GVI, Ethical Impact: Volunteer in Seychelles

Living on Curieuse for three months was the most amazing experience, I got to work with baby sharks and see nesting turtles and even hold some baby tortoises that they take care of on the island. It's an unique experience that I don't think would be available anywhere else. The work that is done on the project is relevant and any task that is given will have a purpose for either the natural habitat of the indigenous species in the Seychelles or the environment as a whole. There is also time for activities outside the project, such as exploring the neighboring island Praslin and the amazing beaches there. I did my Open water course on Praslin during several weekends when we had time of.
Living the island life on Curieuse is sometimes hard work but is so rewarding and so worth it! And getting the chance to see the Seychelles is a huge bonus!

This experience was amazing I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for an adventure and who loves the underwater world and conservation. I learnt how to become a better diver and also how to protect the environment. I met the most amazing people from all over the world who are now my closest friends, the staff are there to ensure you get the best out of your time in the Seychelles and are absolutely full of knowledge. I fell in love with this country and it’s beautiful beaches and the incredible reefs it has to offer! This program is full of adventure, knowledge and fun!! I cannot recommend it enough. Over three months I managed to achieve 75 dives, encounter more than 50 turtles, hike in the most beautiful terrain, swim in beautiful beaches and make life long friends!

This is a great opportunity to engage with marine conservation work within a pristine Nature Reserve on the island of Curieuse, Seychelles. I can honestly say that joining the GVI Giant Tortoise and Biodiversity Conservation Project was the best thing I have ever done, an experience I will value for the rest of my life. Right from the very beginning with the contact from the staff, I knew this trip was going to be amazing but nothing can prepare you for how picturesque it is. The best experience for me was when I was lucky enough to see a Hawksbill Turtle basking on the surface of the ocean, whilst being watched by a school of five bull sharks. The staff were so knowledgeable and were always happy to help. I have learnt to cook food for 17 people with very limited cooking equipment and ingredients, loved every Friday BBQ night and made friends for life.

I spent 4 weeks volunteering with GVI's Marine Conservation project on Mahé Island in the Seychelles and absolutely loved my experience! While on the program, I learned so much about and helped to collect valuable data on the flora and fauna of the Seychellois marine ecosystems, advanced my scuba diving skills, further developed my own environmental ethic, and formed great friendships with people from all over the world. I felt like I had great access to information while planning my trip, and I have still felt a large pull to remain connected to my experience in the Seychelles through GVI's extensive alumni programs. I would highly recommend GVI for anyone who is interested in international volunteering and meeting people from around the world. Additionally, GVI's marine conservation programs are especially well suited for science-minded folks with a love for experiencing the natural world!

After booking my trip for only 1 month, I tried desperately to change my flights in order for me to stay for another month... with no luck though.
I learned so many new skills, both social, and scientific, that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
I’ve always thought about going into marine biology in university, however never had a concrete plan, so part of the reason I went to the Seychelles was to give myself a sense of ‘work experience’ to determine my studies, and boy was I blown away with what I got. The hands on activities, and the friends you make, will stay with you for a lifetime.
Writing a small review on this page cannot compare at all to what experiences you will get in Curieuse Island. JUST GO!! I promise you, if you love warm weather, biology (marine and general), and making new friends... this is the trio for you!

I can honestly say that joining the GVI Turtle and Lemon Shark Conservation Project was the best thing I have ever done. It is an experience I will value for the rest of my life. Right from the very beginning with the field manual I knew this trip was going to be amazing but nothing can prepare you for how stunning it is. I remember one day, I was chilling in the hammock before dinner when I saw a juvenile Lemon Shark and a ray. I called everyone and we watched the shark almost beach itself on a few occasions. However the best experience for me was when I was lucky enough to see not 1 or 2 but 3 Hawksbill Turtles lay their eggs all in one day. It was magical. The staff were so knowledgeable and were always happy to help. I have learnt to cook food for 25 people with very limited cooking equipment and ingredients, loved every Friday BBQ night and made friends for life.

My name is Gemma, I’m from a small town called Skipton in the UK. I studied at college Art and Design and I work now as a Marketing Manager for a stationery company. I’ve always been interested in volunteering and making a difference so being able to volunteer abroad on a variety of projects was a natural next step for me. I came across GVI on the internet whilst searching for a project that both myself and my boyfriend could do together. I then met with a GVI ambassador who really helped me to choose a project right for us and talk me through the process of applying – I already felt part of the GVI family before I got on the plane to fly to the Seychelles. The flight was long with a change in Dubai so we had a couple of days to relax in the Seychelles before being picked up and taken to the gorgeous island of Curieuse. We really didn’t fully understand what to expect by this stage and was going with the flow, meeting new like minded people and getting welcomed into island life. The first day was by far the hardest on the island, taking all the briefing tasks in and trying to understand everything you’re going to be a part of for the next two/three weeks! The GVI team on Curieuse were amazing and their energy was what kept me going. My favourite part of the experience was being able to release a lemon shark back into the sea after an examination – truly beautiful creatures. I learnt from my trip to the Seychelles that I’m a lot stronger than I thought I was and also some things that I am good at that I didn’t think I would be. It has raised my awareness of my inner self and made me realise that I need to do more for myself in giving back to the natural environment and wildlife as the experience in the Seychelles changed my perspective for the better. We both felt completely safe and supported throughout our time on base and made some amazing new friends who we still see now we are back home in the UK – and even some of them have flown over to the UK to see us!! I feel this project got me on to a new path in my life, a more conscious living journey and something that is moving forward day by day. I would love to do more work of this nature in the future and I do believe this opportunity has helped me massively! I want to say a special thank you to Alan, Morgan, Catherine and Pete who each supported me on the island and gave me some amazing advice in my short time there. I’m very sad to have left and I hope to see them all again one day on Curieuse island.

My volunteering with GVI on Curieuse was what pushed me into following my passion for conservation. I felt relaxed going on my first solo flight/trip because of the amazing support from GVI before and during my time in the Seychelles. The hands on learning and variety in the volunteers programme makes everyday exciting. The staff were like a second family and I made some life long friends. I would recommend it in a heartbeat.