Volunteering in a dolphin and whale project in Tenerife

Location:
Tenerife is known as the largest of the Canary Islands and belongs to Spain. Your accommodation here is located directly on the Atlantic Ocean in the village of Arona. The towns of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas are just 15 minutes away by bus or cab, while the capital Santa Cruz is an hour away. Los Cristianos has a bus station that gives you easy and cheap access to the whole island.
The island offers a wide range of great experiences that you should definitely try out. A trip to the Teide National Park is definitely one of them, as you can also hike up the island's landmark, the Teide volcano. The park's landscape is also very impressive and is a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site. Tenerife also has many beautiful natural pools where you can swim and many beaches. There are also many bars, cafes and restaurants where you can linger. There is also a water park.

A typical day:
The daily schedule may vary depending on weather conditions and tour availability. Typically, a working day includes around six hours – three hours on board the boat and three hours in the apartment. On some days, you might spend the entire time in the apartment; on others, the focus will be on outreach activities, where you'll inform tourists about the importance of responsible whale watching. There are two rotating shifts: one starting at 8:45 a.m. and the other at 12:15 p.m.
A wide range of tasks awaits you on the boat: preparing for tours, giving short briefings to guests, observing whales and dolphins, and supporting scientific data collection. You'll also take photographs for individual identification of the animals, interact with guests, and help serve drinks and snacks. After each tour, cleaning and tidying tasks ensure the boat is ready for the next outing. In the apartment, you'll sort photos, carry out photo-ID analyses for short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins, and create content for social media. A key part of the project is also public awareness: together with other volunteers, you'll visit beaches, shopping centers, and tourist hotspots to raise awareness about the importance of choosing legal and sustainable whale-watching operators.