Marine Conservation - Internships

CONSERVATION DIVER INTERNSHIP

Duration: 8-12 weeks

Internship start dates:

2021:

• 30 Aug 2021 - 15 Oct 2021 (8 weeks)
• 20 Dec 2021 - 11 Mar 2022 (12 weeks)

2022:

• 14 Feb 2022 - 6 May 2022 (12 weeks)
• 11 Apr 2022 - 1 Jul 2022 (12 weeks)
• 6 Jun 2022 - 26 Aug 2022 (12 weeks)
• 1 Aug 2022 - 14 Oct 2022 (11 weeks)

Please note that these are the internship start dates - if you need additional courses (see Entry Requirements below) you would need to arrive earlier to complete these. Please contact us and we can advise you further.

Entry requirements

In order to begin the internship, you will need to be at least Advanced diver level. Any required courses can be completed on arrival prior to starting your internship.

What’s involved?

The Conservation Diver Internship allows volunteers to gain a unique insight into the marine conservation world as valued member of the team! The Conservation Diver Internship consists of 4 weeks training followed by another 4-8 weeks of assisting the instructors and students on all aspects of the programme. You will be given more responsibility and be involved in:

• Preparation of dive gear and materials for the day’s activities
• Collecting and inputting data to the team’s various databases so the project can apply this data to forming conservation plans for the coral reef in order to protect and restore it
• Attend monthly meetings to help set conservation goals for the month and discuss ideas, problems and solutions
• Organising activities such as beach clean-ups, movie nights and community events

Volunteers joining the Conservation Diver Internship will not be leading dives unless they have the Divemaster level or higher scuba diving qualification.

DIVEMASTER & CONSERVATION INTERNSHIP

Duration: 12 weeks

Internship start sates

 2021:

• 5 Jul 2021 - 24 Sep 2021
• 13 Dec 2021 - 4 Mar 2022

2022:

• 7 Feb 2022 - 29 Apr 2022
• 4 Apr 2022 - 24 Jun 2022
• 30 May 2022 - 19 Aug 2022
• 27 Jun 2022 - 16 Sep 2022

Please note that these are the internship start dates - if you need additional courses / dives (see Entry Requirements below) you would need to arrive earlier to complete these. Please contact us and we can advise you further.

Entry requirements

In order to begin the internship, you will need to be at Rescue diver level with a minimum 40-logged dives. Any required courses and dives can be completed on arrival prior to starting your internship.

What’s involved?

The Divemaster and Conservation Internship allows Rescue Diver qualified volunteers to further their scuba-diving knowledge and become professionally certified divers! At the end of the Divemaster programme, you are a professional diver and can earn money working in the diving industry.

Interns start with the 8 week Divemaster programme, which includes learning about:

• How to assist instructors in teaching dive courses
• How to lead certified divers on ‘fun dives’
• How to set up and maintain dive gear
• Dive planning

The final stage is spent doing the 4 week marine conservation programme.

FEES AND WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Conservation Diver Internship 8 weeks = £2395 GBP
• Conservation Diver Internship 11-12 weeks = £2595 GBP
• Divemaster and Conservation Internship = £2395 GBP

Depending on your current dive level you may need to add on the following additional dive course costs (see Entry requirements above):

• Open Water = £295 GBP
• Advanced = £275 GBP
• Rescue = £275 GBP
• React Right (first aid element of Rescue course) = £110 GBP
• Additional dives = approx £20 per dive

Included

• Dedicated Pod Volunteer Specialist to support you
• Accommodation for 2 weeks - your own room
• Internship training, programme and dives
• Use of all dive equipment
• Support from the local team
• Support from the Pod Volunteer UK office by phone and email
• 24/7 emergency back up
• Volunteering certificate and reference (on request)

Not included

• Flights and travel to Koh Tao
• Travel insurance
• Visa (if required)
• Vaccinations and medication
• Accommodation after the first 2 weeks
• Divemaster & Conservation Internship - Dive Master Crewpack materials approx £200 GBP + PADI Professional Fee $200 AUD
• Living costs - food, snacks, drinks, laundry
• Any tourist trips / activities you choose to do in your free time

Accommodation

For the first 2 weeks your accommodation is included and you will be based in a relaxed and friendly village on the south side of the island. The dive school and accommodation are located close to the beach.

During your first 2 weeks the local team can advise you on finding accommodation for the remainder of your internship. There are many options in Koh Tao to suit all budgets. Interns often choose to live together or with staff, rent a small apartment or stay in a local hostel or hotel.