MCP thesis placement review by Joel R.

Hello there! First things first, let me introduce myself: my name is Joel, I’m 25 years old, and I’m currently completing a master’s degree in Marine Biology and Conservation in Lisbon, Portugal.

As I write this post, it has been exactly three months since I first arrived at Marine Conservation Philippines (MCP), although it doesn’t feel like it at all. Life is so good here, and everyone is so amazing, that time just seems to fly by.

I came to MCP as a research intern to collect data for my master’s thesis, which focuses on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). I’m surveying several indicator fish species—77, to be precise—inside and outside MPAs to compare biomass, diversity and species richness between protected areas where fishing is prohibited and fished sites outside the MPA boundaries. I’m also comparing these variables with others, such as the distances between MPAs and rivers, ports and villages, substrate cover—the habitats present at each site—and several more. This may help me find other possible explanations if no differences are observed between sites inside and outside the MPAs, as fish communities are also influenced by a range of environmental and human factors.

It took about three intense weeks of training with the amazing on-site science officer, Annelies, who trained me and several awesome interns who are helping me collect data to become “expert” underwater fish spotters and identifiers. For my thesis, I also needed to find control sites for all the MPAs in areas where MCP had not previously conducted surveys, so I went out with a friend who was also at MCP at the time to explore several possible locations. That friend doesn’t know it, but one of the places we found is now called “Turtle Heaven” because we sometimes see more than 20 turtles there over the course of two dives. One detail I forgot to mention is that MCP put a “Ferrari” at my disposal so I could travel to the different dive sites, which is really nice and definitely something I’m going to miss when I leave. Admittedly, it’s a miniature red truck covered in Ferrari stickers! It must be said, however, that a Ferrari’s life in the Philippines is not an easy one—they really do hate the rain. After heavy rainfall, the seats are soaked and the car often refuses to start in the morning, so it sometimes needs a little push down the road. But hey, at least every day is an adventure, and it makes you work out in the morning!

Thanks to the help of Jaz and Abi, two awesome interns who put up with me every day, I’m now almost halfway through my data collection. MCP has been incredibly supportive in helping me reach this point. Because we’re conducting fish surveys, we need to visit sites where no other divers are present so that our data are not biased. MCP makes the Ferrari and emergency oxygen—essential safety equipment when diving in remote locations—available to us every day and allows us to make our own plans according to what we need to accomplish. Another great thing about visiting all these different sites regularly is that some faces begin to look familiar. The local children are always curious about all the equipment we carry around. Although they’re often shy at first, once you ask them a few questions, they loosen up and the laughter begins.

Apart from that, everyday life at MCP is wonderful. We’re based in a very peaceful location, right in the middle of a botanical garden! Melba, our chef, is by far the best and cooks delicious food for us every day. I’m vegan, which you might think would make life difficult in the Philippines, but I get by easily every day thanks to Melba. It all makes me want to delay my departure and stay here much longer, I have to say!

I’ve also had the opportunity to complete a PADI Self-Reliant Diver course and a PADI Tec 40 course with Soren, MCP’s founder, manager and a great instructor. I’m hoping to complete the Tec 45 course as well! I learned a great deal, and the courses broadened my diving horizons. It has been an amazing experience and not something I expected to have the opportunity to do alongside all the work I had planned. I still have another three months ahead of me, and everything is going pretty much according to plan. I’m very grateful to MCP—and especially to its science officers—for making it all possible. Of course, I’m also incredibly excited about all the adventures that daily life in the Philippines still has in store!