of course the
many natural activities available. |
 |
|
Volunteer Marine Conservation project.
You
will now move from the village, and closer to your new marine
conservation project.
Be part of a long term project to develop a 'Marine Proection Area' (MPA).
Traditionally Fijian villages set aside taboo areas of no fishing. This
allowed marine life to develop and flourish. This is an integral part of
the subsistence way of life.
We wish to develop such an area (MPA). First we need to survey the reef,
and do fish counts to see what is currently there. Then after it has
been designated a MPA we need to continue survey and fish counting to
ascertain how it is developing. Working closely with the local villages
we can then prove its worth, and promote the further development of a MPA. So
you will be actively involved while diving a pristine area, in reef
surveying, fish counts, and also later the development of 'fish houses'
from dead coral to promote the return of even more fish life. This
project is extremely important to the long term sustainability of the
Fijian way of life. |
 |
|
Diving!
With over 300 islands, and abundant
marine life, Fiji is also the home of some of the best diving in the
world.
The Diving off Vanua Levu and Taveuni are world
renowned and the best that Fiji has to offer.
You will dive at a
huge range of dive sites, and everything from fantastic hard and soft
corals (Fiji is known as the soft coral capital of the world) to
lionfish,
harlequin filefish and butterfly fish. spanish mackerel, coral trout and
unicorn fish plus painted crayfish, giant tridacna clams, and eagle
rays, barracuda, dog-tooth tuna, mantas and
even bronze whalers hammerheads (large
but harmless sharks)
for more on some of the dive sites
|
 |
|
Relax, and perfect your Fijian Tan.
For
the last 4 or 5 days of the program, you travel to the main island, and
in particular the famous 'Coral Coast'. Now it's time to relax, sit
back, and really enjoy what is known as 'Fiji time'. We normally base
ourselves at either the 'Beach House' (famous as being the location for
the ITV program 'Love Island') or the upbeat and funky Mango Bay resort.
There are a
multiple of activities on offer, or you can just lie back and 'do
nothing' except perfect your now golden Fijian tan!
|
 |
Requirements:
Age range: 18-28 in good health.
Experience:
none required,
P rice for 6 weeks $3950 USD/
£1950 Pounds sterling/ €2950 Euros
This
includes registration fees, meet and greet at Nadi airport (Fiji), all internal transfers (eg inter
island ferries), all accommodation (a mixture of Village homes stay and
resorts), all lectures and
training, research materials. Two diving certifications from PADI (Open water,
Advanced, or Rescue diver), most (but not all) meals.
Expedition
fees do not include air travel to Fiji, phone and internet use, or additional beverages.
|
