Thailand – Coastal Marine Conservation in Phang Nga – Images

Situated along the Andaman coast, Phang Nga is a spectacular region renowned for its magnificent scenery and geographical wonders of limestone rock formations jutting out from beneath the sea and sunken caverns. Its clear waters and abundance of marine life make it a top destination for snorkelers and scuba divers but its enchanting beaches also appeal to those looking for a laid-back atmosphere with where cultures meld together. A short bus ride from the base in Ban Nam Khem, Phang Nga Bay is probably most famous for some of its many tiny islands including Koh Tapu where the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun was shot.

Work done depends on the seasons/weather. One of the main tasks on this project involves assisting local staff at a turtle centre by cleaning tanks, animal husbandry studies, leading enclosure behaviour enrichment surveys, and collecting morphological data on turtles to identify infections they may have. Volunteers also have the opportunity once every four weeks (not guaranteed for four-week volunteers) to conduct biodiversity surveys for our partners in the national parks and on two diverse islands, this also includes setting up camera traps and collecting pictures.You will also have the opportunity to lead environmental education classes at local schools, beach/park/mangrove/village clean ups etc.

You will receive educational presentations to accompany your various conservation activities. During the dry season, November to April, volunteer work includes coral monitoring surveys to assess the damage of nearby coral reefs and help to support local conservation efforts. Snorkelling will take place once a week.

A typical day: You will day will start in the morning as you head out to start project work . You will have lunch around noon and then go back out to the “field” for an afternoon project. You will be brought back to the volunteer base in the early afternoon and will have free time until dinner is served around 6:00 PM.

Internet: There is WiFi available at the base, but the connection may not always be reliable.

Laundry: Volunteers have a choice of hand-washing or having laundry washed by a local laundry service for an additional fee.

Accommodations: The rooms at the volunteer base are quite basic and although there is no air conditioning there are fans for your use. The local team aims to have single gender rooms but sometimes may be mixed.The rooms are shared with up to six other volunteers and have electricity. There is a shared bathroom with cold running water. You may upgrade to a private room with air conditioning for an additional fee.

Food: From Sunday to Thursday, dinner and lunch is prepared for the group by cooks from the village. On Friday and Saturday volunteers and staff prepare their meals together. Breakfast includes bread, toast, margarine, milk and oats. Lunch and dinners are usually local rice and noodle dishes with curries and stir-fries. Expect to eat a lot of rice! The local team offers 3 meals a day but extra snacks and drinks are at the volunteer’s expense.

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

• Minimum age of 18
• Police clearance
• Be open-minded and flexible
• Desire to contribute to the project goals and community

Thailand is full of things to discover. Divers shouldn’t miss out on the spectacular coral reefs of the Similan & Suring Islands. You can relax on stretches of sandy, white beaches or paper yourself at one of the many inexpensive spas. Trek along the Khao Lak coast and find hidden waterfalls. Head to Phuket to if you want to party the night away or indulge in adventure water sports. Animal and nature lovers will enjoy a trip to Khao Sok National Park, home to monkeys, tigers, elephants, birds and reptiles. Visit nearby Krabi Province and climb to the top of the Tiger Temple or kayak through mangroves.