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CORAL REEF PROJECT

THIS CORAL PROJECT IS SET IN A MARINE PARADISE, JUST OFF THE COAST OF NORTHERN BORNEO. Brunei is not on the typical tourist trail and so it's coral reefs are relatively unexploited - they remain a beautiful sight to see and explore.

This ongoing reef survey has been commissioned by the University of Brunei and is an ongoing project to map the coral diversity within the South China Sea, around a cluster of islands off the coast of Brunei. 

You will dive alongside a Marine Biologist, learning how to identify different types of coral and looking for effects of erosion.

On this page:

• Your Work

• About Brunei's Reefs

• Accommodation

• Travel

• Prices

ABOUT THE PROJECT:
This coral reef survey is run by the University and is an on going project to map the coral diversity of the reefs in the southern part of the South China Sea near the Brunei coast. Because they are not commercially exploited, Brunei’s coral reefs remain in relatively good condition. Despite oil drilling and coastal development, they are among the least threatened in the region. However, illegal fishing is increasing. About 21% of Brunei’s coral reefs are at risk from human activities, particularly from sedimentation as a result of upland activities.

An earlier survey in 1992 revealed that the coral reefs found in Brunei are relatively undamaged and have high diversity. The stony corals discovered to date make up 185 species distributed within 72 genera. These reefs are also the home for a variety of attractive and unique soft corals. Amongst other things, the surrounding waters are home to three turtle species, the Hawksbill turtle, Green Sea Turtle and the Olive Ridley sea turtle.

There are several islands just off the coast which are unexplored by tourists - some are free from inhabitants altogether and have clear, white sandy beaches and an abundance of wildlife. Although they are only reachable by boat, you will have lots of opportunities to visit islands like this during your placement as many of the surveys take place around this region. 

A typical work day on the Project:
Please click here to read a detailed account of a typical work day on this project by two volunteers.

Induction:
On your arrival in Brunei, you'll be given an Induction before starting work on your project. As part of the Induction, you'll be given a tour of the town and the surrounding area so that you can familiarise yourself with your new home. You'll also receive information about the local culture and you'll be guided on what to do, what not to do, how to dress and how to behave. Other useful local information, like banking hours, the transport system, entertainment, etc., will all form part of the Induction.

Return to the Brunei Home Page and
the list of all our projects in Brunei

SPECIALS, EXTRAS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

YOUR WORK:

You will go on field trips to collect specimens for taxonomic identification and preparation for display. However, each day's work can be different from the next. Basically, the work is broken up into two types of days – boat days and laboratory days.

"On boat days we put in or maintain equipment or do research work on one or more of the research sites and most of the day is spent outdoors. On lab days, we identify and catalogue the specimens we collected on boat days and enter the data in the projects records among other things. Each boat day generates a few lab days' worth of work. We then get ready for the next boat day."

In order to take part in this placement you will need to be a qualified SCUBA diver. You should either be in possession of a PADI Open Water qualification with 20+ dives recorded in your log book, or a PADI Advanced Open Water qualification. If you are not already a qualified diver then we can arrange for you to take the PADI Open Water and Advanced course on arrival, for an additional cost of around £300. Although the waters are quite shallow, you will only be able to start your survey and research diving once you have gained qualifications to the correct level.

During your placement you will go out in the University boat with a crew and a marine biologist on field trips once or twice a week to various reefs and islands in the South China Sea. For example, you will visit Little Dale Shoal, Abana Rock, Pelong Rocks and Two Fathom Rock.

During the trip, you will dive on the reefs and collect or photograph coral formations. After the trip, you will identify the specimens using taxonomic identification keys using a CDROM and/or comparison with slides. (You will, of course, receive prior instruction on how to do this.) You will then be able to record the data you've collected to update the survey.

You will also prepare the collected specimens for display in the museum.

Principal duties:

• Assist on field trips

• Collect and/or photograph specimens

• Identify specimens

• Record research data and update survey

• Prepare specimens for display

Other duties:

• Assist marine biologist generally

• Prepare boat and dive equipment for field trips

• Wash and put away boat and dive equipment after trips

A typical work day on the Project:
Please click here to read a detailed account of a typical work day on this project.

Other information:

• This project is NOT available during December, January or February due to unfavourable diving conditions at this time. 

• You must be a qualified SCUBA diver in order to take part in this project. e.g. you must possess a PADI, SSI, NAUI or BSAC qualification. If you don't have this qualification prior to your arrival please speak to us as we can arrange for you to take the PADI open water and Advanced course shortly after your arrival. There will be an additional charge for this. 

• In order to dive you will also need diving insurance (e.g. Divers Alert Network www.daneurope.org).

• SCUBA equipment is supplied

• This project is available for a minimum period of 2 months.

• You should be comfortable going out in small boats.

• The South China Sea is usually mild in the diving months and field trips are done when sea conditions are favorable, but choppy seas are a possibility.

• There are certain times of the year when the Marine Biologist will not be present due to other commitments - at this time, the project will continue as normal but there will be less guidance with lab work.

Kuraman Island, one of the beaches that you may stop at for lunch!

Clown Fish on Pelong Rocks

Schooling Fish

Volunteers Sarah and Kate identifying Coral in the University Laboratory

Reefs around Brunei are generally quite shallow, have excellent fish and coral life, and are good for training and open water dives. Brunei also has a number of diving clubs and dive operators offering some of the cheapest diving in Borneo. Brunei Bay and the waters outside are sites of some excellent wreck diving (WW2 and recent) if you grow tired of coral reefs. There are three different types of things to explore:

Reefs:
Out to sea towards the Malaysian island of Labuan, Abana Reef is often used as a second dive site for a shallow dive after a deeper wreck dive. Once again this site is very much alive with whip corals and Anemones, but the visibility is once again generally only average so you don’t really get an overall view of the beauty of the reef, which is a shame.

A tiny outcrop of rocks just offshore of Brunei called Pelong Rocks, is home to a light beacon and nesting Sea Eagles on the surface, and plentiful corals and fish below. This was the first place we took Matt for his open water dives, and were surprised by the amount of life on them especially Anemones, and a various kinds of Clown Anemone fish, resident in them. Unfortunately, being so close to shore it is subject to bad visibility, fairly strong currents and a fair bit of surge in the shallows. But, if you time your tides correctly, it is not a bad site for a first dive experience.

Rigs:
As oil is the main source of income for Brunei, there are quite a few offshore oil rigs and quite a few of them are accessible to divers. They are rich in marine life, acting as man-made reefs and giving homes to many hard and soft corals.

Through rig diving, one can discover new dimensions to diving. These approximately 50 metre long triangular oil rig jackets were placed strategically on the seabed at Two Fathom Rock to foster marine life. The result is a breathtaking sight of soft corals, Groupers, Sponges, Featherstars and other colourful organisms. Schnapper, Barracuda, Sweetlips and schools of Jacks are among the inhabitants of these man made reefs. Whale sharks can sometimes be seen on the reef.

Wrecks:
These are Brunei’s major attraction. There are three wrecks dived regularly, including two Second World War wrecks, an American minesweeper and one of the infamous “hellships”. The third, known locally as the “Cement “ wreck is a veritable underwater garden of soft corals, anemones and the like. The wrecks are not affected by river run-off and generally have excellent visibility

Typical host family accommodation

YOUR ACCOMMODATION:

Most volunteers in Brunei are accommodated together in a apartment close to the centre of Bandar Seri Begawan, which makes for a sociable placement. Alternatively, you can be accommodation with a local expatriate family, one of whom may be a teacher. Your accommodation in Brunei will be very nice and of a relatively luxurious standard, usually with air conditioning/fans and all other modern amenities. There are about 10,000 expatriates in Brunei most of whom live there because the lifestyle in so enjoyable.     

Climate: The climate is hot with high humidity and heavy rainfall. There is no distinct wet season, rainfall occurs throughout the year, but is heaviest between September and January. Temperatures are constantly between 24 and 31 degrees Celsius and with the average humidity at 79% this tropical country is a pretty warm, if somewhat sticky, place to be!!

Where possible, we arrange for two or more people to travel on the same flight and we will let you have the names and telephone numbers of other volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to each other or even meet up before leaving for your placement.

Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have changeable return tickets because many of our volunteers choose to extend their stay once they are in their destination country. Changeable return tickets enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa and the level of your air ticket, of course. If you choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour to get a changeable ticket. We meet you at the airport regardless of whether you make your own travel arrangements or not.

We can also arrange your flight dates to give you additional time at the end of your project for travelling around and sightseeing - there is so much to see in Brunei and neighbouring Borneo that we recommend you allow some time to travel. Our local organisers will happily advise you on things to do!

VISAS:. In countries where visas or immigration documents are required, we'll send you all the necessary forms and information and make the process very easy for you.

To read about the extensive Support & Backup we provide in our countries, please click here.

To see the Prices of this project and all our other projects in Brunei, please click here

• Food & accommodation while on your project,
• 2 T-shirts, if required for your project
• All support and backup during your programme
• Meeting you at the nearest airport, where appropriate, but exclude international travel.

Return to the Brunei Home Page and
the list of all our projects in Brunei

TO APPLY FOR THIS PROJECT, PLEASE CLICK HERE