Indo Ocean Project Reviews

I completed my SSI Divemaster in Bira over 3.5 months and it was one of the best decisions I ever made! I hadn't dived for 2 years, so I was nervous getting back into it but the instructors were so supportive and helpful. The shark diversity is incredible (Tiger shark & Whale shark.... WOOOH!). Great meeting like-minded people who are interested in marine science & sustainability. One of the activities is teaching at a local kindergarten, they're the sweetest kids ever! Definitely go to Bira!!

Loved my stay in Bira and being a part of the project. Before I arrived I was nervous about if I could connect with the people, but it was no issue because everyone was openminded and friendly
The staff at the project was very professional, good at teaching the diving and how to be a roll model.
For me there was a bit too much knowledge review and theory and I didn’t really feel that I had enough time off. I don’t have a background with any marine biology and struggled with fish ID.
But when I’m looking back and go diving today I can definitely see a difference when it comes to fish ID.

I started my internship questioning my abilities and by the end I attained a level of confidence in myself I've never had before. The amount of experience I gained through this program is irreplaceable. As a diver and conservation biologist this program really delivered experiences that enhanced my skills and knowledge. You could tell the staff wanted you to get to your highest possible potential while with them and have been more than happy to help with future endeavors. With my program complete, I feel eager to step into the next phase of my life.

I completed my 8 week divemaster and research diver internship here. It has given me so much knowledge and experience to go out and start a career in marine conservation. I have a lot of fieldwork experience now. The diving is incredible and so is the diving support. I had the best time and feel supported since leaving the project in my future career choices and help with CV. I did 60 dives in 8 weeks which was plenty. I had to change my start date numerous times due to covid and family issues and IOP was very accommodating for this. So glad I finally made it!

I completed my IOP internship with no background in marine biology or any related field, but a lot of motivation as well as professional and diving experience. The program helped me to get more insights into the daily life of dive professionals as well as the science side of things. The learning curve is very steep for every one but its very valuable lessons that make you better divers as well as provide you with experience to add to your "toolbox" for future employers. Reeflex divers is a great dive center with a strong focus on being eco friendly.

I was searching for an internship for completing my master degree in marine sciences and I found this program on the social network. My experience with IOP was amazing, in two month I learned so much regarding both conservation and diving and at the same time I had so much fun with my fellow interns. The IOP staff is amazing, especially regarding all the workshops related to the marine life and diving techniques. During my 10 weeks program I learned different techniques in order to collect useful data, like survey dives, BRUV deployment and analysis and coral restoration techniques.

IOP is unique in a lot of ways, but what makes it special is the focus on marine conservation and the passionate staff that deliver the workshops. The team at IOP are so supportive, knowledgeable and open to sharing all of this with the interns. Reeflex divers is a fantastic, efficient, environment-conscious dive centre with high standards in their equipment and teaching. All of the interns are there to learn and grow as divers and individuals, and it was amazing to come back into this world again after years away.
You will meet wonderful people, become a much better diver and discover a whole new world of marine life that will make you an asset as a divemaster and/or instructor if that is the career path you choose.
The parts of the internship I appreciate the most are the high standards of teaching, the focus on marine conservation and engagement with the local community, being taught by Indonesian divers and scientists, meeting a community of like-minded people, diving in challenging conditions (at times), and the support network around interns before, during and after the internship.

I competed my Divemaster in Nusa Penida over the course of 2 months alongside Indo Ocean Projects and Reeflex Divers. Words cannot describe how incredible my experience was. The staff were fantastic, knowledgeable and helpful from the offset and throughout my time there. They paid so much attention to detail as well as being extremely professional. The equipment and the dive shop were superb. The instructors and dive guides were phenomenal and I have gained so much knowledge from doing my DM internship here. As I was interning, I got a behind-the-scenes view of the dive shop and saw how passionate the crew who work there are about diving and saw how much they put their customers first. The classes lead by Serena, Pascal and Michaela were so thorough and made so much fun, they were around to support and help you with any questions or concerns, no matter how big or small. I’d like to thank each and every person for their patience and guidance. Honestly, if I could I would just do it again and again and would never get tired of it. It was made to feel like home. 100% would recommend doing their DM with them!

I am forever grateful I leapt into this experience. After two years with no diving, I was just excited for 3 months of being in and talking about the ocean every single day. It wasn't until I arrived I truly understood what I was part of. What an inspiring group and purposeful body of work to immerse yourself in. You develop skills and discover new interests you never knew you had. As a marketer, I didn't come from a science background so I was worried about whether or not Id be a valuable member of the team which I quickly let go of. I could not be more grateful for the connections, new dive buddies and renewed sense of self and purpose driven by becoming a divemaster and ocean advocate through IOP 🙌

The Indo Ocean Project is completely mind blowing & life changing. I’ve been asked after graduating with my divemaster if i would really recommend someone to complete theirs and the answer is a million times YES! This is the most welcoming program that exists. Anyone can join with any number of dives, even zero, and achieve truly miraculous feats. There is so much guidance and understanding along the way, you will never feel alone!
I personally, really enjoyed the conservation that we as interns, were able to be apart of. The workshops are so well organized and educating. It’s very fulfilling to see the change that you’re making. By spending so much time in the water, your diving skills will improve immensely! I came out of the program a completely different and more confident diver than I could have ever imagined.
The experience that you’ll have during your divemaster program with Indo Ocean Project is priceless. It’s one of those choices that you’ll never regret and only wish you could do it over and over again because it changed you as a person. It connects like minded people in a beautiful atmosphere where you can add to each other’s knowledge and have amazing experiences together. I feel incredibly honored to call IOP family. 💙