Media Centre for Volunteer in Ghana

Lewis Smith

Five weeks has flown by!

All the volunteers have finished learning the material and we’ve been putting it to good use identifying corals and invertebrates two dives a day. I never thought I would remember 48 corals, but the staff is so helpful that after a few short study sessions I knew them all. I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend a day than diving in the Seychelles! Every time I get in the water I see something I’ve never seen before (frogfish, lionfish, sharks, turtles…). When we’re not diving or working on other things we play sports, go hiking, head into town, or just relax on one of the perfect beaches. It’s really great to be surrounded by 30 people that share the same passion for the ocean as I do. I know I will leave here with new friends and connections for a lifetime.

Next week I head out to Curieuse Island with a small group of 5 to monitor turtle nesting sites and hopefully tag a turtle myself. We also get to spend time with giant tortoises and see the Coco de Mer palm trees that the Seychelles is so famous for. This weekend I’m going to check out the waterfall close by. Philippe, the groundskeeper here, also offered to teach me how to make some of his famous Creole dishes. All in all this expedition has been the time of my life. I can’t wait to see what the next five weeks holds!