fantastic internship!

I participated in this internship as a member of the marine mammal research team for three months and absolutely loved my experience! I was there from September to the end of November, and the weather was really perfect for the first half, and a bit stormy/cozy for the last few weeks. During my 12 weeks there, I participated in almost 10 boat surveys, multiple necropsies, had the opportunity to participate in many terrestrial surveys, as well as some snorkel/RUV surveys. These surveys, especially the boat surveys, were like nothing I'd ever experienced before and are incredible experiences I will cherish forever. The institute is led by people who are truly passionate about conservation and finding ways for humans and other animals to peacefully coexist in our environment and this is incredibly inspiring and motivating. We struggled a bit to get enough guidance and mentorship at times because supervisors were so busy, but they all went above and beyond to teach us their skills and were all very very knowledgeable in their fields, and very patient and hardworking as well. In terms of accommodations, the new base was pretty much perfect for me: we almost always had hot-water (during the sunnier months, the water is heated up entirely from solar panels!), the rooms were clean and airy, beautiful views, practically no mosquitos, comfortable beds, the food was local/organic, and the views were amazing! The wifi was often problematic, but most people had cell service so it wasn't too much of an issue. The location is also great, there is a store nearby and many restaurants, and two beaches within a 10-minute walk! Overall, I met some truly amazing people there that I hope to stay in contact with and learned so much about what it means to be a conservationist and an environmentalist. I cannot recommend this internship more!