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GYC2592 - Whale Shark and Manta Ray Conservation Project Country: Mozambique Cost: £1985.00 Please note: £1,475 for 2 weeks; £1,735 for 3 weeks; £1,985 for 4 weeks; £2,275 for 5 weeks; ££2,565 for 6 weeks; £3,495 for 8 weeks. Cost includes all dives, dive equipment and £200 donation to Tofu Community Trust Fund. Cost Includes: The price includes accommodation, food, kit, pickup from airport and visas but does not include flight or insurance       Duration: 4 weeks Company Rep Nearby: All the time 0845 344 7599 or

 

	This placement would suit... Divers or anyone interested in diving. Wildlife enthusiasts and those who want to experience snorkelling alongside whale sharks in the Indian Ocean. Mozambique's 2,500 kilometres of beautiful, unspoilt coastline is fringed by reefs; home to some of the most amazing marine life the World has to offer. Conditions are ideal for an astounding array of fish and larger species such as whale sharks and manta rays. This delicate marine area is also a prime location for migrating hump back whales. The expedition The objective of this expedition is to gather information on the whale sharks and manta rays of Tofu Bay. Hardly any information is known about the mysterious whale sharks, which are the largest fish in the sea - growing up to 15m in length. You will have the chance to snorkel alongside these gentle giants, collecting information on their social habits and building up a photo ID bank. You will also get the chance to dive with the stunning manta rays, which is an experience of a lifetime. The information will be used to create a conservation management plan and protected area for the region and help towards the protection of these amazing animals. Your work will help protect not only the marine life, but also the livelihoods of the local communities. Very little research has been carried out in the Tofu region to study what marine life is present in the area and volunteers participating in this expedition are offered a unique opportunity to discover and explore unstudied reefs. Not a diver yet? Don't panic! If you're not currently a qualified Scuba diver it doesn't mean you can't join the team. We offer set departure dates, so all non-divers will fly out two weeks before the rest of the team to get their PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water qualification. To do this option and learn to dive in the beautiful Indian Ocean just add an additional £200 onto the expedition cost, plus £150 for food and accommodation. How? A small team of up to 10 volunteers is urgently required to conduct these surveys, working alongside one of our qualified Quest Dive Leaders, local research students from the University of Mozambique and researchers from the Whale Shark and Manta Ray Trust, based in Tofu, Mozambique. You will receive comprehensive training and increase your knowledge of marine habitats and conservation. Daily activities include whale shark, manta ray and fish surveys as well as awareness projects in the local community. You will undertake four research dives a week, one snorkel survey with whale sharks and two fun dives each weekend. Responsible travel The cost of the project includes all your research dives and dive equipment, which we arrange through a local dive school. We also donate US$200 per volunteer to a trust fund, which funds long-term comittments to the local school (where we have installed a borehole), the development of a sustainable lobster fishery for the local villagers and dive training for local Mozambicans. We also fund Mozambican students to take part through the University of Eduardo Mondlane. Why? Mozambique is one of the few areas in the World where whale sharks and manta rays are regularly found. These humble creatures are completely passive and the feeling of being in the water next to one of these magnificent creatures is indescribable. For this reason Tofu is becoming increasingly popular as a destination for divers, holidaymakers and travellers alike. This is good news for the area but will increase pressure on it resources. With potential increased pressure on them, sound management plans need to be urgently implemented to ensure that stress and harm does not come to the whale sharks and manta rays. However, before this amazing marine life can be protected and managed, we need to demonstrate the conservation value to decision-makers. Currently no work has been undertaken in the area and all of the scientific papers written on whale sharks in the last 30 years can be counted on one hand. The predominant aim of this expedition therefore is to gather information on whale sharks, manta rays and the other marine life at Tofu beach. Little to no research has been carried out in the Tofu region before and volunteers participating in this expedition are offered a unique opportunity to discover and explore uncharted reefs. Accommodation Very comfortable accommodation in a fully equipped cottage right on the edge of Tofu beach, with stunning views over the Indian Ocean. All food is provided and volunteers will cook for themselves. Why Quest Overseas? Quite simply because we have the best reputation in the gap year market. We are second to none when it comes to safety, value for money and downright fun! If you'd like to speak to a past student they would be more than happy to bend your ear on everything you could get up to! 0845 344 7599 Quest: Adventure travel in Latin America and Africa combining both worthwhile volunteering and challenging, action-packed expeditions. We commit to all our projects long-term, from constructing schools, helping shantytown children and orphans, rehabilitating animals, working in the depths of the rainforest or scuba diving to help protect endangered marine species. All our trips are designed to show you the real side of Africa and South America, to enable you to make a difference and to make sure you have the time of your life! Open afternoons in West Sussex, online presentations and telephone appointments are all regularly available.