Program Reviews

I spent 1 Month at SORCE in January of 2025 while wet season. The whole experience was amazing, I can not recommend it enough. People were amazing, place is great, diving is great, conservation projects are really good and interesting. You will learn a lot during the stay aswell. While diving during wet season do not expect good visibility, the diving will be still fun, and there will be spots with vis up to 15m but sometimes also just 2-4m. I also did my rescue diver which was loads of fun.
The camp is modern and clean aswell, the food is good and will be adjusted to your needs. Being at SORCE it felt like a big and funny family.

As a paying volunteer, I look back at the two weeks I had at SORCE really fondly. The facilities were really clean and amazing. The staff are exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly, which transfers into the work that they’re doing. I felt rewarded by the work that we did there and it’s really benefiting that little part of the world. During my two weeks we did a variety of projects and jobs which included mangrove restoration Beech cleans making coral reef frames and blocks which we used on dives to repopulate coral reef which was really the primary focus therefore we were sometimes doing three dives a day, which was super fun. I will miss the boat crew. They are hilarious and hope to see all that team again.

I stayed at SORCE for two weeks in September 2023.

It was an amazing experience full of education and beautiful dives. Not only do you gain new knowledge about the marin ecosystem but you get to know friends for life.

The local crew was always helpful and created tasty meals for every breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cabins in which the guest sleep were always kept clean.

My favourite highlight though was to gain hand on diving experience and learning about our beautiful ocean friends. The lectures about turtles, fish-ID, corals and others were super interesting and carried so much interesting information that I became even more curious about the ocean-ecosystem.

Overall, I totally recommend staying at SORCE and would love to come back as soon as my wallet allows me to.

I was at Sorce for 3 weeks and looking back I could have stayed way longer. From the moment I arrived with the boat and met all the people I felt so comfortable. Before I got to Sorce, I was a bit worried if this really is something for me, but Sorce really turned out to be my second home. The staff and all the people I met at Sorce were so friendly and I never felt lonely. I‘ve never been diving before my voluntary project. So I did my open water course with coral the dive instructor and I loved the first course so much that I did the advanced open water right after. The facilities and the food are amazing, your room is always gonna be clean because of the lovely cleaning staff. I can highly recommend this program and I‘m maybe also coming back to Sorce in the future.

Best time of our lives! When we (me and my husband) first booked the program, we didn't know what to expect and choose to only book it for 2 weeks in case it wouldn't suit us, but all concerns we might had before disappeared on our first day. Afterwards our only regret is that we didn't spend more time at the site, since the two weeks just flew by.

We were there in November 2022 and did our Open Water the first days at site. During the days we did different types of dives to conserve the corals and planted mangroves. We had a cozy hut by ourselves, the meals were very good and on the evenings we played games, card and socialize. The location on the beach is beautiful and the whole area calm. On our spare time we explored the nearby Gili Asahan, a wonderful island which you could reach by kayak.

The organization were very professional and had a very well though trough approach regarding that the coral restoration also took biodiversity into account. We had several lectures such as fish identification and others focusing on sustainability and environment. It was an amazing experience, and I would love to come back in the future when I have the opportunity.

I spent 1 month at SORCE a few years back and still look back every now and then missing that time. The team makes you feel like part of the family, you hang out together in a beautiful remote place making close friends. You spend your days diving, learning new things, eating dinner together, and playing games. They organize bonfire evenings, and the bungalows are beautiful. I learned a lot about coral restoration, conservation, and fish identification. 100% recommended for an amazing valuable experience!

I did my bachelor's thesis with SORCE and had a great time working with them. The site is very neat and I believe a lot of thought was put into the way it is set up. I had every opportunity to further advance my skills in marine science and diving at SORCE and found incredible people along the way.

You can do all sorts of surveys, figure out your own area of research, and then set up this project in the way that you want. Or you can just chill and dive 2-3 times a day, 6 days a week, and have an awesome time being in one of the last remote places in Lombok. And if you just don't want to do anything that's perfectly fine and you can just hang out on bean bags ;)

They have an incredible mission and I loved being part of it.

I had the most incredible time at SORCE while completing my marine science A-level. Not only did I get phenomenal teachers for my book and exam learnings, I also had vital hands on experience. We had the opportunity to do field work and research while conducting coral, seagrass and mangrove restoration. While also inviting you to experience one of the most pristine marine ecosystems in the world. Getting the opportunity to be introduced to new species on every dive! On top of this living beside the ocean in villas creates a close community that becomes family. SORCE played a pivotal role in my life and career and I would recommend this to anyone considering!! 11/10

Simply one of the best places to both dive and get involved in the world of Oceanic and marine sciences. The facilities here are incredibly well maintained, the huts are great, the food is great, and the people are incredible. The sense of comradery and friendships you can build during your time here with other visitors and the staff are unmatched. They are also extremely accommodating to pretty much any need or concern you have and any of the extra cost food options are made very very clear and are not over priced. The dive activities you complete make you feel like you're making a difference to better the surrounding marine ecosystem and the diving itself is incredible, with many unique flora and fauna you can't find anywhere else. Cannot recommend this place enough if you are looking to get more involved in marine and Oceanic sciences, either recreationally or professionally. SORCE is the best, stingrays forever!

This year I went to SORCE for 5 weeks and i just had the best time of my life there.
If you love the ocean, if you love scuba diving , if you love to life on an beautiful island, if you wanna enjoy an incrediable view everyday and every night and also if you wanna help our ocean and all living organism inside there you need to come to SORCE.
For me it is like a second home now and i know i will come back!!

The team of SORCE do an amazing job in marine conservation, they are clever and hardworking and you can see how much they love the ocean; but they also be there for you whenever you need them, doesnt matter if you wanna talk about the project or if you just wanna talk about all your thoughts and impressions.
The accommodations are really comfortable and just made with love, also the food - I LOVED IT especially the homemade peanut butter
There is so much more to say but i think everyone who is interested in living a completely different exciting life and be part of marine conservation should come to SORCE.
Our planet needs more people like the team members of SORCE.
Im so thankful for this experience and it just changed my view of life in a really good way.
And also indonesia is an amazing beautiful country
Thanks to Kara and all the rest of this lovely SORCE family <3
SAVE THE OCEAN !!