Marine and Coastal Conservation
Greece

The project studies the seagrass meadows and the sand dunes along the coast of Kefalonia which are categorised as vulnerable on the Red List.

Volunteers support the work of the local conservation team and take part in the following tasks:

• Snorkelling surveys of the seagrass meadows 
• Assessment of seagrass meadows and geotagged photos to classify the sea floor
• Sand dune habitat surveys, species identification and vegetation studies
• Sand dune litter surveys - recording and collecting litter and debris
• Drone surveys – assisting the team’s drone pilot and reviewing footage to create topographic and 3-D maps 
• Overnight light pollution survey on the beach 
• Data review and entry to databases
• Coastal bird surveys (South Coast Field Station only)

You should be a confident swimmer who has tried snorkelling before. The seagrass meadow research is carried out by snorkelling on the surface of the sea, wearing a life jacket, in waters of up to 8 metres deep. Volunteers are monitored by a safety supervisor on a paddle-board and snorkel shifts will only take place in suitable sea and weather conditions. Occasionally there may be surveys by kayak instead of snorkelling. Surveying involves in-water photos, recording GPS, depths and other properties of the sea environment. 

Through these surveys you will learn about the importance of documenting, protecting and tracking changes to ecosystems and the impact of climate change and human activities. 

Why the work is so important

The seagrass meadows are a larger carbon sink than the rainforest and play a critical role in mitigating climate change. They form an important ecosystem, providing vital habitats and nursery grounds for turtles, fish and lots of other marine life and organisms.

Sand dunes and their vegetation form coastal protection between sea and land. They are a specialised ecosystem for many species including nesting turtles and rare dune vegetation. The dunes are under threat from development and climate change leading to degradation and erosion. The beaches in the area are affected by light pollution from hotels, street lights and restaurants so volunteers monitor the light pollution overnight in teams with the aim to help protect the areas affected by the light pollution along the beach. 

Field Stations

The project has two different field stations, each with its own volunteer accommodation and research focus in different areas of the island.  

At the East Coast Field Station, the beaches that volunteers monitor are 1.5km to 2.5km from the volunteer accommodation.

At the South Coast Field Station, the volunteer accommodation is close to several of the beaches and sand dunes. Volunteers at this base will also take part in bird surveys which contribute to Cornell University’s e-Bird citizen Science online database.

At both field stations you will need to cycle to some of the survey sites so you should be comfortable riding a bicycle (helmets and safety vests are provided). 

Typical day

At the start of your first week, you will be fully briefed on the project and receive training in the research procedures and techniques that you will use, including GPS, sea meadow research, data entry and photo classification.

Working days consist of a morning shift and an afternoon shift of around 2-4 hours each, with the middle of the day free to rest and relax. Mornings with sand dune or bird surveys start early at around 5.30am and the afternoon shift finishes between 6-7pm. There is also often one night beach survey to monitor light pollution. 

Here are sample work rotas for each Field Station:

• East Coast rota 
• South Coast rota  

Volunteers have 1 or 2 days off in their first week and 2 days off in following weeks. During your free time, you can explore the many attractions of the island or simply relax on the beaches near the volunteer accommodation!

Other volunteers

There are usually 12-22 at the East Coast Field Station and 8-16 at the South Coast Field Station, numbers vary throughout the year. This project is popular with volunteers aged 18-25. 

If you are coming with a friend or partner, please let us know so that we can book you onto the same field station and can try to schedule you the same days off and we can request for you to stay in the same room (subject to availability and rooms are normally single gender). 

Once you are booked on, you’ll get access to a Facebook group for all Marine & Coastal Conservation volunteers, so you can get in touch with others if you would like to.

Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) award

This placement has been approved by the DofE as meeting the requirements for the Residential section of the Gold Award.

Local support

You will be working alongside the local team, including field leaders and assistants. Staff live alongside volunteers in the field stations.

“Without the help of volunteers we wouldn’t be able to sustain the ongoing research and assessment of these vulnerable ecosystems which are so important for our planet” Nikos, Program Director

There are two separate volunteer field stations, South Coast and East Coast, each with its own volunteer accommodation.

East Coast Field Station
This is a self-catering volunteer house surrounded by fruit and olive trees, giving lots of shade and space to relax. The house has simple furnishings and a communal cooking and living area. Each bedroom accommodates up to 4 volunteers and there is a shared bathroom. There is basic Wifi.

The house is ideally positioned between the two main coastal areas that will be monitored and the stunning beaches of Skala and Mounda.

South Coast Field Station
Volunteers share a room in accommodation near the coast with a shaded pretty garden. The accommodation is separated into apartments, each with a couple of bedrooms and a kitchenette and a small living area. There is basic Wifi. 

The accommodation is located in the quaint beach town Svoronata and the beautiful soft sandy beach of Ammes is only a five-minute walk away. 

Meals

Meals are not included at either base, but there is an option to pay for catered meals at the South Coast Field Station - vegetarian meals can be provided 5 days a week for an additional cost.

At both field stations volunteers can prepare their own meals and are able to buy groceries locally. You may also like to visit some of the local restaurants, get pizza delivery or order some souvlaki (traditional grilled kebab) for an evening meal on the beach!

There are options at local stores for vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements.  

Here are typical examples of the food you could have:

• Breakfast - Greek yoghurt with honey, toast with jam and banana or apple
• Lunch and dinner vary throughout the week and can include – pasta, grilled sandwich, tomato and green bean stew, moussaka, pasta salad, lentil bake

The water on Kefalonia is safe to drink or you can buy bottled water.
 

You will need to fly into Kefalonia (EFL). 

You will be met on arrival at Kefalonia Airport and transferred your accommodation. The South coast accommodation is around 5 minutes' drive from the airport and the East coast field station is about 1 hour's drive from the airport.

Location and free time

Kefalonia is an popular island in the Ionian Sea, west of mainland Greece. 

When not working, volunteers enjoy socialising together and regularly have movie nights, quiz nights and get creative with henna designs. It’s also nice to head into the local towns and have a meal out and even try out some Greek dancing!

Volunteers have 1 or 2 days off in their first week and 2 days off each additional week to relax and explore the island.

East Coast Field Station
The volunteer house is ideally positioned between the two main coastal areas that will be monitored, the stunning beaches of Skala and Mounda. The beach of the popular tourist town of Skala is 2.3km away and Mounda beach is 1.5km away, easily accessed by walking or using the project bicycles!

Skala has a long beautiful beach with beach bars and restaurants to enjoy, beach volleyball and water sports on offer. There are also bakeries, grocery stores and shops to visit. Mounda beach is known for its tranquillity and pristine waters, a lovely place to relax in the Mediterranean sun!

South Coast Field Station
The accommodation is located in Svoronata with the soft sandy beach of Ammes only a five-minute walk away. Svoronata is a quaint beach town with several traditional Greek tavernas and restaurants. The local bus goes daily to the island capital Argostoli which is the perfect place for shopping and there is lovely harbour, cafes, restaurants, grocery stores and fresh fruit markets.  

Climate 

Kefalonia has a Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and dry, hot summers with long sunny days. From May-October, temperatures range from around 24 to 30+°C, peaking in July and August.

Travelling in and around Kefalonia

Popular activities in Kefalonia that you might like to combine with your project are:

• Beach heaven – beautiful beaches to explore, including Xi beach with its reddish sand and clay that people use as face masks for a homemade spa day!
• Caves, lakes and mountains – there are ancient caves to visit with stalactites, azure blue waters and underground chambers. Mount Ainos is the highest point on the island and a national park with lots of biodiversity and stunning views
• Sea kayaking, snorkelling and scuba diving. Enjoy crystal clear and warm, see the abundant local marine life or go deeper and dive the sunken wrecks of submarines and landing craft from WWII
• Island hopping – the islands of Ithaca, Lefkas and Zante are a ferry ride away or can be visited via day trips on tourist boats

For more information on Greece and some of the things we loved when we visited there please see our Greece country page.

Tom

"I have really enjoyed my 2 weeks. It has been interesting learning about the different data collection methods. The shifts have been enjoyable, my favourite shifts include the snorkelling shifts and drone surveys. I have met lots of great people whilst I have been here. The program is run very well and on arrival, we were provided with lots of interesting information.On my days off I visited Poros, Sami, Fiskardo, Argostoli and Zante."

Jess

"The past two weeks in Greece has been an incredible experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life. This is the first time I have travelled without friends or family but the other volunteers and the staff were so welcoming when we arrived that it immediately felt like home. I arrived in Kefalonia with no experience in marine conservation or anything in a similar field but the past two weeks have been full of learning and taught me so much about the importance of protecting these ecosystems and the impact they have on the rest of the world."

Eden

"I have absolutely loved the past 2 weeks in Kefalonia. I have learnt so much about marine conservation and research which is vital for my course. It has made me fall in love with the ocean even more and exploring the beautiful Greek wildlife. I have also learnt so much about myself, it has been a life experience which I will treasure forever. I have made friends for life, and the interns and volunteers have really made the experience the best possible."

Olivia

"I have spent the last 2 weeks in Kefalonia and enjoyed every second. The balance between actively going out and finding the data yourself and inputting the data into programs and spreadsheets really makes you appreciate what you are doing here. I have made some amazing friends who I will keep in contact with all the time now and I am already looking forward to coming back."

Kaitlyn

"My two weeks have been unforgettable. Not only have I gained incredible experience with a variety of marine conservation efforts, but I have also discovered so much about myself and the importance of taking a journey. Arriving here, I instantly felt at home with the interns and other volunteers, all of whom made this experience so much more memorable. Discovering the culture and natural beauty of the Greek islands has been a highlight of this trip. I could not have chosen a better program to be a part of while taking my first trip overseas."

Camilla

"We never expected to have such an amazing summer spending 4 weeks. Our overall experience was so diverse, making friends, exploring neighbouring islands, doing fun and impactful work, spending time in the sea as well as the beautiful villa, seeing Greek culture and most importantly contributing to a project that everyone involved really cares about. We loved learning about the ecosystems around Kefalonia and knowing the data we collected will help to preserve them in the future made it extremely rewarding."