GVI, Ethical Impact: Marine Conservation Volunteering

I was a Participant in the marine conservation programme in Tenerife and made a lot of amazing experiences. Even though I was only staying there for two weeks, I learned a lot about whales and dolphins, how to collect data about them and how to identify individuals. The boat days were amazing and you can see pilot whales and other dolphins on every trip. When we were not on the boats, we did beach cleans, land surveys or entered the collected data. On hot days the work can be exhausting but in the end it is all worth it. I would recommend this programm to everyone who wants to make an impact and take part in helping marine wildlife.

So many young people dream about this kind of experience! Very few actually do it, be that due to fear or ignorance or anything else - and since doing it, I've had countless people ask how and where and how can they join too. It couldn't be easier with GVI, and what an example of how worth it it really is! From inquiry to payment you are guided by the team through the phone, and then from airport to airport you have understanding, knowledgeable contacts to make the process smooth. And once here? It is only heaven. As my first solo experience out of my country, I couldn't have asked for a better introduction: to the field of study, to travelling, to Tenerife, to living communally, to respect and hard work and common interest and above all, FUN! The most fun I've ever had! Every boat trip beheld spectacles: turtles cruising metres from the boat, baby pilot whales dancing and playing, hundreds of spotted dolphins racing us..... Dreams upon dreams coming true. You live amongst young people and professionals, all as excited and generous as you. Even though I was only a volunteer, from my first boat trip the programme officer Lou noticed I had a particular interest in birds and proceeded to take photos of them every day, just for me. It is that generous effort that gives you faith in yourself, I feel; I'm worth her time and effort, so I can do this! My life feels utterly changed; I'm ready to begin my career, and with the contacts I now have? I know exactly how to do it.

I had the best time with GVI on Curieuse Island, Seychelles over 6 weeks. It became a home away from home. I'm an postgraduate Marine Biology student who graduated during Covid-19, so was unable to experience in the field studies, surveys etc. Therefore I chose to do an internship with GVI to get the hands on experience in the field. I have a passion for turtle conservation so felt very lucky to see two turtle nests hatch. GVI Curieuse also complete other exciting surveys with Aldabra Tortoises and Juvenile Lemon Sharks.
The staff on base were very helpful with assistance during the surveys and hikes. I originally struggled with the hikes, but it became so much easier after a few weeks. The evenings on base were fun with card games, quizzes, and murder mystery games. I made very close friends whilst on base, who made my time in the Seychelles even more enjoyable. Plus I felt like I learnt a lot about myself, and the personal journey was amazing. I was pushed outside of my comfort zone, but I'm so grateful for the experience.
I'm hoping to apply the newly learnt skills to potential jobs in the future.

Student in master of ecology, I chose to do a 4 months internship with GVI and more precisely within their mission of conservation of dolphins and whales in Tenerife. From the preparation of my departure to my arrival on site, the GVI team was very professional. I immediately felt integrated and involved in the different missions thanks to the staff and other participants. In addition to working on a project that is close to your heart, you will also have the opportunity to meet other volunteers from all over the world which is a very enriching experience. I've only been here for two weeks but time flies and there are so many things to do and discover! I can't wait to see what the rest of my stay has in store for me!

I chose to participate in the Whale and Dolphin Conservation in Tenerife for 4 weeks with GVI during my Gap Year and will never forget the amazing memories I have made. The program included three boat trips a week and there was never a day where we didn't have a sighting. During my time here I have seen Pilot Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, and Spotted Dolphins all in close proximity. On the other two weekdays we completed land surveys, in which we would spend time recording data on the different types of boats out at sea, and Beach or Park cleans, which were extremely rewarding when counting all the litter and calculating our total mass of litter collected. The staff were always accommodating and friendly to participants and ensured that everyone was included in group activities. Overall, I wish that I could have stayed a lot longer than 4 weeks as I thoroughly enjoyed everything about my time in Tenerife and made such amazing friends.

I did an internship at the GVI hub at Tenerife. It was a great experience that I would recommend to anyone! The work you get to do is very rewarding and incredibly interesting, and three times a week, you actually go out on the boat and look for marine mammals! Seeing all these whale and dolphin species is so special, and made me even more motivated to contribute to their conservation. We also spotted some turtles and I got to see some of the beautiful nature that the island of Tenerife holds. The team is very professional and always ready to teach you new skills, but also available to relax and have some fun with! The support that GVI provides you with beforehand and afterwards is also really nice, it really helps to prepare for your trip and make the transition as easy as possible. Would recommend this experience to anyone!

I was lucky enough to go on the Tenerife Marine Conservation project as a volunteer and couldn’t recommend it enough. Taking a gap year after school I wanted to make sure that I travelled, got some new experiences and contributed something. I came across GVI and was welcomed immediately, the level of support available to me was above my expectations especially since I had a few unfortunate experiences. With bags missing I got very close to the lovely participants there - sharing clothes on day 1! While I went along as a volunteer, as opposed to an intern, I still believe that I gained an immense amount of knowledge and experience doing things I never thought I would, and of course who could forget the amazing wildlife. This GVI program has definitely set me on an unexpected course that I will never forget and can’t wait to explore somewhere new soon! I think if I could choose I would have definitely stayed longer, while I experienced a lot in one month, I do feel like I missed out on exploring some things that I would have liked to. The accommodation was amazing, while you do share rooms with the other participants, it wasn’t too difficult to find some time alone or make a call if you wanted to.

I spent 2 weeks on the Whale and Dolphin Marine Conservation Program in Tenerife in the hope of making the most of my last summer before I start looking for a job. I had heard about the incredible experience my friends had had on their GVI programs, and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my last summer of freedom than joining one of the conservation projects myself. It was the first time I had travelled abroad alone, and I was nervous as to how well I would cope being so far away from home. However, I couldn’t have felt more at home than I did. The staff were always available to talk to and help with any concerns I had. They also made sure everyone kept the base clean and tidy which, after living in student housing of varying cleanliness for the past few years, I was very grateful for. As for living with the other volunteers, everyone was so welcoming that within a few days I was already dreading the day I had to go home. One thing I did, however, wish was different was how repetitive the weekly schedule was. I think if I had stayed significantly longer, I would have really struggled with this. However, I am fully aware that to create the large, reliable datasets needed for the project, repetitive data collection is needed. Even with this, I LOVED my time at the GVI Canary Islands base and I am already considering joining another of the bases on one of the people-based projects.