Dhigurah School Field Trip
7th May 2010
Thursday 6th May was Dhigurah School's turn to be part of a fun filled research based field trip with the MWSRP to encounter the whale shark. Conrad Rangali and Sub Aqua Dive Centre, kindly sponsored the snorkelling equipment and vessel required for the day allowing the students to help with the in water research. For most, it would be their first whale shark encounter. Hard to believe when the students ‘backyard' is possibly the best place in the world to encounter the largest fish in the ocean.
The day began with a safety and best practice briefing, as well as some information on the ecology of the whale shark. Then the students, teachers and researchers piled on the top deck of the team's blue dhoni and started out onto the reef, trying to catch a glimpse of the elusive creatures. At first it looked grim with no whale sharks in sight, when suddenly someone yelled ‘shark!'
The students wasted no time jumping into the water to encounter the illusive whale shark - only one student had previously seen a whale shark whilst on his father's fishing boat. But the fun didn't stop there. Five more sharks were spotted within the hour.
The students and teachers shared the MWSRP team's enthusiasm, enjoying their encounters and were reluctant to end the day. But back on the dhoni we relived their six encounters from the day and the team continued to provide biology and behavior information with the school representatives.
All returned to Dhigurah tired but happy and excited that we could all share this amazing experience in such a special place.
"The exciting days on the reef are designed to provide whale shark behaviour and biology education to the local children, which falls in line with their fisheries science lessons", Rachel Bott continues, "the MWSRP also utilises the opportunity to offer coral reef and general ecosystem information, encouraging new generations to nurture their environment."
The MWSRP research trip schedule will see three more school trips and a host of presentations to local resorts and dive centres in South Ari Atoll.