Volunteers needed for coral reef research in Indonesia

[LJones]

Hello everyone,
I'm conducting research in Indonesia on the recovery of coral reefs following dynamite fishing as part of my masters degree. I'm looking for research assistants to provide dive support.

Volunteers would need to be experienced divers, preferably qualified to PADI Rescue Diver level or above. No specialist knowledge is required and there would be opportunities to learn coral survey and identification techniques.

Help is needed from the start of February to the end of May. Volunteers do not need to be available for the entire research period but a minimum commitment of 2 weeks would be required.

If you are interested and would like further information please message me as soon as possible.

Thanks, Lucy Jones

 

[LJones]

Just to answer some common queries...
- there is no funding for your flights, board and food etc but the diving is free
- all sites are off the Gili islands, Lombok
- I'm studying at James Cook University, Australia and the research is being carried out with the support of the local dive operators.
- the work will mainly consist of being a dive buddy and helping conduct basic survey work

Hope this clarifies,
Lucy

 

[Damselfish]

This isn't a "volunteer" for some organization. I'm unclear, why would someone pay to come help you do your schoolwork for free?

 

[LJones]

No it isn't a volunteer for an organisation - I never said it was.
The diving is free so its for people who are going to be in the area and fancy giving a hand to complete some research that will :
provide useful information for the local community,
further the scientific knowledge of an under researched area,
give an opportunity to learn about how to conduct research on coral reefs.

Most overseas volunteer posts you find advertised involve the payment of fees and don't pay for your flights etc. I'm asking people who will be in the area and want to do something different, to provide their time, in return for which they get some free diving and the chance to help with something quite interesting. As someone who has spent lots of time travelling around SE Asia this is exactly the sort of thing I would go and get involve in.
If its not your thing no worries but don't waste your or my time posting about it!

 

[chip104]

Hi Lucy,

May I suggest you post or ask the mods to move your thread to here: ScubaBoard - Indonesia or here: ScubaBoard - General Asia in order to reach the demographic crowd you are targetting.

In the Philippines there are plenty of local divers and undergrad students who are willing to help out on projects like this. Indonesia should be the same. I am assuming you are collaborating with a local university, and they should provide you with more than enough volunteers for the project. Local dive ops you mentioned with will most likely also be more than willing to help you out.

Good luck on your research and masters degree. I am just finishing up mine and I can relate to the anxiety you must be feeling during the prepping stage.

Also, welcome to internet foruming, where almost all of the posts are useless!

 

[Thalassamania]

...
I'm conducting research in Indonesia on the recovery of coral reefs following dynamite fishing ...

Could you share with us the details of your survey/experimental design? There are several of us here that have the experience to be of some use in that area.