Marine Conservation Volunteer Programs
Do you love the ocean and a bit of a science or biology geek? In that case, marine conservation is just the thing for you. There is a great variety of different volunteer programs waiting for you with the focus on the marine environment, its ecosystem and especially its conservation. Each of the projects has a different focus, such as the cleaning of coastal areas or national marine parks. Other volunteer projects prioritize on ocean- and coral reef or turtle conservation. Become a marine conservation volunteer and discover locations like Costa Rica, Mozambique or the Philippines.
Due to the rise of tourism, the preservation of the marine life and coastal areas become more important and awareness needs to be raised regarding topics such as environmental issues, conservation, and the protection of the marine biodiversity and resources. Are you into science or biology? Do you also want to combine an adventurous trip with doing something for the greater good? – Get active, and become a volunteer abroad in the field of marine conservation, now!
What are the biggest threats to marine conservation?
For centuries our oceans have simply been regarded as a supplier of food, a useful route for transportation, and as a place for dumping our trash. We now get to feel the consequences of the fact
that the oceans have always been taken for granted. The effect is visible not only in the decline of the oceans’ rich biodiversity but also in the destruction of coral reefs and marine habitats.
This is affecting the sea turtle, shark, whale shark and the population of other sea creatures.
According to the
- Tourism and coastal development
- Shipping traffic
- Pollution
- Climate Change
Sadly,
How can I help in marine conservation?
There is a great variety of different international volunteer programs, all of them focusing on marine conservation and each is more than happy to welcome you and your helping hands as a marine conservation volunteer. Here you can choose from a variety of different projects, each having another focus. There are some programs that focus mainly on work underwater, including scuba diving. This is your chance to observe some of the most interesting sea life. Volunteer for marine conservation and help the reef, sea turtles, sharks, whale sharks and so many more!
Other projects than ocean conservation are engaged in work that needs to be done on the land, such as cleaning the beaches and the coastlines or working together with the local communities. Educating the locals on the importance of marine conservation is more than important in order for future work in the field of ocean conservation. To find the perfect volunteering option for you, you need to take your interests and knowledge into account. But no worries, in the following you will find an overview of the different possibilities that future volunteers have:
Volunteer on and underwater
There are different programs that focus especially on ocean conservation and marine protection. In such programs, scuba diving plays an important role and could be the perfect volunteering option if you are looking for something adventurous. Here, you have the opportunity to be part of a project in almost every part of the world. Depending on where you want to spend your time you have the possibility to visit amazing places such as Portugal, Costa Rica, the Philippines, the Bahamas, or Indonesia.
In these ocean conservation programs, volunteers have the opportunity to help with the conservation of the underwater ecosystem and the marine parks. Of course, you will receive a comprehensive diving training before you go underwater. Even if you have no experiences at all - don’t worry! Any person is more than welcome to participate in scuba diving volunteer opportunities, from beginners to more experienced divers. And in case you are wondering, you will always be supervised by experienced divers during your time under the water.
Of course, each of the ocean conservation programs has a different focus and different tasks that need to be done, but all of them focus mainly on water-based activities. Generally speaking, you can expect to be doing one or more of the following tasks when supporting ocean conservation:
- Observing and documenting fish populations
- Coral reef farming
- Transplanting corals
- Engaging in reef clean-ups
- Exploring and mapping underwater caves
Volunteering on land
As a marine conservation volunteer, you will also get the chance to work on land. Of course, there is also work that needs to be done on the land in order to help the marine environment. That can be for example the conservation of plants that are not necessarily found under the water but by the sea and that are important for the local environmental sector. Other projects focus on education, beach clean-ups, or research and the collection of scientific data.
For future work, it is important to include the local communities in the area you are volunteering in and to raise awareness about marine conservation and protection. Not only is the program to work alongside locals important in terms of awareness, but also to demonstrate how to keep beaches and reefs clean, and the importance of maintaining marine life like sea turtles.
Furthermore, there are programs that focus on sustainability. There are many different countries for you to volunteer in and spend some time abroad, such as Tonga, Costa Rica, Cambodia, or Kenya. In order for you to get an overview of the tasks, please take a look at the following list:
- Training on modern fishing methods and sustainability
- Development of educational resources and best practice guidelines
- Demonstrating local processing solutions
- Working alongside local communities
- Providing hands-on demonstrations on how to keep the shorelines clean
- Performing beach clean ups
- Data collection
Internship Opportunities
Students passionate about science or biology can gain valuable international work experience by doing a marine biology Internship. You will need permission from your University to do an internship abroad but once they do, you will gain valuable practical experience abroad which will count for credits.
There are over 30 different marine conservation volunteer opportunities spread across the world. Travel and intern in some of the most exotic locations and learn things you could never learn from study books.
Do an internship in marine conservation abroad or work abroad during your summer holidays. Any type of international work experience will give you a leg up during your search for future job opportunities. Get ready to discover the secrets of the sea and observe some of the amazing sea life our planet has to offer.
Best places to volunteer for marine conservation
There are many places in the world where you can volunteer in the field of marine conservation. Depending on your interest in either working on land or under the water, you will have a great variety of programs to choose from. If you are looking for an adventurous volunteering option that is all about being underwater, scuba diving, and experiencing the marine life face-to-face, you can choose to spend your time at the most amazing places in the world, such as the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Mozambique, or the Philippines.
You also have the possibility to go to the most amazing places in Europe, such as Portugal, Italy or Spain. You love the ocean and are interested in marine conservation, but you prefer to stay on the land? What do you think about Australia, Indonesia, or Costa Rica? You see that you have the possibility to go almost everywhere you want to go. If you’re more interested in protecting sea turtles in Costa Rica, head over to our sea turtle conservation page.
If you take a look at the map, you can see all the countries that offer programs in the field of marine conservation:
Top 5 benefits of volunteering for marine conservation
Most people will agree that helping others feels great! Let’s take a look at some of the benefits you may enjoy as a volunteer for marine conservation:
1. Personal Experience
Working in the field of marine conservation is the most amazing experience for yourself. Going on a new adventure and contributing to a project is something that you will benefit from. Not only will you grow as a person, but you will also see that you are able to make a change.
2. New People & Culture
It doesn’t matter where you stay and which program you are volunteering at because you will definitely get to know a new culture and a different way of living. During your time abroad as a marine conservation volunteer you will be surrounded by other volunteers that share the same passion for marine conservation as you. You don’t know it yet, but your new best friend might be around the corner.
3. Career Booster
If you are thinking about studying marine conservation or working in a similar field, being a volunteer in marine conservation will be perfect for you. On the one hand, you are able to gain hands-on experiences and insights into the work that is done by experts and you will benefit from this at a later time during your career. On the other hand, having done a volunteer job is always more than positive for your future job applications as it shows that you are committed and motivated to do something for the greater good.
4. University Credits
Some of the programs can be a great benefit to your university career. Depending on your volunteer project, you might have the chance to charge your work as your university credits. Do a marine biology internship and contribute to marine conservation while you invest in your future.
5. Language Skills
Depending on the country you are traveling to and the language that is spoken, you will definitely improve your language skills. As you will be engaged with volunteers from all over the world and with people from the local communities, your language skills will improve faster than you think.
Who can work as a volunteer?
In order to work as a volunteer in marine conservation, there a few important things to keep in mind. For most of the sea conservation programs you need to be at least 18 years old, but there are also some that you can only attend if you are at least 21. In some programs, you are also able to attend if you provide the permission of your legal guardians. There is no age limit upwards, but it is important that you are physically fit.
Volunteer projects are excellent opportunities for students to use as internships to gain valuable work experience in their field of study.
Depending on the country you are staying at, a basic or intermediate level of English or Spanish is necessary in order to communicate with your colleagues, project coordinators, and the locals. Please keep in mind that we need you to submit a criminal record. In order for you to get specific information for each project offered, please take a look at the program page.
How can I volunteer for marine conservation?
So you’re ready to volunteer for marine conservation but you’re not quite sure how to get started? Take a look at the following 3 steps that will prepare you for your program as a marine conservation volunteer abroad and an unforgettable adventure:
- Check whether there’s a match between you and the project by looking at their requirements.
- Take a look at the location of the project and decide whether it would be a location you are excited about.
- Get in touch with the organization and see whether your expectations and your schedule match up
Once this is sorted. Let’s take a look at the practical steps:
Insurance (Health & travel)
We recommend getting both health and travel insurance. In fact, this is even a requirement for most programs abroad. Get in touch with your program contact person to find out if an insurance plan is already in place for volunteers.
Visa, Passport, and Documentation
Once you know your destination, take the following 3 steps before setting off on your life-changing adventure!
- Look into the visa requirements for the country you will volunteer in.
- Make sure you have a valid passport considering the requirement of the host country.
- Prepare the correct documents to fulfill the visa application.
That’s it! You’re ready to discover the underwater world as a marine conservation volunteer. Get ready to discover and protect the wonders of the underwater world like the coral reefs, sea turtles, whales sharks and many other sea creatures!.