Objective
The ecovolunteer programme "Meet the Sperm Whales and Dolphins
of Southern Crete" was initiated in the summer of 1999 with great success. One of the primary aims of
the programme is to acquaint people with the sperm whale, one of the most magnificent animals, not only
of Greek fauna, but also of our planet as a whole. It is not widely known that these peaceful giants inhabit
the Greek waters, consequently, people are amazed when they find out. By exposing people to sperm whales,
dolphins and the Greek natural heritage, the programme ultimately aspires to raise public awareness regarding
the value of the natural environment and the need to protect it. Furthermore, the ecovolunteer programme
is the primary source of funding for the "Cretan Sperm
Whale Project". This research project which focuses on the broadening of our knowledge and understanding
of sperm whales and the monitoring of their population, would not be possible without the support of ecovolunteers!
The ecovolunteer aboard the research vessel
relishes the company, the sea, the sun and...relaxes!
The ecovolunteers must be interested in all aspects of the expedition and display a positive attitude.
They should keep in mind that they are participating in a scientific research project, where some factors
cannot be foreseen (e.g. change of route or working hours).
Requirements
The
ecovolunteers should be in good health and in satisfactory physical condition
so as to endure the prolonged stay on the boat, where conditions are not always
ideal. Needless to say, ecovolunteers should be able to swim. Individuals who
are prone to getting seasick should have a supply of the appropriate medication
with them.
Ecovolunteers should be at least 18 years old, in the case of younger individuals they should be chaperoned
by a guardian/parent. However, exceptions are possible provided that a prearranged agreement has been
made with those responsible for the programme.
The ecovolunteer's baggage
Those who prefer to stay on the boat should take into consideration that space on board is rather limited. Ideally, when staying on board, one should have a backpack
with only the most essential items: a few pieces of light clothing, a bathing suit, a sweatshirt or anorak, personal items, as well as a sleeping bag, bed sheets
and a pillow. Absolutely essential for all ecovolunteers are: a hat, sunblock, sunglasses, a towel, and a light long-sleeved shirt for the first days of exposure
to the sun. A camera, binoculars, walkman, guitar and books are optional.
The vessel
The vessel used for the research project, the "Captain Manoussos", is a traditional Greek fishing boat which took to the seas in 1972. Well made, it was first
used as a fishing boat, but as of 1988 it transports passengers from Paleochora to Gavdos and Elafonissi. Captain Manoussos is 16 meters in length with a high bridge,
and is thus ideal for locating and observing cetaceans. It can exceed 10 knots and therefore facilitates the rapid spotting of sperm whales. In order to accommodate
the needs of the expedition, the vessel was internally renovated in 2000. The wide deck makes life on board comfortable, as it is possible for more than 50 people
to board the vessel!
In addition to the usual navigation and communication equipment, the vessel is also equipped with a GPS connected to a computer, an electronic navigation program,
a hydrophone with headphones for the ecovolunteers, a program to analyse and process the acoustic data, a digital tape-recorder to record sounds, a digital video
camera and a photographic camera with a telephoto lens.
Insurance
All participants are insured in the case of an accident at no additional cost. The vessel is also equipped with all the necessary survival tools and a complete first
aid kit.
Weekly timetable of activities
Research: Observation and recording of sperm whales and dolphins.
Excursion: A day-trip to the archaeological site of Lissos. Leisure time spent swimming and relaxing at the beaches of Sougia and Domata.
On the day of arrival of ecovolunteers in Paleochora, the researchers will do a briefing on the schedule and the activities of the expedition. Apart from research
and supplementary activities (excursion), the programme includes briefings, training and conversation following the afternoon video shows in Paleochora.
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Research area
Each seven-day expedition will begin and end at the port of Paleochora in Southern Crete. The research area includes Elafonissi, Sougia's Bay, Agia Roumeli, Samaria
Gorge, Sfakia, Fragokastelo, Preveli Monastery, Agia Galini, the Paximadia Islands, Gavdopoula and Gavdos.
Arrival
The nearest city to Paleochora is Chania, which can be reached daily by ferry or aeroplane. From Chania one can take the "KTEL" bus for Paleochora.
Important Notice
It should be noted that any audio or visual material (photographs, slides, video recordings, sound recordings etc) or scientific data obtained during the programme
cannot be presented in the mass media or used for any commercial or scientific purpose.
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Texts and design by A.Frantzis, G.Paximadis, V.Alexiadou