Fiji Marine Conservation & Diving

The Fijian archipelago lies scattered lazily in the achingly blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, bathed in the radiant antipodean sunlight. Its towns and villages are veritable melting pots of cultural influences – see multicoloured Hindu temples perched next to relics of the traditional indigenous spirit houses with their lingering sense of an ancient magic.

Fiji's irresistible shores are fringed with picture-perfect palm trees, and the azure waters that surround the islands are inhabited by an astonishing array of marine creatures; over 1,200 species of fish including clownfish, triggerfish, blue tangs, 12 species of whales including humpbacks, dolphins, anemones, soft coral and much more.

Enjoy fragrant sun drenched days and balmy exotic nights – try a Fijian beach party for whirling fire dancers, traditional dancing and delectable food cooked in a traditional underground oven. Fiji will enchant you with its infectious, chilled out "Fiji time" lifestyle and its heavenly beaches – the perfect paradise location for your Frontier adventure!

Read the latest science updates from this project on SeeConservation

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• PADI scuba diving courses and qualifications available
• Make lifelong friends
• Dive at some of the best dive sites in the world

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• Book early to avoid disappointment

PLEASE CHECK AVAILABILITY WHEN APPLYING FOR THIS POPULAR PROGRAMME

 

Location	The South Pacific Island of Gau, Fiji
Activities	Scuba diving Dive and snorkel to find coral reefs Dive and snorkel to study the various marine life living on coral reefs Explore the mangrove forests, dense sea grass beds & productive intertidal areas Record organisms that live on the Island of Gau Dive and snorkel to do underwater visual censuses of reefs & commercial fish Dive and snorkel to assess algal & coral cover Record observations of the feeding habits & behaviour patterns of a range of marine life Study the impact of artisanal fishing on the coral reefs Report the effects of global warming on marine communities Observe the impact of the marine-curio trade on endangered marine invertebrates
Transport	Airport pick-up first Monday of month, for those arriving on other dates we can arrange airport pick up and first night hostel accommodation for a small additional charge of ~£25/$40 Boat transfer to the Island of Gau (for those travelling in Jan, April, July, Oct, transfers for other dates can be arranged at extra cost)
Accommodation	Beach camp

 

Before you go

Pre-departure support Travel & medical advice & documentation Equipment advice Discounted medical kit Free Frontier t-shirt UK residential briefing weekend including food, accommodation and training FREE for 10 week+ volunteers (US$128 per person for those participating for less that 10 weeks)

In-country

All field camp accommodation & food Local orientation & comprehensive project training Project equipment & camp diving equipment Research materials 24 hour in-country support International HQ emergency support & back-up Airport pick-up first Monday of the month (other airport collection dates can be arranged separately for independent travellers at extra cost of about $25) Internal ground transfer to Suva and first night hostel accommodation for first Monday of the month arrivals (other dates can be arranged separately for independent travellers at extra cost $15 per night for lodge accommodation) Boat transfer to the Island of Gau (for those travelling in Jan, April, July, and Oct transfers outside of these dates can be arranged at extra cost) Diving projects: Dive training to PADI Dive Master courses available & FREE use of Frontier project dive equipment, including tanks, BCDs, Regs, weights, compressor & all air fills, boats, outboard engines (personal dive kit, including mask, fins, snorkel and wet suit not included). Scuba dive courses available Jan, Feb, Mar, April, May, June, July, Aug, Set, Oct, Nov  PADI Open Water Diver US$400/$390 PADI Advanced Open Water US$368/$360 PADI Emergency First Response  US$160/$155 PADI Rescue Diver  US$480/$470 PADI Dive Master   US$800/$775 Night dives, fun dives, recreational dives and speciality dives available at extra cost

What Next? Apply Now!

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO?

The aim of Frontier-Fiji Reef Conservation Project is to better understand the marine resources of the island, and to provide teaching and training to enable local communities to make informed decisions regarding the management of their coastal ecosystems.

To achieve this mission, we conduct scientific baseline data surveys of reef areas, mapping the sea grass beds and mangrove fringes of the region, we identify patterns of resource use, and we work with local communities to build awareness of the value and vulnerability of their marine environment. We also locate turtle nesting beaches on Gau and create seasonally protected areas.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

The marine research and conservation programme is run in association with the University of the South Pacific. The work aims to provide the local stakeholders, research organisations and government bodies with the information they need to design and implement management plans for the future protection of Gau's island marine ecosystem.

To gather the data needed you will be diving to locate and map the extensive coral reefs and study the various communities living on them  (if necessary you will learn to dive first). You will also explore and record the organisms that inhabit the luxuriant mangrove forests, dense sea grass beds and productive inter-tidal areas. To do this you will deploy a wide range of newly learned research skills and scientific techniques including: underwater visual census of reef and commercial fish such as triggerfish and parrotfish, assessment of algal and coral cover to determine the extent of coral bleaching and damage, and line intercept transects for benthic life and indicator invertebrate species such as nudibranchs. With so much to learn it 's worth noting that those joining for only 4 weeks will be training most of the time and may not get to do a lot of surveying.  You may record observations of the feeding habits and behaviour patterns of a range of marine life. You may even get to study the impact of artisanal fishing on the coral reefs, report the effects of Global Warming on marine communities or observe the impact of the marine-curio trade on endangered marine invertebrates. The type of field work underway will depend on the time of year and the content of the research program when you join up.

Whilst diving, you'll see an extraordinary array of animals from turtles to manta rays, sea cucumbers to feathery starfish, spiny urchins to octopus and jellyfish.  When you motor out each day on the Frontier boats to distant dive sites you may even encounter gigantic manta rays, humpback whales or flying fish. By the end of your project you will be expert at identifying hundreds of colourful and patterned reef fish as well as being an experienced and competent diver. Although the work is intense and challenging you'll get immense satisfaction from having survived and from having made a valuable contribution to the conservation of this untarnished marine wilderness. You will return home with the new friends you've made and a wealth of fascinating stories and memories.

You'll find your team to be a fun, dynamic mix of ages and experiences, with members who all share a passion about travelling in developing countries and saving endangered life. Your staff will be young, friendly individuals who are highly experienced in their field and many have volunteered on a Frontier project earlier in their career.

What Next? Apply Now!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?

This depends on your arrival date and your lenghth of stay. If you are a 10 or 20 week volunteer and are travelling with one of the main escorted parties at the start of January, April, July or October you will be welcomed at Nadi International Airport by Frontier field staff or Frontier representatives. From here, you’ll travel across Viti Levu by bus, truck or taxi to Fiji’s capital city, Suva where you’ll spend a day or two learning more about Frontier’s Fiji programme. Afterwards, you will take the ferry or local boat over to the remote and idyllic Pacific island of Gau.

If you are arriving on the first Monday of any other month, we will meet you at the airport and book you into a local hostel in Suva for one night (cost included). The following morning you can take the weekly flight on the 8 seater light aircraft to the Island of Gau (extra ~US$136/$130 cost applies) . Please ensure you book this flight well in advance (we can help you with this), seats sell quickly because of the limited availability. If you can't get a seat on the  plane you can transfer over to Gau by chartering a local boat but this option is more expensive.     

If you are an independent traveller arriving at any other time you are welcome to join the project on any Tuesday, (please discuss your intended arrival date and duration of stay with our travel advisers, especially if you need to book a dive training course, to confirm availability), and please be aware that flights from Suva to Gau run once a week only. You can reach the island of Gau by ferry (sailing shedule rather unreliable) or hired boats. We will provide you with estimated costs and detailed travel information to help you make the transfer and the Frontier field staff team will be there on camp ready to welcome you.

WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?

During the project you'll live on a remote beach camp on the south Pacific island of Gau. We aim to provide you with an authentic and memorable living experience. The Frontier marine camp has been constructed by local craftsmen, using traditional building techniques and locally sourced building materials. The camp which is situated in a clearing on the shore was designed to blend in with the surroundings. Camp life is very simple, unsophisticated and fun. You will be staying in communal dwellings called bures made from locally woven vegetation. Your "shower" may be a jug or a bucket of water – perhaps even a shower of rain – and you cook over an open campfire: so prepare for the basic, unencumbered, virtually footprint-less lifestyle! On occasions you may have to travel further from your beach camp to reach a distant dive site, and then you might stay in a “satellite camp”, usually a mosquito net pitched on a beach.

As well as the diving and marine conservation work you will help with the scientific data entry and daily camp maintenance, taking turns to cook, tidy and clean the camp, clean and oil the compressor, rinse dive kit, collect firewood, prime hurricane lamps, collect and treat water, and help with a wide variety of other important and essential camp duties.

FRONTIER CAMP LIFE

Check out our video on Frontier Gap Year TV from Frontier-Fiji, showing you volunteer life on this beautiful island.

WHAT WILL I BE EATING?

Camp food is simple and nutritious and consists largely of rice, split peas, pancakes, flatbreads, tinned fish, pasta and fruit, all of which are purchased in-country or made on camp in order to help support the local economy. Luxuries such as sweets, biscuits and drinking chocolate have to be brought over to Gau from Suva, so make sure you stock up before heading to the field!  Part of your role on camp will be to help with the cooking, so get your cookbooks out now and start practising!  Also, with luck you'll be invited to local feasts and festivals – a great way to integrate with the local communities in the nearby villages and absorb the fabulous and welcoming local culture.

Some local dishes to look forward to include taro, breadfruit, sweet potato, cassava, and cassava chips, coconut and fabulous shellfish and seafood. A delicious Fijian speciality is a lovo feast, which is a meal cooked in a hole in the ground – unusual but very tasty!

What Next? Apply Now!

ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE  | 28 Aug 2012
The time I’ve spent in Muana for the project so far has been nothing short of incredible. I...

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WILD EXPEDITION IN FIJI  | 22 Aug 2012
The Fiji marine project is located on the beautiful island of Gau. Our camp accommodation is simp...

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THROWING YOURSELF INTO LIFE ON GAU  | 16 Aug 2012
My experience in Fiji has been unforgettable. The diving was incredible; the whole of Gau Island ...

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CAVA CEREMONIES IN FIJI  | 2 Aug 2012
Having arrived from New Zeal winter, the first impression of Fiji was the heat, however, this was...

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HUMPBACK WALES, LIZARDS AND DIEGO THE CAMP CAT  | 26 Jul 2012
Arriving in Fiji was relieving after a 34 hour journey from England. I spent a day in Nadi before...

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BLACK TIP REEF SHARKS IN FIJI  | 16 Jul 2012
We arrived in Nadi airport early in the morning and were immediately met by a welcoming Fijian uk...

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SINGING CICADAS AND THE WHISPERING OF THE WAVES  | 10 Jul 2012
At 7am on the first day of the project I was in Nadi airort to meet Max, the Project Coordinator ...

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Fiji's New Arrivals!  | 3 Jul 2012
Deployment to Camp Muana on the island of Gau started this morning for the Fiji Marine Conse...

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BUILDING PAINTING AND BAMBOO RAFTING  | 28 Jun 2012
After a fun filled excursion to Nasautoka village where our volunteers had a taste of the ‘...

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FRONTIER FIJI MARINE ARE FEELING GOOD TODAY!  | 8 May 2012
Frontier Fiji marine are feeling good today - our permanent markers have been placed to set out o...

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1 to 10 next >

MCSUSTAINABILITY  | 18 Feb 2013
Over the past few decades, there has been increased awareness about the proper management of fish...

WOMEN’S ROLE IN FISHERIES AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES  | 24 Sep 2012
Women's issues loomed large on social and political agendas in the 1960s and entered the cons...

COOK ISLANDS DECLARE WORLD'S LARGEST MARINE PARK  | 3 Sep 2012
The newly proposed reserve is set to be 1.065 million square kilometres, almost twice the size of France

CORAL REEFS UNDER THREAT?  | 30 Aug 2012
An article on BBC Nature has highlighted the threat to worldwide coral reefs from crown-of-thorns...

OCEAN CONSERVATION - WHAT’S BEEN DONE IN 20 YEARS?  | 18 Jun 2012
In the light of the Rio+20 summit conservationists are hoping for greater guarantees and a more serious commitment to protect global oceans.

WORLD'S LARGEST MARINE PARK ANNOUNCED  | 15 Jun 2012
The Australian government has declared that they are to create the world’s largest network of marine parks to ensure the continued protection of ocean life.

PEACOCK MANTIS SHRIMP’S SUPER STRENGTH REVEALED  | 13 Jun 2012
The Peacock Mantis Shrimp, a tiny, colourful crustacean in the Indo-Pacific Ocean which has been referred to by researchers as a “heavily armoured caterpillar."

GROUPER DUO PERUSING THE REEF TOGETHER ON FRONTIER’S FIJI MARINE PROJECT  | 2 May 2012
      Photo courtesy of Paul and Jill Groupers: these terr...

Penguins Experience Big Brother Monitoring  | 13 Apr 2012
    Colonies of penguins in the Antarctic have had their personal lives invaded...

Wibble Wobble; Jelly in a Lake  | 20 Feb 2012
The thought of swimming in a lake packed full of millions of jellyfish isn’t one that most people would jump at, but what if you were guaranteed not to be stung?

New objectives on the Fiji marine project...  | 4 Jan 2012
As the Fiji Marine project starts the first phase of 2012, the team has a couple of new exciting ...

Amazing Diving and Science in Fiji  | 9 Nov 2011
Week 6 Science in Fiji Marine

Fishing boats pushing seabirds to extinction  | 26 Sep 2011
Researchers find that unsustainable fishing practices are having detrimental effects on seabird populations around the world.

Fiji Biodiversity Bananza  | 1 Sep 2011
Amazing marine animals turning up in Fiji!

Having a Whale of a Time in Fiji  | 18 Aug 2011
Frontier Fiji are in a state of complete elation after having their best survey of 2011 last week. The team have been diving the inner barrier reef as part of their new collaboration with WWF.

Fiji to ban shark produce  | 25 Jul 2011
Fiji joins the list of countries to ban shark produce

Ray In, Ray Out  | 2 Jun 2011
This week, our volunteers in Fiji have been swimming with magnificent manta rays!

Plastic fisheries, a solution to save our seas  | 16 May 2011
When on holiday, we swim in what we believe are crystal clear waters. However, this is far from the truth. In reality our seas are littered with rubbish, the majority being plastic

Selfridges dives into marine sustainability  | 9 May 2011
Heard about the problems of overfishing but can’t see how you can help? Know you should only eat fish that comes from ‘sustainable sources’ but not sure what that means?

Banking on Coral  | 21 Mar 2011
Australian researchers have announced plans to cryogenically freeze coral samples to ensure their future survival.

Beached Whale in Kent Brings Whale Conservation to the UK  | 14 Mar 2011
A beached whale in Kent brings cetacean conservation back onto the headlines.

Coral Whisperers  | 7 Mar 2011
New techniques of monitoring stress in corals is being used to hold polluters to account.

Thailand bans diving on damaged reefs  | 24 Jan 2011
Last week Thailand imposed an indefinite ban on scuba diving in a number of marine parks, in a bid to prevent further damage to deteriorating coral reefs.

Butterflies of the Sea  | 13 Jan 2011
Reports from Fiji of beautiful seaslugs, otherwise known as nudibranchs.

Something fishy is going on round here...  | 19 Nov 2010
The team in Fiji have recently acquired a Fish Aggregation Device which will be used to attract fish to the surface of the water where they can be better observed and monitored.

Oil spill blamed for Coral mass mortalities  | 8 Nov 2010
News of coral deaths in the Gulf of Mexico demonstrates the great need for coral reef conservation.

Mysterious Mangroves  | 13 Oct 2010
The team at Frontier Fiji are embracing the muddy, swampy and salty surroundings of Mangrove forests as they begin to map out the extent and health of mangrove strands on the western side of Gau.

We’re having a whale of a time!  | 19 Aug 2010
Recent volunteers in Fiji were lucky enough to sight a pod of Humpback whales off the island of Gau - where Frontier’s Fiji Marine camp is based.

Manta Mayhem  | 24 Jun 2010
Current volunteers in Fiji were given the unique chance to snorkel with some gentle giants as Manta birostris

Go Fish  | 20 Apr 2010
Our volunteers and research staff have been very busy in Fiji, investigating the abundance of fish present both on reefs adjacent to local villages and on isolated areas of coastline

Life After Frontier Fiji ends with TV documentary  | 9 Mar 2010
When we first saw the island that would be our home for the best part of three months it was from a boat that we had spent the night traveling on to reach the place we had heard so much about

Volunteers swim with grey reef sharks in Fiji!  | 5 Mar 2010
As the first phase of research draws to a close, our volunteers in Fiji experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity

Surveying sharks at the sharp end  | 20 Jul 2009
Shark survey work by Frontier-Fiji researchers at one of the world’s best dive sites has started to ring alarm bells

Going local in Fiji  | 27 Feb 2009
A vital part of Frontier’s conservation work is engaging with local communities and working with them towards sustainable resource use

Fijian sharks encourage new research  | 8 Dec 2008
Frontier volunteers have been diving at the Nigali Passage, Fiji, known to be one of the great diving spots in the South Pacific

Frontier wins PADI Environmental Award 2007!  | 8 Feb 2008
The Society for Environmental Exploration (SEE)/Frontier is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the PADI Project Aware Environmental Achievement Award for 2007

SHARK FINNING - STRIP-MINING THE OCEAN'S SHARKS  |
  Photo Courtesy of hyku Shark populations are in decline worldwide due ma...

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

The Frontier-Fiji camp is fun and in your spare time and weekends off you'll have opportunities to swim and snorkel, play rugby, netball or football against the unbeatable local side or try out beach volleyball. Alternatively you may enjoy a traditional Saturday night themed camp party, play a wide variety of fun camp or card games from poker to bridge, chess or backgammon, or join in a camp quiz night. After a long hard day of diving you may prefer to relax with a drink and sway in the camp hammock, or sit and chat to your new friends beside a roaring campfire, under a sky lit up by millions of stars. Later you will drift off to sleep lulled by the sounds of the gently lapping South Pacific.

For those of you with extra energy additional, higher level dive courses or speciality dives are available at competitive rates.

Rest & Recuperation Weekend UPGRADE

Treat yourself and spend your final weekend in Fiji in the lap of luxury with our special R & R weekend upgrade. You can book and pay in country with your Project Coordinator for the special Frontier discount price of US$22/$35FJD per night.

This weekend upgrade facilities include:

Breakfast

Beach front accommodation

150m beach with hammocks and loungers

Popular beach bar with the cheapest beer on the coast on tap & a double happy hour

Swimming pool

Hot showers

Pool and table tennis room

TV lounge

Internet lounge

Free Wifi  

Free activities including sea kayak hire, coconut weaving and jewellery making and beach volley ball

Optional extras include: snorkel trip with kit US$10; bush trek to local waterfalls US$6; beach horse ride US$16; massage US$13 per hour;  2.5 hour surf lesson US$48

Lunch and dinner is not included and meals cost between US$5 and US$11

dive courses run monthly commencing on the first Monday of the month

• Single Day Snorkelling US$16
• Single Day Dive US$48
• Double Dive US$80
• 4-dive package US$160
• 10-dive package US$320

courses*

• Discover Scuba Diving US$104
• Open Water Dive Course US$400
• Advanced Open Water US$368
• Emergency First Response US$160
• Rescue Diver US$480
• Dive Master US$800

*Medical certificate is mandatory for participation in dive courses