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Fantastic 4.54rating (29)
  • Life Below Water

Coral Reef Restoration & Marine Education

location
1 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

Highlights

  • Restore a 3km reef in north Bali that was wrecked by years of unsustainable fishing — you build a fish dome yourself and see it deployed
  • Work with LINI, the Indonesian Nature Foundation, on artificial reef structures placed on sampled sand-bottom areas along the reef
  • The project retrains fishermen as dive instructors and guides so they no longer depend on extracting from the sea

Highlights

  • Restore a 3km reef in north Bali that was wrecked by years of unsustainable fishing — you build a fish dome yourself and see it deployed
  • Work with LINI, the Indonesian Nature Foundation, on artificial reef structures placed on sampled sand-bottom areas along the reef
  • The project retrains fishermen as dive instructors and guides so they no longer depend on extracting from the sea
  • Teach marine conservation in two village schools and run weekly beach cleans with local children
  • Optional clean-up dives on the reef, and you can qualify as a PADI diver here at extra cost
    • You don't have to pay anything yet

    Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Build artificial reef structures on a damaged 3km reef in north Bali, run beach cleans and teach marine conservation in two village schools.

    Tianyar had a healthy, biodiverse three-kilometre coral reef. Years of unsustainable fishing — discarded gear, hook damage, boats anchoring on the coral — wrecked it. Scientists, conservationists and divers who visited all reached the same conclusion, and this project was started to reverse it.

    It

    About the program

    Tianyar had a healthy, biodiverse three-kilometre coral reef. Years of unsustainable fishing — discarded gear, hook damage, boats anchoring on the coral — wrecked it. Scientists, conservationists and divers who visited all reached the same conclusion, and this project was started to reverse it.

    It is run with a local Balinese organisation, in partnership with LINI, the Indonesian Nature Foundation.

    Why this project is more than reef work

    You cannot protect a reef from the people who depend on it without giving them something else to depend on. That is the part of this project that makes it credible:

    • A no-fishing conservation zone along the reef, so the coral gets the uninterrupted time it needs to recover
    • Alternative livelihood programmes for the fishermen — training them as diving instructors, and helping them learn English so they can work as guides. The point is that families are not asked to simply stop earning
    • Marine conservation education in two local schools, plus work with villagers and fishermen on sustainability and plastic pollution, which is a serious problem here
    • Weekly beach cleans with local children
    • Working with the fishermen, the community and central government to expand the work, create local jobs and improve the restoration process

    What you will actually do

    • Build artificial reef structures with LINI — fish domes deployed on sampled sand-bottom areas along the reef. They give marine life shelter and give coral a surface to grow on
    • Every volunteer builds their own fish dome (a "Roti Buoya" structure), which is then deployed directly onto the reef. You leave something physical behind that is still there years later
    • Help organise beach and reef cleaning
    • Optional clean-up diving on the reef, removing plastic wrapping that damages the corals
    • Marine conservation education and awareness work in the community

    Diving — You do not need to dive to join. Volunteers can learn to dive and qualify as a PADI diver here at additional cost, which is a genuinely good place to do it: Tulamben's shore-dive sites are 20 minutes away.

    Who it suits

    Anyone 18 or over with a real interest in marine life and conservation. You must be physically fit and able to swim. No criminal convictions and a clean criminal background check are required.

    Bookable from one week, up to twelve.

    Typical day

    Day 1 — Sunday. Arrival. Fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar (DPS). A member of the team meets you after customs and drives you to Tianyar, about three hours north. Dinner is provided on arrival.

    Orientation follows, run by the in-country team.

    Monday to Friday — conservation work

    Th

    Typical day

    Day 1 — Sunday. Arrival. Fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar (DPS). A member of the team meets you after customs and drives you to Tianyar, about three hours north. Dinner is provided on arrival.

    Orientation follows, run by the in-country team.

    Monday to Friday — conservation work

    The week is a mix rather than a fixed timetable, because it depends on the tide, the weather and what the project needs:

    • Building fish domes and reef structures — hands-on, physical, and done above water before deployment
    • Beach and reef cleaning, including the weekly clean with local children
    • Conservation education in the two village schools and with fishermen and villagers
    • Clean-up dives for those who dive, removing plastic from the corals

    Evenings — Meals in the communal outdoor dining area with the other volunteers. Hammocks, volleyball, and the beach.

    Weekends — Free. Tulamben's dive sites are 20 minutes away, Ubud two hours, the south coast three.

    Work is weather-dependent and the schedule can change at short notice. Flexibility matters on a marine project more than most.

    Free-time activities

    You are based on the beach in the quiet north, which is the right end of Bali for anyone who came for the sea.

    Tulamben — 20 minutes. The wreck of the USAT Liberty sits in shallow water a short swim from shore — one of the most accessible wreck dives anywhere, and good snorkelling too. If you ...

    Free-time activities

    You are based on the beach in the quiet north, which is the right end of Bali for anyone who came for the sea.

    Tulamben — 20 minutes. The wreck of the USAT Liberty sits in shallow water a short swim from shore — one of the most accessible wreck dives anywhere, and good snorkelling too. If you qualify as a PADI diver during the placement, this is where you will do it. There is also the drop-off and the coral garden nearby.

    Amed — More diving and freediving along the same north-east coast, and black-sand beaches with the fishing jukungs drawn up on them.

    Mount Agung — Bali's highest volcano is on your skyline. On its slopes is Besakih, the Mother Temple and the most important on the island.

    Ubud — 2 hours — Rice terraces, art markets, the monkey forest.

    Kuta and Seminyak — 3 hours — Surf and nightlife on the south coast, if you want a weekend of it.

    Also reachable — The Gili Islands, Lombok, Nusa Penida for manta rays, and the north-coast waterfalls around Singaraja.

    At the accommodation there are hammocks, a volleyball pitch, and the reef you are working on, immediately in front of you. Plenty of volunteers spend their evenings snorkelling it.

    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

    Criminal Background Check

    required

    Required Documents

    Criminal background check (no criminal convictions), parental consent form for under-18s and copy of passport.

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Other Skills

    No qualification is required, but you must be physically fit and able to swim — building and deploying reef structures is real physical work in a hot climate. A genuine interest in marine life and conservation is what makes the difference. Diving is optional; you can qualify as a PADI diver here at extra cost.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 - 15:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    On-site Services

    What the fee covers

    • Accommodation in the beachside volunteer cottages in Tianyar
    • Three freshly cooked meals a day, Monday to Friday
    • Airport pickup at Denpasar (DPS) and the transfer to Tianyar — a three-hour drive
    • Orientation with the in-country team
    • All project materials, including the fish dome you build and which is then deployed on the reef
    • 24/7 support from local staff
    • Comprehensive pre-departure information
    • Certificate of participation on request

    What it does not cover

    • The return trip to the airport — can be arranged at extra cost, and it is three hours each way
    • PADI dive certification, which is available here at additional cost. Tell us in advance if you want it arranged
    • Weekend meals (Saturday and Sunday) — available at the camp for a small extra fee if you stay
    • International flights, visa fees and vaccinations
    • Travel and medical insurance
    • Towels and toiletries, laundry (about IDR 7,000/kg nearby), and weekend travel

    Airport Pickup at Ngurah Rai International Airport

    Pickup and the transfer to Tianyar are included. The return trip is not.

    🚩 Arrive on a SUNDAY at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar (DPS), before 5pm. Pickup runs each Sunday until 5pm only — book a flight that lands comfortably before then.

    Where to meet — After customs, past the last of the duty-free shops, wait at the flight information display board.

    The drive to Tianyar takes about three hours, north-east across the island. Dinner is provided when you arrive.

    🚩 Arriving in Bali early? You can, but the pickup is still only on Sunday and your accommodation until then is at your own expense. Book a hotel in Kuta or Sanur and the team will collect you from the hotel on Sunday instead.

    🚩 The return trip to the airport is NOT included. Arranged at extra cost, and it is a three-hour drive — budget for it properly.

    Accommodation

    You stay in a cluster of bamboo cottages on the beach at Tianyar — traditional shelters built from bamboo and cane, deliberately low-impact. The reef you are working on is immediately in front of you.

    Your room — Shared with three other volunteers. Ceiling fan, and all bed linen provided. Each cottage has its own sit-out area.

    Bathrooms — Shared, indoors, western-style toilet and cold showers. After a day in the sun and salt water they are a relief.

    What is there

    • Communal outdoor dining area and common areas
    • On-site kitchen where the cooks prepare meals fresh
    • Hammocks and a volleyball pitch
    • The beach and the reef, immediately

    🚩 Bring your own towel and toiletries — bed linen is provided, these are not. Laundry nearby at roughly IDR 7,000 per kilo.

    🚩 Wi-Fi is available but intermittent. Shops and an ATM are five minutes on foot.

    Simple, and appropriately so — this is a conservation camp in a fishing village, not a dive resort.

    Food & Beverages

    Three freshly prepared meals a day, cooked on site, Monday to Friday.

    Breakfast — Pancakes, toast, fruit, tea and coffee.

    Lunch — Rice, fried noodles, pasta, rendang, gado-gado, soto, chicken, soup.

    Dinner — Rice, chicken, fish, noodles, pasta, rendang, gado-gado, soto.

    Mostly traditional Indonesian food with rice as the staple, eaten together outdoors. Portions are substantial, which matters on a physically demanding project.

    🚩 Weekends are not included. Most volunteers travel from Friday to Sunday, but if you stay at the camp, meals are available Saturday and Sunday for a small additional fee.

    Vegetarian options are always available. Vegan requests can be accommodated with advance notice. The team will do their best with any dietary need, though there may be occasions when you need to buy alternative ingredients yourself.

    Internet Access

    Limited access at the project site
    You don't have to pay anything yet

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar. We assist you to find cheap flights to Indonesia. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Indonesia provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in Indonesia you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Indonesia. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    🚩 Arrive on a SUNDAY at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar (DPS), before 5pm. Pickup runs each Sunday until 5pm only — book a flight that lands well before then.

    Where to meet — After customs, past the last duty-free shops, wait at the flight information display board.

    The drive to Tianyar takes about three hours across the island. Dinner is provided when you arrive.

    🚩 Arriving early? You can, but the pickup is still only on Sunday and your accommodation until then is at your own expense. Book a hotel in Kuta or Sanur and the team will collect you from there on Sunday.

    🚩 The return trip to the airport is NOT included — it can be arranged at extra cost, and it is a three-hour drive. Budget for it.

    Fitness and swimming — You must be physically fit and able to swim. Building and deploying reef structures is real physical work in a hot climate.

    Diving — Not required. If you want to qualify as a PADI diver during your placement, that is available at extra cost — tell us in advance so it can be arranged.

    Documents — No criminal convictions, and a clean criminal background check.

    Bring your own towel and toiletries — bed linen is provided. Also: reef-safe sun cream, a rash vest for long days in the water, sturdy sandals or reef shoes, and insect repellent.

    Wi-Fi — Available but intermittent. Shops and an ATM are five minutes' walk.

    Visa, insurance and vaccinations — Not included. Most nationalities get a visa on arrival in Indonesia; check your own position for longer stays. Arrange travel and medical insurance before you fly.

    When to come — Weekly Sunday starts, year-round. Dry season is roughly April to October, with the calmest water and the best visibility for reef work.

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program Fees

    $503 per week 1 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES

    Duration

    1 - 12 weeks

    Deposit

    Reserve your spot with just a few clicks and a small, secure deposit. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other convenient methods.

    Final Payment

    You’ll agree on the final payment method with your local organization during the application process. This final payment is only due closer to the start of your trip.

    You don't have to pay anything yet
    4.5
    Top Pick
    One of the top picks on Volunteer World, according to travelers

    Location

    Asia > South East Asia > Indonesia > Tianyar

    Meet your project coordinator

    Sahil
    29
    reviews
    4.54
    Fantastic
    2007
    Founded

    Verified

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    Volunteer Abroad  >  Environment  >  Marine Conservation in Indonesia
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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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