Great learning experience

I volunteered in this project first time 2007 for 1 month and returned year later for 3 months internship.

I am not biologist or environmentalist by education and was looking to change my life and chose several volunteer projects with sea turtles during my sabbatical leave. I am also what you would call a more mature volunteer as I was 37 years old at the time. Since then I have worked in many sea turtle projects around the world.

KIDO project in Carriacou is one place where I learned a lot about sea turtles, conservation and different lifestyle in general. Working on the beaches during the night is hard work for sure, but it is also very rewarding. You know there are poachers that come to check the beach in the morning, I saw them myself, when one morning we stayed until 7am to see a leatherback turtle go back safely to the sea after nesting.

Being able to protect the nests, tag the turtles and making sure the nest is not found in the morning, but can be found later for nest excavation are jobs that make it all worth while. Writing down the data also is very important part of the global sea turtle conservation effort.

Accommodation surrounded by pristine nature and dogs and cats was also a big highlight for me. I still miss my favorite dogs Zhawe and Calimero. Snorkelling in the bay just down the stairs was also a treat.

I admire Dario and Marina tremendously for the life they are living and the kind of people they are. Sometimes I would wake up and hear the beautiful song played with flute by Dario and I helped to create back drops for a puppet show about saving whales that Marina had created these amazing puppets for.

This project is not for someone who is looking for fun, social volunteering experience with some work, but mostly fun. This project is very good for someone who is seriously interested in grassroots conservation work and is willing to make the effort and work hard.

What comes to safety, you need to be aware of the possibility of encountering a poacher or smuggler during the night, but during my night beach patrols, I only encountered other people on the beach 3 times and 2 times out of 3 they were some young people and one time only a guy that was a known thief that kept his distance due to our local guide and a dog. And then there was the time when the poachers came to check the beach, but pretended to just come for a morning swim. More scary were the superstitions and stories told by one of our local guides during the nights. But then again, he talked all the time and sang too and never slept while we rested between the patrols.

For me this is one of the best projects I have been to and I would love to go back one day.