PADI Divemaster Internship & Marine Conservation
Coordinator | Natalie
Coordinator | Natalie
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Taking your PADI Advanced, PADI Coral Reef Research Diver, and PADI Divemaster courses.
Learning how to identify fish and coral in the Indian Ocean.
Exploring different dive sites among the Seychelles tropical islands, searching for the incredible ‘mega-fauna’ in the area, such as sharks, rays, and dolphins.
Developing the techniques needed to survey coral reefs.
Earning your ILM Endorsed Leadership Certificate.
Enter the global scuba diving industry with a professional diving qualification combined with work experience and marine conservation training.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Travel to the beautiful Seychelles islands in the Indian Ocean where you will train to improve your scuba diving skills while participating on our marine conservation and Padi Divemaster internship, conducting vital marine research. This internship is the perfect opportunity to enter the world of professional diving and marine conservation while living and working in a pristine environment to complete what will be a life-changing experience.
YOUR FIRST 12 WEEKS OF TRAINING
During your first 12 weeks, you will conduct underwater surveys of fish, coral, or invertebrate species after completion of your training. You should also expect to be involved in additional projects and activities, including training sessions, beach cleans, marine debris surveys, environmental education sessions with the local community.
YOUR WORK PLACEMENT, THE SECOND 12 WEEKS
After a successful internship, qualifying candidates may be given the opportunity to work for us or selected partner organisations in the Seychelles, or in other countries around the world where we operate. For you this will be at a local dive centre allowing you to complete your PADI Divemaster certification. During this time you will help with the general day-to-day operations of the centre, learning about the dive industry. This might include tasks like guiding tourists on dives, working in the office, compressing tanks, repairing dive equipment. The majority of your days will be spent diving in the crystal clear waters perfecting your diving skills, while learning to work within the diving community. This work placement is a great first step in a professional diving career. Field work positions can be paid or unpaid, range in duration from one month to one year, and availability varies. Qualification for possible GVI positions is at the sole discretion of Global Vision International.
After a successful internship, qualifying candidates may be given the opportunity to work for GVI or selected partner organisations in Seychelles, or in other countries around the world where GVI operate. Over 50% of GVI staff are recruited from our alumni database. Qualification for positions is at the sole discretion of Global Vision International.
You will spend the majority of your time on this internship scuba diving and as such you need to be qualified to at least PADI Open Water, or equivalent before you start the internship. GVI will supply you with all the training you need to be certified up to PADI Divemaster as well as with additional diving courses.
During your first 12 weeks, you will conduct underwater surveys of fish, coral, or invertebrate species after completion of your training. You should also expect to be involved in additional projects and activities, including training sessions, beach cleans, marine debris surveys, environmental education sessions with the local community.
YOUR WORK PLACEMENT, THE SECOND 12 WEEKS
After a successful internship, qualifying candidates may be given the opportunity to work for us or selected partner organisations in the Seychelles, or in other countries around the world where we operate. For you this will be at a local dive centre allowing you to complete your PADI Divemaster certification. During this time you will help with the general day-to-day operations of the centre, learning about the dive industry. This might include tasks like guiding tourists on dives, working in the office, compressing tanks, repairing dive equipment. The majority of your days will be spent diving in the crystal clear waters perfecting your diving skills, while learning to work within the diving community. This work placement is a great first step in a professional diving career. Field work positions can be paid or unpaid, range in duration from one month to one year, and availability varies. Qualification for possible GVI positions is at the sole discretion of Global Vision International.
After a successful internship, qualifying candidates may be given the opportunity to work for GVI or selected partner organisations in Seychelles, or in other countries around the world where GVI operate. Over 50% of GVI staff are recruited from our alumni database. Qualification for positions is at the sole discretion of Global Vision International.
You will spend the majority of your time on this internship scuba diving and as such you need to be qualified to at least PADI Open Water, or equivalent before you start the internship. GVI will supply you with all the training you need to be certified up to PADI Divemaster as well as with additional diving courses.
Shark Conservation
Activities
Waste Reduction
Ray Conservation
Marine Conservation
Blacktip Reef Shark
Diving
Ocean Cleaning
Manta Ray
Plastic Reduction
Coral Reef
Marine Conservation
Typical day
First 12 weeks on base:
The 12 week internship is one of the best ways to gain this qualification, not only do you become a DM, but training in the dive centre it gives you the time to see the many different aspects that go with the diving industry. On a daily basis you may be diving/snorkelling 3 times a day, getting trained on how the compressor works, assisting the skipper set up the boat, snorkel expeditions, assisting students with paperwork – all important aspects to go alongside the skills you’ll be gaining while doing your Divemaster.
Volunteers will be allocated fish, coral or invertebrates as part of coral reef monitoring and we monitor all these topics at our 24 sites over the North-West coast of Mahe.
Volunteers allocated to Fish will spend their daily dives collecting data on abundance/biodiversity, which helps to assess overall recovery of fish life on the reef. - Coral - for the first half of the year we monitor coral cover of our sites, and in the second half of the year we monitor the recruits (juvenile) corals that are growing on our sites, both of which give us a better idea of the health and diversity of the reef.
Invertebrate volunteers focus on the diversity and abundance of different species found around the Seychelles.
Incidental Sightings is something that everyone gets involved with on a daily basis, we compile a species list and maintain a record of the daily occurrences of different marine creatures at the various dive sites. This data is passed onto OBIS Seamap which is an online database to see populations of different big species around the world.
All volunteers will also get involved with monthly dives to clean up the reef - Dive Against Debris (DAD) which the data goes to Project AWARE who are monitoring the levels of rubbish that is being found on dive sites around the world.
Everyone will conduct a separate monitoring technique of Coral Watch, this is a worldwide coral monitoring methodology which looks into the levels of bleaching that is occurring on corals.
Our final project that we have available to all volunteers is our coral restoration project, Volunteers will be able to assist with collecting new fragments, cleaning our nursery, or transplanting our fragments to a new site, what you get involved with depends on what time of year you are on base.
You will also complete a leadership course which is endorsed by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) and is internationally recognized.
The in water parts of the course include:
• Skill circuits – these are training session either in a pool or open water, to improve on the 24 Open Water skills that you have already learnt and make sure you are comfortable to assist Instructors and to have students to extra skill practice if required.
• Assisting on an open water course – you will help you instructor when they are teaching a brand new diver, to see what sort of problems can arise and how to resolve them. • Assisting on other courses – same as above, but the course could be Advanced Open Water, Rescue or a Specialty, so again seeing what issues may arise and how to assist fixing them.
• Mapping project – this tests your skills on how to map out an area underwater, and you’ll see just how complex it can be. This skill assists you with pre dive site Dive Briefings and on site underwater touring.
• Search and Recovery, and Deep scenarios – these dives go through some extra skills that you may have to use during deep dives or search and recovery dives. Work placement schedule varies due to the needs and demands of the shop, there may be days where you don't dive every day. All aspects of dive tourism - retail, managing accounts, selling dives, booking clients, cleaning, sorting out equipment, leading dives, etc. Will take full 12 weeks to complete Divemaster.
Free-time activities
You will be based in and around the national parks in the main group of islands, and working on coral reefs in and around the main group of islands. Travelling around the local area is fairly easy and is best done using the (very cheap) local bus service, although access to and from the base can be difficult so travel may be limited to weekend breaks. For further exploration you may choose to hire a car or make use of the inter-island ferry services.
In your down time you will be free to travel in the local area and can expect one or two free days per week, usually at weekends. In this time you could explore the islands of Praslin or La Digue, visit the capital of Mahé, Victoria, visit local beaches, snorkel or just relax on base. Before and after your program you could spend a little more time in the Seychelles on the inner islands of Praslin and La Digue, or join a charter to sail even further afield. Please allow several days if you hope to travel between islands, there are over 100 in the archipelago but getting around takes time – the possibilities are endless!
In your down time you will be free to travel in the local area and can expect one or two free days per week, usually at weekends. In this time you could explore the islands of Praslin or La Digue, visit the capital of Mahé, Victoria, visit local beaches, snorkel or just relax on base. Before and after your program you could spend a little more time in the Seychelles on the inner islands of Praslin and La Digue, or join a charter to sail even further afield. Please allow several days if you hope to travel between islands, there are over 100 in the archipelago but getting around takes time – the possibilities are endless!
Water Sports
Swimming
Sightseeing
Diving/
Snorkling
Snorkling
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Climbing
Safari/
Zoo
Zoo
Hiking
Sports
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
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 PADI Open Water qualiffication (or equivalent) qualification
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Need to be able to walk 200m over uneven ground while wearing dive kit
Must be PADI Open Water certified (or equivalent)
Must be PADI Open Water certified (or equivalent)
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
What's Included
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)
- National Park fees and permits
- PADI Advanced Open Water
- PADI Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Specialty
- PADI Rescue Diver and PADI Dive Master certifications (excluding PADI professional fees)
- Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared)
- Teamwork and leadership experience
- Transfer to base location
- Use of O2 equipment workshop
- Weekly evaulation 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
- GOP Medical
- Internal transport to placements
- International and domestic airport taxes
- Medical and travel insurance
- PADI Open Water
- Personal dive kit, e.g. mask, fins, wetsuit, timer etc.
- Personal items and toiletries
- Police or background check
- Visa costs (where necessary)
We provide transfers from the airport to our base in Baie Ternay National Park, which is about an hour’s drive. The beach is very close to our accommodation so we simply walk down the water to the boats, which are available to take participants out for a dive.
Participants sleep in dorm rooms of up to 10 people. Bathrooms are shared but split-sex, with showers and flush toilets. The entire building is equipped with electricity.
Dorm Room
For divemaster interns accommodation during placement phase will be included, usually in a shared apartment in or near to Beau Vallon.
Participants take it in turns to prepare meals for the group. Food is basic but nutritious, and primarily vegetarian with optional fish or meat available once or twice a week. Breakfast could be porridge with fresh fruit, or occasionally pancakes or cereal, lunch and evening meals may include pasta, beans, rice, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, etc.
Limited access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
The nearest airport is Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) in Mahe Island. We assist you to find cheap flights to Seychelles.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Seychelles provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Seychelles you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Seychelles.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
Due to the current situation you have the flexibility of changing the destination and start dates for this program at no extra cost. This added flexibility can be utilised until 31 December 2020.
Guaranteed departures with set departure dates:
2020
- 27 Jun 2020
- 19 Sep 2020
2021
- 09 Jan 2021
- 03 Apr 2021
- 26 Jun 2021
- 18 Sep 2021
This program is paused due to COVID-19
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
24 - 24 weeks
Program fees
24 weeks
(min. stay)
$11,622
24 weeks
(max. stay)
$11,622
Average fees
$485
/week
The organization charges its fees in EUR. The price table in USD is subject to currency fluctuation.
Global Vision International (GVI)
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
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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All program fees are charged directly by Global Vision International (GVI).
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PADI Divemaster Internship & Marine Conservation
Enter the global scuba diving industry with a professional diving qualification combined with work experience and marine conservation training.
$425/week
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