Volunteer Divers

[cougar]

I bet there are possibilities out there for divers to volunteer...Perhaps to do a fish count, hold a measuring tape on an archeological dig, build an artificial reef...or a bunch of things I haven't thought of. Seems like a possibility to get part of a dive trip susudized. Do these opportunities to volunteer exist? How do I put my name in the hat?

 

[Wendy]

What area were you looking at helping out? I know a few places you can volunteer in the south florida area, doing both fish counts and reef research. I could get you in touch with someone.

 

[cougar]

Warm clear water is my only requirement. I live so far from a beach that I have to fly anywhere I go. In fact...I have tickets to Miami and I need to figure out what date to put on them. I was thinking about going to the cays with that ticket. I am hoping to find something where they defray a bit of cost...maybe cheap lodging or something. Last summer I did 6 weeks in Cozumel volunteering for the Humane Society, free diving and food and lodging discounts were the perks.

 

[Wendy]

The only volunteer stuff I know is only one day a month and is just one dive or 2 at best during that time.

 

[raviepoo]

I just got back from a week long trip to Kona Hawaii, doing fish distribution/abundance surveys with these folks:

http://www.reef.org/fieldsurv/index.htm

It was a really intense experience. Days were loaded with diving, fish ID seminars and loads of paperwork. (Gotta get all that data into the database SOMEHOW.) It was a great experience and I can't recommend it highly enough. I can't wait for my next trip with them.

In addition to survey trips like the one I was on, they usually do one "discovery tour" each year - a trip led by Paul Human or Ned DeLoach focusing on learning about reef ecology. A ll of the remaining trips for 2003 are full, except for a trip to the channel islands in September. The schedule for next year will be posted soon.

My room mate on the REEF trip collected coral samples for research on an Earthwatch trip to Australia. A list of Earthwatch scuba expeditions can be found here:

http://www.earthwatch.org/subject/scuba.html

You can also check with the Coral Reef Alliance for volunteer opportunities.

http://www.coralreefalliance.org/volunteernetwork/

Or try the Shark Research Institute:

http://www.sharks.org/expeditions/index.htm

Don't expect to get paid for your efforts, but depending on your situation, your costs might be tax deductible. I would be doing this stuff even if I couldn't deduct the costs because the work is important. But If I can get a tax break, I can participate in even more expeditions.

And, oh yeah, I forgot to mention.....take me with you? PLEASE?!?!

 

[brian_dixon]

Could anyone give me any ideas for volunteering in SW FL? Fish counts or anything. I just want some volunteer experince.

 

[Walter]

Brian,

I can't speak for Collier, but there's the Volunteer Scientific Research Team In Lee. Come up the last Tuesday of every month (except Dec) for our meetings. They are held at the Christ Lutheran Church in Cape Coral. We have a fish count this Sunday and last night they still had an open spot on the boat.

 

[scubasean]

See the post here...

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=332120#post332120

from Wendy...Might give you one option...

Sean

 

[joens]

there is Aquarena Springs where divers may assist with research projects and whatever .however you have to take a course with them first . to learn policies and procedures and verify skills. http://www.continuing-ed.swt.edu/aquarena/diving.html

 

[beepbird]

In So Cal, you can help out with Coast Keepers. The Orange County group is reforesting parts of the coastline with kelp. The kelp is raised in class rooms and the marine center and divers go out and plant them on reefs. Every so often, divers do fish counts and monitor how they are doing.

The group does all the training. Divers need to be rescue certified. Remember this is So Cal diving, water temps of 56-68 and 7-15' vis.

beepbeep