Volunteer travel guide
Volunteering abroad used to be a long term commitment for a highly qualified few. Today, opportunities have opened up for people of all skill levels, in virtually every country in the world.
Marine conservation activities
Live alongside the locals
The amount of involvement between volunteers and locals does vary from trip to trip, but generally will only be minimal if a project is very remote. One of the key markers of most successful marine conservation initiatives, therefore, is how well they work in the local community because if they’re not behind you, the chances are your goals will either be achieved only in the short term, or not achieved at all. Volunteers are encouraged to help out at after school clubs, put on sports days or run simple presentations illustrating what the conservation work they’re doing means for the local environment and how everyone can get involved.
Our Marine conservation Vacations
Whale & dolphin research in Ligurian Sea, Italy
Whale and dolphin conservation trip
From
€795 to €910
6 days
ex flights
Lionfish spearing marine conservation in Belize
Help us protect reef ecosystems by hunting invasive species!
From
US $1330
5 days
ex flights
Seychelles Island conservation vacation
Volunteer on an exclusive island paradise in the Seychelles!
From
US $2800
4 weeks
ex flights
Marine conservation in Belize
Help us protect coral reefs and marine ecosystems!
From
US $1330
5 days
ex flights
Dolphin conservation in Greece
Dolphin research and conservation in western Greece
From
€720 to €750
6 days
ex flights
Raja Ampat diving project, Indonesia
Dive and conserve the stunning coral reefs of Raja Ampat
From
£1095 to £3550
15 days
ex flights
Reef conservation volunteering in Belize
Live on a private Caribbean island
From
£995
7 days
ex flights
Marine conservation vacation in Thailand
Join a community conservation project on a tropical island
From
£795
7 days
ex flights
Belize marine conservation internship
Hands-on conservation experience on idyllic Caribbean island
From
US $3460
4 weeks
ex flights
Marine biology volunteering in the Mediterranean sea
Sailing and studying wildlife in the Mediterranean Sea
From
€1116
7 days
ex flights
Volunteer with turtles in Costa Rica
Protect nesting turtles on Costa Rica's beautiful beaches
From
£889
7 days
ex flights
Marine conservation expedition in East Timor
Award winning conservation in Timor-Leste
From
£2250 to £4650
21 days
ex flights
Marine Conservation in Portugal
Help on daily dives to remove debris from the ocean
From
£1169
7 days
ex flights
Whale and Dolphin monitoring in South Africa
Monitor dolphins & whales in their natural habitat. Amazing.
From
£945
7 days
ex flights
Marine conservation in Belize
Award winning marine conservation in Belize
From
£2250 to £4650
21 days
ex flights
Whale Shark conservation in the Maldives
Help in vital research with the magnificent whale shark
From
£1732 to £2982
14 days
ex flights
Marine conservation in Madagascar
Coral reef surveying in a remote fishing village
From
£2100 to £4300
21 days
ex flights
Mozambique marine conservation project
Help in integral marine conservation in stunning Mozambique
From
£2025 to £7811
14 days
ex flights
Whale Shark conservation vacation in Tanzania
Whale Shark Conservation in the stunning island of Mafia
From
£1305 to £2480
21 days
ex flights
Thailand marine conservation and diving vacation
Diving and marine conservation on a beautiful Thai island
From
£1295
14 days
ex flights
The great white shark conservation project in South Africa
Encounter iconic Great White Sharks in South Africa!
From
£895 to £3895
14 days
ex flights
Costa Rica turtle conservation experience
Help protect turtles by volunteering in Costa Rica!
From
£540 to £3795
8 days
ex flights
Scuba diving & elephant conservation in Cambodia
Learn to scuba-dive, build houses & help rescued elephants!
From
US $3799
4 weeks
ex flights
Dolphin conservation vacation in Greece
Vacation on stunning Greek Island with daily dolphin tours
From
€850
7 days
ex flights
Marine conservation vacation in Portugal
-Marine Conservation Dive and Clean the Atlantic Ocean
From
US $1299 to US $3259
7 days
ex flights
South Africa marine conservation diving vacation
Learn to dive and contribute to research in Sodwana Bay
From
£1345
14 days
ex flights
Caribbean coral reef conservation in Carriacou
Diving and Reef conservation in beautiful Caribbean waters.
From
US $2094 to US $3923.45
4 weeks
ex flights
Mozambique marine conservation & Kruger safari
Moz Marine conservation & Kruger
From
US $3036 to US $4630
5 weeks
ex flights
Whale shark research in Mexico
Snorkelling with Whale Sharks & Giant Manta Rays
From
£1990
8 days
ex flights
Whale conservation vacation in the Azores
Help assist in integral whale and dolphin conservation!
From
£605 to £3395
7 days
ex flights
Polly Alford, from our supplier ReefCI, explains how money from your trip filters through the local economy: “There is a strong interaction with the community and the local population are really behind what we do. I didn’t realise when I first started this how much of an impact we would have on the local community, but in Belize certainly, tourism is still developing in the area, so when our guests are on the mainland they’re helping – they’ll stay at local guesthouses, use local taxis, our fruit and vegetables are bought from the local markets, and our tour guides are local. From a community perspective, our trips are contributing, even from bringing in lionfish and selling that to local restaurants so that they then have that to sell on.”
Explore your underwater world
Diving isn’t just a useful marine conservation skill; it’s an incredible underwater freedom that allows you to be privy to all of fascinating, brightly coloured and simply beautiful secrets of the sea. You don’t need to be a diver to join a trip; if you stay for longer than a week you can complete an open water course during week one and then the underwater world is your oyster. Not sure if diving is your thing? Start with snorkelling, an easy and relaxing way to explore below the surface of the crystal blue water without feeling out of your comfort zone. You may be on vacation to help with a job, but it’s a job that involves one of the world’s most eye-opening activities, so grab your flippers and get stuck in whenever you can.
Our top Marine conservation Vacation
Seychelles Island conservation vacation
Volunteer on an exclusive island paradise in the Seychelles!
From
US $2800
4 weeks
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 29 Jul, 12 Aug, 26 Aug, 9 Sep, 23 Sep, 7 Oct, 21 Oct, 4 Nov, 18 Nov, 2 Dec
2020: 13 Jan, 27 Jan, 10 Feb, 24 Feb, 9 Mar, 23 Mar, 6 Apr, 20 Apr, 4 May, 18 May, 1 Jun, 15 Jun, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug, 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 21 Sep, 5 Oct, 19 Oct, 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 30 Nov, 14 Dec, 28 Dec
2019: 29 Jul, 12 Aug, 26 Aug, 9 Sep, 23 Sep, 7 Oct, 21 Oct, 4 Nov, 18 Nov, 2 Dec
2020: 13 Jan, 27 Jan, 10 Feb, 24 Feb, 9 Mar, 23 Mar, 6 Apr, 20 Apr, 4 May, 18 May, 1 Jun, 15 Jun, 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug, 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 21 Sep, 5 Oct, 19 Oct, 2 Nov, 16 Nov, 30 Nov, 14 Dec, 28 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Marine conservation or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
You will get some free time on your conservation vacation; from an afternoon to an entire weekend - how you spend it is entirely up to you
Get out and about
Whether it’s spent strolling around a local craft market, joining a batik painting class, or grabbing a local guide and letting them lead you to the best live music, local beer and food, your free time will be precious so use it to experience something new.
More about Marine conservation
Let us guide you underwater as our marine conservation travel guide allows you to find out whether a marine conservation vacation is for you and what Responsible Travel recommends when it comes to our marine conservation cultural pick.
Choosing a marine conservation vacation will help you find which type of vacation is right for you with research projects, land-based itineraries and expert advice from our suppliers all combining to let you learn how to choose a marine conservation vacation that ticks all the right boxes.
If you don’t know where to go on a marine conservation vacation then don’t worry we’ve got an interactive map of our favourite highlights with typical daily timetables to allow you to see what you will be doing on a marine conservation vacation in Belize, Costa Rica or the Seychelles.
What will you see in the ocean is just one of the questions that travelers ask before undertaking marine conservation wildlife vacations but it’s not until you’ve seen passing whale sharks, a vibrant coral reef and sea turtles first-hand that you’ll really get to experience wildlife in all its natural glory.
It’s not usually the done thing, killing fish around a highly protected reef system.
Volunteer with marine conservation in the Seychelles to combine a vacation in paradise with an award winning effort to restore the ecosystems and native biodiversity of North Island.
Marine conservation vacations in Timor-Leste revolve around the island of Ataúro, whose waters are packed with a diverse collection of fish and other marine life, all flitting around some of the best corals the planet has to offer.
We’ve garnered some tips from our friends in marine conservation including training advice, work-vacation balance tips, location advice and how to do marine conservation safely to ensure you’re equipped with all the marine conservation advice you need to find the right trip.
If you want to travel right on a marine conservation vacation then be responsible.
More relevant guides
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: USFWS - Pacific Region] [Live alongside locals: Frontierofficial]
[Explore your underwater world: ohrim ]
[Get out and about: So Seychelles]
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