Diving in the Seychelles…The GVI Way!
So what happened next?
After the initial 5 weeks we were all competent in undertaking surveys. Sadly we had to say goodbye to some expedition members who had only signed up for 5 weeks, but it meant that we had 6 new people joining us. For them though they had to go through exactly the same training as we did!!!
Having eventually passed all my exams I was ready and raring to start doing the surveys, and every night my trusty slate was written up with what I was researching the next day.
Our target for the phase was to complete 18 sites along the North West coast of Mahe which ideally equated to one site a day. For us as divers it meant we were doing 2 dives a day. Our maximum depth for each day was 18 metres as our pressure groups were calculated using the tables but we rarely went below 12 metres! On arrival at the dive site, we would be told of its central point and be told what survey we had to do; left of site, right of site, centre and if we were to go deep or shallow. Following this we would then enter the water with our dive buddy and collect the data. I did enjoy it, though at times I did find myself looking at a load of baby parrot fish and wondering ‘have I counted those already?’ For each dive we were given 45 minutes dive time, which allowed either 4 fish point counts or 2 LIT/ INV transects. This meant you had very little time (if any) to explore the site at your own leisure. Once you had finished the 2 dives, all the data collected was transferred to paper files which were then input onto an Excel file.
Back on base we still had to perform our daily duties such as tank filling, cooking, grounds and boat maintenance. They never seemed to get easier, if anything it was getting harder to think of what to make out of lentils, pasta and tomato paste! During the expedition, there was an opportunity to volunteer to do some community work with the international school on Mahe. I jumped at the chance as it involved 2 mornings on the beach (where the lessons took place) and time permitting we could visit the shop for vegetable samosas! I was paired up with Mikaela and we had the task of educating the children on sharks. We had a brilliant lesson plan and all these big ideas but did it actually run to plan? No!!!! Luckily, the children did seem to enjoy it and hopefully they did learn something about sharks.
ON TO OUR WEEK OUT:
BACK TO DAY ONE:
BACK TO THE BEGINNING:
Email:
news / advice /
pickies /shop / about
the Dive bunnie / home
/ Site Map