South Pacific Projects – Marine Conservation, Fiji

Going to Fiji as a marine conservation volunteer was by far one of the most interesting, fun and worthwhile things I’ve done in my life so far. I spent twelve weeks staying on the beautiful island of Leleuvia from September 2009 after graduating from doing a BSc in ‘Multimedia Technology’ at University. After spending three years permanently attached to a computer screen, I felt like doing something where I could make a real positive difference. Equally doing something where I could get away from that damn computer screen! The first point I achieved with flying colours. Never in my life has anything I’ve done felt more worthwhile, with more direct and meaningful impact on a local community. Best of all you get to meet, eat with, talk to, go to church and work with the people you’ll be helping by taking part in this project. You get to play with and teach their kids, eat their amazing food, drink their Kava (hmm addictive!) and generally live and work among them. The second point I managed to a degree (getting away from a computer screen) although now I’m home unfortunately its attached more firmly than ever!

So what can I say about South Pacific Projects Fiji? Well to begin with, if you fancy the idea of hearing the sea gently lapping the shore twenty feet from you every morning, seeing some of the most amazing sunrises/sunsets and starry nights anywhere in the world, stepping off the beach into the water and seeing more fish than you’ve ever seen in my life (yes stepping off of the BEACH!), meeting some amazing people and making friends from all over the world, eating enough rice to sink an armada of ships along with spending time with some of the friendliest village people in the world then Fiji is definitely for you! And that’s just for starters, I’ve got so many stories of so many visits, days, dives and trips that I couldn’t possibly squeeze them all of them into this blog. Suffice to say, I’ve never been able to tell anyone the full extent of the amazing time’s I had! From seeing eight Whitetip Reef Sharks, three Hawksbill turtles and a lone Napoleon Wrasse on a SNORKEL to the time I got within ten feet of a beautiful Eagle Ray with a wingspan as wide as my arms, to the time we spotted a pod of leaping Spinner Dolphins from the dive boat.

Want fun times? Go to Fiji.

Want to dive until you can’t dive anymore? Go to Fiji!

Want to have the adventure of a lifetime? Go to Fiji!

Mat Watson-Gunn