Program Reviews

I spent 8 weeks in Madagascar earlier this year and to keep this story short - I had the best time of my life! I really can't recommend this enough, it's a different world and I fell in love with Andavadoaka so much! I wouldn't have believed how attached you can get to a place and a group of people in such a short space of time.

How can this program be improved?
By letting us stay and not having to go home!

Blue Ventures Timor-Leste is incredibly unique in that they are the only, to my knowledge and at the time of my expedition number 5, research based diving program on the island of Ataúro, Timor-Leste (named the most marine biodiverse place on the planet by Conservation International). The diving and volunteer training programs in Benthic, and Fish species are detailed enough to get you really excited about the research being done but also enough of an overview that you have the last two weeks to assist with the research. Unfortunately because you must be trained on site, you need at least two expeditions on site to have a significant contribution to the wealth of data being collected on the marine and seagrass habitats. The program is still in its developing stages which makes it possible for the volunteers to have a stronger impact in shaping the goals of their projects. I hope Blue Ventures recognizes this potential and does more than just "listen" to volunteers ideas but also implement them if they think they would be effective. Lastly I will share the most incredible part of my experience that encapsulates what I believe to make Blue Ventures work so important. The people of Ataúro, especially in the mountains, are mainly subsistence farmers and fishermen/women, with any surplus sold in Beloi or Vila (two local villages) market on Saturdays. The locals had net and spearfished for as long as they can remember as a means of livelihood. These livelihoods are now being threatened by international problems like global warming, and coral bleaching related to this and destructive fishing practices. Blue Ventures was trying to establish and educate on LMMA (Locally Managed Marine Areas) and FADs (Fish Aggregation Devices) that would help re-establish and make more abundant local fish stocks. Also stressed was the importance of seagrass as a nursery ground for all young fish before moving into the coral reef environment. A big part of BV's mission seems to be involving locals and while I was there they had an idea to employ and train local seagrass monitors from the surrounding village to help determine total seagrass cover and types of seagrass which can be correlated with fish health and degradation can be measured over time. Locals were guarded at first but once BV's Timorese dive staff started explaining the concept people seemed eager to sign up. Soon about 20 signatures of people from both sides of the small 25km island had been collected. When we were about to close up our stall a deaf man came up and couldn't express himself in words but seemed interested. Again the local dive staff explained the idea and he couldn't have been quicker to sign up! It was amazing to see the unity between "Malae" (Tetum word for foreigner and) and locals on issues of conservation and the opportunities that were beginning to develop in a globally under-recognized field. I would recommend this trip for anyone interested in research diving, and learning the history of the third most recently independent country in the world.

Overall a very positive experience. I have been learning a lot on coral, fish families, and the people in Timor Leste are very warm and welcoming. The staff is very professional and fun, which makes it a very nice experience. Even more that there is little to do at night on the island, it is pretty isolated, but this s part of the experience as well. The conditions we were living in, staying st Barry's lodge were excellent. Way better than in any other volunteer expedition I have done.
Would recommend it to well-traveled people and people interested in increasing their knowledge on marine science. Diving is good, the diversity is excellent and coral reefs as well. No 'big' fish though. As for every expedition with Blue Venture they are very conservative on dive profile. So do not expect deep dives or very long dives. Still good for most of the people.

I had a fantastic time on the inaugural ‘discovery’ expedition in March/April this year and wish I could have stayed longer. Out of the 8 of us volunteers, there’s 4 of us who have kept in regular contact and want to reunite next year for more diving.

The project is less than a year old and is constantly evolving. Every week was a bit different when we were there.

Generally, all diving is done pre-midday. This is because it is so remote and in case of any accidents it allows for an evac. To Darwin during daylight hours. We did one or two dives a day, 5-6 days a week. There’s a roster done up each night of who is boat marshal and shore marshal for the next day and who is doing what underwater. All volunteers take turns in doing both non-diving roles so it evens out that everyone gets about the same number of dives during the expedition.

In the afternoon it’s classroom learning taken by Sean and/or Jen, the two marine scientists of the expedition. You’ll learn to ID the benthic (corals etc) and fish and there’s tests both on land and in the water later in the week. This coincides with point-outs under water in the mornings. After the first couple of weeks of learning you’ll progress to survey work include PIT surveys using a tape measure and camera/GoPro and slate to record benthic and fish abundance/species surveys depending on how good you get at fish ID. We also did some snorkeling surveys for sea grass and fish in the afternoons.

When I went I had done about 70 dives and PADI rescue. Others had done between 30 and 200 dives and were various stages between Open Water and Rescue. Two people did their Advanced while there with Greg the co-coordinator, who is an amazing instructor (who has spent a total of 2.5 years of his 40 or so years underwater!). You have to be Advanced level before you can do surveys because there are quite a few sites with fairly strong currents.

The team works very closely with the local community and several of the BV crew are Timorese. The place we stayed ‘Barry’s Place’ is a tiny little eco-resort which is run by an Aussie guy (Barry) and his Timorese wife Lena. It’s very basic but that’s its charm. We stayed in twin share thatched rooms right on the beach front and the sunrises from your bed were worth it alone!

On Sundays there is no diving and we had time to take a tuktuk down to a nearby village where there were a few places to buy locally made souvenirs. We also did a hike over to the other side of Atauro island to a place Mario owns. Mario is an Atauro local who works for Barry and also for World Fish. He is very instrumental in the links between BV and the community, as is Barry himself, who is fluent in Tetum, the local language.

The island of Atauro itself is very beautiful and mostly untouched. We hiked across to the other side through rainforest. Its very un-developed. Only 25km long.

Overall, it is a VERY fun experience and I am looking to go back again next year if possible.

Being a Blue Ventures volunteer in Madagascar is an experience that I will never forget for all the right reasons. No two days were the same but fun was guaranteed. I am going to try to give an overview of what a typical day might comprise.

You would get a wake up call from the waves and birds just outside your door any time after about 5.30. I normally woke up between 6.15 and 7 and went outside to lie in my hammock and watch the world go by for a while or go slightly crazy and exercise in Jim’s Gym at 6.30. It would then be time to prepare my dive kit before breakfast if I was diving at 9.

Breakfast was at 8 with the rest of the morning normally spent diving or hanging out in the beautiful surroundings of Coco Beach or Andavadoaka. The diving was really varied with different sites visited almost every day. It didn’t matter if you went back to the same site three times in a week as you would see different species every time. Bic, the dive manager, is absolutely fantastic and you should have no fears about going diving if you haven’t as he really knows how to teach and he is just an awesome person to be around.

When not diving, at 9 and 11, you had downtime in which you could study your fish or benthic invertebrates have a relax outside the huts, take a walk into Andavadoaka or go for a swim off the beach. You would dive once most days and twice every couple of days.

The afternoons varied a bit more with different activities almost every day from 3 till 7. There would be a range of these from English/Malagasy exchange (fun but challenging), volleyball, presentations on different BV projects and lectures on the science (Don’t worry it’s not that hard and though the fish list looks daunting you should be on top of it within two weeks). There will also be opportunities to get involved in other Blue Ventures projects such as their Safidy (health) and education programs which are designed to help the communities around Andavadoaka reduce their reliance upon their precious marine resources by enabling them to have choices in their lives

Both volunteer groups I was in got on well and there was always someone to talk to if you felt like it. You can easily get away, though, and have time on your own.

Some of the best experiences for me were when we went on our excursions and spent some time away from base. These were a great chance to see Malagasy culture up close and the two trips we made to the island of Nosy Ve, were both really memorable. I really found the alternative livelihoods project were giving the communities the opportunities that they wanted and I greatly enjoyed assisting with the cucumber sale in the middle of the night. Perhaps the best experience was surveying for the highly endangered Spider Tortoise in the Bay of Assassins.

The diving was in my opinion better than that on the Great Barrier Reef and the fact that you learn to identify the underwater life makes diving much more interesting as you know what your looking at. I’d heartily recommend BV’s volunteer programme to anyone wanting to experience the extraordinary, while contributing to vitally important marine conservation. You also get to work with some of the most positive people living in some of the world’s poorest communities . The combination of diving, learning and contributing to Blue Ventures community projects was fascinating and exhilarating.

After finishing high school I decided to take a gap year. I already had my PADI Advanced open water so I knew I wanted to do something with diving. After doing some research on the internet I found Blue Ventures in Madagascar. I know there is also another organisation doing a conservation project in madagascar, but I got a better feeling from Blue Ventures.

My 12 week stay was amazing! I am now a dive master and I can identify fish and coral. The staff is super friendly and the place really starts to feel like a second home. BV really helps in the whole progress from getting my visa to getting a new gopro to Andavadoaka because I flooded the other one.

Only been for two weeks to Cambridge before heading to Madagascar I was quite nervous. However I made many new friends during my trip and I learned a lot from this experience! I cried when I left because I didn't want to leave and I know more people did the same.

I really feel that BV has helped the villages in Velondriake and I am proud that I could do something to help. From collecting data to collecting seacucumbers and helping during saturday school. This program is so broad that there is an opportunity for everyone to help in their own way.

The dive instructor Bic is a really good mentor and has helped me a lot with the dive master course. I feel confident in my diving and I am excited to continue my diving education. I did around 60 dives during my stay and I believe that the frequent diving really helps people to improve their skills. I've seen people come to BV without having done any diving before and leaving feeling confident in their diving skills.

All in all, I would really recommend this program to everyone. If you are interested in the program. I kept a blog during my stay https://sannestravels.wordpress.com

Time spent at the dive camp within Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve will provide experiences that assault your senses in the most positive way imaginable. Swimming with sea turtles, sleeping under the stars, spotting manatees, pure isolation with a group of people from around the world and different backgrounds in paradise (like the beach but without the shark attacks and angry Thai agriculturalists) to name but a few. However as good as the food is within the relatively basic structure of the camp you are only human if after four weeks of rice and beans and all its variations doesn't start to wane on you a bit (sorry Victor). Given how exhausted you are from all the diving though any form of sustenance is greatly appreciated but on return from the camp I was treated to what was the best meal of my life. My homestay Mum (they really do feel like mums and family after the time you spend there and the food and care they provide you) cooked up grilled lobster in butter, it was in season, chips and tortilla wraps. I proceeded to create a lobster wrap that would put Man vs Food to shame and devoured it with lashings of Marie Sharps chilli sauce (a Belizean staple of epic proportions). Several things struck me as I wiped chilli sauce from my beard (shaving at camp is possible but I wanted to look like a fat Tom Hanks from castaway on my return home). Firstly, my homestay family were not destitute by any means, the father was the local pharmacist however the kindness and hospitality being shown almost brought me to tears but that may have been too much Marie Sharps. The second thing was what a four weeks at camp it had been. For diving masters and novices alike there will be something at Bacalar Chico that you have not seen or experienced before. To be able to access dive sites that no one else can is a privilege and a pleasure. The extent of the wildlife both in and out of the water is mind-blowing and will leave you clutching at your bird and fish guides just to try and keep up with the numerous species you see. The fact that worthwhile science is being done as well is certainly an added bonus and I defy anyone to go and not come away with extensive knowledge about how these marine ecosystems work and to be able to name many different creatures that reside within them. You may also come away with a murderous lust to cleanse the reef of lion fish an invasive species in the Caribbean, this is also fine. You may even get a chance to go on a lion fish cull a diving experience that really is quite special. Cooking and eating the lion fish after a cull with some garlic and chilli was another experience I treasured, I suppose the food at camp wasn't too bad! Just remember that underneath the stinging spines the meat tastes just fine (Lionfish song 2015). There really are so many amazing things about the work Blue Ventures does within the local communities of Belize that I am sure have many positive consequences. I am sure there are also many different positive things that people may get from volunteering with Blue Ventures if you are looking at a gap year and boosting your University chances or even just a break from normal life. The real amazing thing though is the fun you will have, the wonderful people you will meet and the amazing places you will dive that you will remember for a very, very long time.

In 2013 I graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Marine Biology. After graduating I married my husband, a petty officer in the Navy, and moved to Virginia. After a year of working outside my field I had paid down my student loans enough so that I could afford to gain the dive certifications I will need to further my career in my field. After a lot of research I felt Blue Ventures was the best way I could not only get the dive certifications I needed but also gain experience in the field aiding conservation efforts while giving back to the local community.

I could not have made a better decision. As it was my first time out of my home country, USA, I was very nervous about leaving. From the fist step Sarah, from the London office of BV, was extremely helpful and was able to answer any questions I had, wether it was a simple passport question to getting me in touch with Madison the expedition manger in Andavadoaka, Madagascar.

I was very impressed with Blue Ventures involvement in the village. During my 8 weeks in Madagascar I was immersed in the local culture. I was able to participate in several community events such as Earth day, choir practice, dancing with the Nahoda, and the Malagasy Independence Day. I also developed a strong bond with my English student, Symphorian, who I am still in contact with.

I and the other volunteers formed a real sense of community with in the Blue Ventures team, who was very helpful throughout the expedition. As a group we dove twice a day while practicing dive skills, under water species identification, various surveying techniques, and eventually were able to conduct our own surveys. By the end of the expedition I was not only PADI Rescue Diver and Emergency First Responder certified, but also skilled in IDing local fish and benthic organisms as well as actively involved in the village community.

My expedition with Blue Ventures was a life changing experience and I would recommend it to anyone wether you looking for adventure, immersion in another culture, gaining dive experience, or kick starting a career in Marine Biology.

Before leaving Europe for Madagascar, I was pretty nervous. Will volunteers and staff be friendly and fun? Will the diving be an good? Will I get sick? All these worries were blown away on arrival in Andava, the little village where BV has its camp. The huts (4 person huts, we were 3 girls sharing) are overlooking a beautiful bay. They are basic but totally sufficient, each hut even has a flushing toilet (luxury in that part of the world) and a salt water shower.
Volunteers were amazing. The age range on my expedition was from 18 to 60 and we all bonded instantly (being on the overland tour at the beginning of the trip was helpful). Staff was very helpful, cheerful, knowledgabe and seemed to enjoy their jobs. Malagasy people were always friendly and welcoming, even with the language barrier (French might be helpful but not as much as I thought). And shopping trips to the village for our daily sugar rationing in the form of bocu-bocu, a local kind of "donut" were always fun, people interested and open.
The first couple of weeks were lots of studying: fish, benthic, diving. But being right next to the ocean, having sand everywhere, being salty all the time, going diving every day: for me it was mind-blowingly beautiful! Not even the adminittedly basic, monotonous food (white bread and honey for breakie; rice, beans and fish for lunch and dinner) could harm my enthusiasm. Special treats were trips to the baobab trees, to the seacucumber pens in another village, to go search spider tortoises, sailing trips in pirogues and party nights on saturdays.
The diving was very diverse. We had everything from 2-30m visibility, saw lots of broken corals from the last hurricane and lots of beautiful hard- and softcoral. Of course also lots of fish, and we were able to ID most of them ;)
I learned so much from this expedition. I learned a lot about life in the ocean and about living with the ocean. But also what it means to live in a third world country, where people still live without electricity, bathrooms, or any other kind of luxury. (don't worry, the expedition huts have power for 7 hours a day from a generator and as mentioned, they have bathrooms).
I loved staying in such a remote area, being around awesome people and living right next to and with the ocean. I would definitely recommend this program. It was a wonderful, rewarding and live-changing experience.

Wonderful experience. Excellent staff, great support throughout, very responsive to feedback, well organised.
A typical day would involve two dives in the morning, learning fish and benthic or collecting coral/fish data to help monitor the state of the coral reef both in and out of reserves set up by blue ventures. Afternoons are spent in informative lectures about other projects blue ventures take a part in, as well as chances to give something back with three weekly english lessons to local villagers.

The setting itself is breathtakingly beautiful, a remote area of paradise.