ORCA Marine Foundation - Conservation Research - South Africa

Product Details

Imagine a Gap Year placement where you can contribute to important marine conservation while experiencing the fun and excitement of one of Africa’s most beautiful destinations. The ORCA Marine Foundation is where this rare combination exists....

The ORCA Marine Foundation is at the forefront of Marine Conservation in Southern Africa - situated on the world famous Garden Route of South Africa, the location allows you to enjoy beautiful coastal scenery, marine conservation and commercial ventures all in one placement. It is home to some of the worlds most fascinating marine species, including Southern Right whales, Humpback whales, Bryde's whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Common dolphins, ORCA's or Killer Whales and Great White Sharks to name but a few.

Your placement here gives you a unique once in life time chance to work with these magnificent marine species, in exciting marine conservation volunteer work, by combining education, conservation, community development, science, tourism and a viable business model.

The experienced O.R.C.A. team will help settle you in over your stay and give you the opportunity to take on your own individual projects where your best interests lie. O.R.C.A. offers ocean research volunteers personal diversity in the programme, from assisting the dive research teams to helping with their community programme you will find your own way to contribute.

The Project Objectives of the ORCA Marine Foundation are:

• To introduce volunteers to Plettenberg Bay’s marine and coastal environment, including marine resources and the consumptive and non-consumptive use of such resources in the Bay and surrounding areas.
• To introduce volunteers to the valuable contribution Eco Tourism has on marine conservation in Southern Africa
• To show volunteers how the Bay and its resources are currently being managed
• To introduce volunteers to Marine Protected Area, MPA, management perspectives, and how current research is geared towards providing recommendations for a management plan for the Bay.
• To understand the cultural diversity in the coastal community
• To consider the practicalities in beach management and public safety.
• To gain further insight into the problems faced by resource managers as a result of illegal operations.
• To stimulate Ocean Blue Adventure guests awareness of, and interest in the marine environment and the realistic, holistic conservation through a commercial eco-tourism project that actually works, winner of the Green Trust Award.
• To have an unforgettable experience "learning by doing" in one of the most beautiful outdoor classrooms in South Africa

Whilst on your placement you will be involved in a variety of activities to help achieve their objectives:

• Involvement in community development programmes for previously disadvantaged communities (e.g. the Masizame Street Children’s project, Qolweni Crèche)
• Participation in a broad range of educational initiatives involving the local community: educating school children on conservation principals and helping spread the word of the O.R.C.A. Foundation, (please note some of the students may not be able to speak or understand English)
• Organising co-ordinated provincial marine and coastal awareness campaigns (e.g. National Environment Week, National Marine Week, Youth Day)
• Participating in commercial marine-eco tourism activities, which include whale and dolphin watching tours, sea kayaking, township tours, river ferry cruises (many water activities are complimentary of ORCA Marine Foundation).
• Monitoring and cleaning of beaches and coastal regions
• Maintenance and cleaning of fish tanks at the ORCA education centre on a daily basis.
• Conducting research surveys: - Marine and coastal resource economic valuations - Angling surveys within the surrounding estuary and coastline
• Sampling, tagging, monitoring and dissection of fish species
• Supervised collection of touch pool and aquarium species for the O.R.C.A. Education Centre
• Report presentations on topics relative to the project which will be tailored to suit and stimulate your individual interests
• O.R.C.A. patrol boat trips to collect data, monitor the bay and take photos of whales, dolphins and other marine species

Other ActivitiesDepending on the time of the year and weather conditions, your time spent with the O.R.C.A. will also include a diverse range of additional activities including (at no additional cost):

• Sea kayaking
• Marine guiding
• Mountain biking

The ORCA Foundation Volunteer house is where you will call home for the duration of your stay. This fantastically located accommodation makes it the perfect setting for you to get thoroughly involved with the projects at ORCA but is also a great base in which to explore the surrounding area.

A few of the additional activities available locally are:

- Walk with Elephants
- Horse Back Safaris
- Bungee Jumping
- Sky Diving
- Surfing Lessons
- Quad Biking
- Helicopter Trips
- Mountain Climbing/Abseiling

And many more....

With such a great balance of responsible tourism and conservation along with memorable exciting adventures, a placement at the ORCA Marine Foundation truly is a fantastic life experience.