Marine Conservation Volunteering in Thailand

Live and work in Thailand, and become part of our efforts to protect marine life and the environment

Destination

Thailand

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Hotel

Requirements

You should be able to swim at least 200 metres.

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and scuba equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Dive course qualifications and certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

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Starting at £2,630 for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Dive and defend the ecosystem

Learn to dive, restore coral reefs, and safeguard Thailand’s underwater wonderland on the tropical paradise of Koh Tao, just off the east coast.

Conduct vital conservation work

Plant and nurture coral reefs, create artificial alternatives, monitor coral health, join beach cleanups, and contribute to key research projects.

Become SSI dive certified

No experience? No problem! Get certified while contributing to key conservation efforts, even qualifying as a Divemaster if you stay for long enough.

Explore incredible islands

Discover the incredible island of Koh Tao or head to the nearby islands of Koh Samui, and Koh Phangan, famous for its “Full Moon Party”.

Dive into something new

Leave your comfort zone behind and try something totally new, leaving a lasting impact on Thailand’s marine life and growing your own skills.

What you need to know

Overview

If you like working outdoors and want to help marine life and the environment, this project is for you.

Thinking about a career focused on conservation? Doing this project will boost your CV, and demonstrate your commitment by getting actively involved in efforts to protect our planet. It will also help set you apart from the crowd in applications and interviews and help you develop your personal skills.

Everything you do in Thailand is geared towards preserving marine life, and helping it thrive. For example, we plant mangroves to protect coastlines and offset carbon emissions, and we educate local communities about their impact.

You don’t need previous experience to join this project. We’ll teach you everything you need to know, and our staff are there throughout to help and guide you. In addition, all of your dives are supervised by qualified Diver Masters.

This project runs year-round with flexible start dates. We encourage you to fly into Koh Samui Airport on a Sunday morning and depart on a Saturday afternoon to maximise the number of dives you can do during your stay. Please contact us to discuss which dates work for you.

Activities

As a volunteer, you’ll support the work of local conservationists and actively protect marine life. Here are some of the tasks you can expect to do:

Learn to dive

Take part in survey dives with professional divers

Gain conservation skills and knowledge

Plant and maintain coral reefs

Join beach clean-up along the coastline

Learn to dive

Your diving training takes place in the dive shop’s pool and in the ocean. By the end of your first week in Thailand, you’ll obtain your SSI Open Water, SSI Advanced Adventurer, and Perfect Buoyancy certifications! This means you can safely take part in underwater conservation work with the team. You’ll keep learning and developing your skills throughout your time in Thailand.

In the long run, your volunteer work will contribute to helping protect coral reefs in Thailand. These advanced qualifications will also be useful for future conservation work and recreational diving.

Take part in survey dives with professional divers

Survey dives will help monitor the health and biodiversity of the reefs. Data will be important in determining future policies to protect the marine area. You will also use this data during workshops and lessons.

Gain conservation skills and knowledge

The Marine Conservation Project is designed to teach you about coral reefs, their benefits and the issues they face globally. You’ll join regular workshops and lessons to improve your knowledge and awareness of conservation issues and skills. This will be a part of a wider Citizen Science course where you can experience some of the latest research projects being conducted by marine biologists.

This course includes studying microplastics, water quality, coral health and new methods of recycling and upcycling. Many of the topics you learn about will link to the dives you conduct that day. For example, you might collect water samples during a dive, and then test the samples at the base in the afternoon.

The longer you stay on the project, the more detailed and varied your studies and skills will be.

Plant and maintain coral reefs

The main focus of this project is to help restore vulnerable coral reefs, while also creating new artificial reefs. This involves surveys, construction work and planting coral fragments onto new nurseries underwater. Existing reefs require extensive maintenance to keep them clean and to reduce the influx of invasive species.

In many places around the world, it is illegal to touch or damage coral. However, the Department of Marine & Coastal Resources has approved special permission for our team to transplant coral around Koh Tao. You’ll be part of this process and will learn the different stages of transplanting, as well as techniques to use ‘corals of opportunity’ to rebuild impacted areas. You’ll assist marine biologists in our research and restoration areas while discovering the many techniques that suit different corals and locations.

Fishing nets and even trash can be found in the most remote locations. During dives, you will remove ropes, nets, glass, aluminium cans, and other items that are suffocating or threatening coral reefs and other marine life. You’ll be taught how to plan scuba dives to remove debris, and the decision-making process to remove only certain items. You’ll also collect data to push for changes in regulations at government levels in order to reduce debris levels in our oceans.

Join beach clean-ups along the coastline

Litter and trash are harmful to marine life and wildlife in general. With volunteers from around the world, you will walk along Koh Tao’s beaches, collecting and correctly discarding rubbish. Thousands of cigarette butts alone litter Koh Tao’s beaches.

After each beach clean-up, you’ll make notes, and share this data with local officials. This information can then be used for educational purposes, and for long-term conservation plans in the area.

You’ll join workshops to repurpose and mould plastic into new items. Learn new ways to recycle and manage waste.

A Day in the Life

A typical day in Thailand on the Conservation Project begins around 7 am and ends at 4 pm. Your day is packed with activities that benefit the local environment and the community. You’ll have breakfast with the other volunteers and staff at base camp. Then, you’ll head out with Projects Abroad-organised transport to your daily work.

You will follow a schedule each week in Thailand. You will take part in mangrove restoration work or beach clean-ups once a week. Diving activities and surveys take place three times a week.

We also set aside time on some afternoons to have workshops, or give you time to study for underwater surveys or dive courses. You’ll also be expected to help with outreach work and conservation education programmes in schools.

As a marine conservation volunteer in Thailand, you might also visit the local aquarium to learn about the history of diving or help clean sea turtle tanks in marine biology centres. Schedules may change according to the time of year, the weather, or the sea tides.

Lunch and dinner are served at the base camp. If you’re out on the boat for diving, you’ll have lunch there.

Free time is yours to enjoy and explore. Ao Nang and the surrounding area have numerous activities for you to do! Rock climb, go kayaking, or relax by the base camp pool.

Aims & Impact

The aim of this project is to help threatened marine life on Koh Tao. Each year, volunteers pour their hard work and energy into valuable conservation efforts on the island, whether that is onshore or underwater.

We started our Diving and Marine Conservation Project in Thailand in 2005 in response to threatened marine life populations. We are committed to preserving and restoring the marine and coastal environment through numerous activities. To do this, we work in collaboration with multiple local and international partners.

You will work with our passionate local conservation team and volunteers from around the world. The data we collect during dives is shared with local authorities in the hope of using the information to make positive change.

Regular beach clean-ups and community outreach work also take place. The aim is to continuously educate locals on the importance of protecting their natural resources. You’ll also take part in mangrove reforestation, which contributes to long-term conservation goals in the area.

By doing marine conservation work in Thailand, you can help support and protect our oceans. Become a volunteer today to help make this happen!

Map & Location

Famous for the modern marvels of Bangkok, ancient ruins like Ayutthaya, and deliciously spicy cuisine, Thailand is a safe and captivating destination. It is a country of parallels, home to both the largest solid gold Buddha and smallest mammal in the world.

Though most of our projects operate from the paradise island of Koh Tao, Thailand is full of wonder just waiting to be discovered. Glittering temples, lush jungles, and some of the best dive spots in the world — what’s not to love?

Koh Tao

Koh Tao, a small paradise island in the Gulf of Thailand, is a haven for thrill-seekers and beach lovers alike. With stunning natural beauty, a tropical climate, and sunshine year round, it’s a dream destination for any traveller. Though home to just over 2,000 people, the island has all essential amenities.

Most famous for its colourful and expansive coral reefs, making it ideal for diving and snorkelling, the island also has hidden coves, scenic hikes, and and unmatched island lifestyle.

Food & Accommodation

Enjoy the tropical island paradise of Koh Tao in style and comfort, with everything you need to have an enriching experience. This includes a comfortable bed, three meals a day, and fresh drinking water.

You will stay in a beachside hotel with free Wi-Fi within walking distance of your work. You’ll be given a daily allowance to cover your meals, served at a local restaurant. This means you have the chance to enjoy a range of traditional Thai cuisine throughout your stay.

You’ll stay with other Projects Abroad participants in Thailand, resting and relaxing in common areas or on the beach together, sharing your stories and cultural experiences. If you share a room with someone else, we will make sure that they are of the same gender and a similar age.

Free Time and Leisure

The island of Koh Tao is a tropical paradise. While there, you can experience the stunning environments and rich cultures of Southeast Asia with crystal clear waters, perfect for paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkelling, and other water sports.

Remember that Koh Tao is part of Thailand, and there are plenty of traditional Thai activities around to get involved with. Try learning Muay Thai, learning to cook the traditional dish of pad Thai, or rent a scooter and explore the mountainous terrain.

You can also easily explore the nearby islands of Koh Samui, Thailand’s third-largest island, and Koh Phangan, famous for its ‘full moon party’. Both offer fantastic opportunities to truly get immersed in Thai culture.

There will be other volunteers travelling and volunteering with you, giving you the flexibility to travel and explore this part of the world solo or as a group.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Thailand Arrival Procedures page.