Dolphin Conservation Holiday in Greece

In the waters of Ionian Greece, within sight of landmarks of ancient Hellenic history, bottlenose dolphins congregate in unusually high numbers. The nutrient-rich waters of the Gulf sustain a rich biodiversity where charismatic animals--including sea turtles and a variety of birds--can be easily encountered.

Based in the charming Greek village of Vonitsa on the Amvrakikos Gulf, you’ll have the opportunity to experience traditional village life as you help researchers conduct daily surveys on the area's bottlenose dolphins. From a small research vessel, you’ll scan the water for dolphin dorsal fins. Your team will spot dolphins, follow them, and record information on their numbers, group composition, activity, movement patterns and interactions with the area’s fishing industry. The research team identifies individual dolphins by looking for distinguishing signs such as bite marks, nicks, and notches in their dorsal fins. The dolphins living in the Gulf often approach the research boat to bowride, even when the boat is moving slowly, so you’ll have a chance to see them up close and hear their echolocation clicks and whistles.

Back at the accommodation, you’ll help enter data and prepare digital images of these dorsal fins for matching. Your days will start early, but you will have the traditional siesta each afternoon for resting or otherwise enjoying the quiet coast. You’ll share a comfortable and large loft with a wooden floor and a bright living area with the other volunteers on your team. A fully equipped apartment next door provides an open kitchen and living room, two bathrooms, an office, and rooms for the research staff. Housekeeping, including cooking and cleaning up, are communal activities, though you may opt to enjoy Vonitsa's quaint and inexpensive restaurants when the mood strikes you.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1 - Rendezvous Day
Meet research personnel at the rendezvous point at 15.00. Arrival at the field station, ice-breaking session, introduction to the project and presentation of all staff and team members, basic orientation and training, detailed information about safety measures.

Days 2 – 7
6.30am -  Wake up, breakfast, prepare and pack-up research equipment, prepare bagged snacks to take onboard

7:30am - Move to the research boat, set up everything onboard and leave the harbor

8am - Work at sea

12pm - Moor the research boat, return to the field station. Download research data, shop at the supermarket if needed, light informal lunch at the field station

2pm Rest / recreational free time

4pm Work on the research data

5.30pm Coffee break

6pm Lecture and/or videos on selected cetacean research methods and conservation aspects, round table discussion

7pm Volunteer(s) on duty starts cooking and cleaning, boat maintenance, relax at a bar on the seaside or swimming/exercising (if not on duty), shower

8pm Dinner and discussion of the day’s events

9pm Relax on the seaside or at the field station

11pm Suggested bedtime (quiet hours begin)

Day 8
Morning Pack-up and depart (all Earthwatch volunteers should depart the field station by 10:00 am, so please ensure compatible travel arrangements).

Is this trip for you?
All of us, research staff and volunteers alike, will be living in our field station in the quiet village of Vonitsa, on the gulf‘s southern shore. By sharing every experience with us, and ultimately living a researcher‘s life, you will gain a first-hand understanding of the motivations that inspire our work, appreciate its significance for dolphin conservation and learn about the importance of protecting the marine ecosystem and its wonderful inhabitants.

The resident staff will present different aspects of the research during the first day, giving specific training and showing how the equipment is used. Direct everyday involvement in field activities and subsequent data analysis will provide you with opportunities to practice and learn much about dolphin research methods.

Volunteers must be able to spend long hours at sea usually in the sun, be able to walk short distances, have a basic level of swimming for safety reasons, and weigh less than 120 kilograms/265 pounds (so as to keep the boat in balance and facilitate free movement onboard).

The sea conditions in the gulf are generally good, particularly in the morning, and surveys are possible most of the time. Seasickness is rarely an issue. Previous experience shows that even people who regularly suffer from seasickness and would not feel comfortable onboard a sailing boat or a ship may participate in this expedition without problems.