Marine conservation volunteering abroad

Volunteer abroad in marine conservation to learn new skills as you shadow professionals, earn recognised diving qualifications, and immerse in new cultures while protecting our oceans.

As a marine conservation volunteer with Projects Abroad, you’ll play a vital role in preserving marine life.

Our marine conservation volunteer opportunities allow you to experience a whole new world beneath the waves. Whether you’re a turtle lover, shark enthusiast, or whale watcher, grab your diving gear and make a splash on our marine conservation projects.

On our most popular marine conservation projects, you could:

earn a diving qualification in Thailand and survey tropical coral reefs
travel to Fiji to protect and monitor vital shark populations
snorkel in the crystal clear waters of the Maldives and work at a marine centre
feel golden sand between your toes as you care for and release turtle hatchlings in Mexico or Sri Lanka

Get in touch to discuss marine conservation volunteering

Have some specific questions or want to talk through our marine conservation volunteer opportunities? Our team is here to help. Fill in the form below to get started.

Frequently asked questions about marine conservation

What does a marine conservation volunteer do?

You’ll work with and learn from marine biologists, environmental scientists, and local community leaders who are dedicated to defending our fragile oceans.

Alongside other participants from around the world, you’ll support them in conducting research, surveying marine creatures, and cleaning our beaches.

On many of our marine conservation volunteer abroad programs, you will also work through the requirements to gain a globally recognised diving certification.

The exact activities you’ll do depend on the project and destination you choose and are detailed on the relevant project page. However, no matter where you go, you’ll learn from the experts and get a real taste of what marine conservation is all about.

You might dive beneath the waves to protect and repair coral reefs, or spend some time working in a marine centre, caring for turtles and sea creatures awaiting rehabilitation.

Alternatively, you could get stuck in with blue carbon conservation, restoring coastal ecosystems and planting mangrove trees.

No matter which project you choose, your experience will help build key skills that will be useful in your career, education, and day-to-day life. You’ll develop your personal skills by pushing out of your comfort zone while learning real marine conservation techniques.

Three Projects Abroad divers have fun in Fiji, posing for the camera while conducting coral reef surveys underwater

What will I gain from marine conservation volunteering abroad?

On top of having a positive impact on the environment and local community, being a marine conservation volunteer will also develop your personal skills. Your growth opportunities are only enhanced by going abroad, as you push yourself out of your comfort zone.

While marine life in Australia is fascinating, it’s always beneficial to broaden your horizons and bring new learnings home, especially if you’re aiming for a career in marine conservation.

Through marine conservation volunteering abroad, you’ll get the chance to develop:

confidence, independence, and adaptability by travelling to a new and unfamiliar place and handling new challenges
soft skills like teamwork, communication, leadership, resilience, organisation, planning, and time management by meeting, living, and working with a group of other volunteers from around the world
real work experience and a practical understanding of marine conservation and environmental sciences
your understanding of open water diving and techniques, with the chance to earn globally recognised certifications for diving-focused projects

On a survey of Projects Abroad participants:

93% felt their experience increased their ability to handle unfamiliar situations
93% believe they developed a broader understanding of global issues, cultures, and perspectives
89% now feel more confident in themselves and their abilities
85% think they are now better able to cope with challenges and setbacks
78% agree that it improved their ability to work in a team

All of the above will enhance your CV, university applications, and your personal development.

Get a Diploma in International Volunteering alongside your project

When you undertake volunteer work in marine conservation, you can also sign up for our Diploma in International Volunteering.

This offers a Marine Conservation specialisation that draws on your volunteer experience. Completing the diploma alongside volunteer work, you’ll gain academic credit to support your university application.

“We had some incredible days there, collecting data underwater, planting seaweed, doing beach clean-ups, and drinking lots of coconut water. We did several surveys on lobsters, conch shells, sea grass and SPAGS diving and entered our data into the official databases, making it possible to track and observe the health of the reef.” - Michelle P, Marine Conservation volunteer

Projects Abroad volunteers replanting mangroves on their Fiji Marine Conservation Project

Who is marine conservation volunteering abroad for?

Our marine conservation volunteering projects are ideal for you if you love marine life, swimming, or open-water diving. They’re open to anyone aged 14 and over; as long as you have an interest in the field and the passion to try something new, get involved!

You’ll learn new skills and get your hands dirty (or should we say “wet”) while you contribute to real and impactful marine conservation efforts.

You won’t need any previous experience, just enthusiasm and the ability to swim at least 200 metres without help.

We run flexible marine conservation projects all year round for anyone aged 18 and over, or offer some dedicated programs just for teens between 14 and 18 years old. These are called High School Specials, and run exclusively through school holidays, coming with additional, comprehensive support from our staff.

Our marine conservation volunteer opportunities give you the chance to learn from local experts and pick up vital marine conservation skills.

You’ll be making a positive impact for vulnerable ecosystems, like coral reefs, and endangered marine animals, like sea turtles or sharks.

Looking to kickstart a career in Marine Conservation? Read our blog on marine conservation internships that'll give you practical experience above and below the waves. It'll give you the opportunity to stand out and get ahead of the competition.

“As a scientist-in-training I was most impressed with all of the science underlying the project and how willing the staff was to share their knowledge. I was able to see science in action as well as conservation efforts making their way up the chain to actually change environmental policy.” - Christina C, Shark Conservation in Fiji

Why is marine conservation volunteering important?

Our oceans face countless concerns, such as overfishing, plastic pollution, and global warming. This means that the threat to already endangered marine life is always rising.

Our ocean volunteer work helps tackle issues where they are most pressing. Guided by local experts, our participants support efforts to remove plastic from our oceans, prevent poachers from harming endangered creatures, and monitor at-risk species.

Many of our projects have a specific focus on blue carbon conservation. Blue carbon is carbon that is absorbed from the atmosphere and stored in the ocean or coastal environments.

The protection and restoration of coastal ecosystems is vital for reducing the impact of global warming and climate change, as they can be up to 10 times more effective at removing carbon from the atmosphere than forests.

Get involved, learn new skills, and support global efforts to protect our marine ecosystems.

A large group of Projects Abroad volunteers stand behind a huge pile of rubbish that they collected on a beach clean in Thailand.

How are our marine conservation projects different?

At Projects Abroad, the priority of our marine conservation projects is to protect marine life while also benefitting local communities. We make sure all our work is ethical and supports growth in the local environment.

Here are some of the elements that set us apart from other volunteering programs:

Fully supported by staff

On our marine life conservation projects, you’ll work alongside professionals, members of the local community, and Projects Abroad staff. Our staff will be there to support you throughout your project with us, no matter your needs.

They’ll meet you at the airport and take you to your accommodation, regularly check in with you to make sure you’re okay, and be contactable 24-hours a day.

If you’re a teen participant on a High School Special, you’ll have 24/7 supervision so our staff are with you whenever you need them.

Cultural immersion

Marine conservation volunteering abroad is an opportunity to not only learn skills in a field you’re passionate about, but also to fully experience life in a new country. You’ll live and work alongside local experts, learn the language, try the food, and get stuck into engaging cultural activities.

This comes with enhanced perspectives, as you start to see the world differently and better understand global challenges. It will also help you become more confident, independent, and adaptable.

Join other global volunteers

You’ll team up with a wide network of volunteers from around the world, working towards your shared conservation goals. This gives you the chance to build global friendships and connections that could last a lifetime.

Projects that have an impact

All our marine conservation projects are well researched, targeted, and sustainable. We aim to support the efforts of the communities we work with, not replace them. Our work is entirely guided by local stakeholders who can better allocate our resources according to their needs at the time.

Even if you only do marine conservation volunteering work for two weeks, you are contributing to the wider effort of every volunteer who has been before you.

Read our Impact Report for more information, broken down by year.

"My dive instructor was fantastic, as well as the entire Projects Abroad Thailand team. They always made me feel 100% comfortable at all times, in and out of the water. I do not have enough positive things to say about all of the staff – the boat staff, dive masters, project leaders and manager were all welcoming, happy to explain and answer all of my questions about the project and conservation, accommodate any requests or feedback from volunteers and ultimately help the whole team have an amazing time." — Mikayla M, Marine Conservation in Thailand

A Projects Abroad volunteer playing with perspective using a lionfish on her Marine Conservation Project in Belize

Our Animal Protection Policy

We take protecting the animals and wildlife we work with very seriously. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive Animal Protection Policy which guides all our animal volunteer work abroad.