Marine conservation and diving projects in Thailand

The coral reefs and mangrove swamps on the coast of Thailand are stunning places and they're doing well. They are threatened though. Threatened by fishing, by tourism, by shrimp farms and by climate change. But for now you can still dive and explore them in all their splendour.

Mangroves and coral reefs are part of the same eco-system. Many of the creatures essential to the coral reef start their life-cycles in mangrove swamps. We work in both parts, doing important scientific work on the coral reefs and planting new mangroves - and minimising human impact on both environments.

One of the biggest changes in Thailand over the last two decades has been the start of mass tourism. It has turned its flora, fauna and natural landscapes into commodities. In some ways this is great because it has made poor fishermen prosperous and the whole poor economy relatively rich. Yet there is always a conflict. Tourists need feeding, so fishermen work twice as hard and their nets get caught and left on the coral reefs. We are cleaning the coral reefs before they get damaged. We are also planting mangrove forests across the devastation left behind by abandoned shrimp farms. We are playing an important part in looking after the colourful world of the coral reef and the fragile world of the mangrove swamp, and not just protecting them but also studying them and researching them, which is important for protecting them in the long term. This project is working closely with Phuket Marine Biological Centre and the Krabi Fisheries Department on a variety of conservation work. You can be part of the protection plan for Thai coral reefs by volunteering on the Diving and Marine Conservation Project that operates in this beautiful region. Join our Conservation & Environment project in Ao Nang and the first thing that you'll be doing is learning how to scuba dive. We will train you up to the level of Advanced Scuba Diver, helping you to learn the fundamental theoretical and practical aspects of diving in the beautifully clear warm waters of the Andaman Sea. This allows you to dive to depths of 30m and participate fully in the underwater conservation work. If you have the advanced scuba diving qualification already, you can start on the underwater reef research work straight away and choose to gain the next qualification as a Rescue Diver.

We work in partnership with Ao Nang Scuba Centre which employs fully qualified instructors and dive masters. The Chairman of our projects in Thailand, Suwat Hannarong has run Ao Nang Scuba Centre since 1990. By observing and analysing reef damage and fish populations, you'll be helping to find the best ways to protect marine life from the dangers of increased tourism and human negligence. The diving is some of the best in the world and you'll have the chance to observe a wide variety of marine life - including turtles, rays, harmless reef sharks and hundreds of species of multicoloured tropical fish.

We are collecting information on the development, deterioration and overall condition of coral reefs and fish populations in the area. This information forms part of a wider database which will be used across the world by experts in this field. Unfortunately, the water around the reefs contains large volumes of litter discarded from fishing and diving boats and our volunteers collect waste materials on salvage dives and dispose of it correctly once back on land.

In addition to our coral reef monitoring and salvage recovery work, our conservation programme also involves some very important land-based activities that are vital to conserving the coastal ecosystems of the region. We undertake beach clean-ups, often in conjunction with local schools, to ensure that these areas - some of the most beautiful beaches in the world - remain pristine. We also replant mangrove forests. Mangrove forests are among the most productive and bio-diverse wetlands on earth, yet these unique coastal forests are among the most threatened habitats. They may be disappearing more quickly than inland tropical rainforests and, so far, with little public notice. Healthy mangrove forests are key to a healthy marine ecology. Help is needed to monitor the mangrove forests in Krabi province to prevent further destruction and assist with reforestation projects in this beautiful yet fragile area of Thailand. A work schedule is established each week so you know what is happening and when. The schedule varies, depending on the time of year, the weather and the number of volunteers on the project. Volunteers normally work five days a week, so you will have two days off to relax, travel or get involved in some of the many other activities the area offers. Your days off may not always be together or at the weekends.

You'll live in one of two shared houses with other conservation volunteers. There are dormitory-style bedrooms and shared bathrooms. The rooms are cleaned daily and the houses have electricity and running water. Meals are provided at the main house with a buffet style lunch and dinner. On days when you are out diving all day or working at the mangrove site for example, lunch will be provided on the boat, at the work site, or a packed lunch may be taken.

At the main house there is also an undercover outside terrace-area and a garden. The dive equipment shed is at the side of the house, this is where all the dive kit is organised before every dive day and where you wash and clean your dive kit at the end of each trip. The volunteer houses are located about ten minutes drive inland from Ao Nang. We provide transport to take volunteers to-and-from work sites. To get into the town centre in your free time it is easy to get the bus or hire a tuk-tuk. Getting home is also cheap and easy by tuk-tuk.

This project is available for two weeks if you don't have time to join us for a month or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term volunteering for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain a valuable cultural insight and take part in a variety of the conservation activities please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone volunteering for a longer period.

Volunteers joining the Conservation Project for two weeks should arrive in Krabi on a Friday or Saturday of the first or third weekend of the month. As a two week volunteer you will receive one dive course and your role in some of the diving activities after completing the course may be limited to observation and assisting the longer term volunteers. It is important to remember that the amount of diving available over a two week period can be affected by bad weather. Two week applications also need to be made at least a month before the start date in order for our staff in Thailand to plan the schedule effectively.