Website:www.lamave.orgContact:volunteer@lamave.org

MantaBowlResearchandConservationProject

WhoisLAMAVE?TheLargeMarineVertebratesResearchInstitutePhilippines(LAMAVE)isthelargestindependentnon-profitnon-governmentorganizationdedicatedtotheconservationofmarinemegafaunaandthemarineenvironmentinthePhilippines.Westriveforconservationthroughscientificresearch,policyandeducation.

Introductiontotheproject:MantaBowlisthemostfamousmantadiveinthePhilippines,wherebothspeciesofmantarayoccur.Reef

manta(MantaalfredinewlyclassifiedasMobulaalfredi)isthemostcommon,seendailyaroundtheshoalwhiletheoceanicmantas(MantabirostrisnewlyclassifiedasMobulabirostris)areseenoccasionally.Thisseamount,locatedoffshoretheislandofTicao(Masbate)isareportedcleaningstationandafeedingarea,wheremanyfilterfeederspecieslikewhalesharksanddevilraysarealsoregularlyseen.DespitetheimportanceofMantabowlfortheconservationofthesespecies,noprotectionisgrantedtothisincrediblesite.Theprojectgoalistoprovidesupportdataonthemantapresenceandhabitatusetothelocalgovernments,stakeholdersandauthoritiestopush for the protection of this habitat and the further development of sustainable marine wildlife tourisminteractions.TheLargeMarineVertebratesResearchInstitutePhilippinesissettingupalongtermmonitoringprojectinMantaBowlincollaborationwiththeTicaoIslandResort.TheprojectwillpilotinthemonthofAugust2017wheresurvey

Project:MantaBowlResearchandConservationProject.

Seasondates:MunicipalityofTicao,Masbate,Philippines

Seasondates:1stAugust2017to31stAugust2017

Costpermonth:$800USD

KeyRequirements:ScubadivingcertificationPADIRescue(orequivalent)withatleast100divesandexperienceinstrongcurrent,onemonthcommitment

techniques and equipment will be standardized and built and the shoal explored and mapped. Active (e.gUnderwaterVisualSurvey)andpassive(e.gRemoteUnderwaterVideoSurvey)surveyswillbeconductedacrossthebowlandnearbyareas.

Training/whatyoulearn

• Equipmentmaintenanceandpreparation• Dataentryandcleanup• DeploymentofremoteunderwatervideobySCUBAdiving• CollectingmantarayphotoidentificationbySCUBAdiving(whenpossible)• Enhancecitizenscienceengagementofdiveoperators• Givepresentationaboutmantaconservationinlocaldiveshops• Assistingininformation,education&communicationcampaigns

Dailylife/TypicalWorkingDay

• 6:00am-Upandready• 7:00am–Leavingtothestudysite(maximumtimeatsea8hours)• 9:00am–dive• lunch(ontheboat)• 12:00–dive• 1:00pm–backtobase:equipmentmaintenanceanddataentry• 4:00pm–Freetime• 7:00pm-dinner

VolunteerRequirementsPleaseensureyoumeetthefollowingcriteria:

Equipmentrequired RecommendedgeneralpackingList• MinimumAge:20• Scuba diving certification: PADI Rescue (or

equivalent) with at least 100 dives andexperienceinstrongcurrent.

• Willingtocommitforafullmonth(timetableplannedontheone-monthfreevisa)

• Diving equipment not provided (if necessaryavailableforrentfromlocaldiveshop)

o mask, regulators, BCD, fins, divecomputer)(also available for rentlocally)

o Safetydevices(SMB,whistle,signallingmirror,NautilusLifelineGPSVHFsafetyradiopersonaloravailableforrent)

• Towel• Smalldrybag/ziplockbagforelectrical• Long(smart/jeans)trousers(forformal

occasions)• Sunglasses• Sunscreen(notallowedwhensnorkellingor

diving)• Insectrepellent• Casualclothing• Swimwear• Raincoat• Waterproofcamera(fordaysoff)• ProtectiveHat

InsuranceAllvolunteersarerequiredtohavemedicalinsurance.Thestudysitesfortheprojectsareoftenbeinremoteareas.AllmedicalservicesinthePhilippinesneedtobepaidforbyindividualvolunteers.CostsvaryfromPHP50foraconsultationatthelocalhospitaltoPHP8000forafullCTIscaninmosthospitals.Volunteersthatcontractacontagiousdisease,thatmayputothervolunteersandstaffatrisk,maybeaskedtodepartfromtheprojectstudysiteforhealthreasonsuntilappropriatehealthclearance.

DressCode

• Personaldivinginsurance• Willingtoworklongandirregularhoursoutat

sea• Adaptable to very basic amenities and share

accommodation• FluentinEnglish• Able towork independently and as part of a

team• Stronginterestinmarinemegafauna,research

andconservation

• Thin,longsleevedtopsandtrousersrecommendedtoprotectagainstbitinginsects

• PersonalFirstAidKit• Torch

VolunteerscontinuetorepresentLAMAVE,evenafterworkisfinished,therefore,weenforceadresscodethatisconsistentandinoffensivetothelocalcommunityandculture.Shorts-hotpantsandveryshort-shortsareforbidden.Shortsmustbeatleastmidthighinlength.Shortsthatreachjustabovethekneearepreferred.Tanktops-“wife-beater”and/orlowslungsleevelessshirtsexposingmidsectionareforbidden.Pleaseseeexamplesbelow:

The$800amonthContributionBeinganon-profitorganization,werequestacontributionof$800USDpermonthtohelpcovertheproject’scosts:food,accommodation(shared),scientificdivingandresearchgear.aLAMAVEuniform).TheteamwillbebasedatTicaoIslandResortontheIslandofTicao,Masbate.

Traveltoandfromthesiteisnotincluded,butwillbecoordinatedwiththeteamleader(meetingpoint,schedules).

OthercostsVisas

Onenteringthecountrymostvisitorsareallowedtostayinthecountryfor30dayswithoutapplyingforavisa,butpleasecheckthetermsforyournationality.Thetimetableofthisprojectaimstomatchwiththisone-monthfreevisaperiod.However,ifyouplantostayinthecountryafteryourfreevisaisoveryoumusttraveltoanImmigrationofficetorenewyourvisa.Thefirstrenewallastsfor30daysandcostsapproximately3000PHP.Ifyouplantostayevenlonger,youwillneedtorenewagainandwillberequiredtopurchaseani-card(atouristidentitycard)withyourvisa.Thiswillcostapproximately6000PHPforthei-cardanda1-monthextension.*Pleasenotethisinformationwascorrectasofthe30thJune2017andmaybesubjecttochange.

RulesandregulationsGroundsfordismissal

Volunteersmaybeaskedtoleavetheprojectiftheydisplayinappropriatebehaviourorattitudethatdisruptswork,thelivingenvironmentorportraysanegativeimagefortheorganization.Groundsfordismissalcanalsobeasaresultofreleaseofsensitiveinformationtomedia/socialmediaplatforms.DismissalisatthePrincipalInvestigatorsdiscretion.Theuseofdrugsduringtheplacementisprohibitedandwillresultinimmediatedismissal.

Daysoff

Eachteammemberwillbegivenadedicateddayoffeachweektorelaxortravel.DaysoffcanbespenttakinginthemanywondersanduniquecultureofthePhilippines.

Holidaysandvisitors

YouwillbecontractedtoassistLAMAVEfora1month,thereforeshouldyouwishtohavetimetoexplorethePhilippinesfurther(whichwestronglyadviseyoudo!)pleaseplantimebeforeorafteryourstaywithus,asduringthemonthplacementwedonotallowvolunteerstotakeadditionaldaysoff.

HowtoApplyEmailusaC.Vandacoverletterspecifyingscubadivingcertificationandnumberofdiveslogged,tovolunteer@lamave.orgwithMANTAintheemailsubject.Formoreinformation,pleasevisitourwebsitewww.lamave.orgorcontactjoshua.r@lamave.org

Rememberto:

• Statewhichprojectyouareapplyingforintheemailsubjecte.g.Manta• Telluswhyyouwanttojointheteamandanyotherrelevantinformationinyourcoveringletter.