Conservation through research and education

Indo Ocean Project

Why choose Indo Ocean Project?

Dive Master and Research Diver internship with multiple locations in Indonesia, the heart of the coral triangle. Complete your PADI dive master course along with 5 ecology specialties written and designed by our team of marine biologists and dive professionals and approved by PADI and SSI. Marine megafauna, coral and mangrove restoration, marine park management and much more. You don't need to be a scientist to get involved!

Reviews

Devyani
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Ten Weeks in Raja Ampat: My Divemaster Journey with IOP

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.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Prepare yourself properly with all the pre-arrival requirements and follow IOP's guidelines closely. Raja Ampat is extremely remote, and the journey there can feel overwhelming, but once you arrive, you'll understand why it's so worth it.
Pros
  • Small group sizes meant lots of one-on-one time with instructors, so nothing felt rushed or overlooked.
  • The course structure builds you up gradually, so even if you're not the strongest diver going in, you leave feeling genuinely confident and capable.
  • Being part of active coral restoration work gave the whole experience a real sense of contribution, not just a certification to tick off.
Cons
  • Limited connectivity and creature comforts, so it takes some mental adjustment if you're used to staying constantly connected.
  • The pace can be intense at times, with back-to-back dives and coursework, so there's not a lot of downtime built in.
  • Because it's such a remote location, unexpected weather or boat delays can shift the schedule, so flexibility is key.
Katherine
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best experience of my life!

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!

Marianna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

IOP intern Nusa Penida

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!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Explore the island on your days off as its so beautiful!
Pros
  • Incredible diving
  • Amazing and friendly team
  • So many opportunities to learn
Cons
  • leaving
Griff
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Indo Ocean Project - Bira Location - couldn't have been better :))

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 :))

Pros
  • Education
  • Teachers
  • Experience
Madison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

IOP Penida Project Review

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.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Eat at the warungs guys the warungs are sooooooo good.
Pros
  • Lots of dive time
  • Meet people from around the world
  • Build practical skills
Cons
  • Flat price for renting dive gear regardless of what you need.
  • Road to accommodation can get muddy.

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

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

Helen Wu

A city girl from Hong Kong who loves nature and adventures, just do it slowly, cautiously and preferably in small group, because introvert.
Helen Wu diving with a diving buddy

Why did you choose this program?

When I was researching ideas for my career break, I only had two wishes: something to do with diving and something I can give back to the environment.

After stumbling upon Indo Ocean Project (IOP) online and read so many good reviews about them, I knew this is where I want to be. Living on an island, diving everyday, learn about the environment and meet like-minded people are more than what I wish for.

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

IOP have all the contacts to help you with the basics. From visa application, transportation from Bali to Nusa Penida to on site accommodation, they have it all sorted for you.

They also have Facebook group for up-coming interns and alumni, as well as WhatsApp group for stand-by interns, the answer to your concerns is just one question away!

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

Be mentally prepared to live on an island. Put your city-life standard and western-norm expectation aside. Embrace the purity of simple living and enjoy the presence of animals and nature.

Be open-minded. The things you deemed as “challenge” would be your accomplishments when you look back to it. No dives are the same and you only train once as divemaster, so make the most of every moment with a smile.

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

The program is well organised with good structure. A typical day involves two dives, either from the boat or shore. Followed by afternoon activities like knowledge workshops or skill practices or independent study. Once the work is done comes the hardest part of the day that requires the most brain power - to decide what’s for dinner.

Every five to six days we get a day off, which we usually spend exploring the island, go on fun dives or get a well deserved massage.

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

Coming in I had plenty of concerns. Do I have the body strength to take on the intense physicality of daily diving? Am I be able to keep up in learning all the scientific knowledge and training? And my biggest concern of all - will I make friends as a mid-thirty Asian woman amongst the many young gap year-goers?

As it turns out, all of my fears and concerns are just overthinking, as IOP is an accommodating place where you can take your time and do it in your own comfortable pace.

And as cliche as it sounds, age really is just a number, be your true self and you will attract your kind of people wherever you are.

Staff Interviews

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

Mario Casati

Job Title
Co-manager and marine biologist
Mario studied natural science and mastered in marine biology in the university of Milano Bicocca in Italy. after gradauting he took the instructor course in thailand and worked there for an year before moving to raja where he uses his knowledge and passion to form new dive mster and researchers as the co-manager of the program.

Interview

What is your favorite travel memory?

I think that one of my favorite travel memory regards a holiday i spent with my girlfriend, we packed our bags and hit the road on the car, without a specific end point, stopping where we wanted, sleeping in the car, in the tend or in a hotel, deciding day by day. one night we ended up high in the mountains, in a tent, enjoying a gorgeous night sky and roasting marsh mellow on a bon fire made whit wood we found early that day on the sea side. The freedom and happiness felt in those days are a core memory for me.

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

Massively, working in this environment changed the way i approach certain aspects of teaching, it also helped me understand exactly what i love about the diving life, how fulfilling it feels to pass the passion for the ocean to others .

How to manage other people, balancing positive attitude, a friendly environment but also a firm hand to be able to instruct correctly was a challenging part of the job but helped me grow.

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

Our students leave our program ready to face the diving and conservation world, and we take pride in having them become dive professionals that are able to sustain any difficulty. The best story of a return student would be from a student that had to face a dangerous situation in strong current, for which she had been trained, and while others had trouble and couldn't handle it she instead was able to react correctly and blessed her training, making the best out of an otherwise bad experience.

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

Our program offers a dive master preparation and conservation learning, the locations where this happens are 3: Nusa Penida, Bira and Raja Ampat. the first one is where i my self partook in the program as an intern and the last one is the one i am currently co-managing, I would therefore choose Bira.

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

I would describe the strongest point of our company in it's well organized Dive master schedule. Our interns are well prepared following a perfectly organized schedule that ensures that they complete not only the minimum requirements but a training of higher standards then the main diving associations. Not only that but they are lead too take increasing responsibilities making sure that the professionals we form are not such only on paper but especially on the practical side. What makes me proud of my team is how we can trust each other to fill in every possible mistake that one might make, creating many layers of control and safety, making the working environment feel safe and supported.

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

Organization and communication play a vital role in any company, a proper scheduling system, and organization in handling things ensures that even the smallest detail is not overlooked and has a place in which it can be handled correctly. this avoids piling up of small issues that result in the end in big problems. A correct organization would, although, be useless without proper communication. a healthy not one-sided communication with colleagues of any level helps everyone to understand and avoid mistakes.