Italy lies at the cultural heart of Western civilisation, home of everything from the Eternal City and Roman engineering, to the Renaissance masters and the best pizzas in the world, yet there is always more to see. A journey into Italy is to be embraced by the ambience of well over 2000 years of history. It is a country of great variety, whether you visit the rolling hills of Tuscany, the picturesque mountainous lakes around Como, the scintillating cities of the South or the powerhouses of the North, all characterised by the quintessential Italian dolce vita. Italy is the ever stylish, ever romantic, classical hub of the Western Mediterranean and few nations know better how to enjoy the good life. Therefore to sail the wine dark seas of Italy is to enjoy not only the landscape but the lifestyle.
Check out our Italy Dolphin Monitoring Volunteer Interview video
Read the Italy Dolphin Monitoring and Sailing Project of the Week article on GapYearBlog
Project Requirements
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Under 18's must be accompanied by an adult
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Location |
Ischia, Italy |
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Activities |
Dolphin watching
Underwater camera monitoring
Behavioural data collection
Photographic identification |
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Accommodation |
On board an historical boat |
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Before you go |
Comprehensive pre-departure support
Travel & medical advice & documentation
Equipment advice
Discounted medical kit
Free Frontier t-shirt |
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In-country |
Food
Accommodation
Local orientation & project training
In-country emergency support
24 hour international HQ backup |
What Next? Apply Now!
WHAT WILL I BE DOING?
Weather permitting you will sail out every weekday and help researchers in studying dolphin behaviour. This includes recording geographic position, assessing group size, composition and formation, observing the surface activity patterns and surfacing intervals. This sampling is complimented with acoustic recording of dolphin vocalisations to relate sounds produced to dolphin behaviour. All participants are given an important role and are required to help in data collection. No previous experience is required. At the beginning of the week volunteers will be trained to undertake specific tasks including dolphin watching, underwater camera monitoring, behavioural data collection and photographic identification.
What Next? Apply Now!
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?
From Naples' Capodichino airport you will take the airport bus to Beverello, the principal harbour in Naples. From the harbour there are many ferry connections to the island of Ischia. You can take a hydrofoil for Casamicciola or Ischia Porto (travel time approximately 45 minutes, ticket cost around 12 Euro) or a ferry (travel time approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ticket cost around 7 Euro). Arriving in Ischia Porto you will either be met by a friendly Frontier representative if there are a few of you arriving, if not you can reach the project site by local bus (travel time approximately 15 minutes, ticket cost around 1 Euro).
WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?
You will be staying on board an historical boat, built in 1930 in Marseilles and designed by Andrè Mauric. The entire boat is made from wood: the hull is built from oak, the deck is in teak and below deck is made from both mahogany and oak. The boat has room for five people (mixed sex accommodation in berth) and on the bow the 'sailor's cabin' has a further two places. There is an outside shower onboard, powered by sun, although you will also be able to go ashore to shower at the local port.
WHAT WILL I BE EATING?
Meals aboard are an important social event. Volunteers and crew will work together to create light lunches on the ocean, often surrounded by dolphins, and sumptuous dinners to replenish their energy when back at port. On this project you will be encouraged to become part of the crew and thus 'muck into' the routine of the Jean Gab.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Watch Eloise talk about her trip to Italy, where she took part in the Italy Dolphin Monitoring & Sailing project. She discusses the work done by the scientists on the boat as well as her thoughts on Italy and her time spent taking a career break.
What Next? Apply Now!
QUITE SIMPLY, FANTASTIC!
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31 Oct 2012
Quite simply, fantastic. The people on board the boat were all so passionate about what they were...
Read more
The overall trip was amazing.
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16 Aug 2012
The overall trip was amazing, I even cried when I got off my flight back in England because ...
Read more
Helpful crew, plenty sighted
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6 Aug 2012
The week was great. First day on the boat was hard because of the waves, but everybody was really...
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Mediterranean Bliss!
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20 Jun 2011
I've had an absolutely amazing time!!! Probably the best time ever! Angelo the Cap...
Read more
Pods of 50 bottlenose dolphins
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2 Feb 2010
After having finished my first year at work, I thought that I wanted a break, but not a conventio...
Read more
La dolce vita!
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7 Sep 2009
When deciding on what I wanted to do on my inter-rail trip around Italy I stumbled across the Dol...
Read more
1 to 6
THE EU STARTS BUZZING TO PROTECT BEES!
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29 Apr 2013
Bees have been an important environmental commodity for centuries, both in the direct production ...
TO WHAT ‘EXTENT’ WOULD YOU GO TO REACH FOOD?
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4 Apr 2013
A study found that female octopuses will go extra length when stretching their arms to reach food...
DOLPHINS MIMIC CALLS OF SOCIAL GROUP COMPANIONS
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22 Feb 2013
It appears that dolphins mimic the distinct whistles of their closest companions in order to trac...
NEW DOLPHIN BEHAVIOUR OBSERVED
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5 Feb 2013
Using a clever technique of forming a raft with their own bodies, they attempted to keep a seemingly paralysed female at the surface of the water in order to breathe.
NEW DOLPHIN BEHAVIOUR OBSERVED
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5 Feb 2013
We are used to hearing stories of dolphins protecting humans when they are in peril at sea, but y...
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Both on and off the project there is a huge amount available and a lot to gain from this rewarding experience. On the island of Ischia alone one can visit ancient sites from Roman and Greek colonial remains to Aragon Castle, reach the impressive summit of Monte Epomeo through the wooded footpaths or take an excursion to the neighbouring islands of Capri and Procida. The island is volcanic in origin and is the site of a number of thermal springs, ideal for relaxing after a day's sailing. More simply one can swim and sunbathe on the local beaches and share in the local social life. Essentially the work atmosphere is informal and relaxed and you will be offered a wide range of activities and options.
Furthermore you will be introduced to a diverse range of useful skills and knowledge. Alongside important research techniques and methods including photography, cetacean (whale and dolphin) behaviour study indicators, use of specific software (e.g. Logger, Rainbow Click and Whistle Detector) and research instruments (e.g. hydrophones, underwater cameras, binoculars and echo sounders), there may also be the chance to acquire sailing skills and get a good introduction to map reading and navigation.
