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Island Coral Reef Conservation and Turtle Nesting in Borneo

Location Borneo
Start Date First and third Wednesday of the month
Duration
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The Project

Volunteer with Kaya in Borneo and work on a two-pronged approach to marine conservation. While the main focus of this project is to renovate the coral reefs that have been badly damaged due to 45 years of fish bombing, you will also be working to help protect the endangered Green and Hawksbill Turtles who come to Pom Pom Island from May to September to nest. The ultimate goal of the project is to rebuild fish and coral populations so that the occasional reef sharks are encouraged to stay and remain resident within this sanctuary for sharks, rays, turtles and all marine life.
Why the project needs you

With a large area affected, the reefs surrounding Pom Pom are nowhere near as diverse or healthy as they were 40 years ago due to extensive local fish bombing. While the reef damage has now stopped, coral rubble is a common sight on the sea bed and fish & invertebrate populations are low. Marine biodiversity is very high and the site that you will be working on is in the coral triangle which is known for the largest numbers of reef species in the world. While there are many schools of fish in the area, there is neither the coral nor the additional shelters on the reefs to get these fish to stay. Volunteer manpower is desperately needed to repair the reefs by replanting coral and increase the settlement of reef fish juveniles, as well as build fish aggregation devices to retain the large number of pelagic fish in the area. This work is not only for the healthy development of the reefs but also to potentially create a protected area for white tip, black tip and grey reef sharks in Sabah – a 3 to 5 year plan for this project. As these particular shark’s diet consists of octopus and pelagic fish, numbers need to be increased if the sharks are to be attracted and more importantly – to stay.

The turtle nesting season of the endangered Green and Hawksbill Turtles occurs yearly from May to September. Unfortunately, while turtles are protected, turtle eggs can be easily sold in local markets and poachers have been known to sneak onto the island at night to steal the newly laid eggs from the mother turtle. Nests are easy to spot and a simple target for sea gypsies to come and claim their “prize”. Volunteers who will be on the island from May to September are desperately needed to carry out beach walks every evening to dissuade poachers from approaching the island. If regular patrols are instigated, poachers will have less inclination to descend upon the island and will finally leave nature to its own devices.

Project Location

You will be based on the beautiful island of Pom Pom, located in the Celebes Sea in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The journey to Pom Pom will be a one hour speed boat ride from Semporna on the mainland, and will see you careening through perfect turquoise waters. The island itself has romantic white sand beaches, calm waters and shallow reefs. With easy access to over 10 other islands, Pom Pom is a gateway to the underwater world of the coral triangle.
Project Facts

• Duration: 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 weeks
• Cost: £1345 ($2354) for 2 weeks and £450 ($788) for every extra 2 weeks*
• Requirements: Suitable for anyone, Age 17+, or children with guardians; non-divers welcome
• Location: Sabah, Borneo
• Project Activities: Coral reef conservation through proactive reef rebuilding, construction and replanting, monitoring of turtle nesting, turtle tagging, sharks, rays, reef fish & invertebrate surveys.
• Working Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8 hours per day.
• Project Availability: First and third Wednesday of the month. Project closed over Christmas and New Year
• 10% discount for groups of 6 or more.

*Please note the dive courses included below:
2 weeks for non-qualified divers includes PADI Open Water
2 weeks for Open Water Divers includes your Advanced Qualification
2 weeks for Advanced qualified divers includes PADI Rescue
4 weeks for ALL divers includes PADI Advanced and Rescue

If no dive course is required (e.g. you are already Rescue certified) you will be eligible for a £160 discount.
What is included

• Accommodation: Shared tent on almost deserted beach
• Food: 3 meals per day – breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Airport pick up and drop off
• Transport to Pom Pom Island from Kota Kinabalu
• Training: Orientation and project induction provided, PADI Openwater & Advanced course included for 4+ week stays. Reef Check Tropical EcoDiver course included for 8+ week stays
• Support: 24 hour support
• Regular phone or internet contact with friends or family
• Free wi-fi
• Excursion Planning: Staff help organise extra dive courses and additional land or water excursions
• All dive equipment (except: mask, snorkel, fins, skins/rash vest/stinger suit)
What is not included

• Flights
• Insurance
• Visas
• Water & sand proof watch
• Dive skins & snorkel gear
• Underwater or land cameras

Role of the volunteer

As a volunteer you will be working to help repair the reef by carrying out soft and hard coral planting. The reef environment varies and different techniques will be used to determine how best to stabilize the reef depending on the slope, current and depth. A wide range of species are planted to create a diverse reef and while coral grows slowly; growth and survival of individuals can be clearly seen, monitored and measured in a typical month. After initial training, volunteers work in small groups on daily and weekly projects as well as creating their own masterpiece reef. Lots of the corals are initially planted in tanks on land so non divers will also be busy.

You will also be working to help increase the number of pelagic fish in the area. This will be done through fish aggregating devices such as recycled water bottles, netlon, canvas and treated concrete structures. As well as creating these devices, you will also be installing and monitoring them underwater. As the fish are attracted to elements underwater that they can hide behind, you will be working to find the best solution in the area and to help implement the underwater planting of these devices.

Alongside your daily dive work, if you are volunteering between May to September you will also be carrying out nightly beach patrols to check for nesting turtles and hatchings. It takes around 40 minutes to circle the island and you will be on rotation with the other volunteers every evening to help dissuade poachers from stealing the eggs or hatchlings.

This is the ideal place to build dive skills as well as fish and coral identification techniques. Most days have one or more boat dives, 3 dives per day is normal and night dives are frequent. The water is usually crystal clear and due to the strong currents at some of the dive sites many large pelagics are attracted including grey reef sharks, eagle rays and manta rays! If you're very lucky, you may also see the awe-inspiring whale shark (the best time is between April-June). Non diving days are busy with fish & coral ID, photo & video editing, preparation of coral planting materials, writing or constructing your own coral and fish palace.

*Please note that is project is also able to accommodate for University or College projects for individual students which are designed and supported for 4+ week stays for qualified divers or 6+ week stays for non-qualified divers (diving qualification completed in Pom Pom).
Skills Required

A dive qualification is not required for this project as we will provide you with your Open Water Qualification at the start of your visit. Advanced Diver Qualifications are included after a period of underwater skill building. If you are already a qualified diver, there will always be the opportunity for you to increase your skills with additional courses, and you will be able to help with the deeper dives as well as have more dive hours underwater carrying out conservation activities.

Strong swimming abilities are preferred as you’ll be spending most of your day on the dive boat, snorkelling or diving underwater and a love of the outdoors is essential! If you have a passion for endangered species, diving and conservation this project is the one for you.

This project is also looking for volunteers with communication skills who are interested in the media (Photos or Video), graphics and writing to work on separate projects promoting the work being carried out to the local media and an international audience.

Your life outside the project

As you will be working from Monday to Saturday, Sunday’s will be all yours to spend as you please! Saturday does tend to be a celebration of the working week in the evening, with a few drinks to catch up with everyone and just put your feet up after a hard week’s work. On Sunday, lots of volunteers like to hang out at the beach, read books, go for beach walks (you can cover the island in only 40 minutes), snorkel or swim. There may also be the option for you to head into Semporna, which is located on the mainland – a one hour’s boat ride away. It is in Semporna that you will be able to get online and buy any supplies that you may need in their local supermarket. This trip can be arranged when you are on the island and will be dependent on how many volunteers are looking to make the trip, and when the boat will return.
Ideas for Independent Travel

Mount Kinabalu

At 4095 metres high, Mount Kinabalu is South East Asia’s highest peak. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Mount Kinabalu and its surrounding areas are one of the most popular biological sites in the world with over 4500 species of plant, 326 species of birds, and 100 mammalian species identified – including orangutans and many varieties of monkeys. If you choose to climb Kinabalu you’ll spend a night in sleeping in basic rooms on the mountain and then get up at 4am in order to reach the summit at sunrise – a truly spectacular experience!

Tabin Wildlife Reserve

The Tabin Wildlife Reserve is the largest wildlife reserve in Malaysia. It was created in 1984 primarily because of the large number of animals that inhabited it’s forests many of which are highly endangered. Among the species that reside within the reserve are: the Borneo Pygmy Elephant, Sumatran Rhinoceros and Tembadau; nine species of primate including orangutans, as well as three species of cats all of which are on the protected wildlife list. The reserve is thought of as one of best areas for wildlife viewing. Another highlight of a visit to Tabin are its active and mineral-rich mud volcanoes, which attract frequent visits from wildlife for their mineral intake and present an ideal platform for wildlife observation and bird-watching.

Turtle Islands

This idyllic little cluster of islands straddles the Malaysian and Philippine boundaries lying within the Sulu Seas. Turtle Islands are generally regarded one of the best destinations in Malaysia for their unique marine wildlife and also, most importantly, as the primary breeding ground for Green turtles in all of South East Asia. On most evenings, masses of turtles make their journey to the beach to lay their eggs.

Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary

Orang utans have long fascinated mankind and with a 96.4% match to human DNA, it’s not hard to see why. These beautiful creatures are becoming increasingly rare to see in the wild due to their gentle and shy nature. If you have a desire to see orang utans and would like to see them up close, there is no better place than Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre – one of only 3 in the world.

The sanctuary started in 1964 for the rehabilitation or orphaned orang utans from logging sites, plantations and illegal hunting, returning them to the wilds as soon as they are ready. With over 4,500 hectares of virgin jungle, the sanctuary becomes and home from home for these vulnerable orphans. As a visitor you can come and watch 2 daily feeding sessions where the orang utans come to a central feeding platform for bananas and fruits. Alongside them will be a number of cheeky moneys – determined to steal their food and possibly a camera or too!

Lower Kinabatangan River

Boasting over 560km, the Kinabatangan River is a haven for wildlife and the longest river in Borneo. The Lower Kinabatangan is said to have the largest concentration of wildlife and all 8 species of hornbill can be found there along with wild orang utans, crocodiles, the Borneo pygmy elephant, monitor lizards, wild pigs, otters, many different type of monkey and a huge array of beautiful tropical birds. The river is also a haven for the rare proboscis monkey whose big bellies and huge noses allow them to be distinctively picked out of a tree full of primates! Take a dawn or dusk river cruise down the river to catch a glimpse of some of some of Borneo’s nature in its finest form – you won’t be disappointed.

Danum Valley

The Danum Valley is one of the last remaining reserves of primary lowland rainforest and the forest is said to have the world’s most complex eco-system. Home to over 275 species of bird, numerous reptiles, fish and insects, its uniqueness lies in the dipterocarp forests covering over 90% of the area. This allows for prospering indigenous plant species and over 110 mammals including the rare Sumatran rhino, clouded leopard, orang utan and proboscis monkeys.

Project Quality

Kaya evaluates every project we offer to ensure that we only commit to programmes with genuine need for volunteer aid, not just financial assistance. We develop relationships with the projects and help shape initiatives to ensure in the long run that we do not encourage dependence on outside help, but rather establish foundations on which the people can build and develop themselves. We also ensure that the members of those communities are open and eager to learn and discover our culture, as we become a part of theirs. The quality and sustainability of our programmes are very important to us. We want you to have the most fulfilling and memorable time as possible, and be part of something that is going to last into future generations.

Accommodation & Meals

You will be staying in shared tents located just off the beach front. You will have the use of a beach resorts facilities next door for bathrooms and showers. Three meals a day will be provided to you with a local breakfast, packed lunch and buffet style dinner.

In-Country Coordinators

Each country coordinator is there to make sure your time in your programme runs smoothly. They will pick you up from the airport and take you on your orientation. All in-country coordinators are English speaking and are there to ensure you have all the information and resources for the best placement.

24/7 Emergency Support

As well as support from your in-country coordinators, you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line managed by Kaya staff, in case any problem should arise while you're overseas.

Kaya Help-desk

Each member of Kaya staff have worked, travelled, studied or volunteered abroad, and many staff have visited and volunteered in our projects knowing firsthand the country and nature of the programme placements. Their knowledge of international travel and volunteering is invaluable, and they can give you good advice and tips to make the most of your international placement.

Briefing Pack & Materials

Once you have booked a programme, an information pack will be sent out detailing everything you need to know - from specific project details and vaccinations required to the visa application process.

Airport Pickup

When you arrive at your destination a member of Kaya staff will meet you with a warm welcome at the airport and take you to your accommodation to get you set up for your stay.

Cultural Excursions

Kaya staff are at hand to help organise extra excursions and activities, which can include visiting cultural places of significance and visiting various projects around the area. This way you can learn firsthand about the country that you are volunteering in and take part in local cultural and adventure activities.

Arrival Orientation

Shortly after you arrive you will be given your orientation by one of our in-country coordinators. They will talk you through your placement, outline the work that you will be carrying out and explain to you the journey down to your project location. You will have daily briefings as well for the tasks that need to be completed in the day ahead.

Local Community Benefits

Not only is your participation on your project of great help to the local communities, but so is the boost to the local economy that volunteers create while they are visiting.