Marine

Marine Conservation Volunteering Abroad

Dive into the work of ocean conservation volunteering to protect marine life worldwide

Life on Earth depends on our oceans, and they need your help. Our marine conservation projects provide the opportunity to experience the world beneath the waves while protecting and preserving our planet.

As an ocean conservation volunteer with Projects Abroad, you’ll play a vital role in the protection of our marine life. Whether you’re a turtle lover, shark enthusiast, or whale watcher, grab your diving gear and make a splash with our marine conservation projects.

You could:

If you’re more interested in life on land than below the waterline, take a look at our wildlife conservation volunteering opportunities instead!

Choose a Marine Conservation project

Michelle G

Friendly and welcoming staff

Rosanna H

We would sit on the back of the quad bike while one of the staff members drove along the beach 12km north and south of the camp. I was lucky enough to see a mother Olive Ridley turtle laying her eggs into a nest, where we waited and waited until she went back to sea and we collected and buried the eggs.

Jennifer S

From waking up to the sound of the waves crashing on the beach every morning; to seeing the sun set over the ocean every evening, every second spent there was incredible.

Miranda D

Having your dive course included and scheduled for you (as well as transportation to and from the dive shop and a packed lunch) was such an incredible benefit to the program. I felt safe and confident throughout my dive course aided by the enthusiastic and knowledgeable dive instructors employed at the dive shop partnered with Projects Abroad, Beqa Adventure Divers.

Mark M

I decided to join the Shark Conservation Project in Fiji because of my love for sharks and marine conservation. I find sharks a truly fascinating group of animals, and I have always been keen to study them.

Anna C

I never thought two weeks could be such a life-altering experience. I enjoy traveling but I always would get bored on vacations. This was a great way to combine so many of my favorite things to learn more about the world, others, and myself.

James O

The most important part of my time in Thailand for me though was the connections and friendships I made with the volunteers that came from all around the world and the locals in Thailand.

Frequently asked questions

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 saving our oceans. Take part in real research and carry out crucial tasks that have a real impact on your project.

You will also develop important skills which may be useful for your career. For example, many of our marine conservation volunteering projects include Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Diving Course training. Plus, every project will help you improve your soft skills, such as communication, time management, and independence.

Our job is to ensure you find the right project for you and your passion for marine conservation. Read more about our best marine conservation volunteering opportunities on our blog!

Who is this for?

Our marine conservation volunteering projects are ideal for you if you love marine life, swimming, or open-water diving. You’ll learn new skills and get your hands dirty (or should we say “wet”) while you contribute to real and impactful conservation efforts. You won’t need any previous experience, just enthusiasm and the ability to swim at least 200 metres without help.

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 endangered marine animals, including sea turtles, sharks, or coral reefs, and more.

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.

What will I gain from marine conservation volunteering abroad?

Besides having a positive impact on the environment and local community, you’ll also develop some of your own skills as a marine conservation volunteer.

These are some of the skills you will develop through ocean conservation:

  • Soft skills like teamwork, communication, leadership, resilience, organisation, planning, and time management
  • Work experience and knowledge of practical marine conservation and environmental sciences
  • PADI Open Water and Scuba Diving certificates, including the chance to become a Divemaster on some projects
  • Confidence from pushing past your comfort zone

All of the above will enhance your CV, UCAS 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.

Why is marine conservation volunteering important?

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

Doing volunteer work in marine conservation helps remove plastic from our oceans, prevent poachers from harming endangered creatures, and monitor at-risk species. You could make a real difference by getting involved.

How are our Marine Conservation Projects different?

At Projects Abroad, our first aim is to protect marine life and benefit the local communities through our Marine Conservation Projects. We make sure our projects are ethical and support growth in the local environment.

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

Be fully supported by staff

On these projects you’ll work alongside professionals, members of the local community, and Projects Abroad staff. You’ll team up with a wider network of volunteers, all working together for shark, coral reef, and sea turtle conservation.

Our staff will be there to support you throughout your project with us, no matter your needs.

Projects that have an impact

All our projects are well researched, targeted, and sustainable. We aim to make a significant difference to the communities and marine life we work with. 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.

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.

Still got questions? We’re happy to help!

Our trusted accreditations

British Youth Travel Awards Customer Service
Go Overseas Rating
SDG Contribution finalist
Go Abroad Winner
Learning outside the classroom badge
GoOverseas community choice award
Sustainable tour operator finalist
GoAbroad Rating
Volunteer Forever award