Travel diary: A week of sailing around Ischia to protect the dolphins

Part of the crew

This was my first trip alone, but it soon became clear that I was not actually alone, as I was warmly welcomed by the hosts and other participants from the very first minute and integrated into the group. The Ischia Dolphin Project (Oceanomare Delphis) was set up by two lovely people to protect the marine mammals in the Gulf of Naples. To this end, scientists and volunteers work hand in hand on an almost 100-year-old sailing boat, the Jean Gab, to observe the animals, record their population, research their habits and identify possible threats.

After a journey by train, ferry and bus to get to the port where Jean Gab rests, I was warmly welcomed aboard the sailing vessel and immediately became part of the crew for the next 7 days. The crew usually consists of the captain, a contact person for the volunteers and a researcher. For the duration of the stay, you live together on board the beautiful old sailing boat, which is truly an unique accommodation that you don't often find. Everyday life on the Jean Gab usually starts with a fresh espresso while everyone slowly gets ready to cast off and head out to sea.

Everyday life on the Mediterranean

To ensure that living together works well, everyone pitches in and takes on various everyday tasks and whatever else is required on board the Jean Gab. After we have cast off, we sail out to sea for a while and prepare the scientific equipment, such as the echo sounder, which will help us to locate marine mammals. Everyone watches the sea with binoculars to spot any animals. In the meantime, you can chat with the others and make new connections or simply enjoy the wonderful scenery, the sun and the sea. Even if you don't see any dolphins or whales, you can often hear them using the echo sounder and learn interesting facts about the animals. The hosts have a lot of experience of the waters and the surrounding area, which makes for exciting conversations with lots of insider knowledge about the animals and their habitat. As soon as animals are spotted, there is general excitement on board. Everyone is then busy observing and photographing the animals so that they can later compare them with the database or add them to it. The animals that are added to the database can be given their own name. In general, you can observe various dolphin and whale species, such as sperm whales. A special event during my stay was the sighting of Risso's dolphins, as these have become quite rare.

Italian food and the island of Ischia

Another great experience I had on board the Jean Gab was the absolutely fantastic food, which Captain Angelo prepares himself on board. At lunchtime, we usually had typical Italian pasta, which was always a highlight. In the evening, there were other Italian delicacies, which were always prepared with fresh ingredients in the very rustic kitchen. Everyone always sat together at a large table for dinner, which created a lovely family atmosphere, and of course the local wine was not to be missed. Once we were back in the harbour, we usually had some time to stroll around the coast, eat ice cream, lie on the beach or swim in the nearby bay. I liked to use the time to go snorkelling and explore the surrounding area. In the evenings, you could marvel at breathtaking sunsets either directly from on board or from the beach.

In bad weather or when the sea was too rough, the Jean Gab could not leave the harbour. We were able to use these days to view the images we had taken, to complete the databases and also to explore the island. Ischia is of volcanic origin and offers beautiful nature for hiking, lovely little bays and beaches, picturesque little towns and thermal baths with mineral hot springs. The hosts showed us the most beautiful spots, and we did some great activities together. My personal highlight was the beautiful thermal spa, which is just a 20-minute walk from the port of Cassamicola. There are various thermal pools on individual terraces and lots of sunbathing options with wonderful views and direct access to the sea. The Castello Aragonese is a monastery town built on a rock in the sea and is definitely worth a visit. On our hike in the south of the island, we had a wonderful view of Saint Angelo and then explored the stone houses hidden in the woods, which were carved into the rocks there.

My recommendation

The trip was incredibly enriching for me - not only did I learn a lot about marine mammals, marine research and the island, but I also got to know super lovely people. The hosts are passionate about this project and enjoy passing on their knowledge. The relationship with the other volunteers was also a highlight, despite our different languages. I found it really fascinating to see how different people of different ages and backgrounds can form such a good team, when they are passionate about the same cause.