Marine Conservation volunteers in Split have the unique opportunity to provide support to underwater clean-up efforts, helping to reduce sea pollution and conserve marine life.
As an ocean conservation volunteer, you’ll be using and improving your scuba diving skills while being actively involved in restoring the natural state of the marine ecosystem of the Dalmatian region and the wider Adriatic Sea.
The program is open to beginners without any diving experience; however, volunteers will have to gain dive certification before engaging in any type of underwater conservation activities. The Program Fee covers the cost of the required online and in-person training, full scuba equipment, and volunteer supervision from an experienced dive instructor.
All volunteers complete internationally recognized SSI (Scuba Schools International) diving certifications. The diving certification you complete will depend on your current diving experience and the length of your stay. The courses offered range from Suba Diver to Open Water Diver and also include specialties such as marine ecology and fish identification. The project works with a local diving school, therefore you are always supervised by an experienced dive instructor.
Depending on the time of the year you are coming, after you conclude your certification or during your volunteer period you also can join a scuba diving club on an underwater cleanup weekend at remote places around Split and make a bigger impact helping the local clubs with their mission of cleaning and protecting the sea and marine life.
All volunteer efforts on the project work towards the vision of healthier oceans, thriving ecosystems and a clean coastline - all driven by an aware and inspired community. As part of this, your tasks as a volunteer can include collecting trash from the sea, logging information on items collected, learning more about the marine ecosystem and how to protect it, and observing and identifying fish.
Please note in your application when you apply for the program if you have any existing dive certifications. If you do have certifications already, you will need to send a copy of these along with your diving log book through to our local team in Split - Croatia prior to your program starting. All volunteers are also required to provide a medical certificate which clears them for diving.
After the initial orientation day, you will have a morning or afternoon shift at the Marine Conservation placement and will work for approximately 3 to 5 hours per day.
A typical schedule is as follows:
08:00 - 10:00 a.m. : Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation
10:00 a.m. :
(1) Travel to the Marine Conservation place to join the local staff and begin work on your project or
(2) Explore the city, relax, attend Croatian language lessons or enroll other activities if you have an afternoon project.
01:30 p.m. : Lunch is served at the restaurant.
02:00 - 07:00 p.m. :
(1) Travel to the Marine Conservation place to join the local staff and begin work on your project or
(2) Explore the city, relax, attend Croatian language lessons or enroll other activities if you have a morning project.
08:00 - 10:00 p.m. : Dinner is served at the restaurant. After dinner you will have the remainder of the evening free to relax and use as you wish.
Amidst the Kozjak and Mosor mountains and surrounded by the Adriatic Sea, just a few hours away from one of the other European capitals, the small peninsula where Split is located has a lot to offer to every visitor and traveler.
Croatia, as a Balkan nation is a must stop country for anyone who chooses to visit eastern Europe in a meaningful way. On the one hand it has a rich historical heritage full of monuments classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the other it is a country that is still recovering from a political war, in the group of countries with the highest number of people living below the poverty line.
With its charming ancient towns and villages, beautiful beaches and more than a thousand islands, its history has produced a very rich cultural diversity, shaped by Roman and Turkish, that is, Mediterranean and Eastern European influences. These historical heritages mark the different regions of Croatia. Between Istria, Dalmatia and the center of Croatia, the gastronomy, lifestyle and accents can change a lot, making the country very diverse and interesting. Split, the second biggest city, has a specific Mediterranean influence that makes it especially welcoming, cosy and warm. With its palace just on the seaside, Split brings a peaceful and fresh atmosphere that invites you to come and stay for a while.
What’s included?
- Pick up at the international airport in Split & transfer to the accommodation
- Accommodation at a dormitory in a local hostel, female dormitory or mixed dormitory with private bathroom
- Three meals everyday: breakfast, lunch and dinner (Local style. Vegetarian, gluten-free and meals for lactose-intolerant are also available upon request)
- Shared use of common room, and free WIFI
- For Marine Conservation: all diving equipment necessary, SSI diving classes and instructors, SSI diving certifications appropriate to diving experience
- Orientation event on arrival (including introduction to Croatia and it's culture, the volunteer experience, overview of programs, practical information and safety guidelines)
- Guided city tour
- The best tips to discover the city!
- Allocation and coordination of a work placement in an impactful non-profit project
- Introduction on the first day of volunteering
- Ongoing support throughout the stay
- 24h/7 emergency support- 24h/7 emergency support
You will stay accommodated in a friendly and comfortable hostel in the city center. The Hostel has the capacity to accommodate up to 100 travelers in very spacious shared rooms. With its young and welcoming staff you will feel like home.
There are various common areas and the restaurant is just next door.
The hostel is in a neighborhood where you can find everything you need: local coffee shops, supermarkets, ATMs, utilities you will need just around the corner. The Hostel is 2 minutes walking from the bus stop with few buses running by that can bring you to the city center.
Private rooms are available upon request and are subject to availability. The private rooms are located within walking distance of the hostel and restaurant and are self-catered. Volunteers staying in private rooms will also have lunch and dinner included in the partner restaurant but breakfast is not organised.
We will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hostel every day. The hostel restaurant offers meals with fresh local ingredients for all volunteers in a very Croatian style and they are prepared to accommodate most diet restrictions such as vegan and vegetarians, gluten-free and lactose intolerant.
Our programs start generally on Mondays or Tuesdays of the week, from the 15th May to the 15th November.
Eco Diving
Provide support to underwater clean-up efforts, help reduce sea pollution and enjoy diving in the beautiful Adriatic sea.
$1153/week
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