Biosphere Expeditions, in partnership with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and the Reef Check Foundation, is offering a free place on a citizen science reef conservation expedition. The winner of this unique competition opportunity can choose from either a project to Musandam (Oman) or the Maldives and must be qualified to a minimum PADI Open Water or equivalent.
Applicants can enter from dry land via a 100-word short essay or a one-minute video, outlining why they should be the winner. The winner will have to be prepared to muck in on a hands-on conservation project, not a luxury dive holiday.
Dr. Matthias Hammer, Executive Director of Biosphere Expeditions, says: “This competition is in response to the very good response of several hundred entrants we had to the same competition last year. We are proud to have our partners MCS and Reef Check on board again too and encourage all those who want to use their diving skills for reef conservation to apply".
Nicola Greaves, Head of Marketing at the MCS, says “Our partnership with Biosphere and Reef Check is now in its seventh year and, with them, we have helped significantly enhance reef conservation and understanding among local communities in Musandam and the Maldives. This competition is an excellent opportunity for one lucky person to get real hands-on experience of reef conservation in some of the world’s most beautiful yet fragile ecosystems”.
Dania Trespalacios, Tropical Programme Director at the Reef Check Foundation, adds that "by training citizen scientists as Reef Check EcoDivers, Biosphere Expeditions inspires divers to become ocean stewards. And by completing Reef Check surveys, Biosphere Expeditions provides important data on the status of coral reefs, which may be used to better manage and conserve these special ecosystems”.
Kelsea K., last year’s winner, says “I’ve learnt so much [and] could not be happier with the expedition. You come for the holiday and you stay for the science. It was amazing”.
To take part, visit www.biosphere-expeditions.org/competition for further details