Dolphin & Whale Research Programme, Mediterranean

Two Dolphin & Whale Programmes in the Mediterranean to choose from:

Cetacean Sanctuary Research, Ligurian Sea (Italy)

Ionian Dolphins (Greece)

Cetacean Sanctuary Research

A sailing-boat based cetacean research and conservation programme in the Cetacean Sanctuary, Western Mediterranean

Since 1990 this project has been investigating the ecology and behaviour of cetaceans living in the Cetacean Sanctuary - a special marine protected area extending between Italy and France. The research focuses on the spectacularly large fin whale as well as on sperm whales, Risso’s dolphins, pilot whales, striped and bottlenose dolphins.

The Project
Participants will be directly involved in field activities, helping the researchers to collect cetacean data and assist them in preliminary analyses of digital photos and acoustic recordings, while learning basics in sailing.

Location
The project is conducted within the Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary, in an area delimited by Cote d'Azur (France), Tuscany, and northern Sardinia (Italy). In this region, particularly rich in nutrients, cetaceans are found in numbers that are higher than in other Mediterranean areas. Base harbour is in Sanremo (Italy), near the French border.

Description
You will be trained through specific lectures and work side by side with researchers. During this period you will be asked to contribute to the data collection and analysis (e.g. recording cetaceans number and behaviour at regular intervals, preliminary analysis of cetaceans digital photos, etc).

Accommodation
During your experience, you will be aboard a comfortable 21m sailing boat, which hosts 16 persons in five cabins: two single beds in the bow sharing one bathroom, two four-bed cabins and a very large room for six (two double and two single beds); each with private bathroom, shower and hot water.

In case of unfavourable weather or harsh sea conditions, the boat stays in the harbour or in a sheltered bay. Participants may decide to stay on board assisting the researchers with data analysis and computer work (e.g. photo-identification of cetaceans) and attending the lectures held by the staff, or they may visit the surrounding area.

Sample day
The schedule of a research cruise depends very much on weather conditions. Surveys are conducted whenever the sea state and wind forecasts are favourable for data collection. Participants are full members of the crew, and they will be assigned a number of duties. These include sighting shifts (looking for cetaceans), computer shifts (data entry and hydrophone listening), navigation shifts (checking the boat course and velocity), cooking and boat-keeping shifts (participants as well as staff members will be in charge of preparing meals and cleaning-up, keeping the boat tidy and ready to sail).


2010 Project Dates:

Placements are available for one to several weeks.  Volunteers work in groups of 15 (11 volunteers, 4 staff).

Costs:  The total cost ranges from 780 to 915 GB pounds per week (depending on course date).  This includes a 110 GB pounds deposit payable with the application with the balance payment to be paid in Euros (728 to 895 Euros depending on course date).  Discounts are available for students under 26 yrs old (665 to 728 Euros).  Discounts also available for last minute bookings. Please enquire to:  Victoria.McNeil@workingabroad.com for further dates or questions.  * The last minute discount price for this group is £640

Price includes:
- Food and beverages (breakfast, lunch and dinner, except for alcoholic and soft drinks) for the duration of the cruise, except for the dinner at a restaurant in town on the day of the arrival
- Accommodation on board
- Mooring expenses in San Remo harbour
- Electricity, water heating and cooking costs
- Fuel for boat and dinghy
- Lectures and training by researchers
- Scientific supervision
- Certificate of involvement in the Cetacean Sanctuary Research
- Personal insurance for the duration of the course, issued by the Research Institute
- Research contribution

Price excludes:
- Travel expenses to and from San Remo
- Mooring expenses outside of Portosole (approximately €80-100 per night, to be divided by all the crew with the exception of the skipper)
- Personal expenses (telephone, souvenirs, etc.)
- Meals other than those served onboard the boat
- Soft drinks, liquors and spirits (beer, wine, etc.)

How to get there
Boarding is in the harbour of Portosole, Sanremo (Imperia), where the boat, the "Pelagos" is moored. Sanremo is a small town located along the Italian Riviera, a few km from the Italy-France border. It can be reached by train, by car, or by plane.  The closest international airports are Nice (France), about 60 km to the west, and Genova (Italy), about 140 km to the east. From both airports there are bus services to the train station, where it is possible to take a train to Sanremo. Several national airlines and low-cost airlines fly to Genoa and/or Nice from all over Europe, including:  www.flyairone.it/it/Index.asp, www.transavia.com,  www.ryanair.com, www.lufthansa.it and www.blu-express.com.

Ionian Dolphins

Help marine biologists to study and protect bottlenose dolphins and short-beaked common dolphins in the Mediterranean Ionian Sea, Greece.

Since 1991, this volunteer project has been investigating the ecology, behaviour and conservation status of two dolphin species in the waters of the eastern Ionian Sea, Greece.

The work carried out by this project is producing science-based information, aimed to contribute towards dolphin conservation in the Mediterranean Sea. Once one of the most abundant cetacean species in the Mediterranean Sea, common dolphins have declined throughout the region during the last 30-40 years.  In 2003 and 2005, the Mediterranean common dolphin population was listed as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and included in Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species. You will be part of a scientific team and will learn about marine conservation priorities, apply advanced dolphin investigation methods and help with research at sea.

The Project
The Ionian Dolphin Project team investigates dolphin ecology, behaviour, feeding habits, interactions with human activities and dolphin response to habitat degradation. By participating in this programme you will make close encounters with dolphins in their natural environment and have opportunities to observe other marine life. You will actively engage in the research, participating in all phases of the field work, analysing digital photos at the field station and attending lectures on cetacean research methods and conservation strategies.

Location
Galaxidi, in the Gulf of Corinth, Ionian Sea, Greece, is about 200km West from Athens or 90 km East from Patra. This noble and picturesque village is a nautical city with 4,000 years of heritage and one of the most attracting destinations in Greece, and yet it is relatively untouched by mass tourism. Galaxidi has well-preserved traditional houses and buildings, superb beaches with crystal green-blue waters, an adjacent park to walk and hike, and a small port used by small fishing boats and yachts, encircled by fine restaurants and lively pubs. Galaxidi makes a popular destination to visit the stunning and world-famous archaeological site of Delphi, just a short drive away.

Description
During your stay on the project you will share the field base with the research staff. It consists of two adjacent apartments: the first apartment is the researchers’ headquarters and includes their sleeping room and office, the second is used by project participants and sometimes by one research assistant. The latter apartment has a large living area with open kitchen and fireplace, a big patio facing the surrounding hills, a toilet with bathtub/shower and a large bedroom. Both apartments are new, modern and fully furnished. The building is surrounded by a large garden. The field station is located in a quiet part of the village of Galaxidi, approximately 300 m from the seaside and 500 m from the centre. The main port with seaside restaurants and bars is at walking distance, less than 1 km from the house. You will be asked to share cooking and cleaning shifts with the other participants. Daily surveys at sea will be held using a 5.8m-long inflatable boat.

Sample Day
The field work is carried out whenever the weather is good. Participants should be aware that the schedule may vary, depending on weather conditions, research priorities and logistical constraints.  On a research day, you will move to the research boat by 7.30-8am, then between 8-11 am work at sea.  Then lunch, afternoons are spent working on research date, and free time/rest.  Early evening, lecture and/or video on cetacean research methods and conservation aspects, dinner, relaxing by the beach, then rest.

2010 Project Dates:

Placements are available for one to several weeks.  Volunteers work in groups of 8 (5 volunteers, 3 staff).

Costs:  The total cost ranges from 645 to 760 GB pounds per week (depending on course date).  This includes a 110 GB pounds deposit payable with the application with the balance payment to be paid in Euros (595 to 725 Euros depending on course date).  Discounts are available for students under 26 yrs old (530 to 575 Euros).  Discounts also available for last minute bookings. Please enquire to:  Victoria.McNeil@workingabroad.com for further dates or questions. * The last minute discount price for this group is £550

Price includes:
- Food and beverages (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at the field station for the duration of the course
- Accommodation
- Electricity, running water, water heating and cooking costs
- Gasoline and oil for the boat surveys
- Lectures and training by programme researchers
- Scientific supervision
- Certificate of attendance to the Ionian Dolphin Project
- Personal insurance for the duration of the course, issued by programme
- Contribution to the research

Price excludes:
- Travel expenses to Galaxidi
- Personal expenses (telephone, souvenirs, etc.)
- Extra food and beverages (e.g., those consumed at restaurants and bars)
- Alcoholic beverages

Important Information:
This is a partly liveaboard holiday. Please contact us to discuss any questions you might have about comfort onboard a 5.8m inflatable craft. If you know that you suffer badly from seasickness, this holiday might not be the best one for you. You should be in a good enough physical condition to tolerate the hot weather, sun and long periods (up to 4-5 hours) on the inflatable boat.

Feedback from volunteers:
Ann Watts, from the UK said: "I had an amazing time in Galaxidi; I met some fabulous people and encountered wonderful wild dolphins too! I really enjoyed the data capture and the statistical analysis. A trip I shall remember forever; thank you all." 

How to get there
The village of Galaxidi may be reached by bus or taxi from Athens and Patra. You can get to Athens easily by plane, while Patra can be reached via ferry from the main ports of the Adriatic Sea (e.g. from the Italian ports of Venice, Ancona and Bari).  Several national airlines (e.g. Olympic, Alitalia, Iberia, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa) and low-cost airlines such as EasyJet fly to Athens from all over Europe.  For more details on ferries and buses to Greece, please email: Victoria.McNeil@workingabroad.com

To Apply for the Ionian Dolphin Project
If you are interested in joining this project, you will need to fill out the online application form – to secure a placement on the project, please complete and submit the form and your deposit of £110.  If for some reason, your application is declined, we will reimburse this deposit fully.  However for those who are accepted, you will be required to pay 50% of the full amount within 10 days of acceptance, with the remaining 50% 1 month before arrival.  This will have to be paid in Euros to our programme research partner in the field, Tethys Research Institute.  Once we have confirmed your place, you will receive a detailed information package on the programme background and scientific objectives, your role as a volunteer, the work you will do, suggested items to bring, how to travel there etc.   Following this, Tethys Research Institute will send you documents on volunteer liability that will need to be completed after you are booked on the programme.  Any questions with regards to your application, please email: Victoria.McNeil@workingabroad.com.