Dive Master and Research Diver Internship in Indonesia

The Divemaster internship allowed me to work with amazing instructors and marine researchers to complete my divemaster while participating in marine science. The two complement each other well as the science portion only adds to the skills gained through this internship in addition to the traditional divemaster training. The program is not easy and is time consuming, however I can confidently say they produce great divemasters and ensure those who graduate are confident dive professionals. The science you participate in is critical for Indonesia’s MPA areas. Although my following career is not directly related the experiences with IOP, the experience in teamwork and leadership played part in the interview process. This ultimately led to landing a job I may not have otherwise been able to.

Where to begin ?? I heard about Indo Ocean Project divemaster program through an ex intern that spoke so highly about it, and was not disappointed by the experience to say the least. I did my divemaster training for 10 weeks starting from march 27th, 2026.

The staff is truly amazing, be it dive instructors, marine biologists, boat crew. You grow and share so much with them, learning solid scuba diving skills while nurturing genuine interest in marine conservation. They are amazing human beings, kind hearted, understanding, fun, and always making sure you feel good and safe.

Growing with other interns coming from so many different places, with different backgrounds and scuba diving levels is a truly enriching experience, you develop strong friendships and share great times underwater and on land.

Program wise, there is a true added value to so the divemaster with IOP as the marine research and conservation bring so much more depth to the training! In the end, you spend more time doing all kinds of surveys underwater, marine conservation workshops, coral restoration, than just learning divemaster technical skills. Which in my opinion is 100 times better, because you drastically improve your diving skills by doing so.

I really enjoyed the location in a very lively part of Nusa Penida, there are a lot of places to see around, many places to eat from, great sunsets, and you are close to Bali in case you need to access more facilities / services. You never get bored on your days off. I was afraid it would be too busy and too touristy, but while I was there it was not peak tourist season so it was still much quieter than Bali.
Dive-wise, this island offers great drift dive spots with sometimes strong currents which make you a confident diver for pretty much any dive spot later on. The marine life is beautiful and diverse, corals are healthy, I will never forget my first dive with mantas.

The only downside that I find to this experience is the accommodation that in my personal opinion was not well maintained and with very minimalistic comfort. For the length of my program, I preferred to book another one at my own expense.

In a nutshell, doing your divemaster training with IOP will be an unforgettable experience where you will gain true interest in marine life, solid scuba diving skills, and create lifelong memories surrounded by amazing people, in a beautiful place. I miss it so much already!! A big thank you to all IOP team🫶

Check my insta for videos of my IOP experience: @cami.elsewhere

I had such a great experience with Indo Ocean Project in Nusa Penida!

One of the highlights for me was definitely the people. The atmosphere is amazing, and very quickly the other interns and the staff start to feel like a little family. It made the whole experience so much more special, both during project activities and outside of them.

The workshops were genuinely fascinating and led by passionate and knowledgeable staff who are always happy to share what they know. I learned a lot throughout my time there, both about marine conservation and underwater research.

And of course, the diving! Nusa Penida is an incredible place to dive, with beautiful sites, amazing marine life and sometimes challenging currents, which also makes it a great place to develop your skills and become a more confident diver.

Life on the island is easy and enjoyable. It is a relatively small island so you do get to know it quite quickly, but with the diving, project activities and the people around you, I really enjoyed calling it home for a few weeks.

And somehow, after six weeks of waiting for one… Nusa Penida gave me a Mola on my very last day. Couldn’t have asked for a better goodbye!

Definitely an experience and a little family I’ll remember for a long time. 💙

I did my Divemaster training with IOP in Raja Ampat over 10 weeks this past November, and it was the best time of my life. Choosing IOP was one of the best decisions I've made. Their instructors knew exactly what they were doing, and I learned far more than I expected, both in and out of the water.

Life in the jungle wasn't easy. Between the heat, the basic living conditions, and the physical demand of the course, there were moments that tested me. But every hard day was worth it. The camp itself was stunning, and some of my favourite memories are the simplest ones: sunsets from the jetty after a long day of diving, and snorkel sessions floating over the reef.

What set the course apart was how comprehensive it was. It wasn't just about mastering dive skills, the program wove in real ecological and marine conservation education, and that knowledge has changed the way I look at the ocean.
Diving in Raja Ampat is unlike anywhere else. The currents can be genuinely challenging, and learning to work with them made me a far more confident diver. My favourite dives were the coral restoration and maintenance dives, purposeful yet calming, knowing the work was contributing to something bigger than myself. Add to that mantas, devil rays, corals for miles, and more fish than I've ever seen in one place, and it felt like being dropped into a different world every day, one where I was diving with a real sense of purpose.

To anyone considering their Divemaster training, I highly recommend IOP. You'll be in incredibly capable hands and have the time of your life.

A huge thank you to the IOP staff, Kevin, Gita, and Selene, for making this experience unforgettable.

Choosing to do my Divemaster training at IOP in Bira was one of the best decisions I ever made. The quality of education from both the dive training side and ecology/conservation side is unmatched. The staff are all incredibly experienced, knowledgeable, passionate about the work IOP is doing, and encouraging of each individual intern's goals. I have never learned so much in such a short amount of time as I did during my 10 weeks at IOP. All of the ecology and conservation workshops were informative, engaging, and sparked conversations that always left us interns feeling inspired. I am incredibly grateful to the IOP Bira staff (Vale, Sudar, and Kert) for making me feel consistently challenged yet supported throughout the program. The education (both in and out of the water) at IOP greatly prepared to work in both the diving and conservation industries. I continued on to becoming a PADI instructor after completing my internship and felt extremely ready and prepared to pass the Instructor exam right from the start. Thank you IOP, Vale, Sudar, and Kert for this!

Taking part in the divemaster program at IOP was one of the best decisions I ever made. As someone who studied marine biology for my undergrad, this program was perfect, combining marine conservation with diving. I loved that we would partake in scientific surveys and conservation whist simultaneously getting our divemaster. This really helped me advance my diving and scientific skills. The staff are amazing, they not only, always put your safety first when diving but also genuinely care about you and are very willing to help if you have any problems. As well as that the diving in Nusa Penida is amazing, my highlight was seeing a mola!

The Indo Ocean Project, specifically at the Bira Location, was everything I hoped for in my dive masters project and more. The level of passion and enthusiasm apparent in the IOP staff in everything they do is genuinely incredible. Collectively, they have a tremendous wealth of knowledge and care for diving and the marine environment.

Starting as a reduce diver and staying for 10 weeks, I have gained lifelong friends and learnt from some of the best teachers I have ever had. I have become a confident diver across so many aspects - conducting science, rescues, refreshers and leading.

The Blue Planet Dive Center where the project is located is truly amazing - right on the water, all the facilities and comforts you really need - all in a corner of the world I will sorely miss.

If you can't tell - I had an amazing time and couldn't recommend it more highly. An incredible program taught by incredible people in an incredible part of the world :))

Great program, especially for someone like me who is a recent graduate looking for early career opportunities in the marine conservation world. It was amazing being able to simultaneously get my divemaster as well as help with conservation efforts, which allowed me to build my skills as a diver and a scientist. The diving is absolutely amazing, and the program provides so many opportunities to get on the boat, be active, and be hands on. The staff are wonderful--you can tell they treat your safety as their number one priority. They are also funny, open, and down to earth. Also, I got great nudibranch pics.