VolunTourism Hawaii- Beyond the Beach

One week "Cruises with a Porpoise"

The waters of Hawaii offer a unique opportunity for the study of cetaceans. The presence of seventeen different toothed cetacean (whale and dolphin) species have been recorded, along with baleen whales such as the humpback and less common sei, blue and fin whales.

One week onboard of intensive volunteering, working together with biologists looking for dolphins, whales and fish species, documenting sightings, behaviours, taking pictures, and reef fish and turtle surveys,....then there is of course the daily cooking and cleaning detail of life on a boat...

There is also mammal and fish recognition, theory lessons and stargazing as well as getting to know the island and its surrounding waters...Weather permitting we travel to the surrounding islands..

The main goal of the project is the conservation of the habitat used by whales and dolphins, and coral reefs, habitat which is always more corrupted and threatened by human activities. Ways to protect Hawaii’s reefs: are to share proper reef etiquette, and use fish-friendly sunscreen. As you spend time snorkeling over some of the best reefs in the world - amid birthing grounds for giant whales and microscopic coral larvae, it’s an easy take-home lesson: put in your paddle and pitch in.

ACTIVITIES

On board we offer lectures on cetology: the research on cetaceans in the Italian seas, the key areas for the study of whales and dolphins in the Mediterranean, conservation and preservation, evolution, adaptation to the marine environment, classification, insight into the cetaceans of the Mediterranean and in particular of the studied species, bioacoustics, social behaviour and interaction with fisheries.

Participants leave every day to sail, according to the project and weather conditions. Their duties onboard consist in helping researchers monitoring dolphins. Dolphin behaviour is recorded together with geographic position, group size, group composition, group formation, surface activity patterns and duration of surfacing intervals. Behavioural sampling is coupled with acoustic recording of dolphin vocalisations, in order to relate the sounds produced by the animals to different behavioural activities. Navigation data are collected in order to estimate dolphins relative sighting frequencies.

Seamanship: interested volunteers can learn the main riggings to sail as steering, hoisting and striking the sails, take confidence with sheets, halyard, compass and courses... furthermore they can collaborate with the crew during the mooring

Accomodation: you will live on board of "Jean Gab " cutter of 17.70 m. Historical boat, built in 1930 in Marseilles, designed by André Mauric famous french architect who planned also France I and II of the Baron Bic (America's Cup), Pen Duick VI (Whitbread, Eric Tabarly), Kritter VII, Calypso and Alcyone (Jacques Cousteau). The structure of Jean Gab is oak and Oregon's pine, the boat is equipped with underwater microphones and videocameras.