Blue Ventures Malaysia - Mini Sailing Expedition

Diving and Sailing Reef and Turtle Conservation Mini-Expedition:

The Blue Ventures Malaysia Mini-expedition is a 10-day sailing and diving trip around the beautiful Pulau Tioman and surrounding islands. The trip is an opportunity to learn new diving skills, learn about marine conservation and contribute towards the preservation of Tioman’s reefs. Places on this fantastic trip are available to qualified Advanced Open Water (or equivalent) divers. Non-divers may become qualified at our partner dive centre, Tioman Dive Centre, prior to the start of the trip. Participants will dive two to three times a day and receive training in Reef Check survey methods, carry out reef health surveys and mega fauna surveys (turtles, sharks, dolphins) and help to crew the boat. When not diving or sailing, participants will learn basic ecology, marine biology and conservation through interesting workshops and presentations given by the on-board field scientist. The trip also includes four nights at the Juara Turtle Project, in Juara village where participants will take part in patrolling beaches, collecting data and releasing turtle hatchlings.

This amazing opportunity will be based on Araliya, a Colombia 45 ft sloop rig sailing yacht crewed by Yacht master and Dive master/Field Scientist. The maximum group size will be six divers. All meals will be provided, either on the boat or on land. Four nights will be spent sleeping on land and five will be spent on the boat.

A preliminary itinerary is provided below, to give participants a taste of what the trip may entail.

Day one:
Pick-up from Johor, east coast Penisular Malaysia and Sail to Pulau Tioman
Night spent in Tekek Marina (evening meal in Tekek Village)
40 km distance sailed

Day two:
Orientation day and two check out dives
AM Dive Pirate and Renggis – check out and buoyancy dives
PM Reef Check theory training begins
Night spent in Tekek Marina (evening meal in ABC village)
2-3 km distance sailed

Day Three:
AM Sail to Pulau Tulai
PM Two Reef Check training dives and one night dive
Night spent on board boat, BBQ on boat or beach
10 km distance sailed

Day Four:
AM Diving Pulau Tulai, two dives - Reef Check training
PM Sail to Juara Village
Night spent at Juara Turtle Project. Patrolling beaches and watching hatcheries
25 km distance sailed

Day Five:
AM and PM Diving in Juara (Juara Rocks, Juara South), Two/three dives - Reef Check exams
Night spent at Juara Turtle Project. Patrolling beaches and watching hatcheries
2-3 km sailed

Day Six:
AM and PM Diving in Juara, two/three dives - Reef Check Surveys (Atas/Dalam)
Night spent at Juara Turtle Project. Patrolling beaches and watching hatcheries
4-5 km sailed

Day Seven:
AM and PM Diving in Juara, two/three dives - Reef Check Surveys (Bugis Bay/Lanting)
Night spent at Juara Turtle Project. Patrolling beaches and watching hatcheries
5-6 km sailed

Day Eight:
Sail to surrounding islands. Snorkelling and sunset sail.
Around 60 km sailed.

Day Nine:
AM Sail to Jahat. Dive Jahat and Bahara – Fun dives
Night in Mukut village. Traditional village visit and walk to waterfall. Meal in Mukut, homestay optional
20 km sailed if from Juara

Day Ten:
Sail back to mainland
40 km sailed

 

Dates of the trips:

5th – 14th May
23th June – 2nd June
11th August – 20th August

Prices:

GBP 990 or RM 5300