Marine conservation in the Seychelles

The Seychelles, a 115-island archipelago 1,500km off the coast of mainland Africa, is one of those fairytale utopias that people pin postcards of above their desks: the dream. Golden sandy beaches fringed with palm trees, deep blue waters rich in colourful marine life, a laidback tropical vibe.

And it’s nice to know that, for once, there’s not a great deal of trouble in paradise. Many of the archipelago’s uninhabited islands are dedicated nature reserves. The Seychelles is a world leader in protecting threatened species, including the Seychelles black parrot – the national bird – giant tortoises, and vast colonies of seabirds. But it’s what’s under the water, populating the reefs of hard and soft coral that ring the islands, that is perhaps most special of all.

Efforts to reverse the effects of coral bleaching, spear-gunning and dynamite fishing (long-banned) have been remarkably successful in the Seychelles, in conjunction with the work of environmentalists and conservation volunteers looking to do something out of the ordinary and worthwhile on their vacations. There are some 1,000 species of fish recorded in these waters, along with rays, sharks and turtles. But there’s still a great deal left to be done.

Marine conservation vacations in the Seychelles are based on North Island in the group of islands known as the Granitic Seychelles. A coconut plantation until the 1970s, North Island is now a shining example of what’s called the ‘Noah’s Ark’ concept of conservation, whereby invasive and intrusive species such as rats, pigs and lantana weed have been gradually eradicated. Indigenous species of bird and trees, including the coco-de-mer palm, have been reintroduced, while also keeping the water as clean as possible. North Island is a living laboratory of biodiversity, and very productive one at that. Rats that threaten ground-nesting birds have been completely removed, and hawksbill and green turtles are appearing on the beaches in ever greater numbers.

Marine conservation vacations can last from four to 12 weeks, going up in increments of two. While this is obviously an idyllic location to spend a few months, make no mistake that these are working vacations and you’ll be on the clock six days a week, assisting with conservation and research on an award-winning project.

You’ll stay in a shared, comfortable eco house with fans alongside permanent residents of the project. Meals are included, and you can expect a delicious seafood and creole diet. These trips are aimed at people aged from 18 all the way up to 70+, and you’ll want to be reasonably fit, as you will be walking around 5km each day over varying terrain and gradients. They suit proactive people capable of working on their own or in small teams. Local residents in the Seychelles often speak English, but if you can get by in French, too, that will be of help.

The working day ends at around 4pm, leaving you plenty of time to socialise either in the staff bar, on the beach or in the sea; if you love stand up paddle boarding, kayaking or scuba diving you’ll be in heaven here. Nearby islands such as Praslin and La Digue can also be explored easily by boat. These vacations are a fantastic way to make friends and valuable links for the future with likeminded people.

Volunteer vacations operate every month of the year. The climate in the Seychelles tends to be humid, but pretty stable, averaging 24-30°C. The wettest months are between November and March and the most popular times to visit are between May and November, when you get the cooling trade winds.