Thinking about a career in conservation? Then this marine conservation volunteer opportunity will boost your CV and demonstrate your commitment by getting actively involved in efforts to protect our planet. In addition, you can also pursue a professional Divemaster qualification with us if you're able to stay for the time It takes to qualify. Ultimately, the experience will help set you apart from the crowd in applications and interviews and help you develop your personal skills.
Everything you do in Thailand is geared towards preserving marine life and helping it thrive. For example, we build artificial structures for coral restoration, remove debris and nets from reefs, collect survey data, and monitor invasive species.
You don’t need previous experience to join this project. We’ll teach you everything you need to know and our staff are there throughout to help and guide you. In addition, all of your dives are supervised by qualified Diver Masters.
You’ll spend an entire week training and learning to dive. This includes multiple PADI Dive Courses and specialisations. By the time you start your marine conservation work, you’ll be an Advanced Open Water Diver with a Peak Performance Speciality! This ensures that you are able to confidently manoeuvre underwater and safely conduct project work. You will:
Learn to dive
Your diving training takes place in the dive shop’s pool and in the ocean. By the end of your first week in Thailand, you’ll obtain your SSI Open Water, SSI Advanced Adventurer, and Perfect Buoyancy certifications! This means you can safely take part in underwater conservation work with the team. You’ll keep learning and developing your skills throughout your time in Thailand.
In the long run, your volunteer work will contribute to helping protect coral reefs in Thailand. These advanced qualifications will also be useful for future conservation work and recreational diving.
Take part in survey dives with professional divers
Survey dives will help monitor the health and biodiversity of the reefs. Data will be important in determining future policies to protect the marine area. You will also use this data during workshops and lessons.
Gain conservation skills and knowledge
The Marine Conservation Project is designed to teach you about coral reefs, their benefits and the issues they face globally. You’ll join regular workshops and lessons to improve your knowledge and awareness of conservation issues and skills. This will be a part of a wider Citizen Science course where you can experience some of the latest research projects being conducted by marine biologists.
This course includes studying microplastics, water quality, coral health and new methods of recycling and upcycling. Many of the topics you learn about will link to the dives you conduct that day. For example; you might collect water samples during a dive, and then test the samples at the base in the afternoon.
The longer you stay on the project, the more detailed and varied your studies and skills will be.
Plant and maintain coral reefs
The main focus of this project is to help restore vulnerable coral reefs, while also creating new artificial reefs. This involves surveys, construction work and planting coral fragments onto new nurseries underwater. Existing reefs require extensive maintenance to keep them clean and to reduce the influx of invasive species.
In many places around the world, it is illegal to touch or damage coral. However, the Department of Marine & Coastal Resources has approved special permission for our team to transplant coral around Koh Tao. You’ll be part of this process and will learn the different stages of transplanting, as well as techniques to use ‘corals of opportunity’ to rebuild impacted areas. You’ll assist marine biologists in our research and restoration areas while discovering the many techniques that suit different corals and locations.
Fishing nets and even trash can be found in the most remote locations. During dives, you will remove ropes, nets, glass, aluminium cans, and other items that are suffocating or threatening coral reefs and other marine life. You’ll be taught how to plan scuba dives to remove debris, and the decision-making process to remove only certain items. You’ll also collect data to push for changes in regulations at government levels in order to reduce debris levels in our oceans.
Join beach clean-ups along the coastline
Litter and trash are harmful to marine life and wildlife in general. With volunteers from around the world, you will walk along Koh Tao’s beaches, collecting and correctly discarding rubbish. Thousands of cigarette butts alone litter Koh Tao’s beaches.
After each beach clean-up, you’ll make notes, and share this data with local officials. This information can then be used for educational purposes, and for long-term conservation plans in the area.
You’ll join workshops to repurpose and mould plastic into new items. Learn new ways to recycle and manage waste.
