Program Reviews

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.

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!

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!

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 :))

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.

Amazing experience! Well organised program combining marine science with advancing your scuba diving skills, in a beautiful world class diving location. Dive instructors were so knowledgeable and skilled, I learnt so much from them. You get to go diving nearly everyday, so if you weren't already obsessed with diving, you'll surely become obsessed. You also learn some underwater data collection methods, and assist carrying them out with your team, which contributes to long term studies to help protect the reefs of Indonesia.

I joined Indo Ocean Project with absolutely no dives, but left with 140+ dives under my belt. This just goes to show the immense 'learn practically' aspect of this program. I also found its scientific and research focus, rewarding and academically challenging. I especially loved the fact that our hard work on these research dives would take effect in contributing to real science! The workshops, the instructors and my fellow divemaster interns, made this entire 3 month period, a fun blast. The community outreach wing of the program exposed us to the local communities that we quickly started engaging with, even to arrange our local trips about the islands!

My experience at IOP was life changing. I walked away not only being a dive master, but someone who was more confident and capable. The knowledge I gained is absolutely invaluable and I couldn’t have asked for better people to learn from. Everyone at IOP became like family and made every memory even more special. I think this program is truly one of the best out there. Coming in, I didn’t know if I would have it in me to be a good dive master but I walked away knowing how to handle myself and others underwater and I know exactly how to handle stress. That is one of the most valuable things to learn in diving and I am so grateful to everyone at IOP who guided me to get there.

If you are thinking about doing your divemaster or you have any interest in conservation/marine biology and want to have some experience in a safe learning environment with the best nerds and nature lovers, than Bira is the place to go! As DMT you get the lovely experience of assisting real courses (season depended), assist on fun dives with BP's DM and lead science dives, which is some of the amazing opportunities Bira gives you all while being together with your new friends in a remote paradise.

Participating in the Divemaster Conservation Program IOP in Bira, Indonesia, was an incredible adventure, both personally and professionally. From the first days on the Blue Planet site, I felt that this experience was going to be much more than just training. It was a real immersion in the world of diving, conservation and collective learning.

I would particularly like to thank Grégoire Bouillon and Kert, who played an essential role throughout this program. Their know-how, their experience and above all their constant good mood have transformed every dive, every workshop and every exchange into a unique and rewarding moment. With them, learning has never been only technical: it has always been tinged with passion, pedagogy and a spirit of camaraderie that makes you want to surpass yourself.

Grégoire, with his ability to transmit his knowledge in a clear and motivating way, was able to accompany me step by step in the progress of the program. His professionalism and attention to detail were invaluable in understanding the importance of every gesture, every procedure and every underwater reflex. But beyond the instructor, it is above all the person who marked the experience: always available, attentive and encouraging, he made the training fluid and pleasant.

For his part, Kert brought an incredible energy and a dose of daily good mood that was able to weld the group and create a positive atmosphere, even in the most intense moments. His vision of diving, focused on sharing and passion, gave an additional meaning to this adventure. With him, each dive became a new opportunity to learn, laugh and become aware of the fragile beauty of marine ecosystems.

The Bira executive and the Blue Planet site have, of course, played a huge role in the magic of this program. The seabed is exceptionally rich, and participating in a project that links Divemaster's training to marine conservation gives an even stronger dimension to the experience. Diving is no longer just a personal pleasure: it is also a responsibility, a commitment to protect what we like to explore. And this is exactly what Grégoire and Kert were able to transmit: the passion for diving, but also the awareness and respect necessary to preserve this unique environment.

Beyond the skills acquired and the incredible dives, what I remember above all are the shared moments: briefings, debriefings, discussions around a meal, laughter after a long day, little advice given at the right time. All these moments are an integral part of the experience and will remain engraved in my memory.

By leaving Bira and the program, I leave not only with a solid technical background and a new step in my diving training, but above all with immense gratitude to those who made it possible. Thanks again to Grégoire Bouillon and Kert for their support, energy and passion. This adventure at Blue Planet would not have been the same without them, and I will keep in mind for a long time the richness of everything I learned, lived and shared with them.