2nd September to 11th September


With our newly formed reef check team consisting of Lindsey, Natalie and our hosts David and Gayle Funk on the 44 ft catamaran 'Fifth Season', we started off the week well with our first Reef Check survey completed at Devil's Rock, West Ambae.

The community there was very interested in conserving their reef and were
excited to help us with the survey. This is the first survey that Green
Snails (now very rare in Vanuatu due to exploitation) were found ON the transect line and we had our first girl (Jessica) volunteer to help find
the invertebrates! Rex, a community leader was very concerned to gain our help in making his reef an official protected area.

A snorkel around Devil's Rock proved to be interesting with some exciting
wildlife interactions, man versus barracuda.

Upon approaching a cave we discovered it was passionately guarded by a barracuda (at least 1.5 meters long). We practiced our backward snorkeling
techniques all the while hiding behind Rex and his spear gun..until we
almost backed into another barracuda. Now unable to move in circles we
employed Plan B; GETTING THE HELL OUTA THERE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE...it
worked but Rex was still shaking at the end of it.

We also saw a turtle, stingrays, garden eels and wide range of fish diversity.

We learnt a few things to take into consideration when visiting a community:

1. It takes at least an hour to say goodbye.
2. We are able to successfully tandem in a single person kayak without
flipping it
3. The 'fruit factor' will most likely take effect. We are able to load
the kayak with not only ourselves but multiples of papayas, grapefruits,
lemons, bananas, nuts, and coconuts that we are given.

Loone,

Next we headed farther up the coast of Ambae to the village Loone. Despite the limited coral environment we were still able to conduct a Reef Check survey. Due to the proximity of the volcano on Ambae the area consisted of mostly volcanic rock with a lot of silt.
Though neither of us will admit to it, one of us decided it would be a good idea to climb the volcano. Thirteen hours of hiking later, we know we will never make that mistake again.

We also learned many things while hiking:
1. Lindsey is a fish and will drink all the water
2. When your guides say that it takes 3 hours to get to the top they mean
it takes them 3 hours, but it will take you 6 hours.
3. Sulfurous lakes are not ideal swimming locations, though it will cool
you down initially you walk out with stinging eyes and never smell quite
right again.
4. The skin on the back of your heels actually is very important, and it
is quite painful to be without it.
5. If you are going to pull a leg muscle it is probably best to wait until
the end of the hike (Natalie was still using a walking stick the next
day).
6. You will make lots of friends in town because everyone knows that you
were the ones who climbed the volcano.
7. You can never have too much antibacterial cream or plasters.

We have still not decided whether it was worth it or not.

Despite all the harsh conditions we face on land, things on the boat have been very comfortable. David and Gail have been taking excellent care of
us, in the form of cinnamon rolls, chocolate muffins, and salads (all luxuries here in Vanuatu). They have both participated in the Reef Check
surveys. David has excellent maneuvering skills when navigating the dingy
in pounding waves just to see us safely arrive on shore.

With intentions of doing a Reef Check training we stayed an extra two days
in Loone waiting on island time for an opportunity to speak with the
community about Reef Check. Waiting involved being spectators at the province's football tournament, eating local food and maintaining our uttermost professionalism when meeting the men's football teams.

We were able to give two talks on surveying and the community is now keen
to have their own RC team and go through full training. Many were concerned about their individual effects on the reef and what they could
do to improve it.

We ended our stay with a celebration night dancing to the local string
band.