Expedition Life
Marine Conservation Expedition in the Seychelles

Most expedition members spend the majority of their time diving on the coral reef, collecting abundance, diversity and health data on coral and other invertebrates and fish species. The first two weeks are the hardest, as expedition members have to push themselves to learn both the research diving skills, marine survey skills and the scientific knowledge that they will need to assist in the collection of data to a quantifiable level of 95%. We aim to conduct survey dives twice a day, four and a half days a week, with other non-diving projects on one day a week. Expedition members will rotate between diving and non-diving projects to maximise enthusiasm and minimise potential ear problems. Weather, season and training permitting, divers should have approximately six–ten dives per week.

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The days are long and hard, with an early start to make the most of daylight hours. The day typically includes; kitting up and equipment preparation, travel to the survey sites, survey diving, returning from sites, washing down the equipment, filling SCUBA tanks ready for the next day and generally a late finish, once all the data collected has been reviewed and input in the database. At the end of the day, the whole team gathers for the evening debrief and to eat and socialise. Expedition members will rotate between projects, thus taking some time away from the hard diving work, and you can spend some of your time participating in additional projects such as those listed in the initial expedition section. Expedition members are also fully involved in the logistical operations of the camp, from the day-to-day rotations of cooking and cleaning to operating the compressor and filling dive tanks.

During the expedition there will be free time to explore the beautiful islands and Creole culture of the Seychelles, de-gas and catch up on some well-earned sleep, or head to the nearest internet café to keep in touch with the family and friends at home. Then on Mondays you go back to work!

Saturdays are usually half-day diving, with boat and site maintenance and sport in the afternoon, and then the well-deserved Saturday Night Fiesta! Sundays are a day of rest to de-gas and catch up on some well-earned sleep, or head to the nearest internet café to keep in touch with the family and friends at home. Alternatively, expedition members are free to leave the base on Saturday and explore Mahe or the other islands, returning on Sunday night. Then on Mondays you go back to work!