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FAQ’s
How to Join
Please see our Join us page and fill out the online form to contact Howard or Tristan who will then get back to you as soon as possible or just drop us an email via our Contact page. We will be happy to field your questions to help start you on your journey to Fiji.
Who Volunteers
Anyone and can join an expedition providing that you can swim 400m unaided (no time limit) for volunteers who find this a struggle, our staff will help you achieve this goal. However, volunteers are unable to partake in any diving or water activities until this requirement is completed. It is also mandatory for all volunteers to receive and to pass a dive medical prior to departure to certify their health for the upcoming expedition.
In 2009 we hosted volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, from students taking their GAP year to working professionals and retirees. Though many of our volunteers originate from the UK, we had a large number of volunteers from the USA, Canada and Europe too. All are welcome and your help and enthusiasm is always appreciated. Once you book on we will put you in contact with other volunteers from your group prior to departure, thus enabling you to make contact before you leave. Some of the friendships that you make while with us will be lifelong and are one more benefit of taking part in our project. As an additional note, all lectures and courses are in English, though our staff will do their utmost to see that all volunteers are catered for.
Duration of Stay
Typically volunteers stay on an expedition from between six to twelve weeks. This does not mean that you are limited to these lengths, previous volunteers’ have stayed anywhere between four and eighteen weeks in 2009. Also, he longer you stay the more economic the pricing becomes. Jo Roderick, one of our first volunteers who joined us in February 2009, loved it so much she stayed until the end of December! Volunteer groups arrive in Fiji on a 6 week rotation, so if you intend to stay for only 4 weeks then there will be some limit to how much you can learn during this time, this should not impede your experience though as we cater to all volunteers equally which makes for a highly rewarding experience.
What Your Expedition Price Includes
Your expedition includes full board (all food and accommodation) for the duration of the expedition, excluding the break between expeditions if staying for longer than six weeks, PADI dive training, dive equipment (excluding mask, snorkel, wetsuit, fins, dive knife and watch) and all science training.
Additional costs, such as snacks or drinks from the bar and other travel and accommodation excursions not run by South Pacific Projects, will be incurred by the volunteer. It is recommended that volunteers budget (as a minimum) £20 per day when traveling and £5 per day when on site. Expenditure whilst on Leleuvia can be minimal, one of the benefits of operating at such a remote location!
Visa Requirements
The majority of nationalities do not require a visa or permit to enter the country; however, we would like to advise all volunteers to check before booking. On arrival volunteers of most nationalities are typically given a four month tourist visa, this is a requirement to participate on our expedition. If you intend to stay for longer than four months please contact us for advice.
As a condition of entry all volunteers must also have a passport that is valid for a minimum of six months beyond their departure date and a valid return ticket.
Insurance Requirements
Travel and dive insurance is required by all volunteers participating in our expeditions. The type of travel insurance policy purchased by volunteers is completely up to the volunteer, a basic package should be the minimum. Additional specific dive insurance through the Divers Alert Network (DAN) is compulsory if diving with us.
Diving Equipment
South Pacific Projects will provide all buoyancy control devices (BCD’s), regulators, SCUBA tanks, weights and weight belts to volunteers. Other essential personal dive equipment such as a mask, snorkel, fins, dive knife, dive torch and a wet suit need to be purchased by the volunteer prior to arrival in Fiji. It is recommended that volunteers buy fins that use dive boots as we will be entering the water for dives and snorkels from the shore on occasions and wearing boots will greatly reduce the chance of cuts and scrapes form the rocks and coral.
Getting Here
All you need to do is get to Fiji’s capital city, Suva, on or before the start date and we will take care of the rest. There are many airlines routed to Fiji, including Virgin Atlantic, Air Pacific, Air New Zealand, Korean Air, Qantas, Pacific Blue and Virgin Australia. The earlier you book with an airline the greater the chance of availability and cheaper prices. Korean Air in particular offers very competitive deals from the UK. Once arrived in Fiji, internal travel is very straightforward; please see our Pre-departure guide for internal travel advice.
Communications whilst in Fiji
There are several mobile phone networks within Fiji, including Vodafone and Digicel. Each receives a signal on Leleuvia Island despite our remote location. Pre-paid mobile phones or SIM cards can be purchased fairly cheaply from Suva prior to your arrival on the island so you can keep in touch with your loved ones back home. You can also check with your own mobile service provider to see if they cover Fiji.
Safety with South Pacific Projects
Our expeditions are run with the highest level of safety constantly in mind. All of our employees are professionals of the field and are trained in first aid. The safety of the volunteers while on expedition is the responsibility of all our staff team, though Howard and Tristan take the full responsibility for risk assessments, emergency evacuation plans and dive management. Our Expedition Dive Manager also co-ordinates diving safety with us at all times. We all have extensive experience of working in remote environments, between us we’ve worked in over 30 countries! Our site is well equipped to deal with most emergencies, and if necessary, we can have you taken to a Private Hospital in Suva within ninety minutes.
What does science training involve
With South Pacific Projects you can be assured that our training programme has been tried and tested (our very first volunteer group trialled all the different methods we wanted to use) and is tailored specifically to the research that we do alongside our Project partners. The teaching is a combination of lectures, presentations, workshops, games and in-water species identification. We make learning fun and are constantly adapting our training methods to suit successive volunteer groups. The more you put into the learning, the more you will get out of your experience. Our staff hold relevant Degrees and Master’s Degrees in Marine Science and biology as well as a lot of field experience in tropical environments. We never forget that as well as studying, you also want to go diving, visit the local villages, play with the local kids, have a beer with your fellow volunteers on the beach in the evening and above all enjoy Fiji! We are well experienced in finding the right balance of work and play for groups.
What research will volunteers be doing
We pride ourselves on our credibility, and it follows that we should be able to tell you, the volunteer EXACTLY what your contribution to the project is. We will do this when you arrive and inform you throughout the expedition the tangible benefits of your contribution. You will not just drop onto the same over surveyed piece of reef for no identifiable purpose. Instead you will be surveying not just new areas of reef, but gathering information on marine turtle populations, shark populations and helping the local community by providing relevant information that empowers them to conserve and protect their natural resources.
Inoculations Required
Please consult your doctor or a travel clinic about recommended inoculations for Fiji prior to your departure (some inoculations require more than several weeks to take effect). The standard inoculations that you should ask your Doctor about before your trip are:
• Polio, tetanus and BCG (Tuberculosis)
• Yellow fever
• Diphtheria
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
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