Desert island: how to survive and not panic. How to survive on a desert island: rules and tips

Is there a person who, as a child, did not dream of getting on desert island? They dream of getting to the island even as an adult, especially after reading the book "". All these adventures, a laid-back and measured life in a tropical paradise, an abundance of sweet fruits, luxurious ocean fishing, spearfishing, amazing corals, white sand, and banana palms ... The sun, bright birds nesting on the island, sea turtles and coral fish ...

Many people, especially residents northern countries, dream of such a deserted island in the ocean with all its features mentioned above, where the main thing is the absence of this fed up civilization!

Coming home from a cold street, lying in a warm bath, people imagine how they got to a desert island and bask in the turquoise water of the lagoon. But a lot of worries and problems prevent them from fulfilling their dream, first of all - money. Such for many is an unrealizable dream: "Well, where am I, and where is the island?" they think. In the modern world, it is really difficult to find and pick up such an uninhabited island suitable for later life. This is either an already inhabited island, or there are not enough resources for life on it. Or is it very far away. But it's really not all that bad. Uninhabited islands suitable for life can still be found in nature.

All islands are divided into two types: these are volcanic islands and atolls. Another species is distinguished - raised atolls, or macatea, but there are not so many islands of this type, and almost all of them are inhabited. When choosing an island, I recommend paying attention to its appearance. Let's take a closer look:

volcanic island

volcanic island- this is the earliest stage in the formation of the future of your potential desert island. It is formed due to active volcanic activity at the bottom of the ocean. Simply put, this is the top of the volcano - active or already extinct. Such an island is the best option for Robinsonade (island hermitage).

Pros and cons of a volcanic island.

The disadvantages are that other people, for example, local residents, often put their eyes on such an island. Also, the volcano may still be active and attract a large number of tourists, scientists and other undesirable elements to your quiet, secluded life on the island. Also, on such islands, there are often no beaches at all, and a robinsonade without a beach will turn out to be somehow unfinished. There are also black sand beaches.

• Availability of fresh water. This is extremely important to you. In hot climates, you will need a lot of water. High cliffs the islands catch clouds, retaining water, from which numerous fresh streams and rivulets come. Volcanic islands are usually covered, the vegetation of which is always very diverse.
• Very fertile soil. Possibility to exercise. Volcanic soil is rich in minerals and trace elements. Opportunity to grow many types of vegetables and fruits.
• Height above sea level. An extremely important factor, since often low-lying islands are simply washed away by water during the tides and rainy seasons, and on a hilly island there is always where to hide.

This coral island, the second stage of the formation of your future island. It happens like this: the volcanic island begins to grow around with a coral reef, and the rocks are washed away by rains, and it gradually sinks into the ocean. Those. there is a process of replacement of rocks by a reef. As a result, a lagoon is formed on the site of the former rocks, which is filled with sea water (as a rule), and small low-lying islands (motu) from coral sand. Paradise vacation and gorgeous view are the only pluses of such islands.

And here are the cons:

• The first and most important disadvantage of atolls is lack of fresh water. The lagoon, as a rule, is always connected to the ocean by small channels, and if not, then the water in it is still brackish and undrinkable. The inhabitants of the atolls dig wells, which produce clear but slightly brackish water and collect rainwater, which in a different season is not expected.
• The next major disadvantage is low soil fertility. Since the soil is mostly coral sand, little can grow from it. It turns out that one should forget about planting altogether and be content with only edible wild plants. As a rule, this is , etc. In principle, with the abundance of these wild plants, plus, if you go fishing, you can live, but you will quickly get tired of such a life.
• The next downside is lowland. Atolls on average reach 2.5 meters above sea level. They are well drowned by water from the tide.

Atolls are good (just great) for relaxation, but bad for settled life. Many people think that, having gone to hermitage on the atoll, they will constantly relax there, meditate, and rest. But soon their life will turn into constant survival, fresh water. I may be wrong, but I personally adhere to the policy that will give me stability. Volcanic islands provide stability for life due to the presence of permanent and highly fertile soil, and for survival and life on a desert island in the hot tropics - this is the most important thing!

How to get to a desert island?

Suppose you and I have looked at everything and chosen a suitable island, now the task is: how to get to this island? Do I need a visa to enter this country? It is better to choose countries with visa-free entry - it is understandable: why bother with obtaining these visas when you can simply enter with a passport. The standard conditions for entry are:

• a passport valid for at least 6 months from the end of the trip;
• return ticket or a ticket to a third country;
• evidence of sufficient financial resources for the entire period of stay in the country.

You can also usually extend your official stay by contacting the migration service. You may not be satisfied with the second paragraph of these conditions. How is it so, I’m going there permanently and I can’t afford a return ticket at all, especially if it’s expensive one way. No one wants to throw away their money, hard-earned and sweaty, to fulfill their dreams. But it's not all bad, my dear! Many tourists know a way to get around this rule quite painlessly.

That's all, so do a lot of tourists who do not want to fly back, or do not know when they will fly. Well, you will have to have money, in some countries they require that you have an amount of at least $ 50 for each day of your stay. But you can say that you are leaving in a week, for example, and fake a printout for this date. In general, this is not a problem, and then, you will still need money. You can simply not take tickets, in many cases they are not asked at all, so you can do it at your own peril and risk. In any case, it's up to you: either buy a return ticket and just throw it away, or make a fake printout, or simply don't buy it.

We got to the treasured one, but now we need to get to the treasured island. And how to do it? It will be necessary to negotiate with the locals about the transfer by sea, or buy a boat, always with a motor, because the currents are very strong and can easily carry you into the ocean or back to this island. To communicate with the locals, you will have to study (at least a little) English language. It is now a second language in many countries, and even in French Polynesia many speak it. Of course, there are people who do not speak English, for example, villagers or tribal people - they have their own languages, but, as a rule, you can still find someone who speaks English among them.

It is not at all necessary that delivery to the cherished island will cost mere pennies - the locals can quite easily charge a large price, and then they will have to bargain or look for someone else. The best thing, of course, is to buy a boat and not depend on anyone. Also, dropping in with the help of locals can cost you deportation, and all because a local can have a very long tongue - and he simply blabs about you to others, and rumors spread quickly. To avoid this, you can simply live for a while with the locals while as a tourist.

Most of the simple rural natives are good with tourists, and not only because they are a source of money, but also because for them it is exotic (just like for us - they are) and they are simply interested, especially children. If you are a kind, polite person, then in most cases you will not be denied a request to live among them. If you don't have enough money to spoil the locals with them, then you can try to work with them, i.e. help in various matters, be it farming, fishing, gardening, etc. In short, you need to make friends with the locals and then, when your visa expires, declare that you liked it here and would like to go to a desert island (or stay with them further).

Here it will be the most ideal option for you. Firstly, the locals will always cover you as a friend and just a good person, secondly, they will always come to your aid and thirdly, you will not have to worry about being delivered to the island and that someone will talk, because that friends do not betray! You will live on your own island and know that in which case you have friends who will help you in difficult times. The ability to get along with people in such situations is a very good quality! Well, if you really are a bad person, then the locals will understand this anyway with time, but it is unlikely that you are a bad person, because only a good person can decide to take such a step as a robinsonade!

We got to the island. Hooray!!! Finally the long awaited island! And what exactly are we going to do? And there are plenty of things to do. So our new life on the island began!

First of all, you need to take care of shelter, food, find fresh water, etc. In order for life on the island to be a joy for us - we will need some things and objects, without which our life will turn not into life on the island, but into survival on it. And ask yourself: "Am I going to a desert island to live or to survive there?" For survival, what you have now will be enough, and everything else can be mined on the island itself. But life will need some necessary items. And remember that even Robinson Crusoe had his things. So, let's begin:

1. The most important tool on any tropical island is machete(parang). This is an indispensable tool in any jungle, and most of the islands are covered with tropical rainforests (jungles) in their depths.
2. Ordinary knife, which you will do all the rest of the work, where the machete is too large.
3. Axe well suited for large felling and also as a hammer.
4. Saw. In principle, it is possible without it, but it is better with it!
5. Set of dishes which includes bowlers, plates, mugs, spoons. Over time, you will make plates from coconuts and spoons from wood, but at first you will need it.
6. Water bottle. In it you will carry water with you everywhere, I recommend taking at least 2 liters and with a belt so that you can hang it on your shoulder.
7. Lanterns. It would be nice to have dynamolights, as well as a headlamp.
8. first aid kit with the necessary medicines + mosquito repellents.
9. Change of shoes, clothes. Take cotton clothes (t-shirts, shorts, a hat, a long-sleeved shirt), shoes, preferably two pairs of good (not Chinese) sandals. I do not recommend taking thick bologna clothing, as you will cook in it in the heat.
10. Fishing set. Spinning, spinners, fishing lines (the more the better), reels, hooks.
11. Rope thick, thin.
12. seeds. But keep in mind that in some countries the import of seeds is allowed only with a special permit, as some governments are afraid of importing GMO seeds into their countries.
13. Compass
14. Solar panels or mini windmill would be very handy, it would be possible to charge various batteries, including those for your smartphone, as well as a GPS navigator, which will make your life on the island much more fun!
15. Also take a lot containers for water. Various canisters, buckets, containers. First of all, they are useful for collecting rainwater.
16. Well tent or an awning for the first time.
17. Backpack, I think from 50 liters. Better than 70-90.
18. I also recommend taking a lot plastic bags various to pack things in them, such as documents, a camera, money, etc.
19. Mask, fins, snorkel.

Hurry up! The desert island is not rubber! Perhaps your island has already been occupied by the same potential Robinsons as you! Good luck finding your treasured desert island!

To hide from the daily bustle, some prefer to go to the country, to warm distant countries, and some are looking for an opportunity to retire on a desert island. Where you can feel like a modern Robinson, says Prostoturist.

It is worth noting that the modern understanding of rest on a desert island is different than half a century ago. Naturally, there are still enough uninhabited islands around the world. As a rule, they are not inhabited due to their small size, climatic features or rocky terrain. There are also uninhabited islands, declared nature reserves, where rare or endemic animals and birds live and plants grow.

A desert island, a tour that can be offered by a travel company, is, as a rule, a small island that offers a secluded vacation, where you do not have to worry about a roof over your head and food. A mini-hotel or several bungalows are equipped there and there are a couple of attendants who, however, are very skilled in "invisibility".

The level of comfort on such islands can be both very low (that is, only the most necessary), and very high, accessible exclusively to wealthy tourists.

So where can you go to feel like the new Robinson?

Photo source: http://mir-ostrovov.ru/

One of those places is Torres Strait Islands. The archipelago includes more than 270 islands (of which only 17 are inhabited), which are located between Australia and New Guinea and are washed by the Arafura and Coral Seas. Here, the authentic island culture is almost fully preserved, namely a bizarre mixture of Australian Aboriginal and Melanesian cultures. You can get here by sea or by plane through Horn Island. The islands of the archipelago abound with beautiful deserted beaches, beautiful reefs teeming with marine life, and lush vegetation. Arriving here, you can relax on the wild coast in peace and quiet, swim and dive in the company of turtles, explore the rich natural world. However, it should be said that to visit some islands, you need permission from the local authorities, which you need to apply for at least a month before the trip.

Photo source: http://www.midas-tour.ru

A very original place for a secluded holiday can be island, which is located in Atlantic Ocean about 11 km from the mainland and is part of French Guiana. Although the island is officially called Salvation Island, it is more popularly known as Devil's Island, since from the 18th century until 2000 there was a penal colony here. Now only ruins remain of it, although there are still enough sharks around the island today. The island is heavily overgrown with coconut palms, and among its inhabitants are colorful macaws and sea turtles. You can get here only by sea from Kourou, and stay in a small club-type hotel "Traktir de Ile".

Photo source: http://www.kuda.ua

Another heavenly place with a "criminal" past - 16 islands Con Dao 200 km from the coast of Vietnam. In the last century, a large penal colony was also located on the archipelago, and today they are declared a national park, which is famous for its impenetrable jungle, azure waters, deserted beaches and rich wildlife. The still poorly developed tourist infrastructure is concentrated in the village of Con Son. There are beach houses and a dive shop. Con Dao is the best place for scuba diving, surfing, kiting, fishing, hiking and, of course, just swimming, relaxing and sunbathing. The temperature on Con Dao stays at around 27 degrees for almost the entire year. Best time for a trip here - from September to January, when there is no gusty west wind. You can get to the islands by ferry.

Photo source: http://www.rutraveller.ru

Where there are white people everywhere sandy beaches, azure water and palm trees. However, sometimes there are situations when in such a tropical resort there is only one goal - to survive. There may be many situations why this happened, but the result is one. Therefore, there are several rules that will help you best get out of the situation.

Do not panic

The first step is to assess the situation by looking around.

Quite often in such cases, people can have amnesia. Therefore, you should calm down, think and remember what happened, what events preceded this. It is also important what time of day you were there. If it's daytime and the sun is directly above you, it's worth looking around a deserted island for shade. In addition, you should not behave too actively: screaming, running, because in this way you can attract the attention of animals, among which there may be predators.

Try to locate

See if there is a body of water nearby. Sometimes people get to a desert island from the air. Therefore, your fall can happen right into the forest. In this case, you should try to find a reservoir. It can be a river, an ocean, a sea.

If this is a river, following along the coast, you may run into local residents and ask them for help. In the event that you can’t navigate, it’s worth starting the construction of an overnight stay. Remember, in such places, darkness creeps up unexpectedly, it can be fraught with many dangers.

Building a place to sleep

This does not require any special skills. It will be enough to build a hut. Temporary housing should protect from scorching and tropical heavy rains at night. Do not forget about firewood. If possible, you should stock up on as many of them as possible, however, it is desirable that they be dry. If you don’t have lighters and matches, then you will have to turn to the experience of your ancestors and make fire with a piece of dry bark and a small twig. They must be rubbed against each other until a spark appears, which later turns into a flame. However, it is worth remembering that this can take more than one hour, so you should be prepared for this and show perseverance. Fire will help drive away animals, cook food, and keep you warm.

Search for food

Sooner or later, any person who finds himself on a desert island will want to drink and eat. Therefore, it is advisable to find food in advance. Here they can become berries and plants. You may also see familiar fruits such as coconuts and bananas. However, if you come across a fruit that is not known to you, then it is better not to eat it. Remember, it can be poisonous. It may also happen that you have to eat insects, of course, they do not look very edible, but they can be very nutritious.

Fresh water

It is necessary to look around and look for the source. If it is found, you can consider yourself lucky. However, it is worth remembering that many unknown microorganisms may not allow survival at any cost. In this case, an uninhabited island can bring such unpleasant surprises as poisoning or dysbacteriosis. Therefore, water must be boiled. If there is no reservoir, then dew and rain will have to be collected. To do this, use large leaves. Of course, this method will not allow you to quench your thirst, but it will not let you die either.

Signal means

Probably everyone has seen pictures in which a person ended up on a desert island. Photos usually reflect that torches are used as signaling means. It is not difficult to build them, using dry leaves and dumping them in a mountain. You can put a word out of them. If you see or hear a vehicle, you should immediately give signals.

People have different desires. Some people want to go to the Himalayas. Someone - ride an elephant. And someone dreams of getting to a desert island. But, even omitting the question of why to get there, there remains one more, no less interesting question - how to get there? Don't worry, there are plenty of options.

Option 1. Get into a shipwreck

It so happened that all victims of shipwrecks and airliners that fell into the ocean automatically end up on uninhabited islands (if they remain alive). This method is not the most pleasant and does not give a 100% guarantee, but if you really care about the question of how to get to a desert island, it's worth a try.

Option 2. Go on a trip to the Pacific or Atlantic Ocean

Most of the islands belong to one or another country or island nation, but there are those that do not belong to anyone. These are all sorts of coral atolls and reefs, the tops of underwater volcanoes and similar formations. There is almost no vegetation on them, and they themselves can go under water at any time. But you wanted to get to a desert island in the ocean? Then such a trifle will not stop you.

Option 3. Buy a desert island

The choice is not that great, but there is. You can buy a desert island in the Bahamas. This island state is located near Cuba and is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Of the 700 islands permanently inhabited local residents only 30. The rest are used for tourism purposes. There are some that are up for sale. It is clear that the pleasure of having your own island is not cheap. So, Johnny Depp bought one of the small Bahamas for $3.6 million.

Before buying, it is a good idea to study what you are going to buy. Because the Bahamas composed mainly of corals, there is little vegetation and living creatures. Palm trees and evergreen thorns grow, birds and bats fly. But in the sea, the flora and fauna are very diverse, but simply magical. The climate in the Bahamas is tropical, from this point of view, the acquisition will be quite successful. True, hurricanes are likely from June to October, so it is better to build a hut from bricks.

Buy a desert island in the Seychelles - too a good choice. The Seychelles are washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean, located in the equatorial zone. The climate is also equatorial. The sun burns on the islands all year round, and the temperature does not fall below +30 degrees. So you can save on housing and get by with an ordinary tent or a hammock stretched between two palm trees. It's a long way to fly here. The flight takes about 14 hours.

The islands of Croatia are far from ideal in terms of climate, but they are the most affordable. A small uninhabited island can be bought for just a few tens of thousands of dollars. I don’t know if EU citizenship is given in this case, if so, then the acquisition can be considered doubly beneficial. The islands of Croatia are washed by the waters mediterranean sea, so you can comfortably live here (without fear of freezing in a hut) from May to November. will gladly host you at other times of the year.

Option 4. Go on vacation

Many island states, which include a lot of tiny uninhabited islands, willingly provide them for the use of tourists. Exotic bungalows are being built there, equipped with everything you need, or luxurious villas. And although the nearest island is usually within easy reach, on this particular island you will be completely alone, unless, of course, you go there with a cheerful company or with your soulmate.

God forbid someone end up on a desert island. However, if this happens, you need to learn how to survive and be prepared in advance. An unprepared or weak person is waiting for death.

First you need to calm down, collect your thoughts and look around. You need to come to terms with this situation and not expect help from anyone.
A person can go two weeks without food, but without water he will not live more than 3-4 days. The first step is to look for sources of fresh water, not food. If you are on the beach, then this should be done as quickly as possible. Under no circumstances should you drink sea water. It is a slow and painful death. Most people die in the first days precisely because they cannot find water. This is the main mistake.

What needs to be done first

Now find a safe place to live as close to fresh water as possible. You don't have to panic. You need to think clearly. Panic and loss of control in such a situation will immediately lead you to death.

Perhaps silly, but you can make yourself a fictional friend to talk to. This will help you calm down.
Assess your resources. Do you have a source of fresh water? Do you have a telephone, radio, walkie-talkie or other means of communication? Are there other people? People are always good. So it will be easier. If there are people, then everyone should work together. There should be one goal for each person. A close-knit team will get out of any difficult situation.

Fire. This may seem like a trivial thing on a desert island, but fire is always necessary. He even just can support people morally. Fire is used to distill water, to cook food, to scare away wild animals, and so on. If you can't build a fire, don't worry, it will definitely work if necessary. Life will teach. For now, read on.

Build housing. Housing should be in a safe warm and shady place so that you can sleep, rest, store resources and hide from animals. Try to make housing above ground so that none of the insects, snakes, etc. couldn't get in there.

Look at the water. Any source of water is good as long as it exists and you can purify and desalinate it.
If you find sources of fresh water, it is recommended to boil it at first to make sure it is safe. If you have a special filter, that's great.

If there is no fresh water on the island, you need to distill and desalinate the sea water. To do this, you need to find a container and fill it with sea water or even urine in case of emergency. In the center of the container, you need to place a smaller container and make something like a funnel. Now you need to cover the whole thing with a lid and keep it on fire. The water will evaporate (steam is clean water that you can drink), fall on the lid, condense and fall into a smaller container. Here this water can be consumed and not be afraid of the consequences. This is the purest water.

You can also do the same in the sun, but then you need the widest possible, flat and not deep surface, the water from which will quickly evaporate. However, in this case, the wait will be very long.

What to eat on the island

Find a permanent power source. There are many edible roots and berries, but be careful! Some of them are poisonous. Eat only if you are sure that such food is safe. Eat little by little and find the right food through trial and error.

Watch what animals eat. It's most likely safe. Create traps and catch animals. All animals can be eaten. Be sure to fish. You will always find a stick, a fishing line can be made from clothes, and a hook can be carved from wood.

Try to make contact. Build a large, unnaturally shaped element using bright colors and shiny objects. Using a walkie-talkie or phone, if available, contact everyone you can. If you don’t find rescuers, people will definitely tell about you. Make from stones or dig a sign on the ground, visible from afar and from above. These distress signals will help you escape if others see them. If you can make a bright flash or explosion, do it all the time when you see planes, helicopters, or ships. Use mirrors, fire high altitude, lanterns, fireworks and anything else that might draw attention.

If you know you will be rescued, just relax. You have done everything. Support yourself and rest while waiting for help. Try to relax and make the best out of this scary time. If there is someone to have fun and play with, then good. If there is someone to bury, bury. There are all sorts of situations in life.

Never give up. Desperate actions can be deadly for you and others with you. There are no mistakes or weaknesses to be made here. Willpower is what allows people to survive without food for several weeks. Without the will to live, you won't last even three days.

Undoubtedly, each situation is unique and requires an individual approach. Take the time to think about what you have, who is with you, what you need, what you can do, and so on.

Warnings.

Never drink salt water as a last resort. Salt dehydrates you and makes you worse. Better not to drink at all. Relief can only come temporarily. Drink urine as a last resort. However, do not store urine in a bottle. Only fresh urine is sterile. Later it can no longer be used. In addition, you can drink only the first passage of urine. The second time you can not drink your own urine, this can lead to kidney failure. You need to make a water softener. You must get clean water, leaving salts and impurities. Otherwise, the effect will be even worse than when drinking salty sea water.

• Do not eat jellyfish or fish that puff up, have spikes, beaks, and so on.
• Do not eat snakes and other animals with bright colors, they can be poisonous.
• Rub the leaves and taste their juice. If it burns your hands or tongue, it's most likely poison.

Things you will need to survive on a deserted island.

1. Knife. The knife is the most versatile tool ever invented. You can do almost anything with a knife. Also find stones to sharpen it.
2. Toothbrush or floss. Remember to take care of yourself and brush your teeth. Toothache is one of the worst. To make a toothbrush, you can flatten wood.
3. Cloth. Find warm clothes or make your own from animal skins or trees.
4. Water and food, respectively.

Now you know what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation. We hope this doesn't happen!