Program Reviews

Coral and Georgina were amazing in helping with my dissertation, even continuing my research for me when I was gone. They were also a great help in showing me how to organise my data. The diving was good, and the coral reef sites very beautiful! I also enjoyed getting to know the other members of staff, who assisted in collecting my nudibranch data. I think I would have liked to leave the site a bit more than I did, but otherwise, the set up of the huts was lovely and I was made to feel very at home by the people there.

As an experienced traveler and scuba diver I was looking forward to learning as I could about marine conservation and research. I was not disappointed in the slightest at SORCE with every aspect of my trip being incredible!

We had lessons ranging from coral and fish identification to mangrove restoration all whilst having incredible dives and gaining hands-on experience. Words also can’t express how incredible all the staff at SORCE are, they made much of the experience that much more engaging and enjoyable! Everything I learnt here I will be using and building upon for my masters course!

One of my favourite experience and will certainly be going back!

Hello! I’m Alexa, and I did my Marine Biology A-Level course from January to May 2025.

These past few months have been incredible. Not only have I learned so many new things about marine life and its intricate balance, I have also learned about the importance of having healthy, thriving oceans and how it affect us. Going into depth, not only in theory but also in practice, makes a huge difference. Here at Sorce, we are surrounded by the things that are shown in our courses; we get to experience them firsthand, and it gives a whole new perspective to our studies. We were able to do practical activities and excursions linked to our courses, and we were given opportunities to see things that are mostly inaccessible to most people.

Adding to our courses, we could also live the conservation part of Sorce, with the coral plantations and maintenance while diving almost every day, the super fun and muddy mangrove plantings, and the informative lectures that are given.

But for me, the best part was not the beautiful, calm beaches or the amazing diving, it was the people that I found here. Every person at Sorce has turned my experience into something unforgettable; they are the heart of this organization. At Sorce you can find yourself a new little island family :)

My name is Louis Tavenn Piget, and I'm a gap year student looking to improve my English and meet new people.
I did the A-Level Marine to SORCE on Lombok near Gili Asahan/Gede for 4 months. I found an excellent team and a lot of international people.

Studying marine biology with them allowed me to learn so much by linking theory and practice through experiments and scuba diving linked to the courses. We had the opportunity to visit pearl farms.

Alongside the courses, we had the opportunity to follow and even take part in the maintenance and restoration of coral at the various SORCE sites. As well as mangrove restoration.

I've done the rescue training course here, and it was the best place to do any training course.

Here we have a lot of good accommodation, such as showers, bedrooms. We have the Den with all the games provided for the party to add more fun. The food is exceptional, and the possibility to adapt it according to tastes or needs, to add or remove.

My best experience, adventure, and discovery. At one time, I felt only great. Come only with good vibes, to be on the same level as everybody.

We are 2 friends, stayed 5 weeks at Sorce and did the Conservation Research Assistant program. It’s super complete and gives you more freedom and responsibility than the EcoVenture one.
We started from scratch and got our PADI Open Water in a week with the organization. Coral, the instructor, is amazing, really patient, clear, and makes you feel super safe.
The theory lessons from the team are also great and easy to understand even if you know nothing about biology, and still really interesting and well explained.
The place is just stunning ! You live between the jungle and the beach. The staff is lovely, everything is always clean, and the underwater life is beautiful, with lots of marine animals.
The coral activities are really interesting too. You really learn and improve every day, with two to three dives a day.
And the vibe is really chill and fun. Lots of new people, good energy, and a great group spirit.

It’s a bit expensive, but honestly, it was one of the best experiences of our lives. Totally worth it.

This experience left a permanent mark on my heart. I’m incredibly grateful to have been a part of it. I’ll always look back on it with love, pride, and the hope to return again someday. 

From day one, I was surrounded by some of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met. The team was not only professional and organized but also genuinely kind, supportive, and full of positive energy. They made me feel like I truly belonged, and that made all the difference. The people I worked with were more than just colleagues; they became friends and mentors. Their dedication, respect, and passion for what they do left a lasting impression on me and motivated me to keep striving to be better and do more. 

Throughout my time here, I learned so much—about teamwork, compassion, and the power of giving back. Every moment was filled with purpose and growth, and I felt genuinely fulfilled knowing that I was contributing to something meaningful. 

 Honestly was the best experience of my life, and I recommend it wholeheartedly to everyone.

Coral planting, reef checks, mangrove planting and debris diving – just an outtake of what our month at SORCE Sustainable Oceanic Research Conservation & Education CIC as marine conservation research assistants looked like! I’ve gained a new admiration for all the conservation and education work done by SORCE Sustainable Oceanic Research Conservation & Education CIC to further protect and improve the ecological wonders of the native mangrove and marine life of Lombok.

Insightful, educational but most of all fun to be a part of a team that puts their heart into the conservation work on their coral reefs and mangrove plantations, even if just for such a short period of time. I can definitely recommend anyone interested in a more hands-on approach for their holiday or remote work options to look into what SORCE Sustainable Oceanic Research Conservation & Education CIC has to offer, or any other conservation work in that regard.

Once more, a shout out to the amazing team running SORCE Sustainable Oceanic Research Conservation & Education CIC who provided us with such a memorable experience! Can’t wait to go back, do more coral planting and see how the house reef has developed over time!

Just spent 4 amazing weeks with SORCE on Lombok. What a great experience! The staff are highly committed, both to the mission of the organisation and to ensuring that guests have a wonderful time. Our experience was a wholly enjoyable mix of working and fun diving, and learning.

The location is stunning - fabulous sunsets over the water! - and the accommodation is very comfortable. The common spaces are attractive and well designed for social and educational activities. We enjoyed the delicious, healthy food and appreciated the good quality and well-maintained diving kit.

The dedicated staff achieve an impressive balance of being very well-organized while also being relaxed and great fun. They are attentive to what individual guests enjoy, and are super-inclusive. The boat crew took amazing care of us and were always ready to help when I needed an extra hand to get self and kit out of the water onto the boat!

Our fellow-guests were so much fun - some were involved in research, some were studying and others like us were there for a holiday with a purpose - all great company.

We loved learning about the programmes, then getting involved with planting and maintaining coral nurseries and planting mangroves. Clearing trash from the beach, mangroves and ocean was an education and we had magical evenings by the fire, playing games and just chatting.

Thank you to everyone at SORCE and our fellow-guests for an inspiring and unforgettable few weeks!

Sue and Mike Lee

I had an amazing 4 weeks in this little remote Paradise. I got a great introduction into SORCE, the Marine Conservation and all of the diving gear aswell. I always felt super safe while completing so many dives and got to see amazing wild life aswell. I was also able to complete my advanced open water at SORCE, which gave me even more opportunities to go on really pretty dives.
The day was always filled with great activities, we planted mangroves, cleaned beaches and reefs and to listen to different classes.I learned many new things, which made my dives even more fun. The staff was super friendly, shoutout to the boat crew who always greet you every morning with the biggest smiles:) and also a big shoutout to the kitchen staff, who make great gluten free pancakes! I got to meet so many nice people and i felt so welcome… honestly I had the best time ever and I wish I could have stayed longer than a month🥲

I had a great four weeks on Sorce! We did a lot of diving and coral nursery work. I did over 40 dives in one month and learnt so much about conservation. The staff are great and super friendly, I felt very welcome. The other volunteers were also very nice and friendly. The accommodation is super clean and comfortable, you get your own little hut. The location is a bit remote and isolated and the atmosphere is relaxed and there is not much going on. Still a great experience and one I wouldn't want to miss.