Program Reviews

Being part of the first project located in Raja Ampat with Indo Ocean Project as intern was amazing. The expectation is really high when you go in one of the best places where to dive in the world especially for the corals biodiversity. I was already dive master once I started my program so I did 6 weeks only as researcher. We studied all the marine life that lives in West Papua New Guinea such as elasmobranchs, mantas, rays turtles, corals, nudibranchs, key species and species of interest. The organisation and the knowledge exceeded my expectations. In particular I want to congratulate with Mette Carlsen and Pascal Sebastian for everything they taught to me whilst I was there. Everybody must try this experience to learn more about marine biology, how to help the environment and to raise awareness about this topic. Nothing better than do great dives, explore, travel surrounded by the nature, make friendships and collaborate with professionals. I highly recommend this experience. Hope to be back next year and help you again!

I joined the 8 week divemaster and research programme in Raja Ampat with IOP just after the start of the project in November 2022. It was a truly incredible experience to dive Raja Ampat almost every day and see the unrivalled abundance and variety of the marinelife that inhabit the coral reefs there, whilst researching the key marine species there and learning about their biology and conservation from the IOP team.

The location of the Scuba Republic dive centre where we stayed is remote, with only a tiny village next door and a few other quiet resorts between it and the main town of Waisai, but with this comes opportunity to be fully immersed in nature in the heart of the coral triangle. On one side it is backed by pristine rainforest rich in wildlife (with birds of paradise a short walk away and hornbills, parrots and frogmouths overhead) and on the other by a shallow coral reef that is still for the most part in remarkably good condition. Just off the jetty we saw epaulette sharks, various rays, sea snakes, octopus, cuttlefish, batfish, schools of trevally, the occasional dugong and countless smaller reef fish to name just a few! The dive sites offshore are quite varied and include a mix of sloping reefs, underwater pinnacles, sandy night dives with some awesome macro critters and a shipwreck of an old liveaboard alongside a jetty. Most dives had minimal or mild current but occasionally there are stronger currents, creating drift dives which were a great experience to have for the divemaster training. We also did night dives and guided dives ourselves once we had gotten to know the sites.

The training aspect for the divemaster is very well organised and good fun, with it being spread out enough not to feel rushed, but you are definitely always kept very busy with the combination of training, learning and research. With the density of marinelife the research aspect was sometimes challenging with so many species to record and keep track of on the surveys or BRUV playbacks (!), but also meant we learnt so much about the different creatures and the research techniques. The reefs are clearly very healthy, but even here there are challenges - from plastic pollution and illegal fishing to the early signs of coral bleaching and the impacts of tourism - for which projects like this, in collaboration with the local communities and stakeholders as IOP are doing, will be essential in ensuring that this spectacular marine ecosystem can continue to thrive.

Finally a big shout out to the staff at IOP who are all incredibly helpful, from the organisation and planning (I arranged it quite last minute and they made sure everything went smoothly and that I had everything prepared for visas, learning materials etc. before arriving) through to the divemaster training and all the different workshops on the fish species, conservation and research techniques. I would highly recommend this to anyone who has a passion for marinelife and wants to develop their dive skills to the next level.

For anyone wanting a blend of beautiful diving, scientific research, and hands-on conservation, Indo Ocean Project is for you! Not to mention the chance to dive with the elegant Manta Rays.

The team are friendly and very supportive, and always down for a chat. Fellow interns were all of like-mind and very easy to get on with, all of a variety of ages and nationalities.

Day to day life is varied and full on (in a good way!), with dives almost everyday. But there’s always time to relax so you never feel overwhelmed.

You cannot beat diving in paradise everyday!

I started my scientific program as a Divemaster SSI in order to complete my internship for the university.
I never thought this experience could be so constructive from every point of view. Each dive was something unique, both for the different conditions I was used to and for the incredible biodiversity that the ocean offers.
The staff was incredible! Super kind and helpful.
I learned a lot thanks to them.
I 100% recommend this experience to anyone who wants to have unique weeks learning and having fun like never before.

P.S. Take a camera with you 🤩🦈🌊

I started my time at IOP as an open water diver with just 4 dives, and left as a divemaster with over 100 dives in just 12 short weeks! The staff are friendly, encouraging, and like to push you to do your best and become a great diver. The marine life you encounter on every dive never fails to amaze you, from the mantas to the nudibranchs, and the scientific workshops help you understand and appreciate it even more! I would recommend this course to anyone interested in diving and/or marine biology, and wants to explore a beautiful part of the world!

My experience with Indo Ocean Project in Raja Ampat was life-changing. While Raja Ampat is remote, it is the best of jungle life and the most incredible diving in the world. The IOP staff are very knowledgeable and so excited to help you grow as a diver and conservationist. They are now some of my best friends! I also found the other interns to be exceptional people as well seen as how we were all on the same page when it came to conservation and the ocean. The science aspects of the program taught me how to be a proficient underwater researcher and helped me discover my true passion in life; furthering the development and protection of MPAs. I started IOP as an Open Water Diver and was sculpted into a professional diver by very experienced peers. It was fantastic and so much fun. This program was everything I hoped for and more. I am forever grateful for this experience and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I highly highly recommend doing any of the IOP programs, it will change your life!

This experience allowed me to connect with people from all over the world. Not only was I learning about Indonesian culture, I was also learning about my fellow classmates cultures. Your time spent living and diving with the other interns allows you to create such a unique bond. The opportunity to dive every day allows you to develop skills and progress at a rapid rate when it comes to diving. The staff are energetic and their passion for diving is infectious. The memories I made within this program will last me a lifetime.

The Divemaster Internship run by IOP in Nusa Penida is a combination of disciplined and professional scientific diving alongside engaging classroom taught marine biological material. The staff are all extremely knowledgable and have a lot to teach from a wide range of specialities. The programme itself is accessible to people of any level and there is much to gain for everyone. The beautiful surroundings and wonderful people made it a rewarding and memorable experience.
Thank you IOP Team!! :)

You can’t go wrong choosing Indo Ocean Project for your Marine Research and/or Conservation Dive Master internship. I was among the first group of intern who had the chance to spend a few months in the West Papua, Indonesia, location. Raja Ampat is a very special place on earth, with its incredible marine biodiversity and efficient Marine Protected Areas. The team of scuba dive instructors and marine biologists is made of very professional and passionate people who are always willing to answer our questions, give advices and share their experiences. Interns are coming from every horizon but with the same passion for the ocean so you’re pretty sure to make new friends (and dive buddies!) coming from all around the world. Diving in breathtaking sites surrounded by an amazing team of instructors, interns and locals, who you end up being friends with, having no idea of which day of the week is it, living the jungle life and waking up every morning with the sounds of waves and parrots. This was pure happiness. This was the best experience of my life.

If you are fond of scuba diving and marine life AND if you are confortable living in a remote island and all that entails, then the Raja Ampat location might be for you! I can’t recommend more Indo Ocean Project!

If you're like me reading all this information, thinking, "this sounds too good to be true. It can't be real, " let me tell you, this program is truly just that amazing. I came to this program with no diving experience, and in 14 weeks, I became an SSI Divemaster. Indo Ocean Project believes that "to be a good research diver, you must first need to be a good diver," so holding our program at Reeflex Divers in Nusa Penida was an excellent choice. The standards for excellence at IOP and Reeflex are high, and it can be overwhelming at first, but you learn a lot. By my final weeks, I felt so prepared to handle whatever curveballs the Penida waters or assisting customers decided to throw at me. If you want to become a strong diver, learn in Penida through IOP/Reeflex.

On the conservation side of the internship, the workshops are fascinating and led by staff who are passionate about what they teach, and participating in data collection for multiple research topics is so rewarding. The program has specific requirements for the conservation aspect, but there are no limitations if you want to go above and beyond. You become certified in numerous data collection methods, such as becoming a certified survey diver for roving surveys, deploying/retrieving BRUVs, and then analyzing the footage. You also receive certification in different marine ecologies such as shark, manta, turtle, and even coral ecology, where you get the opportunity to propagate coral in the project's coral nursery. You can participate in additional research, such as going through and uploading identification shots of turtles, mantas, and molas or working on benthic survey analysis – which is what I did. It's crazy to think how much I learned in such a short amount of time – whether it be about diving or marine life, you are fully immersed in the project's mission and surrounded by others who have the same passion. I will forever be so grateful for this internship, and I can't wait to use these new skills and knowledge in my future profession.

Thank you to all the IOP and Reeflex staff, you guys are amazing, and I would give you six stars if I could.