Every morning and afternoon at MRCI we conduct a turtle watch from our office, where two of our volunteers note the time and number of turtles they spot.  Volunteers also participate in an active turtle survey 2-3 times a week.

The active turtle survey is much more fun, with a small group of snorkelers going out in the morning on a very large transact survey.  Starting from the reef, volunteer divers follow it down towards the next beach whilst spotting and documenting turtles living in the area or migrating through.

The most commonly spotted is the Hawksbill turtle that also hatches here on a turtle beach.  Green turtles are harder to spot as they are shy and usually hang around the sandy parts, feeding on seagrass.

Volunteers monitor and document not only the number of turtles they see on a day, but they also try to get a good photo of the turtle’s head which is later used for identification of that specific turtle. This helps to monitor how many of the turtles are local ones.

This is also usually the time when our volunteers have a little bit of fun trying to capture more creative shots of turtles and turtle selfies too.  Follow our Instagram feed to see other amazing pictures from our turtle surveys.

Follow the link for more information on our Marine Conservation volunteer programs or contact us today.

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.

Each 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.

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.

Our 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!

Camila 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.

I 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.