During our visit to Dominica we asked to be involved in any educational activities that were being held as part of the annual scuba diving celebration – Dive Fest. So we were delighted when we were asked to speak to school children attending summer school in Roseau about marine life, as well as our lives as photo-journalists.
Before that, however, we were also invited on an educational boat trip, hosted by Dive Dominica, with scientists working on the island, talking to a boat full of keen kids wanting to learn more about the oceanography and marine ecosystem that are so important to this island nation. The tour took us to the very southern tip of the island, past lush mountainous cliffs that plunged into the deep blue water, past colourful towns nestled in valleys on the shore front and over the famous Champagne Reef. The children on board learned about the unique geography of the area, the animals that live in these water, including turtles, dolphins and whales and the vibrant coral reefs.
A couple of days later is was our turn to speak to over 80 local children attending summer school. There was some amusement amongst both the staff and the pupils, as we started to melt in the heat of the school hall, as we set up a projector to show some underwater images. We spoke about sharks, and were really impressed at the knowledge in the room, with one child even recognizing the cold water Basking Shark. We spoke about our jobs as underwater photographers, and showed them some of the images we had already taken in the waters off Dominica, as well as some more from around the world.
We finished with a short talk about plastic pollution and how they can help reduce the impact on their local marine environment. It was a great experience and we were delighted that they enjoyed it so much.
To see the full feature about our trip to Dominica in the new Autumn 2019 Dive Travel Adventures magazine click here.
For more information about the island of Dominica please visit the tourist board website by clicking here.
