The O.R.C.A. Marine Foundation gives volunteers the chance to become part of
one of the worlds most successful ocean research teams. Gap year travel
does not get much more exciting than this!
Over the past 2 years the
O.R.C.A. team have strived to turn Plettenberg Bay into a protected Ocean Marine
Park. During your 4 week stay at the foundation you will become part of the O.R.C.A.
family and help and assist in their long term projects and goals. Southern Right
whale breaching the waters surface only meters from the research boat you stand
on? Or kayak across the calm waters of the Indian Ocean with hundreds of common
dolphins swimming and playing along side your every paddle. Either way, it will
be an experience you will never forget!
Work
may involve the following: - Involvement in community development
programmes for previously disadvantaged communities (e.g. the Masizame Street
Children’s project, Qolweni)
- Participation in a broad range
of educational initiatives involving the local community: educating school children
on conservation principals and helping spread the word of the O.R.C.A. Foundation,
(please note some of the students may not be able to speak or understand English)
-
Organising co-ordinated provincial marine and coastal awareness campaigns
(e.g.
National Environment Week, National Marine Week, Youth Day)
- Participating
in commercial marine-eco tourism activities, which include whale and dolphin watching
tours, sea kayaking, township tours, river ferry cruises (many water activities
are complimentary of ORCA Marine Foundation). The objective being to stimulate
guests awareness of and interest in the marine environment and the realistic,
holistic conservation thereof through a commercial eco-tourism project that actually
works (winner of the Green Trust Award)
- Monitoring and cleaning
of beaches and coastal regions
- Maintenance and cleaning of fish tanks
at the ORCA education centre (on a daily basis).
- Conducting research
surveys:
- Marine and coastal resource economic valuations
-
Angling surveys within the surrounding estuary and coastline
- Sampling,
tagging, monitoring and dissection of fish species
- Supervised collection
of touch pool and aquarium species for the O.R.C.A. Education Centre
-
Report presentations on topics relative to the project which will be tailored
to suit and stimulate your individual interests
- O.R.C.A. patrol boat
trips to collect data, monitor the bay and take photos of whales, dolphins and
other marine species
- Rescue and rehabilitation of marine species
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MORE
INFORMATION ...
The O.R.C.A. Foundation in conjunction with Ocean
Blue Adventures is based in Plettenberg Bay and is located on the world famous
Garden Route. It is home to some of the worlds most fascinating marine species,
including Southern Right whales, Humpback whales, Bryde's whales, Bottlenose dolphins,
Common dolphins, O.R.C.A.'s or Killer Whales, Great White Sharks to name but a
few. Gap year travel placements here give you a unique once in life time chance
to work with these magnificent marine species in exciting and groundbreaking marine
conservation volunteer work.
The experienced O.R.C.A. team will help settle
you in over your stay and give you the opportunity to take on your own individual
projects where your best interests lie. O.R.C.A. offers ocean research volunteers
personal diversity in the programme, from assisting the dive research teams to
helping with the community outreach programme, you will find your own way to contribute.
Volunteers will be working under the supervision of two Masters student's from
Rhodes University and also have the chance to integrate with the rest of the team
at O.R.C.A. and OCEAN BLUE ADVENTURES.
In your stay in Plettenberg Bay,
(one of the most breathtaking and serene outdoor classrooms in Southern Africa),
you should be lucky enough to witness the power and grace of whales, the exuberance
of dolphins and killer whales, see playful seals and the majestic of mountains
and forests scenery. Above all, being an ocean research volunteer will allow you
to actively and meaningfully participate in ensuring that things stay this way
for future generations. Through the O.R.C.A. marine conservation project, you
can join the drive to manage this marine and coastal zone in a sustainable manner
and in the process experience the community, culture and environment in a way
more intimate than most visitors.
Other Activities Free of Charge: -
Ocean Blue Adventures Dolphin and Whale watching
- Ocean Blue Adventures
Sea Kayaking
- Blue Lounge River Ferry
- Kynsna Elephant
Park
O.R.C.A. Marine Foundations Aims:- The main aim of
the foundation is the establishment of a "Marine Park" which is a multi-user
approach to establishing an effective management plan for the bay to ensure sustainability
of marine resources.
- To alleviate coastal poverty through job creation
and skills development, which will assist in maintaining the sustainability of
the marine resources.
- To raise public awareness and educate all
communities of how the protection and sustainable utilization of our coastal and
marine resources can benefit all and why maintaining coastal and marine bio-diversity
is so important.
- To implement an education programme for school
children based on the curriculum.
All student activities on the O.R.C.A. marine
conservation project will support the mission and objectives of the O.R.C.A. Foundation,
including current research activities at the time of the course. Students will
be working as ocean research volunteers under the supervision of three Masters
student's from Rhodes University.
Marine conservation volunteer
work at the O.R.C.A. Foundation will also include being involved in theoretical
and practical lectures including: - Plettenberg Bay orientation
- orientation, geography, history and local culture
- Beaches, Rocky
shores and intertidal rock pools
- Whales - Part one
-
Whales - Part two
- Dolphins - Part one
- Dolphins - Part
two
- Sea Fishes
- Fynbos and local fauna and flora
-
Conservation program
- Social program and application of a commercial
business within a sensitive environment.
- Safety at sea and boat maintenance
- Seals and marine birds
 | Location
O.R.C.A.
Marine Foundation is situated along South
Africa’s famous Garden Route in the lively town of Plettenberg Bay. Plettenberg
Bay, in one of the country's most fashionable holiday resorts and a beach-lover's
paradise, where long stretches of soft sand give way to azure seas.
Plettenberg
Bay is characterised by sweeping, unspoilt golden beaches, a dramatic rocky peninsula,
intriguing lagoons and estuaries, towering indigenous forests and unpolluted rivers
and sea. | With its
exceptional climate, and beautiful view sites over the Indian Ocean, Plettenberg
Bay is perfect for tourists, travellers and locals alike.
Click
here to read more about South Africa |
Accommodation
Your
accommodation for the duration of your stay will be in the ORCA volunteer house
situated in Plettenberg Bay approximately 1 mile from the ORCA centre.The house
is owned and managed by your coordinator Clayton. The accommodation is self catering
with shared bedroom and bathroom facilities.
Laundry facilities are available
for volunteers, the house is within close proximity to nearby shopping centre
which has various shops, cinemas, restaurants and bars. You will be provided with
a Mountain Bike for the duration of your stay to help you get around during your
placement.
Time
Off
Your working week on your O.R.C.A. placement is generally speaking
Monday to Friday from 0800 to 1700 depending on the activities of the day. Evenings
and weekends are at leisure.
Leisure activities include golf, bowls, horse
riding, angling, sailing, blackwater tubing, abseiling, mountain biking, scuba-diving
and surfing, as well as hiking and bird-watching in the nearby Robberg, Keurbooms
River and Tsitsikamma nature reserves. Unusual, but highly recommended options
- a treetop canopy tour or bungee jumping off the 216m Bloukrans River bridge,
the highest jump in the world! |
Project
Duration and Rates
| 2
weeks | 3
weeks | 4
weeks | 6
weeks | 8
weeks | | £1,199 | | £1,849 | £2,449 | £2,999 |
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