Indo Ocean Project

Program Reviews

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Tina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Life-Changing 10 Weeks

Joining the Indo Ocean Project for 10 weeks was truly one of the best decisions of my life. As someone passionate about marine conservation, this program exceeded all my expectations—not just through the diving and lifestyle, but especially through its strong scientific foundation and hands-on experience in real marine research.

From day one, we were introduced to a range of survey methods that gave us a deep understanding of marine ecosystems. The BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video) deployments, benthic surveys, and roving fish surveys were not only incredibly informative but also thrilling to be part of. You're not just observing marine life—you’re collecting real data, contributing to long-term conservation efforts, and learning how marine science works behind the scenes. It’s rare to find a program where you’re this involved, and I learned more in 10 weeks than I could have ever imagined.

The Divemaster training is seamlessly integrated into the program, and no matter what your starting level is, you're fully supported by a knowledgeable and encouraging team. The staff are not just instructors—they’re mentors who push you to grow while making sure you feel safe and confident every step of the way.

Beyond diving and science, the workshops on topics like sharks, rays, and coral ecology were fascinating and helped connect the dots between theory and field experience. Every day felt like a new opportunity to learn something meaningful.

But what made it truly special was the sense of community. Between the interns and staff, you become part of a family. We shared laughs, discoveries, and challenges—and built connections that will last far beyond the project.

I can honestly say these 10 weeks were the best time of my life

What was your funniest moment?
My best memories are messing with my following interns, ripping our masks off, small brawls underwater or just joking around over the surface, it's been a great time all over. Oh and also making signs up for the fish species (e.g. Green Jobfish or Jack and Trevally hehe)
Pros
  • Experience in the different Research Methods
  • Strong Community and friends with the same interests
  • Absolutely insane Dives!
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Dominik
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best time of my life

I had the privilege of visiting all three Indo Ocean Project locations, and I must say, the people and the program are absolutely fantastic. My internship took place in Bira, where I completed my Dive Master training. It was a life-changing experience. The team made every day exciting, and the combination of fun, learning, and incredible marine encounters made this program unforgettable.

One of the most memorable moments was witnessing 12 green sea turtles resting together at one dive site. I also encountered fascinating marine life, including Devil Rays, Cowtail Rays, Eagle Rays, and both White tip and Black tip reefsharks. The biodiversity in the waters around Bira is simply stunning.

My absolute favorite dive site was Coral Garden. The shallow reef, illuminated by sunlight, displayed vibrant colors that felt like diving into a dream. It was even more magical with the occasional appearance of sharks gliding through the water.

Beyond diving, the conservation efforts were equally rewarding. We propagated and planted mangroves to restore coastal ecosystems and participated in beach cleanups to remove trash from the shoreline. These activities reinforced the importance of protecting our oceans and their surrounding habitats, adding a deeper sense of purpose to the experience.

If you're passionate about diving, marine life, conservation, and connecting with amazing people, I can recommend the Indo Ocean Project. Thank you to everyone I met for making this journey so incredible. It’s an experience I will treasure forever!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Dont put your maks on your Arm during a rescue scenario or you will loose it and someone will find it weeks later while you bought a new one :D
Pros
  • Marine life
  • Education
  • People
Cons
  • it is difficult to cook cause the supermarkets dont have a lot of things but the restaurants are cheap and good
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Max
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life Changing Experience

This internship was the best experience of my life. The practical training, theoretical learning and social development was invaluable throughout my journey and we had such good fun along the way. If it wasn't for this internship I never would have landed my biggest career breakthrough as a marine biologist for a team leader position in Cyprus. This is due to the staffs high standards, work ethic and sheer determination to get the best out of you. Shout out to Sel, Marina, Michaela, Tova, Arya, and Rinaldi! I was genuinely sad to leave this amazing place.

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Line
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

12 weeks, 101 dives and friends for a lifetime later

I started this program as an open water diver with 8 dives who only did some dives in cold, unclear water in Belgium. Little did I know that I would end the program with 109 dives and a group of friends that will last for a lifetime. IOP thought me to become a good, responsible diver but also thought me so much about the wonders of the underwater world. Theoretical and practical workshops in the dive center but also education days in the local schools, were part of the program and this is why it was such a fun and divers internship. I only have words of love for this traineeship and I would 100% recommend it to people that love diving (or are curious about it) and want to contribute to marine science and be meaningful in this changing world.

What was your funniest moment?
I had a lot if laughs with my fellow interns, but if I had to choose 1 moment it would be on the boat during our surface interval. One of the staff members was grabbing the life ring and we were all wondering what for. When he jumped of the boat and the boat drove away, we all figured ot out: he was pooping while chilling in that life ring.
Pros
  • Being able to dive evey day
  • Living in a tropical paradise
  • Learning so much about fish and other underwater sorcies
Cons
  • None
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Sophie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Nusa Penida DM

I was so worried about traveling to a new place alone and staying for so long but Indo Ocean made it super easy and fun. I met so many amazing people (both interns and staff), felt safe and learned so much during my internship. The research aspect was incredible, as we got to do real research on coral reefs and collect the data ourselves which meant scuba diving almost every day. The staff were so helpful when I was having issues or concerns about my diving development and I left feeling so confident in the water. The memories I made during my 10 week internship are incredible and I wish I could do it again.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I had never heard of Jackfruit before and I ate it regularly in the food they provide during boat trips. It is surprisingly good and has the texture of pulled pork.
Pros
  • Friends made
  • World class diving
  • Skill improvement
Cons
  • Share accommodation (but you can get private)
  • Expensive VISA
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Jaime
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Just incredible

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!

What was your funniest moment?
It would have to be my stress test and equipment exchange with Soren and Anne. We decided to try to do it with only one regulator for the both of us and managed to exchange mask and fins relatively well, but we quickly got stuck at our BCDs, got nervous, started rising up to the surface and breathing much more quickly until we just couldn't take it any more and we tried again, that time with two regulators. Soren pass it to me I need air!!!
Pros
  • Passionate and safe professionals
  • Diving in amazing locations
  • Marine conservation and ecology component
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Fathur
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life Changing Experience 🤩

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.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I saw three eagle rays gliding gracefully, countless whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, once I saw 12 sea turtles during a single dive—it was absolutely magical!
Pros
  • Supportive and knowledgeable staff
  • Incredible diving and marine research experience
  • Great for personal and professional growth
Cons
  • None!
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Katie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A dream!

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 🌊🐠🐬🐳🪸

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
A PREGNANT WHALE SHARK!!
Pros
  • lovely passionate people
  • marine research and conservation
  • diving almost everyday!
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Chloe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Had the best time at Indo Ocean Project

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)

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Saw a whale shark on a dive at Kambing Island! Chilled with us in the water for a couple minutes before swimming off. Later on found out it was a pregnant female whale shark!
Pros
  • Well trained staff
  • Passionate marine biologists
  • Great diving
Cons
  • None
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Kevin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Fantastic divemaster internship in Raja Ampat

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.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
If you're considering it, just do it
Pros
  • High-end diving education
  • Passionate and like-minded interns and staff
  • Amazing diving and location
Cons
  • Shared facilities with host resort
  • Occasional interruptions in water/electricity