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Marine Conservation - Thailand

Location

Koh Tao

Start dates

First and third Saturday of each month (apart from 1 Oct to 15 Dec)

Duration

1 - 12 weeks

Availability

Spaces available

Cost

From £595
See table below

Discounts

£35 per person for friends / partners, £80+ if sharing a room

PADI certification to Advanced level
Ecological Diver certification
Contribute to a range of local marine conservation initiatives
Live on a tropical island

Project details

Introduction

Join a marine conservation project on Koh Tao, learning about coral reefs and taking part in reef check dives and other local environmental initiatives.

By increasing awareness and involvement, this project hopes to decrease our impact on coral reefs and provide solutions to protecting and restoring the reefs around Koh Tao.

Read what past volunteers have said about this project in our Thailand marine conservation reviews.

A typical day

Depending on your current dive level (if any) you will start off by taking the PADI Open Water (4 days) and Advanced course (2 days), before taking part in the conservation work itself.

Each day varies considerably, but this gives you an idea of the daily schedule for the marine conservation activities:

09:30 Arrive at Dive School to prepare for the days activities
10:00 Lecture or Briefing
11:30 Depart by boat to dive research/restoration site
15:00 Return to Dive shop, wash Equipment
16:00 Debriefing and Data Entry
16:30 Finish (or optional help around office and data entry)

You will learn how to perform underwater reef surveys and help with data collection. This will give you to opportunity to gain knowledge about coral reefs and their inhabitants and you will learn how to identify different fish species and types of coral.

There will also be coral rehabilitation and nursery maintenance dives. Research dives are usually accompanied by a briefing or lecture so that you have a better understanding of the intricate eco systems that you are working with. There is an ongoing Bio-rock initiative which involves the insemination of coral on a man-made rock structure as well as a variety of other local projects you can get involved in ranging from buoy installation to turtle releases.

The location

Koh Tao is a dramatic mix of dense jungle and hilly terrain in its interior and granite outcrops and beaches along its coast. However, it has become best known for the abundance of excellent dive sites within a short distance of the island. It is a simple, friendly and fun island with an atmosphere that means people usually stay a lot longer than intended!

You will be based in the relaxed and friendly village of Chalok Ban Khao on the south side of the island.

How you can make a difference

Coral Reefs cover less than 2% of the ocean floor but support 25% of all marine life. They are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth, but also one of the most threatened. All over the world reefs are in decline, and with them the fate of over 2 million species and the economies that support millions of people.

By taking part in this project you will be making a major contribution to marine conservation on Koh Tao. As the island has become more popular the environment has come under increasing pressure, so there is a real need for action in order to protect the environment and maintain a balance between nature and the demands on it from diving and tourism, the fishing industry and the Thai community. This is a small project that is having a quick and direct impact on the island's environment.

Pricing

Current Dive Qualification Level	1 week	2 weeks	3 weeks	4 weeks	Extra weeks
Beginner (no previous dive qualifications)	n/a	£1145	£1445	£1645	£175
Open Water	n/a	£975	£1275	£1475	£175
Advanced or above	£595	£845	£1095	£1295	£175

What's included

A comprehensive information booklet and pre-departure support
Travel advice and assistance
Being met on arrival at Koh Tao
PADI Open Water + PADI Advanced dive courses (unless you are already PADI Advanced or equivalent)
PADI scuba review if you have a dive qualification but haven't dived recently
Conservation training
SSI Ecological Diver certification
All conservation dives
Use of all dive equipment
Accommodation (own room) in a beachside resort
Ongoing support, help and advice from our local team

To participate in the dive conservation and survey work you will need to be at least PADI Advanced so all our programmes include dive training to take you to the PADI Advanced level if you don't already have these qualifications.

What else to budget for

The following items are not included and estimates are given as a guide for your budgeting: flights (£600-£700), travel insurance, food and personal spending (£50-£75 per week).

More details

Background information about the project

The project is lead by a small, friendly and family-owned dive school (run by a British diver). It is dedicated to the protection of the local environment of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand. It is active on two fronts, surveying the reefs and collecting data, and implementing a range of local environmental initiatives. Since opening in 1995, they have made marine conservation and management one of their main priorities, They are now leading the way to making dive schools into coral reef research and restoration centres.

The Reef Conservation Program (RCP) encompasses both research and restoration. Research is the only way to get a true idea of what the problems are and what needs to be done to alleviate them. After the problem has been identified it can be stopped and restoration activities can take place. In the RCP people from all over the world are given an opportunity to learn techniques that support local efforts and can be brought to other areas of the world.

You will learn about coral reef ecosystems, and participate in our monthly or ongoing projects, such as:

Reef surveys (Ecological Monitoring Program)
Biorock Coral Rehabilitation and Nursery
Artificial Reef Construction and Maintenance
Mid-water coral nurseries
Mooring Buoy Installation
Giant Clam Nursery
Sea Turtle Sanctuary and Releases
Land and Underwater Clean-ups
Water Testing
Underwater Mapping
Erosion Control
Awareness Campaigns

Support and induction

The team who run the project, lead by Dev and Chad, will support you on a day to day basis and will be there to support you throughout your time at the project.

After you have settled in you will receive an introduction to the project and how your dive courses (if applicable) and marine conservation work will be scheduled.

Other volunteers

There are normally 1-6 volunteers. Koh Tao is a vibrant and multicultural island and so attracts volunteers from a wide range of countries so you will undoubtedly meet people from other nationalities and backgrounds on the project and the island. Even if there are only a small number of other volunteers you will work alongside the permanent team who are very helpful and friendly.

Volunteer accommodation and food

You will have your own room in a very attractive and friendly resort just a few minutes walk from the dive school.

Meals are not included in the placement but there are plenty of restaurants nearby, giving you a good choice for eating.

Free time and travel opportunities

You will participate in the project from Monday to Friday, with weekends off to relax and explore the local area or just chill on the beach!

There are plenty of bars and restaurants on the island, giving you a good choice for eating and going out, as well as a few beachside nightclubs. There are also many activities you can get involved in such as yoga, kick-boxing, Thai cooking.

Challenges

You will need to be reasonably fit and healthy, able to tolerate high temperatures and humidity, and work well within a team.

Where your money goes and the PoD Charity

PoD is run as a non-profit organisation and does not receive any external funding. We charge a fee for all our placements to cover the overseas costs of volunteering and the costs of running our organisation in the UK. Fee levels are set to match costs (on a non-profit basis) and any surplus monies are distributed to the overseas organisations and charities we work with via the PoD Charity.

For over 10 years PoD has been providing volunteers to help charitable projects around the world. The PoD Charity was established in 2010 to build on this success by also providing financial assistance. Find out more and get involved in fundraising for this project through the PoD Charity.