Live aboard a famous historic boat and assist with important dolphin data collection as you sail along the Italian coastline! This project has been operating since 1991 and it directly contributed to the establishment of the marine protected area known as Neptune’s Kingdom.
Program Highlights:
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum one-week commitment):
Arrival Day, Monday: Arrive at Naples International Airport (NAP) and make your way by train or shuttle and then boat, to Piazzale dell’Ancora on Ischia Island. The “Welcome on board” program briefing and boarding of the boat begins at 4:00 PM sharp. Once the welcome briefing is completed, you will have time to rest and relax after your long journey on one of the beaches next to the harbor.
Days 1-5, Tuesday-Saturday: Rewarding volunteer work in the mornings/afternoons and fun evenings on the boat. Volunteers set sail every morning, and return to the harbor to dock around 6:00 PM each evening.
Day 6, Sunday: Departure day for volunteers staying just one week. Free day on Ischia Island for volunteers who are extending their stay.
Remaining Weeks: Remaining weeks will follow the same schedule.
Check out what our past volunteers had to say!
Program Highlights:
- Live aboard a famous, historic boat for a unique experience
- Sail along the coastline of the Italian island of Ischia
- Be directly involved in tasks for dolphin conservation
- Learn to study dolphin behavior and record bioacoustics
- Spend all of your time out at sea (weather-permitting)
- Enjoy the therapeutic healing offered by the abundant, natural thermal springs mud
Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum one-week commitment):
Arrival Day, Monday: Arrive at Naples International Airport (NAP) and make your way by train or shuttle and then boat, to Piazzale dell’Ancora on Ischia Island. The “Welcome on board” program briefing and boarding of the boat begins at 4:00 PM sharp. Once the welcome briefing is completed, you will have time to rest and relax after your long journey on one of the beaches next to the harbor.
Days 1-5, Tuesday-Saturday: Rewarding volunteer work in the mornings/afternoons and fun evenings on the boat. Volunteers set sail every morning, and return to the harbor to dock around 6:00 PM each evening.
Day 6, Sunday: Departure day for volunteers staying just one week. Free day on Ischia Island for volunteers who are extending their stay.
Remaining Weeks: Remaining weeks will follow the same schedule.
Check out what our past volunteers had to say!
Location of the Project:
Ischia Island
Project length:
Min 1 week - Max 3 weeks
Arrival Airport:
Capodichino Airport of Naples
Volunteer Work:
Marine life data collection and research
Age:
16 - 70
Number of Volunteers:
6 International volunteers
Important Note:
This project runs only from the middle of May until the end of September.
What's Included
Accommodations:
2 single bunks and 2 double bunks on board a 17.7 meter boat
Support:
Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.
What's not Included
Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, transportation to and from the project, meals, personal expenses
Ischia, often called the “Green Island” because of its lush flora and fauna, is located in the Gulf of Naples and is a volcanic island. The island’s 46 square kilometers are home to about 60,000 people. Many tourists flock to Ischia to enjoy the therapeutic healing offered by the abundant, natural thermal springs and thermal mud. The region is a feeding and breeding ground for fin whales, striped dolphins, Risso’s dolphins and sperm whales and it is also considered a critical habitat for short-beaked dolphins.
The main focus of the project is to collect data which can create an accurate picture of the cetaceans’ life including population sizes, social structures of the populations, habitat use and distribution and the acoustic repertoire of the animals. The project also evaluates the impact of the operations of local fisheries and vessel traffic upon the ecosystem. In addition to its scientific goals, the project promotes education and awareness activities for the public, publishes its results to the scientific community and aims to improve the conservation efforts in the area.
Volunteers will be involved in every aspect of this project and will work very closely with the captain and crew. This is a very serious research project. Participants should be prepared to learn about the research methods used by the team and assist with data collection as well as sailing the boat and helping with cooking and cleaning duties.
Weather permitting, volunteers will be out at sea every day and will work in one hour shifts to spot dolphins and whales as well as sea turtles, manta rays, sword fish, tunas, large schools of fish and sea birds. Once there is a sighting, everyone on the boat will have a job to do. This will include:
In the event that weather conditions prevent the boat from sailing, volunteers may assist with data entry and analysis, attend lectures given by the research team or explore on the island.
Please note: Activities take place in the wild and that the animals behavior is unpredictable, therefore cetaceans sightings are not always guaranteed.
Volunteers will be involved in every aspect of this project and will work very closely with the captain and crew. This is a very serious research project. Participants should be prepared to learn about the research methods used by the team and assist with data collection as well as sailing the boat and helping with cooking and cleaning duties.
Weather permitting, volunteers will be out at sea every day and will work in one hour shifts to spot dolphins and whales as well as sea turtles, manta rays, sword fish, tunas, large schools of fish and sea birds. Once there is a sighting, everyone on the boat will have a job to do. This will include:
- Filming the dolphins using a GoPro camera underwater but also to monitor surface behavior
- Recording behavioral data
- Recording bioacoustics through the boat’s underwater microphones
- Photographing the animals for identification purposes
- Steering the boat
In the event that weather conditions prevent the boat from sailing, volunteers may assist with data entry and analysis, attend lectures given by the research team or explore on the island.
Please note: Activities take place in the wild and that the animals behavior is unpredictable, therefore cetaceans sightings are not always guaranteed.
Internet:
Internet cafes can be found on the island.
Laundry:
Laundromats can be found on the island.
Accommodations:
Volunteers will stay aboard a 17.7 meter oceanic oak cutter which was built in 1930 by a famous French architect. There are 3 single bunks and 2 double bunks for volunteers plus a changing room. There are separate bathrooms and showers (cold water only) for men and women. There is also a solar powered, hot water shower on the boat or volunteers can use the hot showers at the port free of charge.
Food:
Volunteers and crew members (except for the captain) will shop, buy and prepare food for everyone on the vessel. There is a kitchen on board and room for food storage.
Please take note of this project's minimum requirements:
- Minimum age of 16
- Good physical health
- Comfortable in hot weather
- Comfortable on a boat
- Good level of English
- Highly adaptable
Volunteers can choose to have one day off per week which can be used to relax on the sandy beaches, see the sights of the island or indulge at one of the natural thermal pools.
Some popular activities include:
Some popular activities include:
- Visiting the old village of Ischia Ponte and the Aragonese Castle
- Hiking to the top of Mount Epomeo
- Visiting the other islands including Procida and Capri
- Going scuba diving.
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