Volunteer travel guide
Volunteering abroad used to be a long term commitment for a highly qualified few but that has since changed.
Where to go on a marine conservation holiday
From the vibrant culture of Thailand to the rustic Atlantic coast of Portugal’s Azores, the locations that host marine conservation holidays are as diverse as the work you can do on them. Although once you’ve arrived you’ll be travelling by boat, either on short journeys between different dive spots, or spending the duration of the day out at sea, it’s worth thinking about the travel that actually getting there entails. When you’re thinking about where to go on a marine conservation holiday, consider how seasoned you are as a traveller – some projects are tucked away on faraway islands and require additional onward flights or long stretches of road travel to reach and may not suit everyone. Think about the logistics involved and don’t be immediately wowed by the location.
1.
The Azores
2. Belize
3. Cambodia
4. Costa Rica
5. Greece
6. Indonesia
7. Italy
8. Mexico
9. Portugal
10. Seychelles
11. South Africa
12. Thailand
2. Belize
3. Cambodia
4. Costa Rica
5. Greece
6. Indonesia
7. Italy
8. Mexico
9. Portugal
10. Seychelles
11. South Africa
12. Thailand
The Azores
1. The Azores
Best time: Apr-Aug. A pocket of rugged Portugal in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, the Azores is a hotspot for whale and dolphin conservation. Join a dive-free expedition on a research boat IDing whales, including might blue and sperm whales, recording vocalisations and logging important ecological data alongside a team of biologists.
Belize
2. Belize
Best time: Year round. There are masses of options in beautiful Belize – home to the second biggest barrier reef in the world – from five days learning to dive and helping marine conservationists with ad-hoc tasks, to volunteering trips for a maximum of 12 weeks, with a focus on spearing invasive lionfish. Kids over 10 years old are welcomed on many trips, too.
Cambodia
3. Cambodia
Best time: Feb-Aug. If you love diving (or want to learn) and hope to use your skill to do something worthwhile, head to Cambodia. Here, you can build manmade coral reef pods under the water surrounding a remote tropical island, track and monitor endangered seahorses, and when you’re not diving, teach English to local kids and help install vital infrastructure in surrounding villages.
Costa Rica
4. Costa Rica
Best time: Jul-Dec. Working on a turtle conservation project in Costa Rica gives you the chance to explore its unspoiled coastline while helping to protect this precious environment for its shelled inhabitants. You’ll patrol the beach, monitor nests, protect new hatchlings and record observations for future protection campaigns. A great option for families, too.
Greece
5. Greece
Best time: Jun-Sep. Greece offers various marine conservation options. Support the turtles that come ashore to lay eggs on the beaches of the Peloponnese by protecting nests and improving public awareness, or head to sea to live the life of a full-time researcher, collecting valuable data on the four dolphin species found in Greek waters.
Indonesia
6. Indonesia
Raja Ampat is a gorgeous marine paradise of white, sandy beaches and turquoise sea located in the East Indonesia/West Papua region of the Coral Triangle. The marine diversity here is astonishing, with 80 percent of the world’s coral species found here. You’ll be working not only to protect the coral reefs here, but to improve the lives of the communities that rely on them.
Italy
7. Italy
Join a small group of volunteers on a six day research cruise in the Ligurian Sea to identify, track and record information on the whales and dolphins that live here. You’ll delve deep into the marine ecology of the Med, helping preserve it for generations to come, helping log data on behaviour and population numbers, as well as soaking up the sun and spotting superb cetaceans.
Mexico
8. Mexico
Best time: July. Head to the Caribbean Coast of Mexico to discover a giant of the ocean, the whale shark. Swimming with them is unforgettable, but you can also help with ongoing research here alongside two whale shark researchers. Once in the water with them, you will assist in digital photo IDing and recording their behaviour and also the other species which use the whale sharks as mobile habitats.
Portugal
9. Portugal
Work with local experts to protect the marine ecosystems of Portugal’s Atlantic coastline. This is all about diving, with all abilities welcome. If you’re a beginner, learn here with a local diving school, before plunging in to see Portugal’s beautiful marine life up close. Tasks vary, but you can expect to identify fish and seaweeds, and clean up rubbish. More experienced divers can explore caves and wrecks, too.
Seychelles
10. Seychelles
Best time: Year round. An natural utopia, the Seychelles are a serene set of islands, but the conservation work that needs doing there is tough, with long days and early starts. Holidays include turtle conservation with beach patrols at night, and coral and fish surveys along the coast. Sometimes, other conservation work is combined, such as bird counts or alien vegetation control. Full-on fun.
South Africa
11. South Africa
Best time: Year round. The shores of South Africa's iSamangaliso Wetland Park offer a host of work around the conservation and distribution of megafauna. We're talking turtles, sharks and whales here! Expect to be monitoring numbers, collecting data and uploading photos to global databases. If you're a beginner diver, you can do PADI Open Water training in the first week, too.
Thailand
12. Thailand
Best time: Year round except Oct to mid Dec. Varied research and restoration activities make every day on a marine conservation holiday in Thailand different. Monitor reef health, help construct artificial reefs, erosion control and releasing turtle hatchlings are all included plus the chance to work with community groups to raise awareness, help with educational workshops and perform underwater clean ups.
Maldives whale shark conservation snorkelling cruise
Maldives whale shark conservation cruise with local experts
From
US $2499 to US $2699
8 days
ex flights
Lionfish spearing marine conservation in Belize
Help us protect reef ecosystems by hunting invasive species
From
US $995
5 days
ex flights
Whale conservation holiday in the Azores
Help assist in integral whale and dolphin conservation
From
£695 to £4195
7 days
ex flights
Maldives Whale Shark Conservation Research Expedition
Join the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme
From
£2189
11 days
ex flights
Liveaboard whale shark conservation holiday, Maldives
Based aboard dedicated research vessel in South Ari Atoll
From
€2900
11 days
ex flights
Contact Us
Call us for a chat about our holidays. We are happy to discuss your holiday and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.
01273 823 700
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Typical daily timetables
Marine conservation in Belize (from 1 week)
Turtle conservation in Costa Rica (from 1 week)
Marine conservation project in the Seychelles (from 4 weeks)
More Marine conservation articles
Marine conservation might be a serious matter, but it doesn't mean that a holiday has to be.
Will you choose a land-based project, will you go diving, or will you go on a research vessel?
Lionfish spearing in Belize is one exciting exception to the usual rules about saving wildlife.
Combine a holiday in paradise with an award winning effort to restore its ecosystems.
Marine conservation is all about raising community awareness and getting the locals on board.
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