Here we are, at the end of the third week in MantaWatch Internship Program. We’ve been thinking about collaboration all week and how we can really promote manta ray conservation efforts to other stakeholders.

Collaboration is the process of two or more people or organizations working together to complete a task or achieve a goal. Collaboration is a useful conservation tool. The best way to approach others that we want to work with is to think first “what’s in it for them” instead of “what’s in it for me”.

Today we were searching for dive operators that would like to have the MantaWatch Interns join their boat to give manta briefings to their guests.

As we approached the dive operators, we thought back to this phrase of “what’s in it for them”. We could spread awareness about manta ray conservation, while in the turn the operators can offer something new to their guests – an entertaining and educational manta briefing. 

With this in mind we approached iDive, who welcomed us into their shop. We grabbed this chance to ask about their permission to help share some manta knowledge with their guests. And they agreed! Tomorrow one of us will join the iDive crew for a day. 

The best way to practice how to start working together is to think “what’s in it for them?”!