Location
Multiple Locations +7
  • Fiji
  • Thailand
  • Costa Rica
  • Spain
    • Tenerife
  • Seychelles
  • Mexico
  • Greece
Length
1 to 12 weeks
General grants/scholarships

Program Details

Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30)
Travel Type
Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
Nov 03, 2023
Feb 19, 2025
108 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

GVI offers a variety of marine conservation volunteering programs. You could travel to Fiji, Seychelles, Mexico or Thailand and actively participate in coral reef research expeditions, sea turtle protection and nesting programs, plastic pollution and beach clean-up efforts, or identify and survey indigenous sea life.

These programs offer a way to receive professional dive training and research qualifications, and improve your technical marine conservation skills, while also supporting local community projects to achieve their sustainable objectives.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Travel to a different part of the world, immerse in the culture and experience another way of life.
  • Learn conservation skills to improve your CV and increase your future employment opportunities in the marine industry.
  • Support the preservation of local biodiversity, contributing to reach sustainable objectives.
  • Better understand native species, surrounded by their immediate environments.
  • Dive, snorkel and swim in some of the most beautiful and ecologically diverse oceans.

Popular Programs

Turtle

Earn your PADI diving and coral reef research qualifications while preserving marine ecosystems, and endangered species in Puerto Morelos. You’ll also conduct beach clean-ups and collect ocean floor debris. In this immersive expedition, you will collaborate with local community members, and volunteer alongside other international participants.

Turtle

This is an expedition to gain a range of skills and qualifications in marine conservation, such as species identification skills, your PADI divers and research qualifications, and coral reef surveying techniques, all while contributing towards sustainable development objectives.

Turtle

Observe whales and dolphins in their natural habitat while on a boat in Tenerife. You’ll take photographs and record their numbers and behaviors. The data you collect will be used by local and international organizations to learn about the long-term effects of threats to whale and dolphin conservation and other marine species.

turtle

Dive into the warm waters of Dawasamu, where there is the possibility to meet an array of species on your excursions, such as sharks, whales, sting-rays, an array of fish and a variety of coral reef colonies. Learn to conduct underwater surveys, enhance your scuba diving skills and experience a new way of life.

Program Reviews

4.89 Rating
based on 37 reviews
  • 5 rating 94.59%
  • 4 rating 2.7%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 2.7%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.7
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.9
  • Value 4.45
  • Safety 4.9
Showing 17 - 24 of 37 reviews
Default avatar
Victoria
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

GVI

I just spent 8 weeks on the GVI base on Tenerife, where I worked with protection of dolphins and whales
It was an amazing experience and I loved everything about it
I had an incredible time there and I learned so much
While on base I felt like I really made an impact and did something that made a change
I met so many amazing people and made so many new friends all over the world
I’m so glad I did this and I can’t wait to do it again in the future
I would recommend GVI to anyone who wanna do a difference and make an impact on the world
GVI is a very professional organization who takes care of their participants

99 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Hi Victoria,

Thank you so much for this review. I'm so glad to hear you had such a fantastic time. It's wonderful to hear that you not only enjoyed making an impact on your time with us in Tenerife but that you also made some new friends from all over the world. We'd love to have you back on another program in the future!

Default avatar
Cass
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Tenerife Marine Conservation Internship

I was an intern with GVI for 8 weeks on the Tenerife base in the Canary Islands. Overall, I had an incredible experience and I would recommend this program if you are interested in marine life and not a diver. I was supported by a wonderful and welcoming staff member during my time. The boat rides were a real highlight and I learnt really useful skills regarding data collection and input and also fin ID. It was great going out on the boats and recognising certain individuals from the nicks and scars on their fins! The marine biological researcher GVI partner with in Tenerife is incredible, she is full of so much knowledge and is a key element of the program. I am very grateful to have learnt from her and experienced such incredible marine biodiversity.

The base is still very new so I experienced a few teething problems and things could be improved but I am sure this will get better with time and improvements can be made. For example, I do feel like the actual project work could be bulked out more. Gaining more local partners associated with the work such as beach cleans, and expanding in terms of education and awareness would make it feel like volunteers and interns are having more impact and increase the work done on the project. There is also only a tiny difference between a volunteer and an intern - an intern does a few quizzes and presentations but everything else is the same. This is something to be looked into further as even I struggled with thinking of ways to differentiate the intern and volunteer workload/type!

I am really glad I chose this project and to intern with GVI. I have great memories and overall absolutely loved my experience! When the base gets more established, which will come with time, I think it will be a fab hub and a great place to learn and experience marine life and get involved with conservation!

Pros
  • Boat trips tree times a week and some amazing whale and dolphin sightings (I really enjoyed all the data collection and fin ID too!)
  • Really social and warm environment on base and great area allowing you to explore and have fun!
  • Gaining knowledge on the different species from a local marine biological researcher GVI partner with
Cons
  • Could have more impact on the project through more project focus areas like education of tourists and connecting with more local partners
  • Barely any difference between a volunteer and an intern
  • Lack of organisation and reliant on volunteers who have been there for several months to train and guide new volunteers through things
93 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Thanks for your great review!

I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time with us as much as you did. Your hard work and efforts have certainly impacted this project in a meaningful way. And thanks for your feedback. We are a feedback-led organization and place significant value on all input from our participants, and will take your feedback with us further on.

We would love to see you back on base, in Tenerife or somewhere else, soon!

Default avatar
Eugen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The experience that has improved my life sustainably!

Translation: Hello my name is Eugen!

I come from Germany and participated in the GVI nature conservation project. In detail it was the marine and coastal protection program in Pang Nga, Thailand. It was my first experience in the field of volunteering and I am very happy to have experienced it with the organization GVI. You have been given extensive instruction and I have participated in a variety of different activities.

I learned a lot about sustainability and how important it is to protect our planet.

We supported turtle breeding at the Thai Marine Base, recorded butterflies and birds in the wild, examined corals while snorkeling and planted seedlings of mangrove trees in the swamp.

I only participated for two weeks and therefore got a little insight into the work of GVI but can recommend the organization without any restrictions. The direct influence on the surrounding area, for example in the village of Baan Nam Krem where I worked, impressed me!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Prepare for a down-to-earth accommodation if you are open-minded and love nature you will get your money's worth!
128 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Hey Eugen, thanks for your review! I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience with us and enjoyed your time on base as much as you did. We'd love to have you back on base sometime soon!

Default avatar
Tony
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Phang Nga - surpasses expectations

I’ve always been interested in conservation, but thought I’d never have the time to really explore what was available. Recently one opportunity arose, so I started to plan. One of the first websites I looked at was GVI. They have many many hubs around the world with a diverse range of projects. I was interested in working with turtles. After several informative and guidance emails and chats, it was clear that the time of year and my dates gave me 2x locations to look deeper into. I struggled to get the correct dates and thought another opportunity would pass me by. However looking at other sites convinced me further that GVI was the right one to go for. I changed my dates based on my research and the enthusiasm and support I was given from the GVI team. After spending 2 weeks in Phang Nga, Thailand on the conservation project, I can easily say this experience has surpassed all of my expectations. The projects have been very informative and diverse. I was lucky to go on the islands project which provided even more diverse countryside and community involvement. The fellow volunteers come from many countries and are all friendly, helpful and fun to be with, the age ranges went from 18 to 50 during my time, me being at the top end! Weekends off enabled visits with some volunteers to other Thai holiday locations to take in more of the country. My only regret is that I only have had 2 weeks here, I could easily spend 4 to really feel I’d had the fullest experience possible. I achieved my goal of working with turtles from 2 weeks old to many years, but so much more besides. Thank you so much GVI Thailand, I have no doubt my daughter will be with you when she is old enough, and she will have my whole hearted blessing!!

Tony

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have come out for longer, there is so much to take in that even 2 weeks is only just enough!!
137 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Tony, thanks for your review! I'm so happy to hear you had such a great experience with us. We welcome you back to base again sometime in the future. In the meantime, please do keep on spreading your GVI love!

Read my full story
Default avatar
Elena
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Made the best experience in my life

At first, I was overwhelmed when I came to the marine conservation project of GVI in Phang nga. It was my first time that I travelled alone for a long time, and here we go.
I met so many people from all over the world who all had the same goal in mind - making a difference. We spent so much time together and became really close. When you constantly hang out together for two months you cannot believe that you will be so far away from each other. To be honest, it felt like a family.
I‘ve loved the idea of the marine conservation project. Every day was different. We caught butterflies to identify them, we identified birds. We were cleaning our beaches and seriously your mind changes when you see all the trash at the beach. (and when I say all the trash, I mean everything. There was nothing we didn’t find.)
My favourite things to do during my time here was teaching children about conservation things. You don’t know how smart the children are it’s ridiculous! We also went to the Navy Base twice in a week to clean the turtles and their tanks. There were so many tourists you could talk to. They have so many question about that and it’s such a good feeling to clarify them about our work.
You see, there are so many things you can do here. You get to know yourself better, you become more self confident. Sometimes, it’s exhausting and I would lie if I wouldn’t say that you don’t sweat. But it’s nothing in comparison you do for that.
And finally, there is one thing I will never forget and this is the big difference I made during my time in Thailand. I want to maintain all those things when I come back.
Thank you so much for the unforgettable experience, it was amazing.

131 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Elena, thanks for your review! I'm so happy to hear you had such a great experience with us. We welcome you back to base again sometime in the future. In the meantime, please do keep on spreading your GVI love!

Default avatar
Tasha
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Skeptical? Just do it!

Skeptical about whether you should do the GVI Thailand marine conservation program or not? I'd say just do it, dive in and see what you can learn and gain from the experience. I had no idea what to expect going into it, but it was definitely worth it. Once you're out past your comfort zone, it becomes so much easier to open up and connect with people from all around the world, and really emerge yourself in the culture around you.
It's a great program to do as you really experience what its like to live in another country, away from tourists and mainstream activities + sightseeing which never show you what it's really like to live in a place so unique like Thailand. Eating home cooked Thai food, and visiting islands barely any tourists have stepped foot on is what really makes the experience amazing.
Spending 4 weeks in Thailand was a good amount of time to see and experience a little bit of everything in the area - definitely recommend !

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
When you first arrive, and everyone already has friendships formed, it becomes really scary for you coming into that. To overcome it, you just have to be brave, and start opening up and talking to new people. In the end, you make some awesome friendships.
121 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Tasha, thanks for your review! I'm so happy to hear you had such a great experience with us. We welcome you back to base again sometime in the future. In the meantime, please do keep on spreading your GVI love!

Default avatar
Pauline
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Absolutely amazing project!

I‘ve been participating in this project for two months and I enjoyed every single day! The island where the project is located is very small but a real paradise. The dive sites around it are very beautiful as well; during the project you will have plenty of time to see how great they are because there is at least one dive per day for everybody!. I‘m very glad that I had the opportunity to be a part of the GVI community and the great important work they are doing. And I’m especially grateful for all the amazing people I met there and who made my experience a very funny, unique and unforgettable one. Sometimes, it can be a long day on base but the knowing that you are actually making a difference is worth every effort!
I can only recommend this project to everybody who likes to dive (or is interested to learn it as I did) and want’s to save the world (or at least a very beautiful part of it😉)

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The diversity of life in the coral reef was stunning! I saw sharks, sea snakes, turtles etc.
Some local volunteers showed us how to make coconut-milk by ourselves, that was pretty cool!
127 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Hey Pauline, thanks for your review! I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience with us and enjoyed your time on base as much as you did. We'd love to have you back on base sometime soon!

Default avatar
Caterina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Daydreaming in Seychelles

Hello everyone! I am Caterina and I have just returned from one of the most beautiful experiences of my life! GVI Marine Conservation Expedition in the Seychelles!
I am Italian and I am studying biology in Milan, I am very interested in the marine world and all the animals and corals that live there, I would like to study marine biology and graduate soon to be able to contribute to the research and protection of this fantastic underwater world!
I found this project while looking for a way to spend my summer in close contact with the ocean and what could be better than a month in the Seychelles as Coral reef researcher !?
The day at the camp is long and tiring, but the dives in the reef and the breathtaking beaches are what you have left most from this experience! The staff is always available to help you and is very prepared in all fields!
I am sure that this experience will help me in the future to find my place in the world of marine biology but it is also thanks to this project that I met so many fantastic people from all over the world with whom I built a special bond that I know will not end

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
experience this project to the fullest, get involved and not be stingy with emotions, it will be unforgettable
130 people found this review helpful.
Response from GVI

Hey Caterina, thanks for your review! I'm so thrilled to read that you had such a great time and that it been of benefit to both your education and career path! Your hard work has definitely contributed to the positive impact we have been able to make in Seychelles!

Questions & Answers

Hi Berni, Each marine conservation project has different levels of dive qualification requirements. You will need to start by being PADI certified. These include; PADI Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Divemaster, Instructor, and Rescue Diver. Please note that the project you choose will determine which PADI divers qualification is required. To conduct the coral reef surveys on a project, you will...

You have to be 18 to do many of the GVI programmes. I was 17 when I did it however, they may have changed the age restriction since then. There are under 18 programmes available so best thing to do is check out the GVI website :)