Underwater World

Coral reefs, palm trees and clear water were only part of the attraction of a trip to Fiji for environmental studies student Alana Best.

Now in her final year of the Bachelor of Applied Science, Best travelled to Fiji to explore the marine environment firsthand.

“Fiji has coral reefs that have yet to be explored and it supports a huge diversity of animals or organisms, more than any other marine environment. The hands-on experience of being able to see it was so valuable.”

Best explored the marine environment of Fiji’s Nananui-I-Ra Island along with 19 students from Fiji Institute of Technology (FIT) who were studying the same marine ecology paper led by AUT’s Dr Andrea Alfaro. 

“I went snorkelling on three different reefs, saw a different world underwater and learnt much about coral reefs themselves.”

Learning in such an immediate way is particularly important for Best.

“I am a very visual person because I am Deaf, so when I study or see things I remember them more easily and can recall some of their scientific names or the full description of the organisms such as what they eat, do, where they live and what they look like.”

Best is looking forward to completing her degree this year and carrying out practical work in the field. 

The trip to Fiji is an option through AUT’s marine ecology paper and draws on the university’s partnership with FIT.  The AUT-FIT relationship is in its tenth year, and allows Fijian students to complete their AUT Bachelor degree through distance learning. Best is only the eighth student from AUT to take advantage of this short “student exchange” opportunity in the tropics.