Diving & Marine Conservation Internship

DIVING & MARINE CONSERVATION - Become a skillful ecological diver and help protect the beautiful caribbean marine environment

Program Description
Your diving training starts at zero and will lead you through the first level “Open Water Diver” with the PADI diving school and the specialty training "Coral Reef Conservation". If you already are an Open Water Diver (OWD) or equivalent we will credit you a discount of 200 Euro or Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD) certification! We also offer upgrades for Rescue Diver or Dive Master or a number of specialties. You will gain valuable and life-changing experiences with this exciting diving internship where you will learn to dive while protecting marine flora and fauna. Even if you don't have any diving experience, you will obtain important diving skills, while also gaining an insight and save the marine environment! Walk away with professional diving certifications and amazing experiences in one of the world's most beautiful marine environments! Samaná Bay is a significant breeding ground and nursery area for humpback whales from all over the North Atlantic and the most important multi-species fishing ground in the DR. While tourism is an important economic activity its impact on sensitive coastal-marine ecosystems is of particular concern. A major portion of environmental degradation in coastal areas is attributed to large-scale hotel developments in areas of high biodiversity and unregulated tour activities that put at risk reproduction sites for whales and turtles. Las Terrenas, as a coastal village, presents different ecosystems important for their ecosystem services: mangroves, seagrass meadows and coral reefs. This area is unfortunately subject to many anthropogenic pressures by deforestation and contamination which damage these ecosystems, in turn reducing their resilience and increasing their vulnerability to tropical storms.

Volunteer placement, apprenticeship or internship You can join this program as a volunteer, apprentice or intern. As a volunteer you are free to commit any number of hours per week. That's up to you! As an apprentice or intern however you probably have to fulfill requirements set by your school or university. Please inform us of your school or university internship requirements in advance so that we can work out your personalized work plan together. Also tell us about your personal expectations and goals. We are happy to give students academic credit or provide a report outlining the learning outcomes and deliverables achieved during the placement.

Requirements
No previous experience required to participate in the program. A typical volunteer or intern should be interested in diving and protecting flora, fauna and marine-life in general. He or she needs to be of good health, enthusiastic, proactive, willing to learn and ready for a challenge. You are welcome to bring your own personal wetsuit (3mm long or short sleeves), mask, snorkel and fins with you (can also be locally lent or purchased). The rest of scuba diving equipment is provided by the program! This program requires five flexible working days per week. (it is not a typical Monday to Friday week) Besides diving activities you are expected to fulfill scheduled working hours of non-diving related conservation work and educational activities like environmental awareness raising activities. We expect that interns adapt to program needs with flexibility, responsibility, commitment, patience and perseverance, among other significant qualities. The work can be quite demanding but is always very rewarding and varied. Physical fitness is important, no Spanish language skills are required. Starting dates are the 1. and 3. Monday of every month throughout the whole year!

What to expect
With the Open Water Diver International Diploma and the "coral reef conservation" speciality training you will be able to dive up to 18m deep and assist with marine conservation at our underwater sites along the coast of Las Terrenas. Once you have acquired the necessary training and skills, from the second week of your internship, you will also participate in marine conservation activities linking yourself with projects related to the conservation of aquatic coral nurseries, scientific monitoring of mangroves, seagrass beds, and corals reefs, as well as awareness-raising in the community on the importance of the environment and the topic of waste. All seaborne diving activities depend greatly on weather patterns and sea conditions. The work can be quite demanding but is always very rewarding and varied. Physical fitness is important, no Spanish language skills are required. This is a great opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to the protection of the marine environment while at the same time becoming a passionate qualified diver. 

Activities can include but are not limited to

• Gain all important diving skills and certifications as part of marine conservation project 
• Regular theory and practice classes as well as studies and research on marine conservation related subjects
• Explanation of the conservation project and ecology of the species Acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral)
• Training in monitoring and elaboration of baseline for the mangrove of seagrass project
• Demonstration of cleaning and routine maintenance techniques of aquatic coral nurseries 
• Assist actively with the monitoring of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses 
• Help with conservation awareness raising activities through Workshops, Movies, etc. 
• Assist with the maintenance, protection and restoration of aquatic coral nurseries 
• Assist with the elaboration of Beach profiles and the elaboration of their baseline
• Submarine Beach Cleanings, regular beach and river cleaning up

Program Highlights

• Experience the Dominican style of live and chill by the rhythm of Caribbean music!
• Gain Spanish fluency with the help of our free Spanish classes and share daily life with locals
• Become more passionate about your studies and propel your career with international experience!
• Make memories you never forget during weekend excursions with your fellow participants!
• Enjoy the gorgeous beaches of Samana, climb the mountain peaks of pico Duarte and visit historical sites in Santo Domingos' colonial town!

What makes the Dominican Republic and Samana such a special destiny?
Samana is the name of both the peninsula and its biggest town located at Samana bay in the northeastern part of the Dominican Republic. It is a dramatically beautiful peninsula, like an island unto itself, of coconut trees stretching into the sea. The town of Samana is a scenic, beautiful and peaceful port, with friendly and easy-going Dominicans, living their life with tourism, agriculture and fishing activities, all set to the beat and rhythms of Merengue, Bachata and Salsa music. The Malecon (seaside promenade) of two kilometers length is perfect for strolling by day and night. It is the perfect place to while away the evening in a relaxing atmosphere in one of the many surrounding restaurants and bars. Hundreds of fantastic beaches surround the peninsula of Samana, which can be explored during a day trip or for the whole weekend. Experience the Dominican style of live and chill by the rhythm of Caribbean music!
Other highlights nearby are:

• Las Galeras y El Rincon - A small fisherman's town with beautiful beaches surrounded by nature. Travel by Bus (45 minutes / US$ 2,-)
• El Limón - Famous waterfall and swimming. Travel by Bus (20 minutes / US$ 1,50,-)
• Cayo Levantado - Small Island with beautiful beaches just of the coastline in Samana. Travel by Boat (15 minutes / US$ 2,-)
• Parque National de los Haiteses - Park made of mangroves, caves with ancient paintings and beautiful bays with pristine beaches. Magnificent limestone caves to explore. Travel by Boat 60 minutes / US$ 10,-
• Playa El Valle - A small fisherman's settlement with a beautiful beach surrounded by pristine nature. Travel by Moto Concho (MotoTaxi) (20 Minutes / US$ 3,-)
• Great Kitesurfing beaches near Las Terrenas only an hour from Samana! The whole Peninsula of Samana is a wild and precious natural gem! People are extremely friendly and nature is gorgeous! 
• Whale-Watching - From mid-January to late March the bay is home to some of the world's best whale-watching