Intern

Divemaster and Research Diver Internship in Bali

Name: Divemaster and Research Diver Internship in Bali
Brand: Project Laut
SKU: 269022
Rating: 4.98 (42 reviews)

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Project Laut

4.98 (42 reviews)

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Solo Travelers

Adventure travelers

Students

Divemaster and Research Diver Internship in Bali

Project Laut

4.98 · 42 reviews

Community Choice Award Winner

Location

Indonesia
- Bali

Industry

Animal Science Biology Conservation and Preservation Ecology Environmental Studies Life Sciences Marine Biology Startups Sustainable Development Tourism Wildlife Sciences +1

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Program Details

Compensation

Unpaid

Timeframe

Year Round

Language

English

Weekly Hours

Pricing

Starting Price

3199

Price Details

We offer multiple packages based on your current dive level.

All packages include: BC & regulator rental; listed diving and ecological courses & workshops; pre-arrival online training; scientific course materials; all SSI Divemaster materials and professional certification/processing fees; tanks, weights & air; lunch on double-dive boat days; visa guidance and sponsorship letters; airport pick-up/transfer add-on possible; accommodation guidance; pre-arrival support; two Project Laut program shirts.

Not included: flights, accommodation, insurance, meals on non-boat days, personal gear beyond BC+reg, and government/visa costs.

See our website for details.

What's Included

Activities Airport Transfers Some Meals SIM cards Wifi

What's Included (Extra)

Airport pick-up is available upon request

What's Not Included

Accommodation Airfare Some Meals Transportation Travel Insurance Visa

What's Not Included (Extra)

General personal expenses, VISA costs, accommodation

Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Last Reviewed: Oct 03, 2025

Wish List

54 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Choose the Divemaster that actually makes you employable.

Our Bali-based Divemaster & Research Diver Internship is built around hands-on conservation, not passive logging. Train daily while earning real field hours in coral restoration (MARRS hex-spiders), turtle photo-ID, reef surveys, and 3D photogrammetry/orthomosaics. Small cohorts and Instructor-Trainer oversight mean 1:1 coaching and professional standards. This is a longer, deeper program so you graduate with your SSI Divemaster credential plus a portfolio (maps, datasets, restoration logs) and references.

Typical week: 1–2 dives/day plus workshops or labs; Saturday surveys/analysis; Sunday rest (conditions dependent). Built for focused candidates who want credible experience for conservation careers, grad school, or paid pro roles.

Optional in-house next step: Instructor Training Courses, or Technical Diving pathways available for the intrepid!

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

This program offers thorough, high-standard dive training in challenging conditions with strong safety focus, paired with hands-on marine conservation work like coral restoration and turtle monitoring.

AI-generated summary from verified community reviews Read reviews →

Video and Photos

A happy male diver sitting on the edge of the dive boat in full gear smiling at the camera

An underwater shot of a diver tending to a fully filled metal coral structure with the sun in the background

A Happy intern on the boat attaching coral fragments to a metal coral structure while smiling at the camera

A group of interns, staff, and local school children posing on the beach with the trash they have collected together

An expat lady helping a young local school girl attach a coral fragments to a metal coral structure

A shot of a group of divers with one diver in focus in the foreground with arms folded and a Project Laut branded regulator cover.

A shot of 3 interns all attaching coral to a coral structure on the boat.

An underwater shot of a diver transporting a fully planted metal coral structure in the water column

A happy project laut intern sitting on the edge of the dive boat in full gear smiling and making a heart with her hands

A shot of two divers dropping into the water from the dive boat

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Program Highlights

Hands-on conservation every week: coral restoration (MARRS hex-spiders), turtle photo-ID, reef surveys, 3D photogrammetry.
Small cohorts, 1:1 coaching: overseen by TWO Platinum-1000 Instructor Trainers for fast, standards-driven progress.
Graduate with proof: SSI Divemaster plus a portfolio (maps, datasets, restoration logs) and strong professional references.
Built for employability: longer placement = real field hours that count for conservation jobs and graduate programs.
Train where it matters: Nusa Penida (mantas, clear currents); optional Eco-Instructor/tech add-ons; Erasmus+ credit possible.

Popular Programs

Tier 1: Rescue -> Divemaster

RESCUE → DIVEMASTER (8 weeks)

For certified Stress & Rescue divers (or equivalent) with active React Right (or equivalent) + Oxygen Provider and 40+ logged dives.

Train daily in small cohorts while completing SSI Divemaster plus 5 included ecology certifications (Marine Ecology, Turtle Ecology, Manta & Ray, Shark Ecology, Coral ID + BONUS Coral Reef Restoration) and hands-on conservation (coral restoration, surveys, photogrammetry).

Cost: USD $3,299. Optional add-ons: Nitrox & Deep.

Tier 2: Advanced -> Divemaster

ADVANCED → DIVEMASTER (10 weeks) — For SSI Advanced Adventurer (or equivalent) with 20+ logged dives.

Progress through Stress & Rescue + React Right (incl. O2 Provider) and then the SSI Divemaster while gaining real field hours: coral restoration, reef surveys, turtle ID, and 3D photogrammetry. Includes 5 ecology certifications (Marine, Turtle, Manta & Ray, Shark, Coral ID).

Cost: USD $3,999. Optional add-ons: Nitrox & Deep,

Tier 3: Open Water -> Divemaster

OPEN WATER → DIVEMASTER (12 weeks) — For SSI Open Water (or equivalent) with 10+ logged dives.

Progress through Advanced Adventurer, Stress & Rescue + React Right (incl. O2 Provider), then the SSI Divemaster course. Earn 5 ecology certifications and real field hours in coral restoration, reef surveys, turtle ID, and 3D photogrammetry.

Cost: USD $4,599. Optional add-ons: Nitrox & Deep.

Tier 4: Zero-to-Hero

ZERO TO HERO → DIVEMASTER (14 weeks) — For swimmers comfortable in the water who can tread 10 min, swim 400 m unassisted, and are medically fit to dive.

Start with SSI Open Water, then Advanced Adventurer, Stress & Rescue + React Right (incl. O2 Provider), and graduate SSI Divemaster. Includes 5 ecology certifications plus hands-on conservation (coral restoration, surveys, turtle ID, 3D photogrammetry).

Cost: USD $5,299. Optional add-ons: Nitrox & Deep.

Tier 5: Research Diver

RESEARCHER PACKAGE (6 weeks) — For independent, drift-comfortable divers who are Rescue certified with 50+ logged dives.

Join active conservation work in Nusa Penida while completing a mentored independent project tied to real site needs. Includes 3 ecology certifications and field time across monitoring workflows and data handling with weekly reviews.

Cost: USD $1,899. Course length is flexible—extend or shorten to match your goals and schedule.

Program Reviews

4.98 Rating

based on 42 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Intern

5 rating 97.62%
4 rating 2.38%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Growth 5
Support 4.95
Fun 5
Housing 4.9
Safety 4.9

Good for Solo Travelers, Adventure travelers, Students

Showing 9 - 16 of 42 reviews

The staff at Project Laut has helped me so much throughout my entire internship, they always made me feel like I belonged. They have made me feel confident in myself and my abilities and I am sure to recommend them to anyone looking to try their hand at marine conservation and get their diving certifications. They will teach you everything you need to know and more so you can be as knowledgeable about diving in a fun and safe way. As well as incorporating conservation in every dive as you ID turtles, help corals grow over rubble, monitor natural threats, collect trash and detangle fishing lines.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Take it seriously. You're paying to learn and gain experience in your course and your internship. You are there to better your skills and just cause you paid for it doesn't mean you will get it. It takes effort and the staff there are putting in so much work and helping you as much as they can, but they can only do so much so you should be working to match their efforts.

Pros

Community
Teaching
Experience

I had an amazing time with the Project Laut team and all the interns. The diving in Indonesia is some of the best in the world, and the sometimes challenging dive sites around Nusa Penida are perfect for building confidence and progressing toward becoming a professional diver.
If you are only a bit social you will form great friendships along the way.
It was nice to see how dedicated the entire team is to conservation. Even in just 10 weeks, you can make an impact on the coral reefs health and learn a lot along the way. I highly recommend it.

What was your funniest moment?

When you hit your 100th dive most divers will do it naked which in itself is pretty funny. Me and my mates decide to do it on one of the hardest dives sites in Penida though (Blue Corner).
The site is known for fast switching conditions and sometimes raging currents. Many people (including me) panicked here before.
Luckily we had an awesome dive guide and buddies and there was no down current. So 3 naked dudes (and 2 highly trained divers) drift on this dive site doing swim throughs, exploring small caves and just have a good time on the most daunting site in Penida.
All while our dive guide Joma has to make sure we don't get ourselves in trouble.

Pros

Really good Time
Great Connections
Professional DMT Program

Cons

Shared space with another dive shop
Very sad when it ends

My DM internship at Project Laut in Bali was unforgettable AWESOME experience! Over the 3 months, I learned so much about Marine conservation, coral planting and guiding tourists. Joma, Sita, Asia, Margo and Abbas and the whole team with interns included were amazing ,making the work both fun & educational. I also made lifelong friends with some of the best memories made over focaccia. I cant wait to visit Project Laut again to see reef sharks and Mola molas which truly felt like they were from another planet. A huge thank you for the incredible experiences and the opportunity to be part of team for 3 months ❤️
🪸 Small team same dream!🇫🇮

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

Bubblecoffee

I came to Penida and happened to walk into Nomads Dive Shop while wandering the streets. I immediately fell in love with the vibe, the passionate employees, and the cutest shop dogs. I applied to do the DM internship the next day. What was supposed to be a 2-month internship turned into over 6 months on the island, getting my instructors, and now I happily live here in Bali. This internship changed my life completely!

Many other divemaster internships teach you to be an okay diver as long as you can pass the exams. At Project Laut, the instructors passionately teach you to be the absolute best diver you can be. They push you hard and hold you to the highest expectations in the best way possible.

Penida is not an easy place to dive; there are unpredictable conditions and strong currents. But what better place to learn?! They say if you can learn to dive in Penida, you can dive anywhere in the world, and it's true.

Project Laut is now my family and I am so grateful, do yourself a favor and do this internship <3

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

Mola-Mola aka Sunfish, the world largest boney fish, which is what Penida is known for! Such amazing creatures.

Pros

Laid back Island Vibe
Amazing employees/instructors
Mantas & Molas!

Cons

cant think of one!

the internship to tulumben was amazing <3

even though there's not much trash on penida, project laut still helps clean up what they can, we pulled the out of our house reef.

I had an incredible experience with Project Laut in 2023! The dive training with Asia was thorough and incredibly detailed, enhancing my skills and confidence underwater. Abas and Margeaux made the coral restoration projects fascinating, combining hands-on work with scientific insights, making the experience both educational and inspiring.

The reefs here are some of the healthiest I’ve seen, teeming with life. Despite having only an open water certification, and no prior experience in conservation, I quickly gained the knowledge and skills needed to feel confident and competent. Completing my instructor course with Project Laut was a dream come true.

The team’s passion and dedication to marine conservation are evident in everything they do. I highly recommend Project Laut to anyone looking to advance their diving career while making a meaningful impact on marine conservation!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

The most nerve-wracking experience for me was definitely dealing with the strong currents in Nusa Penida. At first, the currents were quite challenging and intimidating, making me doubt my abilities. However, with time and practice, I improved considerably. The professional and patient team of dive leaders at Project Laut provided excellent guidance and support, helping me build my confidence and skills. Now, I feel confident in handling tough conditions, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to learn to dive in such a dynamic environment. The experience has made me a stronger and more capable diver.

Pros

Excellent Instruction
Hands-on Conservation Work
Surrounded By Passionate People

What is there to say? I loved my 10 weeks with Project Laut more than I ever expected to, it's been the highlight of my backpacking journey so far! Sita, Joma and all of the staff at Project Laut and Nomads were fantastic and I already miss them now that I'm gone. The other interns were great to be with, and, whether diving or exploring the island on our days off, I have wonderful memories with them all.

I would definitely recommend Project Laut to anyone seeking a new adventure, you can't go wrong

What was your funniest moment?

Playing underwater charades when we were supposed to be practicing skills. Not as easy as you'd think!

Pros

Conservation experience and education
Incredibly friendly people to spend time with
High standard of learning

I spent 8 weeks with Project Laut in Nusa Penida. I came for the research internship as I was already certified divemaster. I didn’t study marine biology so I came to learn more about the ocean. With the ecology class, I can now say that I know and understand better the underwater world.
The programme for the turtles ID is really interesting and I hope it will be useful in the future to keep protecting the sea turtles in Nusa Penida.
The coral plantation in front of the dive center is growing really fast, and was really nice to be part of this project too.

Pros

Small group
Healthy reefs
Turtle ID + coral plantation

I decided to join project Laut to change my life and focus more on my passion -scuba diving. I was there for 3 months and I really enjoyed the time with all the other interns, Joma and Sita.
I really improved my diving skills and I could help in the conservation programs such as turtle ID and coral restoration.
I also attended some ecology courses, and they were very interesting and help me to understand better the underwater world.
At the end of the program I also decided to join the instructor course and they prepared me really really well!
I strongly recommend this internship not only for all the skills and knowledge you will learn but also for the wonderful people are behind it!

Pros

Improve diving skills
Wonderful people
Help the ocean

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

In all honesty, it sounded cool. I had completed my degree in ecology the year before, and I wanted to move into more of a practical side of it. Nomads and Project Laut gave me the opportunity to travel, and make moves towards my future goals in conservation. The program allowed me to be in the water, doing what I wanted to do, and interact with all different people from different walks of life.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

While accommodation, transport and meals were not directly supplied by the program, Sita and Joma were beyond helpful in pointing me in the right direction and put me into contact with the right people. With moving to a new country it was beyond appreciated, they made me feel like I was home. They ran me around on my first day to check places in person, helped negotiate prices, and all in all were just amazing.

View Entire Interview

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Run into it with open arms and an a open mind. The program and the people are amazing, and I would not trade the experience for anything. Another thing I would say is do everything, learn a bit of Bahasa, try all the food, go see all the places, because the whole experience is life changing. Making that little bit of effort to immerse yourself makes all the difference.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

With 2 days off a week its an amazing opportunity to explore the island and the culture, as well as to just enjoy your down time. Working days vary between being on the boat with the other interns, or learning how to work with customers, building and deploying coral spiders, and completing the various workshops. Sometimes we would have family dinners and game nights, the interactions between everyone went beyond just the shop.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I knew I was going to be joined with a big group of people who already knew each other, and I was worried about feeling isolated, alone and lost. But right away Sita and Joma made me feel like I was part of a family. I was also scared that this was going to be some sort of pipe dream and that I wouldn't be able to do it, but they were open to any and all questions I had, and trust me there were a lot, and helped me accept that being a dive professional just clicked for me.

Write and answer your own question.

Is there anything you would have done different?

I would've saved more for small weekend trip and/or invested in an underwater video camera. I love my normal camera but sometimes you just need a quick easy shot for memories, and for the turtle conservation work too. Also try to get a couple of specialties too, like your deep spec or underwater photography.

Kevin Sites

Author

2022 Alum

Lisa-Mae Mercorella

2021 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Intan Stefhanie

Program

Divemaster and Research Diver Internship in Bali

Job Title

Admissions Outreach

I'm from Pekanbaru, Indonesia and i studied taxation economy at Riau University. I am a person who thrives on working as part of a team or independently. I take initiative, I am hardworking and eager to learn with core values of honesty, carefulness, and tenacity. With my knowledge and experience, I would be able to fulfill the requirement you request and become an asset to your team. I worked at Bank Negara Indonesia in Pekanbaru and also worked as a Doctor Secretary who opened his clinic in South Jakarta for 1 month and, I have experience working with one artist from Australia, Bruce Kirby as a Social Media Specialist. I used to work as a Virtual Assistant with Aaron Israel ( Israel & CO LP Germany) but before that I was his Personal assistant in Bali from 2018 until November 2021, and also a Freelance Personal Assistant with Anita Ramsak (Founder of ARSIC Social Impact Consulting Bali & Human Rights Specialist in United Nations).

INTAN STEFHANIE wearing a black jumpsuit with long dark hair and smiling

What is your favorite travel memory?

The sheer adrenaline rush and giddiness I felt as I looked down at a vivid blue sea in Bali, with a sunset to boot, felt like I was hanging by threads, which I was.

That unadulterated feeling of thrill and joy, the satisfaction of doing something out of the ordinary is my travel memory and what my mind travels to, too.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I began as an admin on social media with Joma. I consistently try to make going above and beyond my bare minimum. I took on any additional responsibilities I could, such as handling the customers about diving and marine conservation via social media like email, Facebook comments, or DM facebook and emergency responder teams, for one example. I’d do this carefully to not sacrifice the quality of my work, or take on more than I could handle. I worked hard to make my comfort zone that of stepping outside of my comfort zone. Early on, I learned some hard lessons, but I took those in stride and powered on learning everything I could. I am motivated to be the best person I can be. I am not that person yet, but I am driven to become that person. I think that attitude is partly what I contribute to my success.

View Entire Interview

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Unfortunately, I never heard of or have experience from a returning student yet. I studied in a city called Pekanbaru that is super freaking hot and humid like 40 degrees every day and sometimes you don't know how to breathe because there are no trees left and oil on the ground. I feel like if people in my hometown have the option, they willl not go to live there and even for a student who has absence for 2 weeks, they will not gonna came back to my city and choose to live in a small village.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Project Laut. Project Laut is run by a passionate and knowledgeable team like Joma who do everything they can to make your stay as enjoyable and worthwhile as possible. This is a genuine conservation experience coupled with some amazing diving and the chance to develop new skills. The course has given people the most up-to-date methods and knowledge in the fields of marine conservation and research so people can go forward more confidently and able.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I'm not sure that unique (i.e., "being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else") is important. This company exists because someone has a vision (perhaps an overused, but nevertheless useful, word) and achievement of the vision is paramount. Becoming unique may be a critical success factor, but something else, say excellence in execution may be more important. To be unique is to DISCOVER it. Trial and error until you find it and that's how Nomads Diving Penida does.

An achievement that I’m proud of is being chosen to work on this project with Joma's team. His dedication is imperative for the growth of the company. Joma and the team's recent accomplishments, creativity, and open-mindedness contribute immensely to the team’s success.

Working on projects such as Project Laut was eye-opening because I’d never worked on such diving and marine conservation before. It taught me valuable skills in communication and collaboration that I bring to every new project I work on today.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I read articles from Jhon Spence's blog. He wrote what he believes are the five most important factors for building a successful company are a clear vision, a measurable plan, a culture of urgency, the best people, and superior customer service. That's the biggest factor that I believe is how to become a successful company.

Jackie Bertrand Dix Jackson

Admissions

Joma Dix

Project Laut

Location

Location:

Bali

Currency:

Indonesian Rupiah

Weather:

Jan-Mar

88 F / 73 F

Apr-Jun

88 F / 72 F

Jul-Sep

86 F / 72 F

Oct-Dec

88 F / 73 F

Airports:

Ngurah Rai International

( DPS )

Bali is known for its diversity of landscape. No matter what kind of natural beauty you find most stunning—mountain ranges, blissful rice fields, serene rivers, gorgeous canyons, and stunning waterfalls—Bali has it all.

About Project Laut

Project Laut is a professional dive-training and conservation project in Nusa Penida, Bali. We combine SSI Divemaster and Instructor development with applied reef science, taught by two SSI Platinum-1000 Instructor Trainers, an SSI XR Instructor, and marine biologists. Small cohorts, tight standards, and a 100% IE pass rate. We’ve trained SSI Dive...

Divemaster and Research Diver Internship in Bali

Divemaster and Research Diver Internship in Bali

Project Laut

Program Details

Pricing

Program Highlights

Tier 1: Rescue -> Divemaster 

Tier 2: Advanced -> Divemaster 

Tier 3: Open Water -> Divemaster 

Tier 4: Zero-to-Hero 

Tier 5: Research Diver 

Alumni Interviews

Natasha Kelleher

Why did you choose this program?

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Write and answer your own question.

Kevin Sites

Lisa-Mae Mercorella

Staff Interviews

Intan Stefhanie

What is your favorite travel memory?

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Jackie Bertrand Dix Jackson

Joma Dix

SSI Dive Instructor & Eco-Instructor — Nusa Penida, Bali

Coral Reef Restoration & Marine Research Internship

Tier 1: Rescue -> Divemaster

Tier 2: Advanced -> Divemaster

Tier 3: Open Water -> Divemaster

Tier 4: Zero-to-Hero

Tier 5: Research Diver