Marine Conservation in Thailand

Volunteer role at the project:

Each week combines lectures with dives and activities that have a specific conservation focus. These may include:

• Reef health surveys (Ecological Monitoring Programme)
• Biorock coral rehabilitation and coral nursery
• Artificial reef construction / maintenance
• Mooring buoy installation
• Giant clam nursery
• Sea turtle ‘head starter programme’ and releases
• Surveys and monitoring of specific species including seahorses, invertebrates and coral predators such as crown of thorns starfish
• Water testing
• Coral spawning capture and culture programme
• Erosion control

In addition to the regular project focuses there may be special activities such as working with community groups to raise awareness and beach and underwater clean-ups.

If you are a beginner diver on arrival you will spend your first week training and achieving your SSI Open Water and Advanced Adventurer certification. SSI (Scuba Schools International) is an internationally recognised dive standard equivalent to PADI.

During your placement you will also obtain conservation course certificates including Ecological Diver.

How the project is making a difference:

The Marine Conservation team is active on two fronts; surveying the reefs and collecting data in Koh Tao, as well as implementing a range of restoration projects and community engagement initiatives. They work in partnership with local government authorities and universities to provide data for key decision makers in marine conservation, coastal protection and fisheries in Thailand.

Why volunteers are needed:

Research and restoration activities are labour intensive and as such volunteers are a valuable addition to the team. Working under the guidance of the Marine Biologist and experienced interns at the project, volunteers can contribute a great deal to the ongoing research. In addition to this, volunteers with an interest or experience in conservation can bring a new perspective to research.