This project is perfect if you are looking to do something different during the summer holiday. It will also suit you if you’re interested in pursuing a career in conservation. This project is specifically designed for teenagers, and we have a set itinerary in place and extra staff support available.
You don’t need experience for this project. A willingness to help, learn and explore is all we ask of you! Within a week, you’ll receive your SSI Open Water and SSI Advanced Adventurer qualifications as well as a SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialisation. This will ensure that you can confidently and safely help with underwater conservation work during your second week. Our diving instructors will be with you throughout the training and during each dive. You don't need to take any equipment with you, everything will be provided on the program.
On arrival in Thailand, your adventure as a Diving & Marine Conservation volunteer begins! After your induction, our staff will fit you for your scuba gear, explain our work in the area, and start you on your marine conservation work. Here’s what you’ll get up to:
Learn to dive
Your diving training takes place in the dive shop’s pool and in the ocean. By the end of your first week in Thailand, you’ll obtain your SSI Open Water, SSI Advanced Adventurer, and Perfect Buoyancy certifications! This means you can safely take part in underwater conservation work with the team. You’ll keep learning and developing your skills throughout your time in Thailand.
In the long run, your volunteer work will contribute to helping protect coral reefs in Thailand. These advanced qualifications will also be useful for future conservation work and recreational diving.
Take part in survey dives with professional divers
Survey dives will help monitor the health and biodiversity of the reefs. Data will be important in determining future policies to protect the marine area. You will also use this data during workshops and lessons.
Gain conservation skills and knowledge
The Marine Conservation Project is designed to teach you about coral reefs, their benefits, and the issues they face globally. You’ll join regular workshops and lessons to improve your knowledge and awareness of conservation issues and skills. This will be a part of a wider Citizen Science course where you can experience some of the latest research projects being conducted by marine biologists.
This course includes studying microplastics, water quality, coral health, and new methods of recycling and upcycling. Many of the topics you learn about will link to the dives you conduct that day. For example; you might collect water samples during a dive, and then test the samples at the base in the afternoon.
Plant and maintain coral reefs
The main focus of this project is to help restore vulnerable coral reefs, while also creating new artificial reefs. This involves surveys, construction work, and planting coral fragments onto new nurseries underwater. Existing reefs require extensive maintenance to keep them clean and to reduce the influx of invasive species.
In many places around the world, it is illegal to touch or damage coral. However, the Department of Marine & Coastal Resources has approved special permission for our team to transplant coral around Koh Tao. You’ll be part of this process and will learn the different stages of transplanting, as well as techniques to use ‘corals of opportunity’ to rebuild impacted areas. You’ll assist marine biologists in our research and restoration areas while discovering the many techniques that suit different corals and locations.
Fishing nets and even trash can be found in the most remote locations. During dives, you will remove ropes, nets, glass, aluminium cans, and other items that are suffocating or threatening coral reefs and other marine life. You’ll be taught how to plan scuba dives to remove debris, and the decision-making process to remove only certain items. You’ll also collect data to push for changes in government regulations to reduce debris levels in our oceans.
Join beach clean-ups along the coastline
Litter and trash are harmful to marine life and wildlife in general. With volunteers from around the world, you will walk along Koh Tao’s beaches, collecting and correctly discarding rubbish. Thousands of cigarette butts alone litter Koh Tao’s beaches.
After each beach clean-up, you’ll make notes, and share this data with local officials. This information can then be used for educational purposes, and for long-term conservation plans in the area.
You’ll join workshops to repurpose and mould plastic into new items. Learn new ways to recycle and manage waste.
