Volunteering in the Philippines

I am volunteering to dive in the Philippines with the internationally recognized conservation organization, Project Seahorse. On a prior night dive, my guide pointed out a camouflaged pink pygmy seahorse wrapped around its coral host. This amazing underwater encounter renewed my awareness for the need to protect seahorses and other exquisite marine life.

I am drawn to the Philippines since they possess a spectacular array of beautiful and bizarre sea slugs. Today, I am avidly studying nudibranch sea slugs in the family Dotidae for a master's in marine biology with Dr. Terry Gosliner, Dean of Research and Collections at the California Academy of Sciences.

I will be surveying marine protected areas on a remote island near Bohol. The purpose of these surveys is to monitor the health of these areas to establish the effectiveness of their creation. We will be documenting the occurrence and diversity of species of seahorses and bottom dwelling marine invertebrates, like coral. 

This opportunity will provide additional diving experience and expand my knowledge of marine biodiversity, both of which will be valuable to my pursuit of a PhD in marine biotechnology.  I plan to search for anticancer compounds within Philippine sea slugs. Finally, this position will allow me to become more familiar with the process of protecting the oceans I deeply care about. 

Learn more about what I will be doing at the below website:

http://seahorse.fisheries.ubc.ca/volunteer

While I am in the Philippines, I will be filming a documentary of my experiences working for Project Seahorse. If you donate at least $500, you will get a copy of this video. Check out the reward levels above.

Please support me in my endeavors to help protect the precious reefs of the Philippines.