6 Months at SORCE

I spent 6 months at SORCE whilst I was a student to get more experience in the field, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Even in the first couple of weeks, I had already learned more about marine conservation than I could have ever imagined. The project schedule runs from Tuesday-Saturday, with a fun day (and a fun dive) on Sunday and a dry day on Monday. On the first project day we were diving and learning about their coral nurseries and artificial reef structures, and by the end of the first week I had logged 13 dives through cleaning coral nurseries, planting on artificial reef structures, assisting in underwater BRUV surveys, learning about fish ID, and on top of that we even planted some mangroves! Over the next few months I was able to develop my skills in all of these areas and so much more, and during this time I had so much support and advice from the staff when I was starting to think about my career after university. There are lots of staff on site that ensure everything is run smoothly, from scientists who lead the activities, to kitchen and housekeeping staff who cook you three meals a day and clean your (private!) room every day; every single staff member was lovely and welcoming. The location is remote, perfect for those searching for somewhere quiet, but there is always something to do if you want to. Most nights guests will hang out in the 'den' watching movies, playing games or just chatting, and during the free Monday there are enough places to go to, like restaurants on one of the local islands, or places further afield (but still close enough to spend a day there) like Kuta and Senggigi. During my stay lots of other people came through, some with lots of dive experience, some with none, and either way there was something for everyone to do. Despite being there for such a long time, I was never bored, and I made lifelong friends with people I would have never crossed paths with if it weren't for SORCE.

If marine conservation is what you are interested in, SORCE is the place to be!