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Coordinator | Bella
Coordinator | Bella
Earn your PADI Divemaster certification while exploring the waters surrounding the islands of Fiji and Thailand.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Singles
Couples
50+
Highlights
- Earn your PADI Divemaster, opening up a career of travel and diving.
- Earn your PADI Coral Reef Researcher Speciality, exclusive to our marine programs.
- Gain experience working in a dive shop on a Thai island is really like.
- Earn ILM Endorsed Leadership Certificate which is an internationally recognized leadership certificate
- Contribute to UN SDG, #14, Life Below Water in Fiji.
This six month internship puts you on the fast track to earning a living as a divemaster in any top diving destination your heart desires. It includes three months of intensive training in the South Pacific isles of Fiji and a three month placement at a dive centre in Southern Thailand.
Start your dream career of diving and traveling the world by earning your PADI Divemaster qualification.
First, journey to the truly tiny Fijian island of Caqalai to start your theoretical and practical training. Here you will also earn your PADI Coral Reef Researcher Speciality, exclusive to our marine conservation programs. This will allow you to assist the permanent team stationed on the island with long-term locally led ocean conservation efforts aligned to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #14, Life Below Water.
Afterwards you will join a dive centre in Thailand as a staff member, where you will perfect your skills as a recreational dive leader. The internship is designed to give you an intensive and comprehensive introduction to professional diving with the opportunity to experience two of the world’s most popular diving locations.
Typical day
INITIAL 3 MONTHS TRAINING IN FIJI
- The first three months of your divemaster internship will be spent on the island of Caqalai, a 14 acre coral island in Fiji’s Lomaiviti archipelago.
- Here, you will be helping our local team with their long-term project of assisting the Fijian government and local communities with the management of Fiji’s coral reefs.
- Before getting started, our marine science officers assist you with completing your PADI Coral Reef Researcher Speciality to allow you to effectively conduct fish and coral surveys.
- Our diving instructors will also assist you with starting your PADI Divemaster training, learning the theoretical underpinnings of professional diving as well as starting to hone your skills through practice exercises.
- Learn about safety protocols and rescue procedures as well as setting up and maintaining your dive kit.
- In addition, an assigned mentor on base will assist you with earning your ILM Endorsed Leadership Certificate
WORK PLACEMENT IN THAILAND
- Once you have successfully completed the first three months of training in Fiji, you will travel to a dive centre in Southern Thailand.
- Here you will learn what the business of running diving tours is really like, under the guidance of a professional diving team.
- Gain experience working with clients by leading a dive in preparation for your final PADI Divemaster assessment.
Details on Arrival
Guaranteed departures with set start dates:
- 2019
- 06 Apr 201929 Jun 201921 Sep 2019
- 2020
- 11 Jan 202004 Apr 202027 Jun 202019 Sep 2020
Free-time activities
You will be based on Caqalai island, approximately 1 hour by boat from the Viti Levu Mainland and a further 45 minutes to the capital, Suva. You will be working on nearby islands and coastal reefs around the base. In order to travel independently around the area on your days off you must prebook water taxis with the staff; there is usually a water taxi each morning and afternoon to and from the mainland. Costs will vary based on destination, but would normally be between $60-150FJD return
You will have time off and be free to travel in the local area on the weekends, usually from around 14:00 Friday, coming back to base by 17:00 on Sunday. In this time you could do daytrips such as visiting the old colonial capital Levuka, on nearby Ovalau, or trekking up the mountains there. You can also go snorkelling or scuba diving, relax for a night or two in a nearby resort or go further afield on Viti Levu. Before and after your program there are countless attractions that can be reached after a day or two of travelling. You could visit the Dolphins at Moon Reef, take a ferry to Taveuni - 'the garden of Fiji' or explore the interior of Viti Levu - the possibilities are endless!
You will have time off and be free to travel in the local area on the weekends, usually from around 14:00 Friday, coming back to base by 17:00 on Sunday. In this time you could do daytrips such as visiting the old colonial capital Levuka, on nearby Ovalau, or trekking up the mountains there. You can also go snorkelling or scuba diving, relax for a night or two in a nearby resort or go further afield on Viti Levu. Before and after your program there are countless attractions that can be reached after a day or two of travelling. You could visit the Dolphins at Moon Reef, take a ferry to Taveuni - 'the garden of Fiji' or explore the interior of Viti Levu - the possibilities are endless!
Swimming
Sightseeing
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Climbing
Safari/
Zoo
Zoo
Hiking
Sports
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Program Requirements
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.
You need to speak
English
(fluently)
required
PADI Medical form and Medical Form
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Competent Swimmer (200m). Volunteers will normally be diving or snorkeling twice daily.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Included Services
Volunteer World is the world's leading comparison platform for international volunteer opportunities. We guide you through a safe and easy
application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
Quality Assurance
High ethical standards & transparent social impact
Flex Option
Change your reservation at no extra costs
Refund Guarantee
We refund your fees if Global Vision International (GVI) cancels your trip
Support & Mediation
We cover your back no matter what happens
Our services are free of charge!
All program fees are charged directly by Global Vision International (GVI).
Before your journey
Global Vision International (GVI) (your host organization) provides consulting and is keen to answer all your questions. Once you reserved your spot, you will receive the contact details of
your volunteer project.
Prepare yourself and become a confident and well informed traveler. Global Travel Academy takes you on a journey before you leave home, helping you to become one of the world's greatest
travelers. Our trusted partner for online learning offers courses in "International Volunteering", "Travel Health & Safety" and "Travel Safety Abroad".
On-site services
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 24-hour emergency phone
- 24-hour in-country support
- Access to Alumni Services and Discounts
- Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated)
- All necessary project equipment and materials
- All necessary project training by experienced staff
- Certification and summary of training and experience received
- Community work workshop
- Confidential professional reference
- Coral reef ecology
- Diving compressor training workshop
- Final evaluation
- First Aid & CPR training and certification
- Leading biological surveys course
- Location orientation
- Long term experienced staff
- Meals while on project (except on work placements for long term internships)
- PADI Advanced Open Water
- PADI Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Speciality
- PADI Rescue Diver and PADI Dive Master certifications (not including PADI professional fees)
- Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared)
- Teamwork and leadership experience
- Use of O2 equipment workshop
- Weekly evaluation with your mentor
- Welcome meeting
- Work placement - if successful during the first 12 weeks of the internship
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Additional drinks and gratuities
- Extra local excursions
- Flights
- Food during the placement portion of your internship
- International and domestic airport taxes
- Medical and travel insurance
- Personal dive kit, e.g. mask, fins, wetsuit, timer etc.
- Personal items and toiletries
- Police or background check
- Visa costs (where necessary)
Airport pick up is included and we will ensure, whenever possible, that one of our dedicated staff will be available to meet you at the airport. We will arrange with you prior to your departure that, should you arrive in the agreed upon pick up window, a member of our staff will be there to welcome you
Accommodation on base is in shared (mixed sex) facilities with shared bathroom facilities. Flush toilet facilities are available, and participants share base duties, including cleaning and other chores. There is rain water available for cooking, drinking, and washing. Ground water is pumped for other ablutions. Careful water conservation is necessary and water may be rationed during droughts. Basic flush toilet facilities and cold water showers are available.
Participants share daily duties to ensure the smooth running of base, including cleaning, cooking, kitting up boats, tidying the grounds and other chores
For internship volunteers, during the second part of the program (approx. weeks 12-24) you will be based at your dive centre placement in shared accommodation. The exact location will be discussed with you during your program. Accommodation will vary depending on your placement location.
Participants share daily duties to ensure the smooth running of base, including cleaning, cooking, kitting up boats, tidying the grounds and other chores
For internship volunteers, during the second part of the program (approx. weeks 12-24) you will be based at your dive centre placement in shared accommodation. The exact location will be discussed with you during your program. Accommodation will vary depending on your placement location.
The core of Fijian cuisine consists of taro, rice, cassava, coconut and fish. Participants take it in turns to prepare meals for the group as a whole, which is all part of living on a GVI base. Food consists of primarily a vegetarian diet, though meat is provided on base roughly once per week. Breakfast varies, but could include porridge, fruit or toast, and lunch and dinner are a mixture of lentils, beans and vegetables with pasta, rice, noodles, roti, cassava or dalo.
Limited access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
The nearest airport is Nausori Airport (SUV) in Suva. We assist you to find cheap flights to Fiji.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Fiji provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Fiji you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey.
Check your required vaccinations for Fiji.
Program Fees
24 weeks
(min. stay)
$ 12,825
24 weeks
(max. stay)
$ 12,825
Average fees
$ 534
/week
Generally, volunteering abroad involves certain costs. In case you need financial support, we will assist you to fundraise your volunteer program in Fiji.
The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider.
If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.
Your final payment will be agreed with Global Vision International (GVI) during the application process.
Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
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