We run marine volunteer internships throughout the year which start with our ‘zero to hero’ 4 week intensive workshop in marine restoration, we run 6 of these courses every year. This course combines knowledge, lectures, theory, dives, and practical Biorock reef building and maintenance through a 4 week course where you will gain:

• Reef Check Eco Diver certification 
• PADI Introduction to Biorock reef technology speciality 
• Ocean Quest Coral Propagation certification

The first week of the course consists of detailed marine species identification and substrate identification in preparation for the Reef Check training and surveys. Reef Check is a scientific transect survey which is globally recognised globally

·         It gives a great insight into the functioning of a healthy coral reef ecosystem

·         Extensive identification training dives,

·         At least two surveys on the reefs around Gilis that we’ve been monitoring for over a decade.

·         Get a Reef Check eco pack incl. dry bag, Tshirt, USB key, underwater slates

The second week is the start of the course Introduction to Biorock technology. A unique solution to restoring damaged coral reefs.

·         Learn the science behind electric reefs

·         Learn why it’s more efficient than other forms of reef restoration on the Gilis

·         Work with the team of divers to learn how to maintain, set up and work on a Biorock

·         Transplant broken fragments of corals from damaged reefs

·         Spot and mitigate the problem with coral predators

·         Get a Coral Gardener T-shirt

Throughout the 2 week course, you will dive twice a day every day (apart from Sunday – which is a day off to explore the island) and then have a lecture, or theory or Biorock maintenance in the afternoons. This is roughly from 8am - 4:30pm each day with a break for lunch.

The third week is all about orientation. We’ll introduce you to all of the Gili Eco Trust projects and how you’ll integrate your energy and time into each of them and schedule your volunteering time.

·         Meet the team

·         RE-cycle tour

·         Biorock Eco Snorkel tour

·         Debris Free Friday waste training

·         Waste Processing & Management training

·         Biorock checks & Maintenance

·         Long-term environmental surveying training

The fourth week is all about applying these methods in practice and completing the Ocean Quest Coral Propagation and monitoring course. With this training, you’ll be able to continue monitoring our nurseries that have been established since 2018.

·         Coral ecology and reproduction training

·         Coral propagation methodology

·         Nursery maintenance 

·         Nursery monitoring project (via SCUBA and snorkelling) 

When you've completed the training, you'll be fully immersed in many of the projects that we have been running long-term. It brings great experience in how small tropical islands are managed (and indeed mismanaged!) whilst observing the cultural differences and promoting eco-tourism.