- Volunteers
Training
All ReefDoctor Volunteer Research Assistants receive two weeks training to get ready for camp life and participate in scientific survey work. The training falls into three categories: camp introduction and orientation, science training, and dive and safety training.
Camp introduction and orientation
Your initial training includes a short spell to get used to the life here, a background to Madagascar and its culture and customs and an orientation trip to Toliara to get to know where the internet is and where to do your shopping and to experience Toliara nightlife.
Back at camp, we’ll introduce you to camp and village life, and you’ll get to find out how we operate covering everything from doing the shopping to meeting the president of the village.
Science training
ReefDoctor studies the use of marine resources by the local community through underwater and land-based surveys. To complete surveys on a useful scale, we need volunteer research assistants to help with data collection and management.
On arrival, all volunteers receive theoretical and practical lessons in marine ecology, reef organism identification and marine survey techniques. This learning process commences in week one with lessons on the identification of reef fish, corals and invertebrates. Training begins on land and, as your identification skills develop you’ll go on snorkel and scuba trips to practise observation and recognition.
In week two, we move on to underwater survey techniques, learning and practising the procedures to prepare you for your first surveys in week three.
Dive and safety training
All voluntary research assistants must be a minimum of PADI Open Water divers - we are happy to complete your open water dives FREE if you have completed the theory and pool sessions before arriving at the ReefDoctor camp.
Similarly, if you don’t already have a PADI Advanced certification we’ll complete it in your first week on site FREE of charge (regardless of the length of your stay). This will enable you to participate in all survey dives, some of which are deeper than the 18m limit for Open Water divers.
For all those staying for 12 weeks you will have the opportunity to be certified to PADI Rescue Diver and EFR (CPR and First Aid) all for FREE.
In addition to any basic dive training you undertake, you’ll undergo dive skills reviews, buoyancy practice, learn how to use ReefDoctor’s safety and communications equipment, and practise First Aid and emergency scenarios.
These training and orientation dives will take place during the two-week training programme when you arrive, preparing you for the survey work that you’ll be undertaking with us.
NOTE: - While we are happy to complete your training free of charge, it is a teaching requirement of all PADI courses that students have their own copies of manuals and certain learning materials. Unfortunately we are unable to bear this cost, and it is difficult for us to obtain manuals in Madagascar. Instead, we ask that you bring with you the manuals for any courses that you wish to undertake.
Visit our Resource Centre for more detailed information on PADI requirements and courses available with us.
