A whale shark welcome to Tofo Bay

COUNTRY: Mozambique
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Marine Conservation and Care Work
WRITTEN BY: Lottie Mellowes

Hello from Mozambique!

We've been in the little coastal town of Tofo for almost two weeks now, and we're already having the best time. We have settled into our volunteer accommodation, which is a traditional thatched house only a few minutes walk from the beach.

The first week was fairly relaxed and mainly involved some of us completing PADI diving courses or introductions to the marine conservation side of the program. Almost every day at least one of us was out on the boat and in the water, swimming or diving with the amazing marine life the coast of Mozambique has to offer. Sian, Ryan and I were lucky enough to swim with a whale shark on our second ocean safari! Unfortunately, the hype of jumping in the water meant that none of us were able to get our cameras ready. I assume we will see plenty of whale sharks over the next three months so expect photos in the near future!

Helena and Sophie have been busy diving and are now certified divers. During their dives they have seen numerous fish and octopus as well as humpback whales. As we become more accustomed to the marine project we will be collecting data and photo IDs of the animals both shore based and boat based. Shore based data research involves humpback whale monitoring and data entry- not as exhilarating as diving or snorkelling, but just as important!

Our program is the unique combination of marine conservation and social work at local schools and kindergartens. The children and teachers are so amazing and so grateful to have us help out. After a long and somewhat uncomfortable trip to school on the local 'chappa' we are always greeted with huge smiles and hugs from the children. Sian and Ryan are helping to build a vegetable garden at their kindergarten and Helena, Sophie and I have been busy at our placement teaching English to the teacher and taking the kids for swimming lessons. Our kindergarten is seriously under-resourced and a huge part of our job is creating a fun, comfortable environment for the kids to play and learn.

It is really important that we are involved in the social and marine projects on a long-term scale as we will be able to see the full effect of our work. This week we will be continuing at the kindergartens as well as visiting another primary school. Quite a few whale sharks and mantas have been spotted so hopefully we will come across them this week on our dives and ocean safaris.

We'll keep you posted!

The most amazing creatures on the planet

COUNTRY: Mozambique
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Marine Conservation and Care Work
WRITTEN BY: Simone Herrmannsen

Sitting in a boat knowing I'm seeing the most amazing things on the planet is a strange feeling. Looking down and witnessing a truly majestic creature, a whale shark five times larger than yourself, swimming beneath you is life changing, and that was only the start of it. Life for a volunteer is extreme, from walking through villages knee deep in sand to teach, to hopping in a boat and diving 30 meters with sharks. Watching kids faces light up as you pick them up and swing them around like little dolls, then going to an estuary in search of sea horses, it's the best of both worlds.

It's easy to see why the communities here need volunteers, with a lack of power and running water, education easily slips their minds as purely living is of the utmost importance. Understanding that English is a commodity in this country encourages me, as well as the other volunteers, to teach and know this is enriching their future. Teaching at a school and seeing progress is also rewarding, seeing the kids thrive under positive feedback (and a few encouraging lollipops) makes the journey to the schools worth it. Whilst teaching, you also learn more about the communities and the locals way of life.

You go out on weekends with them, enjoy the local night life and best of all, you feel like a local yourself. Their happiness spreads to you, their open friendliness changes your own way of life, becoming more welcoming to strangers. Life as a volunteer is full of surprises, learning about new cultures from here, as well as from the other house mates. On top of the social adventure, there is a new exploration of the deep.

Seeing mantas on reefs, whales on the surface and a whole array of alien like sea creatures. Swimming with turtles, dolphins and sharks alike, you really get a feel of what lies beneath, and though the thought is terrifying to some, swimming with a school of 20 hammerhead sharks in like a dream come true, decreasing your fear yet increasing your respect.

The life I have lived in Mozambique has been one I will never forget, and hope to continue in my future, where time means nothing and adventure is key.

I will always consider this place my second home.