Divemaster Internship and Marine Conservation Training Course in the Seychelles
Program Overview
The first half of this internship takes you the beautiful Seychelles islands, located to the northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. There, you will train to improve your scuba diving skills and conduct important marine research on our Marine Conservation Expedition.
To start the second half of this internship, you will be placed at a local dive center where you will undertake your PADI Dive Master course throughout the duration of your placement, during which you can expand your knowledge about marine conservation and help with day-to-day operations of the center.
This internship is a fantastic way to enter the world of professional diving, live and work in a tropical paradise and have a real life changing experience.
Life on the Program
For the first half of your internship, you will train for your work placement by diving and studying the local coral reefs. You’ll collect critical data on coral and other invertebrates and fish species. Weather, season and training permitting, you should expect approximately five to ten dives per week.
For the second half of your internship, your living situation will vary based on where your work placement is located. Regardless, you will continue to spend the majority of your days diving in the deep amazing blue of the Indian Ocean, polishing your diving skills and learning to work professionally within the diving community.
On weekends there will also be free time to explore the islands and get to know the Creole culture of the Seychelles.
Program Details
The Expedition phase of this internship serves several local conservation interests including the Seychelles Ministry of Environment and several local non-governmental organizations.
The identified priorities are:
- Invertebrate fisheries surveys
- Coral reef monitoring and recovery research (using SCUBA)
- Whale shark migration observations
- Sea Turtle nesting surveys
- Education of local partners
Projects being conducted during any given expedition depend upon the season and the priority needs of our local working partners.
Volunteer Testimonials
Would I recommend it? I most certainly would, even if all you are after is a break from the monotonous 9-5 office job, or one of the stops on a gap year round the world, it is an experience to not only learn something about the natural world, but it is also an amazing place to be able to learn something more about yourself.
One of my aims for my ‘gap year’ was to be of some use in the world and what better way to do it than to stay here in the beautiful Seychelles, working in a pristine but threatened marine environment, putting to good use some of my new skills, using my energy and enthusiasm to make a small difference...and all of that with a great team of like-minded people who, between them, have enough passion about the planet to make a big difference.
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Program Details
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What's Included
- Pre-departure support and discounted services
- 24-hour emergency phone
- Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated)
- Arrival orientation
- Long term experienced staff
- Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared)
- All meals (unless otherwise stated in field manuals)
- Welcome meeting
- Location orientation
- All necessary project training by experienced staff
- All necessary project equipment and materials
- 24-hour in-country support
- An internationally recognized qualification in Biological Survey Techniques
- An internationally recognized qualification in Team Leading
- Transfer to base location
- National Park fees and permits
- PADI Open Water (for 8 and 12 week volunteers) and Advanced Open Water
- PADI Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Speciality
- First Aid & CPR training and certification
- Coral reef ecology
- Introduction to TEFL
- Community work workshop
- Use of O2 equipment workshop
- Diving compressor training workshop
- PADI Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Specialty
- PADI Rescue Diver and PADI Dive Master certifications (excluding PADI professional fees)
- Coral reef ecology
- Weekly evaulation with your mentor
- Final evaluation
- Certification and summary of training and experience received
- Confidential professional reference
- Work placement
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Medical and travel insurance
- Visa costs
- Personal kit
- Additional drinks and gratuities
- Extra local excursions
- International and domestic airport taxes
