Diving Supporter for Marine Conservation
Coordinator | Daniel
Coordinator | Daniel
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Dive in the turquoise blue water of Perhentian Islands
Learn and sharpen your research diving skills and buoyancy
Improve knowledge on marine lives and environment
Understand the importance of corals to marine lives and their care
Meet other volunteers and widen your connection
Dive into marine conservation to assess the health of corals, carry out shark surveys, care for the coral nursery and improve the waste management system of the island.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
The Perhentian Marine Research Station focuses on diving for marine conservation and the waste management of the Perhentian Islands. The project invites divers and non-divers alike to come and join us. Non-divers will have the opportunity to be dive certified when volunteering with the project.
The team conducts surveys on various marine lives and the corals around the island. They also have an artificial coral nursery that is built to encourage the growth of more corals. Volunteers will get to learn this coral rehabilitation method which involves transplanting coral fragments on to specifically designed bottle reefs. Another method involves the creation of coral pyramids out of coral rubble.
The team also conduct surveys to assess the impacts of the Monsoon season the underwater lives. Volunteers will also get to assist in our elasmobranch monitoring scheme. The team dives and use camera traps to collect data on sharks' and rays' spatial distribution and population density.
Not only that, but volunteers will also get to help the team on their waste management improvement projects on the island. This involves educating tourists at their education booth at Long beach and also conducting awareness campaigns. The project also handles their Precious Plastic Programme that turns Type 2 and Type 5 plastics into something new. This will help to ensure fewer plastics end up in landfills and consequently the sea. The project has also created a Plastic Free Perhentian map that provides information on which establishment they can support that help to reduce plastic wastes.
Typical day
Volunteers who are not dive-certified will be taking their dive course on the first week and will then join other qualified divers once they are certified for research dives. Hence, unqualified divers will have to volunteer for a minimum of 2 weeks whereby the 1st week is their dive course and the 2nd week they will join research dives. Qualified divers, on the other hand, can volunteer for a minimum of 1 week and jump straight to research dives work.
Volunteers will be diving with the team to conduct coral surveys or elasmobranch monitoring, depending on the needs of the project at the time. Volunteers will also be collecting data and analysing data once dives are over.
Volunteers will also help the team to give awareness talks to the public. At the education booth, volunteers will help brief tourists on the project and also on marine conservation efforts. They will also be briefing snorkelers before their snorkel tours on how to go on an eco-snorkel tour to ensure marine lives are not disturbed and distressed.
On Saturdays, the team will be conducting beach cleanups to ensure that the beach is free of trash. The trash will then be sorted according to types before they are recycled or disposed of. Data on the trash will also be recorded for reference.
Volunteers will have about 5 - 6 hours of work in a day from Monday to Saturday and will have their off day on a Sunday. On their off days, volunteers may explore the islands and all that it has to offer, relax by the ocean or choose to work on a mini-project. Ideas for a mini project that correlates with the project are always welcomed and open for discussion.
Once a week, volunteers will get to have a taste of authentic Malay food at the house of a local! This is a great time to interact with your host and get to know the culture better.
Free-time activities
Volunteers can use our kayak on their off days if they wish to kayak, go snorkelling with one of the snorkel operators, diving with the local dive shops, read or stroll around the village.
Free-time activities
Volunteers can use our kayak on their off days if they wish to kayak, go snorkelling with one of the snorkel operators, diving with the local dive shops, read or stroll around the village.
Water Sports
Swimming
Sightseeing
Diving/
Snorkling
Snorkling
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 (basic level)
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Must be able to swim and is dive certified. If you are not dive-certified, you can choose to take your dive certification course while volunteering with us.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
from
07:00
- 17:00
What's Included
The fees above are for unqualified divers who wish to volunteer with us while taking the dive course. The fees above also apply to qualified divers who wish to advance their dive certifications.
If you are a qualified diver, kindly find the prices of our without dive course volunteering option below:
1 week: $922
2 weeks: $1359
3 weeks: $1797
4 weeks: $2141
The fees will cover:
- Accommodation at our Volunteer House
- Food i.e 3 meals a day
- Activities and transport within the project
- Boat transfer to and from Kuala Besut.
The fees DO NOT cover:
- Airfares
- Travel to and from Kuala Besut
- Insurance
- Visa
The accommodation is a mixed-gender dorm house.
Volunteers will stay at the Fuze-Ecoteer’s Volunteer House.
Communal toilet/ bathroom
A small safe is available for passport and/or money at the Turtle House i.e the Project house
Wi-fi internet access is available at the Turtle House
Shops are available in the village to purchase toiletries, snacks, drinks, vegetable, chicken and fruits.
Laundry: hand wash or washing machine at the Turtle House
Bedding and mosquito nets are provided
We can play CDs and DVDs on our project laptop, but we don’t have a TV.
Main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are provided - either cooked at the Turtle House or eaten out in the village. Once a week, volunteers get to have dinner at a locals house during their Malay Dinner session.
Limited access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.
The nearest airport is Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (KBR) in Kota Bharu. We assist you to find cheap flights to Malaysia.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Malaysia provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Malaysia you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Malaysia.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
This project is open from April to September every year. Volunteers arrive on a Monday and will depart the next Sunday. The Sunday of departure is solely for departure and hence, volunteers can leave at any time. Do take note that the boat transfers are at 8.00 am, 12.00 pm and 4.00 pm daily.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2 - 4 weeks
Program fees
2 weeks
(min. stay)
$1,651
3 weeks
$2,088
4 weeks
(max. stay)
$2,421
Average fees
$715
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated.
Fuze Ecoteer
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 Fuze Ecoteer during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
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What are people saying about Volunteer World?
Diving Supporter for Marine Conservation
Dive into marine conservation to assess the health of corals, carry out shark surveys, care for the coral nursery and improve the waste management system of the island.
$715/week
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