Program Reviews

Do it! It is absolutely worth the time and money! I had the best experience on Koh Tao. Did the one month eco-program, but after my time was up I wish I had applied for at least 2 more months. It was so sad to leave, because all the people are great, and the island is beautiful. There is always something to do, and new people to meet. No matter what your scene is, the island has it. Everything from Muay Thai classes, to party’s, hiking, snorkelling, free diving, cute cafés and restaurants, everything! Of course, the best part of the day involves the eco-program: snorkelling for reef-shark surveys, diving almost every day, and lectures where every question you get while diving falls into place. I also loved the beach cleanups in the sunset, unreal. You really feel like you are making a difference. My time doing this programme with GapForce really exceeded my expectations, and I couldn’t recommend it more:)

I did so many things and had so many experiences as well as making real friends that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do if it weren’t for the trip. The tour leader Callum was so cool and we all got along really well. The accommodation was nice and clean and you can just put it down to a cultural experience if anything ever went slightly wrong. I saw areas of the world that I had always dreamed of seeing but never actually thought I would and for a very reasonable price overall. On the whole I had a great and unforgettable time.

Absolutely incredible trip, I've met some amazing people and it's really really helped with my confidence. I took this trip as I didn't know what to do with my life at all and hoped this would help me figure it out. And it's helped quite alot. I really recommend, it's genuinely been the best 8 weeks of my life. We all loved our group leader Callum, he really ensured that everything would be made more comfortable and convenient for us (getting us early check ins and private transport ect) experiencing all of the culture and history of these counties has been an amazing experience that I will never forget.

I absolutely loved this trip, I’m really glad I decided to go!! This trip definitely prepared me to solo travel or travel with a small group in the future, I feel much more self sufficient now and i’m grateful for that. The accommodations are hostels so as long as you go into the trip knowing that and understanding that that it’s no problem. I am a vegetarian and was very nervous about not being able to find food or eat at the same places as the others but it ended up being quite easy to find food so if you have a dietary restriction I wouldn’t worry. Lastly, our group leader, Callum Jenkins, was the best!! He was very helpful and such good fun (not in a way that would be inappropriate for his position). He had a great attitude that rubbed off on all of us. I recommend this trip!!

I spent one month in Thailand participating in a diving program with the Roctopus Dive School. The program was incredibly well-structured. Every morning, we had lessons about marine life, its conservation, and restoration, and in the afternoons, we applied our knowledge while diving. I would have loved to stay longer than just one month.

The dive instructors and the people participating in this or other courses at the dive school were incredibly kind and welcoming. And, of course, Jade made the program and whole experience very exciting, informative, and enjoyable. She always checked on us to be sure we are comfortable with everything and was very good at teaching about Marine Conservation and Restoration. You could really feel her care for our environment and love for the Marine World.

I would 100% book this program again!

Last March I have completed the field guide course in South Africa and really enjoyed this! Booking the experience was easy and I got all info needed upfront. It was amazing to spend so much time in the game reserve with all the other volunteers and field guide participants! I have learned so much and would love to go back! In 8 weeks we learned everything about African nature and had the best experiences. The staff is very kind, helpful and knowledgeable. During the weekends we also got the opportunity to explore nearby areas which was a lot of fun!

I loved every second of my time in South Africa. All the staff at the reserve were fantastic, especially the rangers who were really knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the conservation that was happening there. There was a really good blend between all aspects of the course, including the classroom learning, field learning and also participating in some of the volunteer activities as well.

The volunteer house on the reserve was really nice and well looked after. It was great that although there were 6 participants on the course with me, the house was also used by the conservation volunteers as well, so I met lots of great people from around the world.

After I became qualified I stayed in touch with the reserve and arranged to return to intern with them to gain more experience in the field.
This was a 10/10 experience and would recommend to anyone with an interest in the environment, or who wants to get into the guiding industry.

I am blessed I had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica and participate in the Diemaster program through Gap Force and Ocean's Unlimited. Coming from a place where there is no ocean, a very dry climate, the shift in culture was truly a breath of fresh air. I had never done Scuba before, but ended up getting my divemaster after 8 weeks. We dove almost everyday, I met some of my best friends, and the homestay family didn't speak a lick of english but they were as sweet as can be! It was beautiful!

I loved my time abroad in Quepos, Costa Rica! I did a four week program, which I felt was the perfect amount of time. The staff was very welcoming and I became good friends with the other interns quickly. The best part was all of the wildlife we saw while scuba diving. We conducted fish surveys, searched for sharks, tended to the coral nurseries, and practiced diving research techniques throughout the program. We also had classroom sessions and presentations. On our days off we were able to go hiking, swimming, and exploring around town. The lifestyle is so laid back compared to the US and I absolutely loved having a change of pace. This program is perfect for getting hands-on experience in the marine science field.

It was a bit scary going into this without knowing anyone, but I instantly clicked with a few people, and came to be comfortable with everyone within a week and made some really good friends by the end. That's not to say that it was always easy being in new places with new people- I did have a couple days of breakdowns because I didn't keep a balance of alone time and being with the group. This trip is a good way to get to know yourself in new environments and gain some independence. There will be difficult moments, like walking uphill for ten minutes at the hottest time of the day, trains getting delayed, missing your family, but looking back on it, I mostly just remember the fun times.