Anne Furr
Anne arrived in Madagascar in 2003 on a short 2-week vacation in which she travelled down the RN7 between Tana and Tulear. She quickly became enthralled with the local traditions and customs of the Malagasy and vowed she would be back in the near future. Once graduating from university with degrees in French, sustainable development and biology, Anne applied for research grants that would allow her to follow her passion: scuba diving and marine conservation! That chance arrived upon the winning of a research grant on behalf of the U.S. State Department. She spent roughly one year in country (September 2006-August 2007), on behalf of her Fulbright grant, volunteering with the award-winning NGO, Blue Ventures, based in Andavadoaka. Here Anne honed her marine surveying skills as well as working with the local children’s club developing environmental awareness and a marine education curriculum so that the younger generations will more fully appreciate their natural environment and resources. Upon completion of the research grant, Anne returned to the States in search of another way to quickly go back to Madagascar.
February 2008, Anne found herself on a plane back to the southwest coast of Madagascar, but this time to work for another marine conservation NGO, Reef Doctor. Anne spent a little over a year working as the volunteer coordinator and field scientist for this small NGO in the village of Ifaty. It is here she became acquainted with diving in the Bay of Ranobe of Ifaty/ Mangily.
In 2010, Anne began discussion with owner of Le Grand Bleu, Richard Paper. From 2010 - 2012, Anne rented and managed all aspects of Le Grand Bleu.
In 2012 Anne started her own dive club in Mangily situated on the beach in front of Chez Alex. Her new dive club is now Mangily Scuba! Anne is currently responsible for all aspects of the dive center as well as an active volunteer on the reserve's (Massif des Roses) management committee. She has been a PADI Divemaster since 2001 and in 2012 she became a PADI instructor and an Emergency First Response Instructor (CPR and First Aid).
Anne speaks, English, Malagasy, and French. Come explore and dive the Grand Recif de Tulear in Mangily, Madagascar!
