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Volunteer Dive at Coral Reef Restoration Program in Bali
"My hope is high for this Coral Reef project to progress for more people recognize its vital role & their good mission to restore and conserve Bali's underwater" Tim, Mechanical Engineering, Universität Stuttgart, Germany
My gratitude
I would like to thank Bali Internships for the superb organization of my voluntary work and the supervision during my entire stay in Bali. Furthermore, I would like to say thank you to the entire team of the Coral Reef Restoration Program. It was a pleasure working, living and spending my free-time with everyone and experiencing the Balinese lifestyle.
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The work
The first Monday of the welcome and introduction from Bali Internships and the Coral Reef Restoration Program were great and highly informative. Although it took some time to understand all of the processes and procedures, I gradually felt like becoming a proper member of the team. The tasks I was assigned to do as a volunteer was well explained and not too hard to complete. After the first week or two, I was able to accomplished the work on my own but I was still mostly accompanied by a member of the team during all my dives, for my safety. There were never too many tasks to be done in one day, so it was never too stressful. In the first 1-2 weeks, everything was well organized from the Coral Reef Restoration Program.
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed every task and working with the team. I loved to be in the water be it for diving or just snorkeling. And the team was always let the volunteers to dive as much as possible, of course when it was needed. I enjoyed the tasks off water and understood their importance. The volunteers were also given special tasks to implement our strength and to help the Coral Reef Restoration Program where knowledge or experience was missing. Some of these tasks were computer work, like creating a new map of all the structures underwater and the nearby surroundings, which was a lot of fun.
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Us, volunteers and intern, for several weeks were able to assist on the coral new structure in the water, its building and implementing process. Unfortunately, I was not able to see the final results of this experiment. I definitely hope to come back to Pemuteran one day and see the progress of everything.
A final remark: The equipment and the machines used in the Coral Reef Restoration Program were not on its best shape. However, I understand that I can not compare it to German standards because there is a money issue as the NGO is fully relying on donations. My hope is high that this project will continue, move forward and that more people recognize its vital role and finally support the NGO's fantastic job to restore and conserve Bali's underwater.
Everything was perfect
Apart from my voluntary work, I loved getting to know locals and experiencing the island lifestyle. The entire team of the Coral Reef Restoration Program was kind and helpful, I truly feel their passion for the project and nature. Sometimes they would bring us, the volunteers, to special places or events so that we could experience the culture and the surroundings. Where I lived, my accommodation was also very well selected, everything was in perfect condition, the staffs were very nice and although I was just a volunteer, I was treated like a real guest of the homestay.
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What I learned through this experience
What I learned about myself during the time in Bali is everyone should really care about nature and that we can or even have to make a change. Second of all, diving is such a wonderful sport which I would like to practice more often in the future. Ultimately, I enjoyed Bali's nature at most. I saw countless beautiful forests, fields, mountains, sea, beaches, towns and so on. I also enjoyed the more chilled lifestyle, the friendly people, the nice weather and of course the great food.
Finally, I loved my time in Bali and became a volunteer in the Coral Reef Restoration Program. I wish all the best to everyone I have met and I hope that Bali Internships will continue to support this project.
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