Program Reviews

I spent two months in Bira with the Indoocean project, and it was one of the most amazing experiences I ever did.
I really loved to be part of the IOP family, sharing all the moment with the other interns and the staff..
I learned a lot of new stuff about the marine environment that I did not know and that I will remember because was really well explained.
I also loved to do my divaster with IOP.
The staff is really competent and really good people - I’m really glad I had the chance to meet them.

I chose the IOP in Bira at Blue Planet Dive Resort beacuse it was a bit remote and in an area that is not so easy to reach, and I was right with my choice: pristine house reef, amazing sunsets, amazing people, nice village and super dive resort with amazing owners. Moreover you may have the chance to see Mobulas, Whalesharks, Threshershark and Hammerheads, without having the dives sites crowded by many boats, since there are only few dive center in the area :D

If you are looking for a new experience, don’t hesitate to apply, you will not regret it :-)

I was looking for a place to do my Dive master internship and I found out about Indo ocean project from a prior intern and I am more than happy to be a part of this project. The instructors are super nice and they train you to be the best. The project gives you a head start in the conservation world. You dive everyday with a purpose of giving something back to the ocean even if it is a tiny effort. No dive is just a dive at the Indo ocean project. You are always doing some type of surveys, research, collecting trash from the ocean, maintaining and planting coral nurseries. With Indo ocean project you get much more than the bare minimum in every aspect of dive master training. I would love to be a part of the project again in future and contribute in whatever way possible.

I did my zero to hero program with IOP. I started out from scratch with 2 dives under my belt and I finished my program as a divemaster with over 100 dives. It is really difficult to put into words the incredible journey that the program had to offer. Even though I had no marine biology background, I had no problem keeping up with the program. The staffs are wonderful and are extremely knowledgeable. My instructors from reeflex also really helped me out with my certifications. My confidence and skills improved so much with time. All the research and science blew my mind. This program was a wonderful start to my diving journey and I fell in love with the marine life in Penida. It was incredible, challenging at times but absolutely worth it. The people, the experience and the culture in Indonesia, everything is absolutely incredible! If anyone’s thinking of doing their divemaster and research program, this is the right place.
I would say, the only thing that they could improve upon is the stay, with things getting fixed on time.

I loved my time there and had the best time. This internship provided a great opportunity to learn about marine research and there’s no perfect place to do it other than Raja Ampat. Learnt a lot as a diver and as a research diver. Ended up making life-long friends and walking away with beautiful memories of that place… The Scuba Republic local staff were really great and always going above and beyond to ensure we have a good time on land and on the boat. I will definitely recommend this program to anyone interested.

Honestly everything about my time here was amazing. All the staff are truly kind with valuable experience in their different ways... I could name you all one by one but I don't wanna make myself sad revisiting how fulfilling my time in Penida was. The staff at Reeflex also played an instrumental role in my progression as a diver. I had only hoped it would be a little heavier on the science, but that's part of what makes the program appealing to people without a background in science wanting to get involved in conservation. Hey, I even got to pilot a submersible drone so you never know what's going to come your way with IOP... Anyhow missing you guys loads, will definitely cross paths in the future!

Definitely one of the best experiences I’ve ever had! I did two months in Nusa Penida and had the opportunity to grow and learn so much from incredible instructors and marine biologists. Not only did we dive almost daily but we also had some free time to explore the island and meet amazing locals. Sharing these moments with other interns was the best part. I will forever be grateful for the lifelong friends that I’ve made. Special thanks to the whole IOP team and Reeflex staff who made the entire learning experience 1000000x better. I hope to come back very soon!

This opportunity came at a crucial time in my life. I Graduated with a degree in Marine Biology, but having no knowledge in diving, this Divemaster internship at Raja Ampat was a springboard for my personal and professional growth.

Traveling a long distance alone can seem like a heavy challenge to tackle. But strangely, I really enjoyed being able to live in such a simple and authentic way for more than 3 and a half months. Learning from basic to hero diving in such a privileged place as Raja Ampat was really a blessing.

Raja Ampat is above all a grandiose human experience. Not only do you experience and connect with the local culture up close, but you are also rocked by an immense cultural diversity thanks to interns from all over the world.

Marine biodiversity is immeasurably rich and transcendent. IOP teaches us perfectly the functioning of these ecosystems and sensibilizes us to conservation issues and the challenges that remain to thrive these fragile and threatened ecosystems. Despite my training in marine biology, the practical and theoretical knowledge acquired at IOP allowed me to understand more concretely how to focus my energy and my actions for the benefit of the preservation of the ocean.

IOP Raja Ampat has been for me an evolutionary platform. This breathtaking beauty mixed with this surreal tranquility transcends your body and your entire mind until vibrating your soul. This is the kind of experience that delivers the brightest or darkest sides of yourself and teaches you how to cope. It is also by understanding these aspects that you gain confidence as a diver.

I felt so fulfilled, so free and so safe in the ocean, like I had never felt before. The instructors, Dana Nalezencova, Elise Dixon and Mette Carlsen are qualified professionals who have managed to transmit to me their love of diving and confidence in the water.

This constant contact with the ocean was for me a true revelation, an illumination.
It was the most memorable experience of my life and I am so grateful for everyone who contributed. I now have the joyful satisfaction of being able to discover with even more freedom, motivation and perseverance the oceans of the world to understand and learn more and more about how to preserve them.

Coming to IOP Raja Ampat is not just a simple diving and marine conservation course, it is a life experience that will mark you forever. Go for it !

I can't omit it : " LET'S GO DIVING HEINNNN !!! "

If you’re looking to get your dive master whilst increasing your knowledge for the marine word or trying to continue your journey into marine biology/conservation like I was, this internship is a very good choice! You meet plenty of professionals in both the diving and marine research industries Eye opening to see the different opportunities available and make good contacts for the future.
The dive shop which this internship is based at (reeflex dive shop) is also home to lots of very good instructors.

IOP (Nusa Penida) was a life changing experience. Daily dives and workshops provide the perfect environment to become an experienced Dive Master with a strong understanding of marine environments/marine ecology. The IOP staff work hard to ensure interns get the most from their time. While the program is rigorous, there is a fair amount of down time, with 4-5 days off a month. I came with my Rescue Cert so the program was 2 months but it flew by, and I wish it would have been longer. The locals on Nusa Penida are very kind and make the day-day quite pleasant. There are tons of amazing cheap food options all over the island. It’s easy to fall in love with island life. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of IOP it’s once in a lifetime!

I spent 14 weeks at the Bira project location, arriving with 0 dives and leaving with a divemaster certification, this was an incredible experience and definitely one of my favourite things ive ever done! My time was filled with assisting and leading dives, workshops, species ID, roving surveys, BRUV deployments and analysis, benthic surveys, coral restoration and mangrove care and replanting. I have learnt to much at my time in IOP and would highly recommend this program to all (especially at the Bira location there are so many sharks and even a few molas!!!!).
Couldn't have asked for a more perfect experience with the most perfect people to experience this with, special thanks to the blue planet team Phoebe and Sylvain and Jess, Ben and Qinthan, the most inspiring people to do scientific diving with :)