By: Sage Lewandowsky
Starting something new is almost always challenging. It comes with excitement and a little fear, and maybe some pressure to perform.
My trip to Gili Air was FULL of new things – new food, new friends, new diving skills, new languages, new games, a new dive center…
Woah. I was definitely nervous, but I was also excited. I like a little challenge and excitement in my life, and I enjoy learning new things. Volunteering with Gili Shark Conservation was the pinnacle of “new things” and I was a freshly hatched turtle running down the beach, entering my swimming frenzy, and trying to survive. Okay, so that might be a little dramatic, I wasn’t actually fighting for my life. But I was entering a big new world!
Coral Restoration was the first dive I participated in and I learned so much. I learned that tunicates, sponges, and drupella snails living on the rebar of the artificial reef structures have got to GO – kill them! Little hermit crabs, though? They can stay. I also practiced the art of carefully hovering over coral reef structures while trying to scrub away coral killers in moderate swell without hitting into anything. It’s safe to say I’ve yet to master that skill, but I’m glad to have this practice!
On the Turtle and Shark Identification (ID) dives, I learned how tricky it is to photograph resting whitetip reef sharks hiding in their shark house but how easy it is to photograph sleepy green turtles on the reef. I used i3S for the first time to identify new and recurring sharks and turtles. Now I can’t wait to keep identifying other individuals on later dive trips! I was even able to identify a new green turtle and a new whitetip reef shark! Say hello to Judi (left) and Frida (right) 😊
Conducting a Roving Survey during rainy season introduced me to the art of spotting and identifying fish in poor visibility and mild current. When your dive guide says, “stay close to me so you can see the fish I point out,” they mean stay close! It’s a shame when the guide points to a fish but the only thing you can see is the foggy blue water. Once you get the hang of spotting the fish, though, these dives become really fun!
One of the best things I was able to participate in was building new friendships. The magic of friendship is real! And it was so much fun playing new games like Perudo, Cambio, and “the dice game” with such wonderful people. We enjoyed movie nights, pizza parties, and trips to Orange’s Warung for delicious food (and free dessert). So many laughs were shared, so many stories swapped, and so many songs sung. My interest in the work I was doing grew and grew because of the support and community I found here.
Oh, yeah, the new dive center? It’s cute and cozy and it’s right in front of the beach. I can’t wait to come back and explore more with Gili Shark Conservation’s very own dive center!
As much as I might have been nervous facing all these new experiences, I never felt rushed or pressured. I was welcomed with so much joy, love, and support and felt immediately like I belonged to the most loving, tight-knit family. I loved every moment and each day that brought a new adventure.
Thank you, Gili Shark, for allowing me to experience so many new things and for making it feel like the most magical experience in the world.
