The Adriatic Dolphin Project offers you the opportunity to join our research as eco-volunteers. This is a unique opportunity to experience an encounter with dolphins in their natural surroundings. Eco-volunteers spend twelve days at our base in Losinj and actively participate in our daily routines. This includes collecting data at sea, preparing equipment and boats, data entry, preliminary analysis of collected data, and preparing presentations etc.

The Eco-volunteers reside in the fieldbase with researchers and students. So, eco-volunteers are expected to help with everyday practical tasks such as cooking and household maintenance. The motivation eco-volunteers and all people involved in the program is of paramount importance for the overall project.

The day of a volunteer

There is no typical day……… Much of what we do is based on sea conditions. When the sea is calm, after breakfast, you will prepare your lunch and bring it to the boat, and sent him in search of dolphins.

If the sea is calm and the weather is fine, you make your lunch after breakfast then board the boat to search for dolphins. Sometimes the dolphins are located within a few minutes; however it could take several hours, so you must be patient. When a group of dolphins is located, the animals are followed at close quarters for as long as it is necessary to take data. The moment the dolphins are sighted, everyone on board has a specific task to fulfil. A researcher will take photos for the photo-identification. Your task as project participant is to record data; the time, the number and breakdown of animals, their behavioural activity and their names as the researcher calls them out. In some cases you may be asked to be involved in acoustic sampling. If the hydrophone is being used in the presence of dolphins this information can be used as an insight into their behaviour underwater.

After returning to the base researchers will inform the volunteers on the rest of the schedule for the day. You must have a positive attitude towards living and working in a small international group of enthusiastic people. Participants in the project are encouraged to show their interest towards all the research activities and to take part in them.

If the sea is not calm, the team remains at the Lošinj Marine Educational Centre (LMEC) analysing data and preparing papers and reports, as well as doing everyday duties. A daily lecture is offered on aspects of cetacean biology or the marine environment. This normally takes place between 10-12 am or 4-6 pm. The team members are happy to answer any of your questions concerning dolphins or the marine environment and the station is equipped with a comprehensive scientific literature, which you are free to consult.  Volunteers are also invited to help with computer data entering. In free time volunteers may visit the island, enjoy the beauty of discovering new paths and beaches for swimming and snorkelling in the crystal clean sea.

Volunteers are also expected to assist in educational activities of the LMEC. Duties will include helping out the staff and students, taking visitors around the centre and explaining exhibits. Sunday is designated as a free day for both volunteers and researchers. On this day other activities such as diving can be organised. Periodically, slideshows are arranged, in this case you may be asked to help prepare lectures, or even give them if you feel confident enough. It is important that you realise that the ADP is not a professional tourist organisation. The atmosphere at the project is informal and relaxed and by mutual arrangement many things are possible.
You should remember that this is no ordinary holiday and that the researchers are not tour leaders!

For more information, please contact us at infoATblue-world.org

Or download the entire package for volunteers for 2012 with detailed information of conditions of participation.

You can find our volunteering information on the Green volunteers website and in the guidebook