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 wildlife
The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish
- Jacques Cousteau, oceanoghrapher
Whale sharks
Whale Sharks are the largest fish in the ocean; they grow up to 19m in length and can weigh up to 15 tonnes living for between 100-150 years. They eat plankton and small fish and are harmless to people, but their gentle nature makes them an easy target for hunters after their meat and fins, and they also die from boat collisions and entrapment in fishing nets. Diving with whale sharks is a thrilling, rewarding experience, but their very presence is dependent on the health of spawning fish aggregations. Like many of their shark relatives, whale sharks are in decline and they are classified as endangered.
Our Marine conservation Vacations
Lionfish spearing marine conservation in Belize
Help us protect reef ecosystems by hunting invasive species!
From
US $1330
5 days
ex flights
Dolphin conservation in Greece
Dolphin research and conservation in western Greece
From
€720
6 days
ex flights
Seychelles Island conservation vacation
Volunteer on an exclusive island paradise in the Seychelles!
From
US $2800
4 weeks
ex flights
Whale & dolphin research in Ligurian Sea, Italy
Whale and dolphin conservation trip
From
€795
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
Marine conservation in Belize
Help us protect coral reefs and marine ecosystems!
From
US $1330
5 days
ex flights
Volunteer with turtles in Costa Rica
Protect nesting turtles on Costa Rica's beautiful beaches
From
£889
7 days
ex flights
Whale shark research in Mexico
Snorkelling with Whale Sharks & Giant Manta Rays
From
£2090
8 days
ex flights
Belize marine conservation internship
Hands-on conservation experience on idyllic Caribbean island
From
US $3460
4 weeks
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 an innovative marine conservation programme on Koh Tao
From
£845
7 days
ex flights
Costa Rica turtle conservation experience
Help protect turtles by volunteering in Costa Rica!
From
£640 to £3895
8 days
ex flights
Whale Shark conservation in the Maldives
Help in vital research with the magnificent whale shark
From
£1795 to £2990
14 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
Mozambique marine conservation project
Help in integral marine conservation in stunning Mozambique
From
£2025 to £7811
14 days
ex flights
Thailand marine conservation and diving vacation
Diving and marine conservation on a beautiful Thai island
From
£1295
14 days
ex flights
Dive to remove plastic waste from the sea in Barcelona
Conservation and diving adventure to tackle plastic pollution
From
£1199
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 Lionfish hunting in Carriacou, Grenada
Dive in Caribbean waters and conserve the environment
From
US $990 to US $1855
7 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
Marine conservation in Belize
Award winning marine conservation in Belize
From
£2250 to £4650
21 days
ex flights
Lionfish dive trip in Belize
Learn how to survey and hunt invasive lionfish in Belize!
From
£875 to £995
9 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
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
Whale Shark conservation vacation in Tanzania
Whale Shark Conservation in the stunning island of Mafia
From
£981 to £5886
14 days
ex flights
Marine conservation expedition in East Timor
Award winning conservation in Timor-Leste
From
£2250 to £4650
21 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
Dolphin conservation vacation in Greece
Vacation on stunning Greek Island with daily dolphin tours
From
€850
7 days
ex flights
Mozambique marine conservation & Kruger safari
Moz Marine conservation & Kruger
From
US $3036 to US $4630
5 weeks
ex flights
Coral reefs
Coral reefs are diverse ecosystems, housing tens of thousands of marine species including octocoral, sea turtles, hundreds of species of fish, molluscs and sponges. About one-third of all marine fish species live part of their lives on coral reefs and despite their importance to marine life, the world's total adds up to less than one percent of the sea floor - an area about the size of France. They have a very slow growth rate, developing from 10cm to as little as 0.3cm per year and, shockingly, one quarter of all coral reefs worldwide are damaged beyond repair. The remaining healthy reefs are incredibly vulnerable to temperature change, pollution and human touch.Sea turtles
Sea turtles are one of the most ancient creatures in existence and the seven species that can be found today have been around for 110 million years. The sea turtle's shell, or 'carapace' is streamlined for swimming through the water and unlike tortoises, they can't retract their legs and head into their shells. Slaughtered for their meat, skin and shells, sea turtles also suffer from egg theft and nearly all species are now classified as endangered.
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: 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: 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.
What can you see and where?
Polly Alford, from our supplier, ReefCI, shares her knowledge of marine life in Belize:
"Belize is on the migratory path for the whale sharks, which are the biggest fish in the sea. You can see more whale sharks in Punta Gorda than anywhere else in Belize and you can see them at any time of year. There are lots of other species of shark in Belize including nurse sharks and silky sharks, but that doesn't mean you'll see lots of sharks all the time and it's always an incredible reward when you do. You can also expect to see sting rays, moray eels, turtles, big snappers and big groupers."
"Belize is on the migratory path for the whale sharks, which are the biggest fish in the sea. You can see more whale sharks in Punta Gorda than anywhere else in Belize and you can see them at any time of year. There are lots of other species of shark in Belize including nurse sharks and silky sharks, but that doesn't mean you'll see lots of sharks all the time and it's always an incredible reward when you do. You can also expect to see sting rays, moray eels, turtles, big snappers and big groupers."
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.
Aside from taking the chance to explore your underwater world, marine conservation activities will also take you above the ocean wave with time to get out and about, as you live alongside the locals, just as important as what lies beneath.
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.
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