News Category: Diaries and Reviews

CHRIS PERKINS'S VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES: 01 May 2008; Chris Perkins talks about his experience in Philippines; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, General News, Philippines
INSPIRATIONAL VOLUNTEER DIARY: 22 January 2008; Grace Quiton writes an inspiring account of her time with Coral Cay and the impact it has had on her life, her future and her understanding of her truly remarkable surroundings.; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Philippines
ETHIOPIAN VOLUNTEER TELLS OF EXPEDITION LIFE: 15 January 2008; In 2007, Bruktawit Abdu from Ethiopia was awarded a Coral Cay Conservation Scholarship to participate on CCC's coral reef conservation project in the Philippines. Here's what Bruktawit has to say about her experiences with CCC:; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, General News
MIND THE GAP: IN CONSERVATION, AGE IS NOT A FACTOR!: 15 January 2008; It was the Spring of 2001 and I had just seen in an unwelcome 58th birthday. A time for reflection when middle-age shows signs of losing its middle. For the past dozen or so years I had run a small business importing fashion accessories from the Andean countries of South America, but the economy of the region and competition from the Far East was putting pressure on my margins so I had decided to call it a day...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, General News
Life in the Waria Valley: 04 September 2007; The following is an extract from the beginning of book two of handwritten notes made on site by Andrew Farmer in the Waria Valley, Papua New Guinea. Bego had a few bits of wire and a metal sieve in his...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Papua New Guinea
A swiss student's view of a gap year!: 14 August 2007; As a swiss student, I had never really heard about doing volunteer work or taking gap years. That's because taking a gap year is very rare in Switzerland, and I have never heard of anybody doing something like it....; Categories: CCC In The News, Diaries and Reviews
“The challenge for the jobseeker is to differentiate themselves from the pack” by Shay O'Farrell: 23 July 2007; As with life on a coral reef, life as a marine biologist can be highly competitive, and availability of jobs is perhaps the key limiting factor on the latter! Every year in the UK, thousands of students graduate with...; Categories: CCC In The News, Diaries and Reviews
Volunteer experience by Ian Cormack: 15 February 2007; I recently returned from the Philippines where I spent 4 months with the Southern Leyte Coral Reef Project. I had been a bit apprehensive beforehand about going: 4 months at the other side of the world seemed quite an...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Past volunteers, Philippines
Gap years ARE worthwhile: 31 October 2006; The MSN article, Are Gap years a waste of time? raises and discusses some serious questions and concerns. This feature should be taken seriously and everyone must consider all options before deciding on what you would like to do...; Categories: CCC In The News, Diaries and Reviews, Past volunteers
Volunteer experience by Ben Timmermans: 30 October 2006; I had, not just a great trip abroad, but an enormously educational and satisfying experience. Prior to the trip I don't think I had quite appreciated how much education was involved and what an important part it plays in...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Philippines
My Coral Cay Conservation Experience: 02 September 2006; Organizing the expedition: Every year I tell myself, “Right, this summer I’m doing something special” I usually then browse the internet, find loads of neat ideas and realize that I can’t afford any of them. As I was doing my...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Philippines
A day in the life of a science officer: 17 July 2006; I wake at five thirty to the sounds of the mountain leaders talking in low voices as they prepare breakfast. After pulling some clothes on, I leave the cocoon-like interior of my hammock and set about waking the volunteers up...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Philippines, Staff
On arrival: perspectives of the first few days: 17 July 2006; Of all the horror stories told to prepare us for our expedition, it seemed that the most prominent feature during our five weeks in the wild would be the heat the humidity and the leeches. But from the moment I...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Philippines
My Fiji Experience by Johann Wilsker, Science Officer: 30 May 2006; Just a quicky to say hi and thank you for the time you gave me on Dravuni. I'm now back in good old Suva trying to come to terms with reality. These last 4 months have been amazing. I've...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Fiji
My Second CCC Expedition: 03 May 2006; My second expedition was far more relaxing than my first; I knew exactly what I was diving into. My expedition to Honduras had given me the confidence to go off and explore the world. In the five years between trips...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews
Metro Life: An Expedition In The Philippines: 27 March 2006; I dropped in off the boat, routinely gave the OK and began to swim towards my buddy. That was when I saw the whale shark. There was no mistaking it; the three ridges running down its body and the...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews
Carla Denyer- My Philippine Expedition: 23 December 2005; Scuba diving was something I had wanted to try for a while, and I chose the Philippines CCC Expedition because my Brit-Filipino friend had enthused about the country, and particularly about the quality of its coral reefs. I learnt...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Philippines
Career Break to St Helene, Honduras: 15 July 2005; As we were bouncing up and down, sea water splashing and soaking through our clothes I thought "Oh my God, not again". We were taking the 30 minute boat trip to the expedition site on St Helene, having just met...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Honduras
CCC Career Break- Dolphins spotted on M25....: 05 April 2005; "Lets start with the facts. I'm currently on an island called Qalito in the Mamanuca archipelago off the west coast of Fiji in the South Pacific. I've been here for three months. Prior to here I was on a small...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Fiji, Staff
Dream a Dream, Conquer your Dream, and Dream Again- Malaysia Forest Diary: 31 March 2005; Dream a Dream, Conquer your Dream, and Dream Again The feathers were soft and brightly colored with a shade of oceanic blue. My fingers sunk slightly into the puff of feathers as I held this magnificent white-collared kingfisher in the...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Malaysia, Tropical Forests
Volunteer Diary - MY2: 31 March 2005; After we had completed science week, we went on our first camp. We went on an overnight trek to Deng Dong Hill. It was a good introduction into camping life in Malaysia. We had to trek over the hill, which...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Malaysia
Monitor lizards, shrews and the South China Sea- my Malaysia forest expedition: 31 March 2005; Life in the Casuarina forest began with a boat ride along a lagoon. Six of us (along with our day packs filled to capacity) jumbled into a little motorboat. We also managed to fit our local guide, the driver of...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Malaysia
Volunteer - Fiji Marine Project: 05 January 2005; Reef relief Thousands of UK volunteers pay to work on conservation projects around the world every year. Is it worth it? A project in Fiji has recently shown just how effective this 'free' manpower can be. As they are called...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Fiji
Volunteer - Southern Leyte, Philippines: 05 January 2005; When my friend and I first started surfing the net, in search of a simple escape from our mundane jobs, I could never have imagined that it would lead to 5 weeks of intensive Scuba diving in The Philippines on...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Philippines
Volunteer, Fiji Marine Conservation Project, July-Aug 2003: 05 January 2005; Why save the reefs? Because they support more than a third of all known fish species? Because they are a crucial source of food and income to some of the world's poorest nations? There are a million scientific and economic...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Fiji
Volunteer - Fiji Marine Project: 05 January 2005; My Leaving-Speech-Poem I've been here for two months now, though it feels like a week, And at the end of one's stay, they're always asked to speak, So instead of a speech at the end of my time, I've written...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Fiji
CCC Travel Writer of the Year 2004: 05 January 2005; In 2004 CCC ran the Travel Writer of the Year Competition. Participants were asked to write about their expedition experiences in no more than 1500 words. Here's the winning entry.; Categories: Competitions, Diaries and Reviews, Honduras
Expedition Leader: 22 October 2004; 1. What does the Expedition Leader job involve? Longer term strategic planning for Expedition sites is the remit of the directors in London, with input from the field staff. To be honest my primary focus is to keep the operation...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Fiji, Staff
Local Scholar- Project Bay Islands, Honduras: 10 October 2004; The CCC scholarship programme has changed the lives of many Honduran volunteers. Some of them for example, now work for the Honduran Goverment in reef preservation, ecotourism and fish farms (like me) and this is thanks to the marine knowledge...; Categories: CCC Scholarship Award, Diaries and Reviews, Honduras
Keeping Safe On Gap Year Travels: 21 September 2004; A practical one day seminar provides advice and guidance for parents, teachers and young travellers planning a gap year and will cover the essential preparation that needs to be made to ensure that Gap travels are worthwhile, enjoyable and above all, safe.; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, General News
Expedition Leader: Malaysia Tropical Forests Conservation Project: 03 September 2004; Tuesday (Day 1): Following 5 days of training we embark on our first full survey of the month either on foot or by boat fully laden with personal kit, science equipment, water containers and enough food (including chocolate) for 4...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Malaysia, Staff, Tropical Forests
CCC Photographer of the Year Competition: 24 July 2004; A unique opportunity to showcase your talent on a national and international level and the chance to win a free three-week expedition to the location of your choice.; Categories: Competitions, Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Staff, Tropical Forests
CCC Travel Writer of the Year Competition: 20 July 2004; A fantastic opportunity to write about your unique expedition experience and the chance to win a free three-week expedition to the location of your choice!; Categories: Competitions, Diaries and Reviews
Danjugan Revisited: 06 July 2004; This year CCC's Negros Rainforest Conservation Project returned to Danjugan Island in the Philippines to carry out further surveys as part of the long-term conservation plan for the island. When Danjugan was designated a Wildlife Sanctuary and Marine Reserve in...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Philippines, Tropical Forests
Expedition Leader: Negros Rainforest Conservation Project: 04 July 2004; I fumble for the alarm in the predawn half-light, "Morning already...?", my brain begins the slow process of waking up. "Hmmmm... re-supply day. Got to get moving". Through a tide of sleepy fog I make my way to the hot...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Philippines, Staff, Tropical Forests
Local Scholar- Malaysia Coral Reef Conservation Project: 19 May 2004; Firstly I would like to thank CCC staff members and volunteers for doing surveys to protect the endangered coral reefs of Malaysia. I'm very happy to be a part of the CCC family. For the first few weeks in Pulau...; Categories: CCC Scholarship Award, Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Malaysia
Review of Fiji Expedition by Lucy Misch: 18 April 2004; People often ask me which was the best part of my gap year. I tell them that Fiji was the most intense and amazing experience I had. Why? Because I learnt how to recognise and talk about every species in...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Fiji
UCL Masters Challenge: 18 April 2004; CCC has an ever-growing reputation for completing rigorous rapid biodiversity assessments over large areas, highlighting conservation needs and proposing appropriate management actions. However, as with most conservation science you often find more questions than answers. To answer many of these...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Philippines, Staff, Tropical Forests
Volunteer- Project Bay Islands, Honduras: 21 February 2004; I left Roatan yesterday afternoon after spending a very happy two and half months on the island with Coral Cay Conservation doing their marine surveys. It was a wonderful experience and I really enjoyed it. I made the most of...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Honduras
Science Officer: Negros Rainforest Conservation Project: 09 January 2004; A typical day in the life of a terrestrial science officer on the Negros Rainforest Conservation Project would have to be on survey in the montane cloud forests of the Negros Nature Forest Reserve. I lie suspended about three feet...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Staff, Tropical Forests
Southern Leyte Disaster Relief Fund: 29 December 2003; More than 200 villagers on the southern part of the Philippine Province of Southern Leyte have lost their lives following last weeks devastating mudslides. Villagers of the north-eastern part of the main southern island of Mindanao are also reported to...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, General News, Philippines, Tropical Forests
Marine day to remember: 07 December 2003; It was another beautiful Caribbean day, the sun beaming down on a glass-like sea. Six of us had prepared our dive gear, boarded the boat and headed out to one of our local dive sites. As we arrived and prepared...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Honduras
Bud Abbatt - Volunteer Extraordinaire: 12 November 2003; From the battlefields of World War Two to fighting for conservation with CCC, Bud Abbatt is one of the most inspiring Volunteers CCC has had the privilege of working with. This is his story... Bud vs Rommel "I was 16...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews
Time in the forest: 12 November 2003; Marija Minic talks about her time as Science Officer on the Negros Rainforest Conservation Project What is conservation situation within the Negros Region? At the offices of CCC's in-country NGO partner, Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation Incorporated (NFEFI), their maps...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Philippines, Staff, Tropical Forests
International Coastal Cleanup - Philippines, Southern Leyte: 26 October 2003; In coordination with the Municipality of Malitbog (Southern Leyte, Philippines) Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) participated in this year's Project AWARE International Cleanup Day. It was the first Project Aware Clean Up Event conducted in the Municipality. The cleanup included the...; Categories: Clean up Events, Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Staff
Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project Open Day: 27 July 2003; On the 20th July 2003, sixty children, aged six to fourteen, and teachers of the Bontoc Central School participated in an Open Day organized and run by Coral Cay Conservation (CCC), the award-winning premier British coral reef and tropical forest...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Philippines, Staff
Research treks at NRCP: 19 July 2003; Day-break We wake early, around 6am. Still aching from the previous day's exhausting trek to the Aeroplano site, we stumble into the kitchen where breakfast awaits - usually some rice and fish but occasionally fried eggs and pancakes. After breakfast...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Philippines, Tropical Forests
Community Action in Fiji: 19 July 2003; A crucial part of the Fiji Reef Conservation Project is establishing strong working partnerships with different elements of the local community. Marine Ecology Workshop Marine ecology workshops are designed for diving professionals working in the Mamanuca Islands. The workshops consist...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Fiji, Staff
Community Action in Honduras: 19 July 2003; Find out how CCC Bay Island Project works with the local community to effect change. Community action at Project Bay Islands in Honduras aims to increase local awareness about the coral reefs. Each specific community project targets a number of...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Honduras, Staff
Life at NRCP: 19 July 2003; What's life really like on a forest expedition? Volunteer Luke Jones reveals all. In a nutshell? Life at NRCP (Negros Rainforest Conservation Project, Philippines) is a contrast between the relaxed atmosphere of Campuestohan (project base) and the fast and furious...; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Tropical Forests
Malaysia Reefs and Islands Conservation Project- Marine update: 13 July 2003; Coral Cay Conservation has successfully completed the marine phase of the pilot project of the MRICP. Through the dedication and hard work of more than thirty local and national Volunteers and field staff, a total of 198 survey dives (equating...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Malaysia
Mandy's Malaysia Reefs and Islands Conservation Project Diary: 10 July 2003; Over the course of twelve weeks CCC staff and groups of international Volunteers conducted baseline surveys around the group of islands that form the Perhentians in Malaysia. Read Mandy Hengeveld's (MRICP Project Scientist) diary of the pilot project.; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Malaysia, Staff, Tropical Forests
Ambassadors of CCC: 10 April 2003; CCC catches up with two reps who have successfully completed the CCC Rep Scheme to be awarded free expedition places. Louise Boyle & Jon Gulson explain how they got involved and the benefits and workings of being CCC Representatives. Why...; Categories: CCC Representatives, Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews
Coral Cay changed my life!: 10 April 2003; Jo Moulds tells how a CCC expedition changed her life as she went from a magazine journalist to Marketing Manager for Remarkable - one of the UK's leading manufacturers of recycled products.. and all because of Coral Cay! CCC caught...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews
Life as an expedition medic: 15 March 2003; David Wheeler looks back at his eventful time as a medical officer on 3 CCC expeditions. I had to take early retirement four years ago as a result of chronic depression. I knew, from my experiences of SAD, that it...; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Honduras, Staff
A day in the forest: 08 December 2002; An account of a day on the Philippines forest project by fran Wallington, Expedition Leader; Categories: Diaries and Reviews, Philippines, Staff, Tropical Forests
Sarah's Fiji marine expedition diary: 15 September 2002; Sarah's diary contributed to the "work based learning" element of her Environmental Science Masters degree. She gives a highly factual and detailed account of her Expedition Experience in Fiji- from sighting her first white tip reef shark to the frustrations of being unable to dive during bad weather.; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Fiji
Tamara's Honduras marine expedition diary: 20 April 2002; Tamara was asked by www.do-it.org to write a diary whilst on her 2 month expedition to Honduras. Read the highs and lows of her time away and get a fascinating insight of being on an expedition.; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Honduras
Diver Magazine May 2001. Want to Fill a Gap?: 23 May 2001; Have you got what it takes? Volunteer eco-diving is popular with gap-year students and graduates, but all sorts of people opt out of the rat-race to become temporary reef-dwellers. It can change your life, says veteran John Liddiard, who met...; Categories: CCC In The News, Diaries and Reviews, Honduras
Jan's Philippines Marine Expedition Review: 12 August 1999; Jan's review talks about snorkelling with a whale shark, and gives an honest and enthusiastic account of science week, surveying, expedition life and explains what she got out of the experience.; Categories: Coral Reefs, Diaries and Reviews, Philippines

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