Orientation
At the start of your programme you will receive a local orientation, to go alongside your predeparture handbook. This orientation will be conducted by one of our programme coordinators, one of the village elders and your Dive Instructor, and will cover the following areas:
- Scuba Course Outline and Criteria: You will be briefed on what the course requirements are and what is expected of you at the assessment stage of each qualification.
- Programme Outline: What to expect at each stage of the programme and some more information about the conservation project.
- Safety: How to keep safe in the local area and how to ensure everyone’s safety whilst on the programme.
- Expected Behaviour: How to ensure you respect the local people and the environment.
- Questions/Answers Session: An opportunity for you to ask any further questions.
Accommodation and meals
During the first week of the conservation programme (week 2), you will be accommodated in a small family-style backpackers near Savusavu. Rooms will have our volunteers sharing, based on a mixed or single-sex basis (group determines who they wish to share with.)
Two meals a day are included during this part of the programme (breakfast and dinner). Meals are made with local ingredients; however, different diets can be catered for. Volunteers will need to purchase their own lunch each day, which can be done on the way to the dive site each morning. You should budget £2 approximately each day for this.
During weeks 3 to 4, you’ll be staying in comfortable rental accommodation located close to the Koro Sun Dive Centre. Here you can relax and prepare all of your meals with the comfort of modern conveniences and you are also encouraged to invite your local friends to come to and enjoy the hospitality of the house. All meals are included during these weeks.
For your final week on Vanua Levu, you will return to a backpackers lodge near Savusavu town (with breakfast and dinner included). This will enable you to visit different dive sites and be better placed for the overnight ferry to Suva on day 37. During this week you will also have the opportunity to go on a two day, overnight group excursion.
Programme Support
Throughout your programme, you will have the support and supervision of our Scuba Instructors, conservation researchers and coordinators. Each are fully qualified and experienced, and are able to provide you with all the instructional and safety support necessary on a programme like this. They will also provide you with competent assistance and help you with any questions or advice you may need during your stay. The coordinators and programme staff will be on hand throughout the day and will be available to you 24 hours a day if you have any serious problems or emergencies.
In addition, we will provide you with a 24 hour emergency contact number before you depart, so that you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.
Project Age Limit
Minimum 18 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health.
Programme Requirement
To be in reasonable health for scuba diving.
