Whale & Dolphin Conservation in Tenerife for Teenagers

There are few feelings like heading out into the Atlantic Ocean on a research boat, scanning the water for the first sign of a fin… and spotting one. On this two-week project, you’ll experience the excitement of that feeling while working with other teenagers through a set itinerary designed to help you develop skills, build independence, and have fun.

You won’t be joining a whale-watching trip, you’ll take part in an established marine conservation and research expedition inside Europe’s first Whale Heritage Area. You’ll work alongside experienced conservationists to study whales and dolphins, learn how researchers record their findings, and protect the wider coastal environment.

You’ll experience all aspects of working in marine research without the need for prior experience, giving you an edge over the competition in university and job applications. Plus, you’ll explore the stunning island of Tenerife, immerse in the local culture, and marvel at spots of incredible natural beauty. 

Journey alongside other teenagers as part of a structured and supervised two-week programme. It runs over set dates throughout school holidays with the full support of our staff, so you can travel with full confidence at a time that suits you. 

As a teen Marine Conservation participant in Tenerife, you’ll work with expert conservationists on the stunning Canarian coastline. You’ll move between marine research, coastal conservation, scientific learning and island exploration.

Here are some of the tasks you can expect to do during your placement, depending on the needs at the time:

Mammal monitoring
Board boats to monitor and research whales and dolphins in the area through photo documentation and fin identification. Record species-specific data on behaviour, movement patterns, and group dynamics to estimate and understand population sizes.

Land surveys
Conduct land surveys to monitor boat activity and assess how many boats are in the area at any given time. The data you collect will be used to assess threats to marine life and how it impacts whale and dolphin migration and movement patterns.

Beach cleans
Assist with beach cleans by collecting waste and conducting microplastic surveys on Tenerife’s shoreline, protecting nesting creatures and seabirds. You’ll record what you collect and add it to a citizen science database.

Conservation training
Attend workshops to learn about the natural history, biology, behaviour, and social interactions of whales and dolphins. You’ll also learn how to photograph, identify and catalogue these beautiful creatures as well as other marine life.

Environmental education
Participate in environmental education and outreach in the local community as part of our long-term commitment to environmental protection. You might produce educational materials for local children or deliver insightful talks to the community.

Conservation volunteering is all about supporting the protection of our natural world. Your work will help conserve the unique ecosystem of Tenerife and the species that live there, including the whales and dolphins. You’ll also support and inform future conservation efforts.

Join a Conservation Volunteering Project to create a world in which people and planet can coexist and prosper.

The main aim of this project is to support the ongoing monitoring and protection of Tenerife’s local whales, dolphins, and coastal ecosystems. The Canary Islands are home to year-round populations of short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins, alongside many other species that pass through seasonally. This is why it was recognised as Europe’s first Whale Heritage Area.

That makes Tenerife an extraordinary place to see and protect whales and dolphins, bringing huge positives to the area, but also some negatives. It is a very busy marine environment, with high tourism, vessel traffic, coastal development, pollution, and marine litter. These all create pressures and threats to the natural ecosystem that conservationists need to understand and combat.

We support local experts in building a database on whale and dolphin populations and the wider marine ecosystem. We do this by assisting with boat surveys, photo-identification, vessel monitoring, biodiversity surveys, environmental clean-ups, and citizen science programmes.

Your time in Tenerife will be spent working towards three objectives:

1. Understand and protect whales and dolphins
2. Understand human pressure on the marine environment
3. Protect Tenerife’s wider coastal ecosystem

Though you may only join for two weeks, your individual contribution becomes part of something much bigger, combined with all past, present, and future participants. 

Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems in place to ensure you have all the support you need as a young person travelling abroad. 

Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24/7 to provide support and guidance. They will also make sure you feel comfortable and safe at your placement and accommodation. 

Find out more about safety and backup.

This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.