Schools to the Sea

GVI has teamed up with Buccaneers’ Diving centre which runs a programme called Schools to the Sea, to give school children the opportunity to learn more about the marine eco-system, along with the Voyager hotel.

I was lucky enough to be one of the volunteers to go along with Standard 7 from Olives.

 

Buccaneer dive instructors teaching students how to snorkel.

Voulnteers and students practising before going into the sea.

It started with the children having an hour and half in the hotel swimming pool learning how to use the snorkeling equipment, there were three instructors from buccaneers all present in the water along with myself and 3 GVI volunteers teaching them the correct way to use the snorkel and mask. In the beginning several of the children could not grasp the fact that you could carry on breathing under the water as long as the snorkel was above the surface.

 

Volunteer Nick with the Standard 7 students enjoying lunch of burger and chips. 

 

 

Following this the students had lunch (burgers and chips) which became one of the high lights of the day as most of these children know of this meal but have never had the opportunity to enjoy such food items .After lunch Michael, the boss of the dive centre, did a short presentation about the sea and the important part it plays within the ecosystem.  The students were amazed by the imagery and were eager to learn more about marine eco-systems.  There was certainly no shortage of questions following the presentation.  From the diet and habits of particular species to the function of coral reefs, the students made us proud by listening intently and busily taking notes.

 

Glass bottom boat

 

Then it was time to go out into the sea. Buccaneers’ had arranged for a glass bottom boat.  The children were enthralled by this, as well as the fish and sea life that they could see as we travelled along. They asked lots of questions related to the presentation, which the buccaneers instructors where very impressed with. When we reached the destination for snorkeling a few of the children became a bit apprehensive, but once they were in the water we could not get them out!  It was an amazing day for all who were involved.

 

Students from Standard 7  snorkelling in the sea.

By Nicholas Banks