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Moon Reef expedition for USC students
Nine University of the Sunshine Coast students have spent a fortnight learning about eco-tourism in a very apt location – a fledgling eco-resort in Fiji.
The students from Business, Science and Arts and their USC Lecturer Dr Gayle Mayes paid their own way to help set up a dolphin and marine education centre in the village of Nataleira, as part of their USC studies.
The group’s activities involved a series of workshops and formal lectures and regular trips to nearby Moon Reef.
The reef has a resident pod of spinner dolphins which will be the main attraction for tourists to the village.
"Every time we went there, dolphins would race to the dive boat and play in the bow wave," Dr Mayes said. "We went to six dive sites on Moon Reef, explored other reefs and waterfalls and spent a day climbing a nearby mountain."
The new eco-resort has various learning spaces including an education centre and a conference room built in traditional Fijian style with thatched roof.
Dr Mayes said the expedition in July was a new project for USC Business Internship students.
It was developed in collaboration with University of South Pacific tourism staff, marine wildlife researchers and the manager of the fledgling resort at Nataleira, on the eastern side of Viti Levu island.
“The USC student group developed a host of education and interpretation resources for the resort,” she said.
Studies included the Fijian language and culture, coral reef ecology, politics, conservation and sustainable tourism.
“It was a transformational experience for the students, who also became immersed in Fijian village life.”
The Tangalooma Dolphin and Marine Education Centre on Moreton Island will be used as the best practice model for developing the interpretation and dolphin-related educational resources for the resort.
– Julie Gatehouse