Location
  • Indonesia
    • Lombok Island
Length
2 to 25 weeks

Program Details

Age Min.
18
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Lodge
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30)
Travel Type
Budget Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
1950
Price Details
The price covers everything you need for an unforgettable experience: all research and conservation activities, comprehensive training and lectures.

Unlimited diving is included during your stay, in addition to BCD and Regulators. Other diving equipment can be rented on site.

Accommodation comes in the form of charming traditional bamboo huts on our pristine island.

Enjoy three delicious meals a day, prepared with care.

Our extensive range of learning opportunities ensures you’ll have ample time with our on-site science team, eager to share their expertise and passion.

Every aspect of your stay is designed to immerse you fully in marine conservation while providing comfort and enrichment.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Equipment Meals
What's Not Included
Airfare Airport Transfers Travel Insurance Visa
Sep 30, 2024
Oct 05, 2024
7 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

At SORCE, we believe passionate individuals can create lasting change. Nestled in the Secret Gilis of Lombok, our mission is to protect and restore vibrant marine ecosystems. We’re not just explorers—we’re guardians of the ocean, dedicated to preserving its beauty and diversity.

Our Eco-Venture Expedition is more than an adventure; it’s a transformative journey into marine conservation. Immerse yourself in the underwater world, exploring colourful coral reefs, swimming with vibrant fish, discovering fascinating invertebrates, and mastering turtle identification. Our lectures will provide the knowledge needed to understand marine ecosystems, identify key species, and make a real impact.

Guided by expert marine scientists, you’ll gain hands-on experience with restoration techniques and learn about the incredible biodiversity beneath the waves. No prior experience is needed—just bring your passion, and we’ll teach you everything to help protect and restore our precious reefs.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Conservation Diving: Spend 5 days engaging in impactful conservation dives, with an additional day of fun dives to enjoy the ocean’s wonders. No diving experience? We offer PADI courses, from Open Water to Divemaster.
  • Dive with Marine the Greats: Encounter sharks, Napoleon Wrasse, Eagle rays, turtles, and colourful nudibranchs as you explore vibrant coral reefs.
  • Expert-Led Training: Gain hands-on experience with lectures and field training in marine research and conservation techniques, led by highly qualified marine biologists.
  • Unwind & Have Fun: Evenings are packed with activities like campfires, movie nights, games, and Sunday Fundays, ensuring you’re never bored.
  • Stay Active: Enjoy yoga on the beach, a makeshift gym, basketball, volleyball, SUPs and kayaking during your downtime.

Program Impact

The heart of our mission is the development of sustainable, community-driven approaches to marine conservation. We work tirelessly to protect and restore marine ecosystems, encouraging a culture of ecological awareness that resonates locally and globally. Through a combination of research, conservation, education, scientific initiatives and public engagement, we ensure that our efforts create long lasting, meaningful change.

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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 8 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 4.9
  • Value 4.9
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Default avatar
Karley
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I would recommend SORCE, and this opportunity highly!

I had the most incredible time at SORCE while completing my marine science A-level. Not only did I get phenomenal teachers for my book and exam learnings, I also had vital hands on experience. We had the opportunity to do field work and research while conducting coral, seagrass and mangrove restoration. While also inviting you to experience one of the most pristine marine ecosystems in the world. Getting the opportunity to be introduced to new species on every dive! On top of this living beside the ocean in villas creates a close community that becomes family. SORCE played a pivotal role in my life and career and I would recommend this to anyone considering!! 11/10

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I had the opportunity to learn so many new species of fish, corals, sharks, rays, cuttlefish, octopus. Being in the coral triangle you have to opportunity to see hundreds of coral species and get to do hands on work conserving them!
Pros
  • Scuba diving
  • Ocean villas & new food
  • Classroom settings
Cons
  • If you don’t like remote spaces, know it’s off the beaten track (&city), which for someone like me is actually a pro
  • Travel expenses to consider for remoteness
Default avatar
Hunter
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Life Changing Place

Simply one of the best places to both dive and get involved in the world of Oceanic and marine sciences. The facilities here are incredibly well maintained, the huts are great, the food is great, and the people are incredible. The sense of comradery and friendships you can build during your time here with other visitors and the staff are unmatched. They are also extremely accommodating to pretty much any need or concern you have and any of the extra cost food options are made very very clear and are not over priced. The dive activities you complete make you feel like you're making a difference to better the surrounding marine ecosystem and the diving itself is incredible, with many unique flora and fauna you can't find anywhere else. Cannot recommend this place enough if you are looking to get more involved in marine and Oceanic sciences, either recreationally or professionally. SORCE is the best, stingrays forever!

What was your funniest moment?
Accidentally flipping off one of the dive guides thinking it was the dive sign for a Stingray. That is now the dive sign there for stingrays
Pros
  • Incredible People
  • Great Diving
  • Making an Impact
Cons
  • Nothing
  • More Nothing
  • Nothing with gusto this time
5 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Denissa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing time at SORCE

This year I went to SORCE for 5 weeks and i just had the best time of my life there.
If you love the ocean, if you love scuba diving , if you love to life on an beautiful island, if you wanna enjoy an incrediable view everyday and every night and also if you wanna help our ocean and all living organism inside there you need to come to SORCE.
For me it is like a second home now and i know i will come back!!

The team of SORCE do an amazing job in marine conservation, they are clever and hardworking and you can see how much they love the ocean; but they also be there for you whenever you need them, doesnt matter if you wanna talk about the project or if you just wanna talk about all your thoughts and impressions.
The accommodations are really comfortable and just made with love, also the food - I LOVED IT especially the homemade peanut butter
There is so much more to say but i think everyone who is interested in living a completely different exciting life and be part of marine conservation should come to SORCE.
Our planet needs more people like the team members of SORCE.
Im so thankful for this experience and it just changed my view of life in a really good way.
And also indonesia is an amazing beautiful country
Thanks to Kara and all the rest of this lovely SORCE family <3
SAVE THE OCEAN !!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would stay longer than 5 weeks!!!
Pros
  • learning about the ocean and marine conservation
  • you will have three times a day an incrediable good food
  • amazing place to stay, lovely people
Cons
  • at the beginning it is a bit overwhelming ( a lot of informations, but i think that is normal)
  • i dont know any cons about the project
  • i just loved it
4 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Andrea
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience

I love this place!! My husband and I spent 3 weeks here and had the most wonderful experience. We learned so much about conservation work, coral, fish, and mangroves. There was a clear structure to the day with a various different activities. And, I improved my diving skills in a variety of different environments and situations. The team there is smart, sweet, funny, passionate and has created something very special. The location itself is beautiful with lovely accommodations, amazing sunsets and so many stars! I would highly recommend this experience!

7 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
francisco javier
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A unique experience

One of the experiences of my life, during my time at sorce I felt like I was at home, from the very moment I stepped into the campment all the team, since the staff of the kitchen, until izy, going through all the boat crew and scientifics made my live so easy. They'll try to satisfy all your requirements (of course within the context of being in a small village in Indonesia) in my case I just asked for eating and diving as much as possible, And I can say that I gained 3 kg and I almost bend, hahahha nah kidding, well, the first part is true, the food is so good, but about diving they strictly respect all diving standards and procedures in both scientific and fun dives. Moreover they have an instructor on site who's an excellent professional and a really good opportunity if you're considering taking any training during your time at sorce cause she'll  teach you in a more up-close-and-personal way that a common dive center would do.
In conclusion, at sorce you'll find people with passion about what they do and therefore happy people who will make you live one the best experiences of your life and will give you the chance to learn as much as you want about marine life. I highly recommend this place to those who love the ocean and are wondering to further their knowledge about it or just have gap time wanting to live a unique experience while doing something for the environment.

7 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Georgia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

6 Months at SORCE

I spent 6 months at SORCE whilst I was a student to get more experience in the field, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Even in the first couple of weeks, I had already learned more about marine conservation than I could have ever imagined. The project schedule runs from Tuesday-Saturday, with a fun day (and a fun dive) on Sunday and a dry day on Monday. On the first project day we were diving and learning about their coral nurseries and artificial reef structures, and by the end of the first week I had logged 13 dives through cleaning coral nurseries, planting on artificial reef structures, assisting in underwater BRUV surveys, learning about fish ID, and on top of that we even planted some mangroves! Over the next few months I was able to develop my skills in all of these areas and so much more, and during this time I had so much support and advice from the staff when I was starting to think about my career after university. There are lots of staff on site that ensure everything is run smoothly, from scientists who lead the activities, to kitchen and housekeeping staff who cook you three meals a day and clean your (private!) room every day; every single staff member was lovely and welcoming. The location is remote, perfect for those searching for somewhere quiet, but there is always something to do if you want to. Most nights guests will hang out in the 'den' watching movies, playing games or just chatting, and during the free Monday there are enough places to go to, like restaurants on one of the local islands, or places further afield (but still close enough to spend a day there) like Kuta and Senggigi. During my stay lots of other people came through, some with lots of dive experience, some with none, and either way there was something for everyone to do. Despite being there for such a long time, I was never bored, and I made lifelong friends with people I would have never crossed paths with if it weren't for SORCE.

If marine conservation is what you are interested in, SORCE is the place to be!

7 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Aidan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

SORCE: An unexpected gem

Stayed here for 2 months in early 2023. Was arguably the best interning experience I've ever had:

Fantastic diving with brilliant divemasters which can find you the most amazing of wildlife, big or small. Marine life here is bright, vibrant and varied!

Engaging science, with a variety of projects to engage with, all of which are properly justified in terms of their scientific importance.

Amazing living conditions: the only interning experience where you get your own private housing!

Climate is wonderful: hot and dry with the sea breeze keeping life cool and free from mosquitos.

Fantastic location, super close to the lesser known Gilii Isles, with the beach right on your doorstep and no more than a 10 minute boat ride to Gili Asahan.

An engaging and supportive management, which are always available for any enquiries you have. People on base with you are wonderful and very open and welcoming.

I cannot wait to come back again!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go for as long as you can! You truely get the most out of your time the longer you are here!
Pros
  • Great diving
  • Fantastic location and living conditions
  • Brilliant staff
6 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Lucy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

1 Month Eco - Venture at SORCE

I stayed at SORCE for 4 weeks and it was an amazing experience. Our week was structured with 2 (sometimes 3) dives a day from tuesday to saturday with a fun dive on sunday. Everything was really well organized, all the staff are lovely and the loction is amazing. You‘re right next to the beach with hardly anyone else around. The accomodation was really cozy and very clean. Our activities were very varied. Apart from the diving, we had some lectures which for example educated us about coral, how to identify fish and the importance of what SORCE is doing. But we also planted mangroves and collected plastic on the beach. You will definately not get bored! The same with the dives, they varied throughout the week. From nursery maintenance at the beginning of each week, to fish ID dives, debris dives and more. We also had movie/ documentary nights, game nights (I played a lot of cards and darts) and bonfire nights! Apart from the amazing dives, I will always remember the mangrove planting competitions, the laughs we had whilst building MARS blocks and messing around during the surface intervals. I wish I could have stayed longer and will definately try to come back!

What was your funniest moment?
One of my funniest moments/ highlights (there were many) was my first debris dive. I got to carry the debris bag. We collected so much debris that it started to get really heavy. One of the volunteers just kept bringing more and more! I just remember trying to do the safety stop whilst holding the bag with another volunteer and struggling. We had a big laugh about it afterwards and it was a lot of fun.
Pros
  • Amazing & lovely staff
  • Well organized & Fun activities
  • Different experience under water due to all the educational lectures. I now look at everything from a different perspective
7 people found this review helpful.

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