Program Reviews

After doing quite a bit of research into dive masters, the Indo Ocean project immediately stood out to me due to its focus on conservation. Not only do you get to become a divemaster, you also get a wealth of conservation experience including taking part in many workshops on marine species ecology for example Mantas, Molas, Shark and turtles, including practical coral restoration and surveys dives. What's really exciting about this project is that you actually get to contribute to science and you know the data you collect is really going somewhere and being used.
The training for both the divemaster and the conservation workshops / practicals were outstanding. The people that run the course and everyone supports the project have the utmost commitment to the programme and the people on it. They will go out of their way to ensure you are looked after and will make sure you get the most out of the course. So much so that you feel like one big family by the time you leave….making it very difficult to say goodbye!
Choosing to leave my corporate job in London and do my divemaster at the Indo Ocean project is the best decision I’ve ever made. It's without a doubt the best experience of my life and I would urge anyone who’s considering it to just book that place and join them. The project will certainly not disappoint!

I had a strong intention to pursue diving to its fullest and the decision of becoming a DM brought an enormous variety of options for education. IOP won this battle very quickly through their passion for conservation, introductions to Marine Biology and quite frankly; their attitude towards diving itself. I feel blessed to have learnt from these extraordinarily capable divers and make the connections i already know will last a lifetime.

This is a program where you work hard. They are not here to churn out DM's, you are expected to give your all because they give their all and it comes with an insanely detailed/comprehensive introduction to the various worlds in which are available to pursue after the program on top of your DM education, so beware...if you are a "lazy diver" this is not for you. This is Real Deal. It is taught with passion and fantastic ethic.

After that it comes to days on end of diving in a very special place, any question, pursuit of further knowledge or query answered, an insane achievement of managing everybody's expectation/demands/desire and skill level's at the same time and all of it no matter what resulting in the best dive's possible...this was truly a monumental way to transition from a dive enthusiast to a dive professional and even after graduating they're still helping me in every pursuit. I have built the utmost respect and love for these professionals and would recommend them to anyone pursuing the fields they are promoting.

I started my experience with Indo-Ocean Project in 2020. I was able to spend with them just two weeks before Indonesia was closed due to the pandemic. It took two years of rescheduling before being able to fly to Indonesia again.
In those two years the staff of Indo-Ocean Project has been incredible supportive and willing to any change in the starting date.
Once back to Indonesia the waiting was definitely worth it! I loved the way the program is organised between diving and workshops. I still can't believe how much I have learnt in just three months. I grew both as a diver and as a marine biologist, I meet incredible people, time passed way too fast!

Having signed up for the program in 2019, I finally made it to IOP in 2021 (thank you Covid) ... but the program was worth the long wait.
Whether you just want to be a better diver or move on to instructor level, this is the program you have been looking for. IOP goes above and beyond the standard and if necessary will customize the program to your needs. The IOP staff are not only very knowledgeable when it comes to diving and Marine Conservation, but were also incredibly supportive whenever I struggled. Be ready to meet some awesome and inspiring people among the staff and your fellow interns. We all came from different backgrounds, but bonded over our shared interest for diving and conservation. I gained a huge amount of diving experience in sometimes challenging conditions, learned a lot about marine life and also a lot about myself. Thank you to everyone at IOP, this was an amazing experience!

I immensely enjoyed my time with IOP and would highly recommend their program to anyone who is interested in becoming a better diver or becoming more aware of the scientific aspects of the local marine life.

The staff are incredible- both at IOP and Reeflex (the custodian dive Center). A particular highlight for me were the baited remote underwater video deployments and of course the manta dives!

The diving is fantastic and I feel far more confident in my skills as a diver. A massive thank you to IOP.

How can I write a review without sounding like a paid ad? I'll try...

The way that Indo Ocean Project combine divemaster training and conservation work gives meaning and purpose to your dives here. You are not trained to just be a dive professional, you are trained to be a conservationist with impeccable diving skills.

But an awesome program could not succeed without awesome people, all of the IOP staff are exceptional and will go to any lengths to help you with whatever challenge you encounter.

Joining IOP was the single best decision I've ever made. I'll never forget all of the jaw dropping but sometimes challenging dive sites, the laid back island life and its people, and the scooter adventures I've been on. Finishing the program I could proudly say I have improved my diving skills, increased my marine life knowledge and gained a family.

If you need a meaningful and fulfilling break from the tiring corporate world like I did, this is the place to be.

Ended up 2 month before starting that I was going to join IOP thanks to a miraculous free spot, I realize now I lucky I was. Solid divemaster training, lot of different conservation workshop and training, it is a very complete program for someone that don’t want to do a simple divemaster. Moreover, you are on an amazing island to explorer with plenty of people to meet, including the lovely team and the interns that will become precious friends in your adventure !

It totally met my expectations, and even went far beyond !!

After researching so many different divemaster internships, I knew Indo Ocean Project was the one. I gained a huge amount of diving experience in 3 months as well as contributing to marine conservation efforts through becoming a research/survey diver.
The course is extremely well organised and each day is filled with diving, workshops and other activities. I learnt so much about the amazing species you find in these waters and was then lucky enough to dive with them!
The best thing about the IOP internship is the people. The staff are absolutely incredible, going above and beyond to build your confidence and I felt supported every step of the way. I feel like I’ve grown so much as a person through their guidance. It was also amazing to make friends with the locals on Nusa Penida and immersing into the island community.
And then you have the other interns, a family away from home and best friends for life. I’ve had the best time, feel so grateful, and cannot wait to go out into the world as a divemaster and work in the marine conservation industry. Thank you to everyone at IOP - for everything!

I spent months researching different divemaster and volunteer programs until I came across Indo Ocean Project, and I’m so glad I did! The combination of divemaster training and contributing to marine conservation was exactly what I was looking for and even exceeded my expectations. The dive training you get here is above and beyond any normal divemaster program. The highly trained staff is very professional and a lot of fun. You will leave here as a confident dive professional and ready for your IDC.
And on top of the great learning environment, you get to be in beautiful Nusa Penida! There is no shortage of things to do with your down time and all the locals here are very welcoming. If you are looking for a program where you can give a little but get a whole lot back, and make new friends from around the world, this is the place!

What can i say? This has been the most amazing experience of my life. Passionate people that don't only teach you how to dive dive or about conservation but actually make you fall in love with it.
The program is very complete and detailed, doesn't.matter what is your starting point, they build you up to be a confident and competent diver while enhancing your knowledge about conservation and ecology of several animals and engaging practically in conservation efforts such as coral restoration and data collection.