An AMAZING experience

If you’re able to travel to Pom Pom, do yourself a favor and go! Volunteering with TRACC was one of the best decisions I ever made. I didn’t exactly know what to expect before going – I had never dived before, knew little about marine biology, and had never traveled alone before (I was only 19). But the moment I stepped off the boat and onto the island, I was in awe. I was greeted warmly, shown around the site, and introduced to everyone. I immediately began my PADI certification training and was diving comfortably within a few days (by the time I left, I had become certified as an Advanced Diver). My instructor was really helpful, kind and down to earth.

Life on the island is pretty idyllic. While you won’t be staying at a five-star hotel, the basics are all taken care of -- everyone is provided a tent with an air mattress and a fan. I was rather happy with my accommodation – it was all very comfortable. Lunch and dinner are typically rice or noodles with vegetables, and there’s always some meat for the carnivores out there. For breakfast, you have the kitchen at your disposal and can eat whatever you choose to make (I typically just ate toast with marmite and fruit). Toilets and showers were substantial (cold showers… but in the Borneo heat, you wouldn’t want anything else).

I would typically go on two dives a day. Either they would be “work dives”, in which we would collect or plant hard/soft coral, or simply fun dives. The diving was spectacular – multiple different sites, each with SO much diversity. And at the end of the day, you can lie on a hammock under the jetty and read a book or have a beer.

On top of learning a lot about fish aggregating devices, reefs, and species identification, I feel like a made a lot of really wonderful friends. The people on Pom Pom were always SUCH great company, and after spending a month there, it was very hard to leave. If I get a chance, I know I’ll be coming back! I’d suggest volunteering at TRACC to anyone.