GVI Marine Conservation Program in Tenerife

I spent 2 weeks on the Whale and Dolphin Marine Conservation Program in Tenerife in the hope of making the most of my last summer before I start looking for a job. I had heard about the incredible experience my friends had had on their GVI programs, and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my last summer of freedom than joining one of the conservation projects myself. It was the first time I had travelled abroad alone, and I was nervous as to how well I would cope being so far away from home. However, I couldn’t have felt more at home than I did. The staff were always available to talk to and help with any concerns I had. They also made sure everyone kept the base clean and tidy which, after living in student housing of varying cleanliness for the past few years, I was very grateful for. As for living with the other volunteers, everyone was so welcoming that within a few days I was already dreading the day I had to go home. One thing I did, however, wish was different was how repetitive the weekly schedule was. I think if I had stayed significantly longer, I would have really struggled with this. However, I am fully aware that to create the large, reliable datasets needed for the project, repetitive data collection is needed. Even with this, I LOVED my time at the GVI Canary Islands base and I am already considering joining another of the bases on one of the people-based projects.