ENDANGERED MARINE SPECIES: Help protecting while diving
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Program Description
Assist with marine based environmental restoration activities, animal protection & monitoring activities as well as invasive-species control programs. This is a great opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to the protection of the marine environment while at the same time becoming a passionate qualified marine ecology diver. Your professional training starts at zero and will lead you through three complete levels of qualification (basic, advanced and speciality training)
Our program is part of an effort to tackle an invasive species that has been identified as one of the world’s greatest conservation issues. Destructive lionfish are invading coral reefs in the Americas. Since lionfish (Pterois volitans) first appeared on the eastern seaboard of the United States in the 1980s, the voracious predators have gobbled up coral-reef fish from North Carolina to Venezuela. Officials responsible for protecting reefs have struggled to find ways to control populations and fishing competitions can help to keep the problem species in check.
Thanks to this exciting internship you’ll gain valuable and life-changing experiences while at the same time develop specialty diving skills! Even if you do not have previous diving experience, you will learn everything in this 12 weeks marine ecology diver internship while protecting marine flora and fauna. At the end of your stay you walk away with your professional diving certification and amazing experiences.
Our program is part of an effort to tackle an invasive species that has been identified as one of the world’s greatest conservation issues. Destructive lionfish are invading coral reefs in the Americas. Since lionfish (Pterois volitans) first appeared on the eastern seaboard of the United States in the 1980s, the voracious predators have gobbled up coral-reef fish from North Carolina to Venezuela. Officials responsible for protecting reefs have struggled to find ways to control populations and fishing competitions can help to keep the problem species in check.
Thanks to this exciting internship you’ll gain valuable and life-changing experiences while at the same time develop specialty diving skills! Even if you do not have previous diving experience, you will learn everything in this 12 weeks marine ecology diver internship while protecting marine flora and fauna. At the end of your stay you walk away with your professional diving certification and amazing experiences.
Highlights
- Supporting the restoration of coral reefs (diver's license necessary), mangroves and coastal areas- Monitoring sea turtle nests (during the turtles season from March to November)
- Monitoring the humpback whales population (during the whale season from 15th of January to 30th of March)
- Developing and executing environmental awareness raising activities at schools and in the community
- Developing and executing activities to promote sustainable and biodiversity-friendly tourism
- Supporting the certification of biodiversity-friendly destination and tourist services
Please contact us with your exact wishes and plans, if you are especially interested in one of the above activities.
Qualifications
Overall there are no previous experiences required to participate in the program. A typical Environmental Conservation & Restoration volunteer and intern should be interested in protecting the nature, biology, wildlife and sustainable tourism. He or she needs to be enthusiastic, proactive, willing to learn, ready for a challenge and should not be scared of being in contact with dirt/mud and garbage. Basic conversational Spanish skills are required, and the more advanced your level of experience and Spanish language skills are, the more opportunities will be available to you.The basic donation of € 480 is required exclusively in the diving internship for didactic materials and logistics.
Internship Types
What`s Included
● Certified diving training as part of a 12 weeks speciality diver internship (Certifications: Open Water, Advanced Diving & one speciality like: Rescue, Marine Ecology or Hunter/Collector Diving)● Day to day work at the diving station: help with maintaining and preparing diving equipment, assisting with logistics and office work, give a hand with installing a pirate museum, assisting instructors with attending diving students and clients
● Assisting actively with the protection and restoration of coral reefs (starting in January 2018) and the protection of endemic fishes as well as the control of invasive species
• Volunteer placement in the program/s of your choice
• Accommodation
Other Programs From The Same Provider
Program Locations
Santa Barbra de Samana, Dominican Republic
Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
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Program Details
Provider:
ALDEAS DE PAZ – PEACE VILLAGES FOUNDATION
Locations:
- Dominican Republic: Santa Barbra de Samana
- Dominican Republic: Las Terrenas
Language:
English
Term:
Academic Year, Fall, May Term, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year, Trimester, Winter
Duration:
1 year+, 1-3 months, 2-4 weeks, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, Customizable
Participants:
Worldwide
Cost:
Minimum donation is € 480 plus € 120 per week including accommodation at the Aldeas de Paz Guesthouse. Single occupancy add 10% to the rate. Minimum donation for the Host Family stay is € 480 plus € 190 per week and includes single room and full board accommodation at a local family home.
ALDEAS DE PAZ – PEACE VILLAGES FOUNDATION - Program Reviews