Vivamar is an ambassador between dolphins and humans. We research and inspire conservation of the last resident bottlenose dolphins with helping volunteers.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Volunteering for Vivamar represents a fantastic opportunity for you to:
- gain first hand insight into a day in the life of a bottlenose dolphin and all the threats that they face;
- learn about Biology, Ecology and Conservation of Marine Mammals. You can also gain deeper insight into their physiology, ethology… and you will have a scientific supervision while working with data.
- meet and work with a competent and engaging team of like-minded people. You’ll most likely also learn about other cultures and languages!
- raise awareness about the importance of the dolphins’ role in the Northern Adriatic Sea;
- enjoy the Mediterranean sun and crystal blue water;
- snorkel from the research boat directly into the blue, off the dreamy islands in the research area;
How you’ll help
With professional support, you will help fill in our dolphin data into the database from the previous observations. You will learn how to use photo identification methods to distinguish one dolphin from the another.
We also love when volunteers are proficient with social media, so that they can take advantage of social media platforms and advocate our dolphin activities. Otherwise Vivamar team will teach you - so it'll be very handy for your everyday life, given that we all are surrounded by the social media...
In some teams you will be helping to prepare and, depending on the dates, attend local awareness events which Vivamar organizes. These events are great opportunities to engage with the local public and raise awareness about bottlenose dolphins in the area and explain their importance for the entire marine ecosystem...
As a dolphin volunteer, you will experience what every one of our team members has– inner growth. After spending time with the dolphins and Vivamar, you will be more enthusiastic and passionate – either about your everyday life, your studies, or any other project concerns you.
Throw yourself in the deep end, push yourself, grow, learn, and gain confidence – all through your time helping us.
You will stand out. Talk about your dolphin volunteering experience on Facebook, post out-of-this-world sunsets & dolphin photos from the stunning Adriatic on Instagram and your friends will be inspired!
It
represents a mixture of leisure and interesting work, so it is like:
- we have a simple Mediterranean breakfast
- this is followed with a briefing of the daily tasks;
- in the morning we analyze data from the previous encounters:
checking and entering all relevant obtained dolphins' data from a previous
research into the catalogue and transcript the notes made during the
observation (first steps into the
research analysis);
- on the days assigned to go out to the sea, we
have one of the presentations by Vivamar and one of the interesting videos from the dolphin or marine mammal world;
- afterwards, we make a simple lunch, which is generally self-service;
- when going off to the boat, or to the observation of dolphins from
different platforms, we depart in the afternoon and stay with dolphins as long as
it goes, sometimes till 8.30 p.m.;
- we return in an excellent, overwhelming and inspired mood
- we have the evening meal, after dinner we talk, socialize, play games, do karaoke etc.
- in July and August – we have
special additional and important activity for the dolphins. We go out to the
sea with the DWB (Dolphin Watching Boats). We will do all the activities according to the briefing at the
beginning of volunteering. It is very important to raise awareness about the
dolphins among the tourists and tell them simple facts about dolphin biology,
why these dolphins are threatened and why it makes sense to protect them - to
keep the marine ecosystem healthy.
- SUNDAY is
FREE for everybody! For Vivamar team and for the volunteers! How awesome is
that? You can enjoy the sea activities, be in the nature, biking, hiking –
explore the neighbourhood – maybe make an excursion?
IT IS A LOT OF FUN
and SO HELP YOU HELP THE DOLPHINS!
On one of the days within your stay an excursion will be organized to
visit Istria from the natural point of view like described above.
On other free hours you can go swimming, snorkeling, biking, hiking, sight-seeing, wine tasting - and other interesting and joyful activities.
If
you tend to extend your stay over the team dates there are plenty of very
attractive possibilities: from sports (diving, amazing biking, trekking,
fishing, tennis, caving, golf and of course numerous of attractive beaches with
the crystal clean sea. The team will be happy to help you out.