Location:Betty's Lane,Cannock,United Kingdom
Wednesday 29 July 2015
Nearly home
We are expected to be back for about 5.00pm. We are currently about to leave the M6 Toll services.
More diving pictures
Left: Ethan B Right: Rob T
Left: Rob T Right: Hamees K
Hamees K
Ethan B
Adam Z, Cameron P behind
Location:M23,Horley,United Kingdom
Tuesday 28 July 2015
Dive pics
I have received a number of excellent pictures of boys diving.
More will follow;
From left to right (Ben Kelly, James Holebrook, Charlie Byrne).
Nick Hale (left) and Thomas Cope (right).
More will follow;
From left to right (Ben Kelly, James Holebrook, Charlie Byrne).
Nick Hale (left) and Thomas Cope (right).
Location:Maros,Indonesia
Saying goodbye
The boys have experienced something very special here in Indonesia. They have not only learnt about the Biology which applies to forest and sea ecology but so much Indonesian culture and religion has been engrained into their lives over the last two weeks. Their diving skills have been appreciated by all the staff at the marine site. We have made so many friends.
Thank you to all the staff for their support in ensuring a smooth running of the trip.
The man at the front (in Orange) was the owner (and politician) of the whole complex where we were staying. He wanted a picture with us!
Here we go again; 40 hours and counting until we get back to MTBS.
Plenty of time to read a novel.
We are now waiting in Starbucks in Makasa Airport for our flight to Jakarta. We leave here at 8.00pm (1.00pm UK time).
Thank you to all the staff for their support in ensuring a smooth running of the trip.
The man at the front (in Orange) was the owner (and politician) of the whole complex where we were staying. He wanted a picture with us!
Here we go again; 40 hours and counting until we get back to MTBS.
Plenty of time to read a novel.
We are now waiting in Starbucks in Makasa Airport for our flight to Jakarta. We leave here at 8.00pm (1.00pm UK time).
Location:Maros,Indonesia
Monday 27 July 2015
Beach clean up
Last night we gave our newly qualified divers a round of applause for completing their PADI Open Water qualification. They finished their week by seeing sharks near Snake Island reefs.
This morning our boys helped the local community clear up rubbish from the beach.
We are all looking forward to coming home but not the long journey!
We had an enjoyable last night with a fare-well BBQ. There was another school from Sweden and our boys had a football match with their students (in the dark!).
This morning our boys helped the local community clear up rubbish from the beach.
We are all looking forward to coming home but not the long journey!
We had an enjoyable last night with a fare-well BBQ. There was another school from Sweden and our boys had a football match with their students (in the dark!).
Saturday 25 July 2015
Snorkel transect
Today was a more relaxed start to the day, with everybody snorkeling to identify species along the transect on the reef.
A test of human strength! Those hours spent in the gym was all worth it.
A test of human strength! Those hours spent in the gym was all worth it.
Snake island
Today, we had an early start as we woke up at 6.00am for a 6.30 depart. It was a 45min boat ride to the edge of the reef. The divers put all their diving skills into practice by carrying out a fish survey, invertebrate and benthic transect along the reef. They were split into pairs to do this. The snorkelers spotted a turtle, sea krait (snake) and puffer fish. The divers were treated to some sharks in the deep.
We then spent a few hours in a cove relaxing and cleaning up the beach of man-made objects which had washed up on shore.
There was an opportunity for a second dive further up the reef which had never been explored before. A "drift" dive allowed everybody to move along the strong currents. This was an exhausting day by 4.00pm.
We then spent a few hours in a cove relaxing and cleaning up the beach of man-made objects which had washed up on shore.
There was an opportunity for a second dive further up the reef which had never been explored before. A "drift" dive allowed everybody to move along the strong currents. This was an exhausting day by 4.00pm.
Location:Kota Baubau,Indonesia
Friday 24 July 2015
Two dives a day
The boys are now getting lots of experience diving, with two dives a day. This usually encompasses a morning dive followed by a lecture about the species we are identifying; including corals, invertebrates and fish species. The diving results in tired boys at the end of the day ready for bed. We are seeing different types of reefs and can also hear the dynamite fishing which is occurring many miles away. The shock waves can be felt and heard in the water!
We are going to "Snake Island" tomorrow. A tropical island with golden sand beaches. More to follow tomorrow.
We are going to "Snake Island" tomorrow. A tropical island with golden sand beaches. More to follow tomorrow.
Location:Kota Baubau,Indonesia
Some time at the beach
The boys have been feeling relaxed today. The locals all want a picture with our boys as they are treated like pop stars everywhere they go!
Location:Kota Baubau,Indonesia
Thursday 23 July 2015
Toilet Talk
The boys have been introduced to some new, novel ways of going to the toilet and showering. With no luxury of flushing toilets, toilet seats and power showers, there has been nothing but toilet talk.
In the village, boys have been using 'mandis'. This consists of a small room with a large tank, supplied by fresh water (not fresh enough to drink). Boys use a large cup to pour this water over themselves, in order to have a good (cold) wash. Unfortunately, from the smell of them, some of the boys are a little too afraid of the cold water and perhaps haven't been as thorough.
There is also a toilet basin sunk into the floor, for, well you can imagine what for. Toilet paper goes into a separate bin, not to be put down the drain.
In the forest, boys next met the 'trench toilet'. A large hole dug into the ground. The boys can go here, then cover it up, using a shovel to dig up the soil, and then throw over. This helps to keep smells to a 'minimum'. The trench wasn't next door to the camp, so there was a short walk to it, across 2 rivers, and navigating some obstacles. The boys quickly learnt not to drink too much water before bed...otherwise they would be having the trip below, in the pitch black, with only their head torch and some friendly moths as company. Good luck!
In the village, boys have been using 'mandis'. This consists of a small room with a large tank, supplied by fresh water (not fresh enough to drink). Boys use a large cup to pour this water over themselves, in order to have a good (cold) wash. Unfortunately, from the smell of them, some of the boys are a little too afraid of the cold water and perhaps haven't been as thorough.
There is also a toilet basin sunk into the floor, for, well you can imagine what for. Toilet paper goes into a separate bin, not to be put down the drain.
In the forest, boys next met the 'trench toilet'. A large hole dug into the ground. The boys can go here, then cover it up, using a shovel to dig up the soil, and then throw over. This helps to keep smells to a 'minimum'. The trench wasn't next door to the camp, so there was a short walk to it, across 2 rivers, and navigating some obstacles. The boys quickly learnt not to drink too much water before bed...otherwise they would be having the trip below, in the pitch black, with only their head torch and some friendly moths as company. Good luck!
Evening lectures
The quality of the evening lectures have been superb. Our main lecturer Osu (completing his PhD) who is studying at JCU in Australia has been passionately talking about conserving the reefs. He is a big fan of the GoPro camera. He has developed stereo-video which continuously records everything along the transect on the seabed. We saw his footage of the whale shark that was seen last week off the shore, which was amazing!
Location:Kota Baubau,Indonesia
Wednesday 22 July 2015
Diving and snorkeling routine
The boys have settled into life at our dive site at Kota BauBau. They have an early morning breakfast followed by a dive and a lecture and then a second dive in the afternoon along with an activity. The evening meals are really varied and the boys are really enjoying their time here (and the food!). The snorkeling has been fantastic with so many species of fish, types of coral and many types of jellyfish.
Location:Kota Baubau,Indonesia
First day Nirwana villa
The boys have been briefed today with health & safety and reef ecology lectures about what species are in the sea. The reefs here are more diverse than the Great Barrier Reef!
The water is a nice 26 degrees. They also had an opportunity to swim in the water.
The water is a nice 26 degrees. They also had an opportunity to swim in the water.
Idul Fitri (Eid)
During our time in the village, the end of Ramadan happened. This ends a month long fasting period for the locals, and is finished with the day of Idul Fitri, described as our equivalent of Christmas (Eid). It has been a day of festivities, which as part of the traditional dress, a sarong is worn. Checkered pattern for the men and stripes for the women. The boys decided to get into the spirit and bought themselves some.
Location:Kota Baubau,Indonesia
Canopy access
Today, the boys have literally been swinging amongst the trees. Over 100 feet tall, the boys climbed up ropes, to reach the tallest point and have the view of the top of the canopy; looking over the Indonesian rainforest. A view very few people have seen.
Location:Kota Baubau,Indonesia
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