Operation Wallacea - Indonesia

The expedition was incredible, unlike anything I’ve ever done before. I count myself an incredibly lucky person to have been able to undertake the project. The itinerary of every day was jam packed and kept me occupied which I very much appreciated. I spent the very first week obtaining my PADI open water and whilst on our final open water dive, we experienced the highlight of the trip. There had been an algal bloom that week, and many of our dives were fogged by green. We were surfacing from our 18 meters when a sudden drop of temperature and shimmer of the water indicated an approaching thermocline. The visibility suddenly became crystal clear. We were revealed to be right on the precipice of a sea wall – an impressive sight on its own. What will stay with me forever however was my first view at the teeming coral forest. Rule number one of diving is “Keep Breathing”, however my breath caught in my throat at the shoals of tropical fish plunging down the seawall and mingling in the azure about me. This was the moment I knew I had a passion for marine conservation. Leaving Bau Bau was difficult, however I have come away from the trip with countless memories and a very useful set of skills. I am now a proficient research diver, have a certificate in tropical fish identification and am knowledgeable in a shark monitoring research method. I fell in love with diving and am planning on completing instructor training as such a skill would allow to travel and work in similar research areas in the future. Furthermore, having discovered my interest in ecological and conservation research, I now have the skills to pursue such a career. I feel I have expanded my areas of interest in a way that may able me to combine my expertise in microbiology with my interest in conservation research. Not only that, but I now have marketable skills and potential contacts that would make pursuing a research project combining the two possible. Lastly, I feel it is important to mention that I and many others formed true connections with locals involved with the project. They taught us to dive and guided us around Bau Bau. I have been considering undertaking a PhD at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine recently. To do so would involve travelling to areas of Africa with high prevalence of infectious disease to collect samples from local individuals. As violence against volunteers during the 2014 Ebola Crisis highlighted, communication and trust between researchers and the public is incredibly important. Having formed friendships and human connections in Bau Bau, I feel that I have had practise in showing respect for a culture foreign to my own and generating trust between me and local communities. I consider such experience invaluable for one planning to continue research in foreign countries, such as myself. I still think about the experience as thought it was a dream - I can hardly believe my own memories. But it did happen, and it was incredible. I would recommend the trip to absolutely anyone.

Hoga truly encapsulated everything that is beautiful about the world. From the vibrant underwater paradise to all of the kind hearted people that I met; I truly feel privileged to have had the opportunity of a lifetime. Sat on the pristine white beaches, staring up at the milky way while shooting stars, bioluminescence and firefly’s flash through the calm shore felt like a tranquil dream compared to the chaos of the 21st century world. Achieving my PADI open water qualification, as well as completing the reef survey techniques course has enhanced my love for the marine environment and the work carried out by Opwall and the associated researchers is truly inspirational. Hoga has stolen my heart and aided me in choosing the direction of the next chapter of my life.

Operation Wallacea in Indonesia was an unprecedented experience. The conditions in which we lived and did work were the truest embodiment of the field. This was a unique and very direct way to experience the jungle and the coral reefs. We were truly away from civilisation, left with the basic housing and food we needed and that made it an experience infused with a lot of inner thought and immediate connection to the surrounding nature. The work we did in both locations (Central Buton and Hoga) was as real as I have been led to imagine by my biological education and was full not only of things we knew we would see but also with many out of script encounters and real field situations which required new thinking and personal energy. We had plenty of contact with local people and the time we spent around them has left a very positive and dear memory in my heart, making me want to return and get to know the country more. Besides the dive tech on Hoga being worn out after a season's use, everything worked well and we were shown a variety of field techniques, studying a large variety of tropical species in the process. Academic teaching in the field was especially good and useful on Hoga. Buton was more focused on the fieldwork part. I truly feel miles ahead in terms of abilities and experience after this expedition. The social side was also brilliant, I met a lot of bright young people motivated to protect and study nature and made good friends. There was ample time to socialise and have fun. This is however a serious trip into conditions requiring decent equipment and sturdiness, good physical shape is a big plus. The life around is beautiful but under some circumstances or improper behaviour on one's part can also be dangerous. The way of life you will experience is not luxurious and this is not akin to a vacation in any way. That said, most people who enjoy camping or hiking would probably like this as well. In conclusion, this is a very good idea for something to do if you want to experience tropical biology hands-on. This has set my standard on what to strive for in future endeavours.