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Category: Reviews

Marine Conservation Volunteer: Ruth Engel
BlogMarine ConservationReviews

Marine Volunteer’s Favourite Dive

Volunteers on our Marine Conservation program need to be qualified divers, which is why we offer the PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water Diving courses as part of the volunteer program.

Marine Conservation Volunteer: Ruth EngelEach volunteer also undergoes species identification training, as well as training in survey techniques and practice survey dives.  The clear waters around Nosy Komba are a diver’s paradise, making every dive an amazing experience, but some dives are just that little bit extra special, as one of our volunteers, Ruth Engel (from New Jersey, USA), discovered.

Today I went on my favorite dive yet.  Since getting scuba certified here at Turtle Cove I’ve done a handful of survey dives, mostly for practice.

Today, Vanessa and I went out for a Nudi (sea slugs and flatworm) survey.  The tide was in so we went down right on top of the reef.  It was amazing!  I felt more comfortable in the water than I have so far.

We floated and swam right over the reef and down into it, going upside down to search under lips for the small, vibrant, tiny creatures that exist on those tiny corners of our world that are coral reefs.

We found them; grunting and singing and shrieking into regulators to get each other’s attention.  Each time I found one I wished it was easier to smile with a mouthpiece in.   At the very end we spotted a hawksbill sea turtle called Nighthawk.

Once we ascended I couldn’t stop smiling.  I had so much fun, but it was more than that too.  It was going out and collecting data and having that feeling of actually understanding”.

Read more about other volunteers’ experiences here.

Contact us today to find out how you can join our Marine Conservation program and become a qualified PADI diver.

Madagascar Volunteer: Rachel Rawcliffe Volunteers
BlogReviewsTeaching

Volunteers Remember Gorgeous Views and Sunshine

Rachel Rawcliffe (from the United Kingdom) took time out of her teaching career to join us in Madagascar.  She joined in several of our projects and, like all of our previous volunteers, is sad to be leaving.

Rachel Rawcliffe VolunteersThis programme offered forest conservation, marine conservation and teaching so was ideal. I also had the opportunity to spend 10 days living on a boat travelling around islands and the mainland. The boat trip was amazing, even though it rained a lot, we went to a lemur island, saw a giant tortoise and visited remote villages. I was most nervous about going into the forest, however, I loved seeing the lemurs, chameleons, geckos and snakes!

On weekends, we have spent time exploring Nosy Be and Ampang, a local village. The staff have been brilliant, helping out with any issues there have been.

The other volunteers have been great and I know I will visit some them over the next few years! I am gutted to be leaving soon and will miss the gorgeous views and sunshine!

At least there will be enough happy memories to last through many a cold, wet day back home.

Read about more about the experiences of other teaching volunteers here.

For more information on our volunteer programs in Madagascar, contact us today!

Volunteers: Katherine Gledhill
BlogMarine ConservationReviews

Volunteers, Stay Longer in Paradise!

Volunteers joining us in Madagascar find it a great way to gain new skills, experience a new country and culture, as well as being a wonderful opportunity to give back and to make a real difference.

Volunteers: Katherine GledhillOur research base “Turtle Cove” is situated on Nosy Komba or “Lemur Island” (as it has been nicknamed), which is located in the North West of Madagascar, between Nosy Be and the mainland.  The closest international airport is Fascene, Nosy Be (NOS).  Volunteers arrive from Nosy Be via boat to our private beach’ and head up the walkway to our base which is nestled into the forest behind. Here we have many of Madagascar’s iconic animals that live literally in our back garden including chameleons and lemurs as well as lizards and frogs!

Maybe this is why Katherine Gledhill who recently joined us from the United Kingdom advises that volunteers stay as long as they can. Kat shared a little of her experience with us:

 “I became an MRCI volunteer following my recent graduation in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. I chose to volunteer on the marine conservation program because I was keen to learn to dive and contribute to valuable research.

Since arriving in Madagascar, all of my expectations have been exceeded in terms of the marine project, camp life and the support network of staff and volunteers. I couldn’t have anticipated how quickly I would fall in love with our reef and camp at Turtle Cove, and I will be so sad when it’s time to leave this beautiful island of Nosy Komba.

I have enjoyed my time my time with MRCI immensely and this is a unique experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I feel confident that this experience and the incredible staff and volunteers here have all helped to shape me as an individual.

I was nervous about joining a big camp but was welcomed to the MRCI family, and felt comfortable around camp and the people in no time. I’m gutted my time is nearly over and the best piece of advice I can offer is to stay for longer, because it never feels like long enough when you’re in paradise.

Read about another volunteer who wished she could have stayed longer here.

For more information on our exciting Volunteer Programs, contact us today!

Marine Conservation Volunteer: Camila Rojas
BlogMarine ConservationReviews

Time Flies in Madagascar for a Volunteer

Marine Conservation Volunteer: Camila RojasCamila Rojas recently stayed with us for two months on Nosy Komba and has chosen to share how much her volunteer experience in Madagascar meant to her.

“When I decided that I wanted to volunteer on a faraway island, I never thought that it would have such a big impact in my life. Madagascar will always be close to my heart because it taught me so much about myself, about other cultures and, most importantly, it taught me how little I really need to be happy.

Marine Conservation Volunteer: Camila RojasI was on Nosy Komba for two months in the Marine Conservation program and I can say that it was the best decision of my life. My day consisted of diving, learning about the ocean, and being around people I love and will never forget. I will always regret not staying longer because saying goodbye to this little piece of paradise and to all the people I met was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

To anyone who is looking for a volunteering experience, I extremely recommend MRCI, whether it’s the teaching, forest, or marine program, you will have the time of your life, and stay as long as you can, because time flies in paradise”.

If you’re considering a gap year and want to ensure a unique, unforgettable experience abroad, take Camila’s advice. Contact us today for more information about our exciting volunteer programs.

Madagascar Volunteer: Katherine Tracy
BlogForest ConservationMarine ConservationReviewsTeaching

Volunteer in Madagascar: an Amazing Experience

Katherine Tracy recently spent 10 weeks with us in Madagascar as a volunteer on each of our
programs, getting to know the island, the Madagascar Volunteer: Katherine Tracywildlife and the people and creating a lifelong connection.

“September 4 – November 12 is the amount of time I spent on the beautiful island of Nosy Komba. I was quite nervous at the beginning of my trip to the amazing country of Madagascar. This would be my first time venturing out on my own without knowing a soul. Upon arriving at Turtle Cove I was greeted with smiling, friendly faces and an overwhelming feeling of excitement. I didn’t know it yet, but over the next 10 weeks I would be sharing some of the most amazing experiences of my life with some of the most equally amazing people I have ever met.

With Madagascar being a third world country, technology isn’t widely used which forces you to be more intimate with the people around you. I personally thought that the lack of technology made the trip all the more worth wild. You spend the week days doing project work, whether it’s for Marine, Forest or Teaching. I was lucky enough to be able to spend time in each project and got a feel for all three aspects of project work. The teaching portion had me interacting with the locals on Nosy Be and Nosy Komba. These people are extremely outgoing and kind, they were more than happy to have us on their island and to teach us about their culture.

The Forest and Marine projects allow you to get up close in personal with marine life and the forest life of Madagascar. I was even fortunate enough to become a PADI certified advanced water diver thanks to my amazing instructor, Kyle.

I would have to say that even with the amount of beauty that I was privileged to see and interact with, the people are what really made this trip for me. Coming on your own forces you to come out of your comfort zone, to be more social so that you don’t feel alone throughout your stay. You’re with these people for 24/7 every day for weeks at a time which makes you grow close and makes it extremely hard to say goodbye.

In my experience, saying goodbye to Turtle Cove, to the incredible volunteers that I was lucky enough to have the chance to meet and to the welcoming locals that I may never see again, was almost impossible. I bawled like a little 3 year old all the way to the airport, I’m sad to admit. It just hits you hard knowing that all these people will most likely never be all together again in your life.

Enjoy your time in Madagascar make friendships that will last forever because I promise you it will change your life or at least have some sort of positive impact on it. To me it all feels like an amazing dream that I once had and wish I could go back to”.

Madagascar is an incredible country, the perfect setting for any volunteer to experience a truly unique and special gap year adventure. Contact us today to book your place.