Week 2....too old to go clubbing, and marmite dilemmas!

Sunday 15th August

I can’t tell you how spoilt I’ve felt this weekend having hot water showers (nearly scalded myself this morning!) and decent food – well not really decent, pizza loaded with meat, meat burger (not the dreaded lentil burgers), omelette, bacon and sausage, hot tea in china cups. Last night was hilarious – some of the other volunteers that I’m holed up with at the hotel decided that they were going to hit the local nightclub in Beau Vallon, and were absolutely insistent that I go with them. We didn’t leave the hotel until 11pm….normally I’m knocking out the zzz’s by then. Anyway lasted until 2, but have to say it’s not my scene (I knew that anyway). So taxied home on my own….. the other’s rolled in at 7am. Don’t think I will ever be press ganged again to go clubbing! The good news was I was sharing a room with Monica, but they decided when they got in that they shouldn’t bang the door to get in to where I was sleeping, so 4 slept in one room and I had the room to myself which was bliss!


Today has been lovely, lounging by the pool when the sun was out, running for cover everytime there was a downpour – yes it’s monsoon season here….no sympathy expected though. The best bits have been managing to talk to Steph in Holland and Chris (just off nights) on Skype, picking up email from Jono to say he’s booked himself flights to come out to Mombasa at Christmas (lands Christmas Day)…..using my credit card though! . And uploaded photos onto facebook (all in wrong order and still failing to get them onto my blog – will persevere). Spent £30 paying for three hours of internet access at hotel so hope you forgive me for not replying to all your emails and comments – it’s just frantic when I get connected but all your messages are really welcome and make me smile and feel not so far away from you all.


So back in base now, covered in ‘deet’, sweaty, hot, and sat on my manky mattress and smelly pillow, engulfed by my mosquito net wondering whether treating myself this weekend was a good idea as now have to readjust back to cold water, and all the highlights of this place. Oh, and had marmite on toast for tea when I got back here – it was heaven. But dilemma, I was asked by Jade (south African who is great fun) whether she could have some as she loves marmite. And you know, I hesitated with my ‘yes’ … but did share…. Begrudgingly!!! – Jono, you might have to bring supplies out at Christmas.


I wonder whether my wetsuit will have dried over the weekend, or whether it will still be damp and smelly tomorrow morning? But aside from all of that, excited that I have another 5 days of diving here, learning so many new things, fish test on Tuesday, emergency first response exam also this week. Am also booked to do my rescue dive course next weekend which all the Dahab crowd were nagging me to do! Busy week ahead….


Monday 16th August
Not sure I’ve shared with you much about this project, so think I’ll bore you all now with what it’s all about. The coral here in the Seychelles has suffered enormously with ‘bleaching’ events, one about 10 years ago I think and one more recently. This is where the sea temperature rises so much that the coral is damaged as a result and dies in places or loses a lot of its nutrients (a very untechnical explanation!) The knock on effect on all the fish and underwater life etc is enormous, especially on the whale shark and turtle population, and the fish, coral and environmental impact surveys that we do here provide monitoring data for various research and conservation organisations working here. So, that is why we have to learn many of the fish here so we can correctly identify and provide data whilst diving, and also our dive skills need to sufficient so we are able to ‘work’ underwater.

Tomorrow we start our coral research reef diving qualification, which will include lectures, 2 dives, and should hopefully mean we can start doing surveys from then on. We also have our first fish exam (95% minimum pass rate!). Wish me luck!

Also the project here supports the local community in many ways – they are linking up with a local childrens home, and are going to do a marine conservation day with a group of ten 13-16 years olds at the end of this month ….. and yes, I have volunteered to help out with this.  On the base we are in duty groups each week, and have a daily rotation between kitchen, grounds, boat and tank duties.


Today has been great fun – camp clean first thing, so most of us blitzed the kitchen which has made a big difference. Jade made some fantastic bread, and I made a potato hotpot – (shopping gets done on Wednesdays only so there’s not a lot left here by Monday/Tuesday), but I was determined we would not have lentils again! It tasted delicious by the way! And made oat cookies from the morning’s left over porridge, and Monica made crisps by frying the potato peelings….. a feast this evening… no-one went hungry.

The dive today was great, out first thing…. And yes the wetsuit was still damp and very smelly…. But we surfaced into a massive shoal(?) [not sure what the collective noun for jelly fish is]. Tough decision as you’re ascending, as looking up all you can see is jelly fish, and you know you have to go through them as you’ve got to get to surface. I managed to get through unscathed, only because I always get cold underwater so wear full wetsuit, booties etc whereas others dive in shorties and were inevitably stung to pieces.

PS…had to share my marmite again…. Anyone visiting the Seychelles before the end of August able to replenish my supplies?

Tuesday 17th August
Did you know that bugs can get through your mosquito net? Well they can, and Italians left door open to dorm this evening, with light on, and this place is full of bugs. And I’m watching them get through the holes in my net as I write. Mind you I am armed with my bottle of deet so am annihilating them as soon as the little ******* get through.


Great diving today – two dives, and have now passed my Coral Reef Research speciality dive – whoopee! Spent most of second dive upside down as practising laying out tape on ocean floor and then doing fish surveys in defined patterns. Great fun. More whale sharks around – the last group of the day were ‘playing’ with them for over an hour.

Sat fish test – you know it’s years since I’ve sat a test – will get results tomorrow. Have Emergency First Responder exam tomorrow so more last minute revision going on this evening.

Wednesday 18th August
98% in fish exam!

Thursday 19th August
Passed emergency responder exam – don’t know score yet though. Two dives today – practise fish belt and spot surveys – really enjoyed them. 40 dives now banked! Doing my rescue dive qualification at weekend and have just finished all my knowledge reviews for this….just the practical to do!


Friday 20th August
Walked to nearest hotel (50 minutes away) as heard that you could get internet access there. It’s cost me so far nearly £20 in drinks as there is only one bar that has wireless, and have had a drink in all the bars so far, but now just found the one bar with internet…. On bottled water now - £5 – what a rip off…mind you it doesn’t taste musty like the water out the taps at base so worth every £!


Oh, and nearly forgot to update you on the Italians – they’ve decided to leave for a 8 days and holiday with Gio’s parents who are in the Seychelles – they were originally going to go just for the weekend, but are a bit stressed as they’re not getting enough relaxation time whilst on the project!!!!