Indo Ocean Project

I chose Indo Ocean project due to how complete their program seemed and due to their location in Raja Ampat, and it definitely was the right choice. From the beginning, staff were amazing, our instructors Anne and Ricky taught us diving skills effectively and safely while also teaching ecology courses supported by Maxs and Lois. They all ran the project amazingly in difficult conditions.

The location was absolutely amazing, with access to several key dive sites and in the middle of the jungle. Collaboration with the dive centre was not always smooth but having such amazing staff and such an amazing group made the whole experience truly unforgettable. After 10 weeks in Raja, I spent 6 more in Bira as a research intern. Bira is a location with more amenities so the change was appreciated, and from the beginning the instructors, Ben and Jess, made Bira feel great. Later on, Greg and Vale and then Quinthan brought their own styles to the table all the while being awesome people and instructors. Yuli and Sudar, the staff members, were also amazing people and were always around to help with ecology, diving skills, etc.

In a nutshell, I would recommend this if you want to improve your diving skills while seeing some cool stuff in beautiful locations and surrounded by some of the best people I've ever met. My only hope is that I can one day go back to IOP!

The Bira Project location is absolutely stunning, and the Blue Planet staff were incredibly helpful and welcoming. As someone with no prior background in conservation or biology, I was amazed by the wealth of knowledge I gained. The pre-arrival materials and on-site support from the staff and fellow interns made the learning process smooth and enjoyable. Whether it was conducting surveys, setting up BRUVs, or exploring the vibrant underwater world, every moment was fulfilling. Diving almost every day in Bira’s pristine waters truly changed my perspective, and I found myself becoming more passionate about marine conservation and research.

The country and the location of the Bira IndoOceans Project is incredibly beautiful. I went from having very little to lots of confidence diving thanks to our experienced, supportive project leads and found lots of passion in marine biology thanks to the super knowledgable, hardworking marine biologists on the project Sudar and Yuly. I loved that the project kept us busy contributing to the conservation of the marine ecosystem in Bira, including working with locals, and that we were in the ocean exploring and researching everyday 🌊🐠🐬🐳🪸

The staff were so great and amazing teachers. The programme involved taking part in active marine research by doing BRUVs, benthic and roving fish surveys! I made so much personal growth throughout my internship and also had the best time with a group of strangers. Despite it being 3 months it went by very quickly! I would really recommend to anyone who has an interest in marine biology or diving because it is a great way to learn and train (so you are also gaining valuable skills for the future as well)

Here's what you can expect in doing your internship with IOP in Raja Ampat:
- Extremely high-end diving education that goes well beyond basic requirements. It can be tough at times but it pushes you to become a better and safer diver, and drives very rapid and significant improvement in your diving skills. Expect additional workshops and skills dives well above the basic curriculum, lots of marine life education, a minimum of 5 leads (only 1 is required), learning to lead scientific dives, additional course assists, etc.
- Exceptional educators who are deeply knowledgeable, engaging, and serious about their craft. They set an excellent example of what a dive professional should be, taking safety and conservation seriously, and continuously learning and passing along their knowledge
- A lot of diving - I did 75 dives during my 8-week stay, with 1 (sometimes 2) dry days per week. Expect a mix of shore and boat dives across ~15-20 sites, some of which are world-class. Also expect most diving days to have at least some productive element to it, e.g. science dives (surveys, BRUVs, benthic surveys, coral restoration/surveys), skills dives, course assists, marine education dives
- Expect to be fairly busy. Between diving, science, course work, homework, and facility duties, there's a lot to do
- The facilities are basic but comfortable. Expect basic needs like food, drinking water, and shelter to be met at all times, however occasional interruptions to running water or electricity come with the territory in such a remote location
- The remoteness of the facilities adds a layer of complexity when it comes to things like supplies, healthcare, mobile access. This can be easily mitigated by showing up well-equipped (e.g. with medications, with a working SIM card, with ear drops), and by being proactive about your health (e.g. take electrolytes, care for injuries early to avoid infection, rinse your ears after every dive)
- A fantastic social scene where you are surrounded by passionate and like-minded people (interns and staff) from all walks of life. Sharing this experience with them is one of the highlights of the internship. Interns are on a rotating schedule so expect people to leave and new people to arrive during your stay
- The one drawback was that facilities and resources are shared across IOP and the host resort, and resort guests always took priority in what is meant to be a shared space. This applies to dive rental gear, boat space, dive site planning, food, use of facilities, repairs, etc. It's all understandable, but can sometimes make you feel like a second class citizen in your own home.