volunteer dive programs abroad with conservation focus...suggestions??
I'm taking a gap year this coming year and want to spend part of it volunteering and more specifically, diving. I'm really interested in ecology and conservation, especially when it comes to marine life . Does anyone have any recommendations for this kind of program, or have you heard of any from others? Right now I'm just looking for options and haven't ruled anything out though Thailand and Madagascar look phenomenal!!
I'm a final year marine biologist and I did my dissertation research on coral reefs in Indonesia, included about 85 dives over the course of 6 weeks. I did this with a company called Operation Wallacea (Opwall). Opwall is very expensive and you do not get a lot for your money, the site in Indonesia was abysmal, you shouldn't expect much from anywhere you go looking to do real tropical conservation work as it's often in rural, poverty stricken areas but what Opwall provided at indonesia was so sub par in my opinion for what I payed (£3,500 for 6 weeks, then had to pay flights etc on top).
My experience with them was largely negative but most people seemed to enjoy it but almost all agreed it's poor value for money. I have friends who went to Honduras with opwall instead of Indo and said they had a great time, still agreed about the price though.
http://opwall.com/
There is also coral cay conservation, I've never worked with them but the nurse at my GP worked with them for a while and said some good things.
http://www.coralcay.org/
Doesn't really involve diving but turtle conservation project in the Cape Verde islands (off west coast of Africa)
http://turtleconservationjobs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/wildlife-ranger.html
I've also heard good things about Frontier but no personal experience with them
http://www.frontier.ac.uk/Volunteer/Volunteer.aspx
My experience with them was largely negative but most people seemed to enjoy it but almost all agreed it's poor value for money. I have friends who went to Honduras with opwall instead of Indo and said they had a great time, still agreed about the price though.
http://opwall.com/
There is also coral cay conservation, I've never worked with them but the nurse at my GP worked with them for a while and said some good things.
http://www.coralcay.org/
Doesn't really involve diving but turtle conservation project in the Cape Verde islands (off west coast of Africa)
http://turtleconservationjobs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/wildlife-ranger.html
I've also heard good things about Frontier but no personal experience with them
http://www.frontier.ac.uk/Volunteer/Volunteer.aspx
Original post by Adventurite
I'm taking a gap year this coming year and want to spend part of it volunteering and more specifically, diving. I'm really interested in ecology and conservation, especially when it comes to marine life . Does anyone have any recommendations for this kind of program, or have you heard of any from others? Right now I'm just looking for options and haven't ruled anything out though Thailand and Madagascar look phenomenal!!
Don't go with Frontier. Please please please. They are awful in terms of research impact and I know a lot of people who have had bad experiences with them. People say they are good because they have no idea about conservation as far as I can tell.
If you really want to go with a 'gap year' organisation I would maybe choose Opwall as they are genuinely not for profit. But be particular about which site you choose as it can be a bit iffy.
If you can though I would find small companies that genuinely need your help. Maybe even qualify in the UK and go out and help on a project.
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