Diving in the Seychelles…The GVI Way! Day One On the first day we were given a tour of the camp, completed all the appropriate paperwork, shown all the GVI way for doing things and given time to settle in –I was shell shocked to say the least!!!! The next few days we had regular workshops and dives as we undertook the research-diver training programme, marine education and marine survey technique training. Those that needed to, undertook their advanced open water and EFR qualifications during these first few days. In addition to all this training, some expedition members had the opportunity to gain their rescue qualification with a nearby dive centre, so you can see, you can be any level of diver to participate in an expedition.
	The dives at the beginning of the expedition consisted of fish spots which would involve approximately 4 of us following a staff member underwater who’d point out fish using a long white pole – known as the fish stick. We’d then have to guess which fish they were pointing at and write the answer on a slate to show to them. They were hard work as we’d be swimming into currents chasing the staff as they pointed at fish – I felt like I’d swam a marathon after one dive as I was so exhausted!!!! These fish spots could be real fun at times. Hazel, one of the interns was so encouraging and enthusiastic. You’d be dancing or doing high 5s if you got the answer right and if it was wrong she’s explain distinguishing features for future reference. However, the scientific officer would make the whole experience terrifying and the look you got if you dared to get it wrong was enough!! Needless to say all of us studying fish were happy when we knew we were doing fish spots with Hazel. The aim of these fish spots was for us to identify all fish competently before conducting any surveys so they took a couple of weeks for us to be signed off on all the fish included in the research – I must say a big thank you to Hazel for all her patience and help with my studying. As well as identifying all the fish underwater correctly, we had to be accurate in identifying them in photographs too, so that involved a test with the pass mark being 95%. This meant when we weren’t diving, we were sitting around with flash cards of all the different fishes trying to learn them. Show me a Butterfly fish and I’m now able to tell you if it’s an Indian Redfin, a Yellow Headed, or a Lined and Emperor and I can say if it’s a Red Ear, Pink Ear or Brown Striped!!!!I managed to pass the test on my second attempt – only Caroline passed on her first attempt with the majority of us passing on the second. Geoff, Nat and Simon, my fish buddies, all did really well in their tests and we’ve now decided that we’re all fish geeks. For the surveys not only do we have to identify the fish, but for all commercial fish (groupers, snappers, jacks, tunas, emperors, parrot) their sizes must also be included. This involved another test which I renamed the fish guestimation test! My estimation underwater due to the magnification, was appalling and when you’re trying to estimate the sizes of different white poles 1.5 metres underwater it’s hard. I was getting disheartened and felt I was never going to pass but on my fifth attempt I passed (just) – hooray! The last type of surveying that we undertake is the inverterbrate population monitoring so as you can imagine 2 tests – one underwater and one picture one. These surveys can be fun as you have to be upside down for most of it and zig zag 1 metre either side of a 10 metre tape measure. You’re also paired up with a coral person who looks at all the coral found along the 10 metre tape measure. So that’s enough information on the hard work now for the interesting stuff on my first 5 weeks in the Seychelles….what the expedition is really like…the bare facts!!! Home life is pretty basic - you’re not doing the expedition and staying in a 5 star hotel. Everyone is involved in all duties which are given out on a daily basis – kitchen, grounds, tanks and boat. This means when you’re not diving you either have to plan and cook meals for 30 people, clean all dorms and the bathrooms, fill the empty tanks or support all things to do with the boat. Food is limited – it’s porridge for breakfast, fish 3 times a week (we requested this be increased from once) and lots of lentils, pasta, rice and noodles. Bread is only made when flour is available on the island and there’s a mad rush if any is left over for seconds. Most people have lost weight – Keith, one of the 5 weekers, informed me that when he got home he’d lost 12 pounds!!! So what makes me stay? Why am I enjoying it? Well, I’m diving daily in the Seychelles and it’s whale shark and turtle nesting season. In our third week we were snorkelling with 4 whale sharks after a dive. Other snorkels and dives we’ve seen lemon sharks, white reef tips, dolphins and a Thorny Stingray. Whilst I was visiting Curieuse, the satellite camp, I was walking to the toilet with Fiaz and we came across a Hawksbill turtle nesting. We also rescued a turtle stuck in some bushes for over a day. As well as all this diving I made some great friends who have helped me get through the weeks – Nat, Gareth, Mikeala, Manish, Geoff and Kei to name a few. At the weekends Nat and I take the bus to Beau Vallon to the Underwater Centre and do some fun diving – I’ve just passed my wreck speciality and Nat has passed her deep diver speciality as well as wreck diver speciality. I’ve also found that whilst I’m diving now I actually know the fish I’m looking at so find my dives far more interesting. Over the next 5 weeks I’m actually surveying the sites around the island of Mahe so come back to dive bunnie and see how I get on. WHAT CAME NEXT: BACK TO THE BEGINNING: Make a Comment Email: news / advice / pickies /shop / about the Dive bunnie / home / Site Map

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