Enter the global scuba diving industry with a professional diving qualification combined with work experience and marine conservation training
Program Overview
On this internship you will train to advance your scuba diving skills while exploring the deep, blue waters of the Caribbean Ocean. You will live and work with a GVI research team and gain first-hand knowledge about how a marine conservation research base operates, while gathering valuable ecological data on the reef and surrounding ecosystems.
Upon successful completion of the 12 week expedition phase you will undertake your PADI Dive Master course during your 12 week work placement at a local dive center. During your placement, you will work alongside professional diving staff, helping them with their daily operations.
This Dive Master internship is a fantastic way to improve your scuba diving skills, while increasing your knowledge about the ocean and its biodiversity, and contributing to its conservation.
Scuba Diving Requirements
You will spend the majority of your time on this internship Scuba diving and as such you need to be qualified to at least PADI Open Water, or equivalent before you start the program.
After a successful internship, qualifying candidates may be given the opportunity to work for GVI or selected partner organisations in Mexico, or in other countries around the world where GVI operate. Field work positions can be paid or unpaid, range in duration from one month to one year, and availability varies. Qualification for positions is at the sole discretion of Global Vision International.
Life on the Program
During the expedition phase of your internship you will be living at one of GVI’s bases on the beautiful Caribbean Coast of the Yucatan peninsula. Work days start early with a boat push and travel to our dive site or remaining on base for training and other activities such as community work, beach cleans bird surveys. Depending on conditions, you can expect to be diving 5 days a week, with 1 - 2 dives per day.
At the end of the day, the whole team gathers in the evening to debrief, eat and hang out to watch the sunset over the Caribbean Sea.
The weekend is your time, free to spend exploring, diving, snorkeling or just getting to know Mexican culture. There are a variety of unique things that the Yucatan has to offer, including the amazing Mayan ruins at Coba and Tulum.
On the work placement you will gain professional qualifications, practice leadership scenarios and help dive center staff with the day-to-day running of the dive shop.
GVI secures placements at local dive centers along Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Dive centers are carefully vetted by GVI to ensure you have the best training and work experience opportunities.
Project Details
The bulk of work during the expedition phase of this internship is conducted to assess the health of the Mesoamerican barrier reef system. We collect data on fish, coral and other marine life, as well as important coastal and marine ecosystems. Our goal is to increase local and global awareness of conservation in the area and to gather and record important data for use in policy-making decisions.
This internship includes key professional certifications including:
- PADI Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Specialty
- PADI Advanced Open Water
- PADI Rescue Diver certifications
- PADI Dive Master certifications
- First Aid & CPR training (Emergency First Response Certification)
How this program makes a difference:
Over time and with the contributions of volunteers, we have been able to amass one of the largest databases in existence on the condition, health and changes of any section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
As a result of our work, our partners have been able to continue with the protection of the Sian Ka’an reef system and local fisherman are now trained in diving and monitoring skills and partake in marine surveys with the park and Amigos de Sian Ka’an staff.
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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
- Leading biological surveys course
- Teamwork and leadership experience
- Transfer to base location
- Live and work in a protected reserve surveying deserted reefs under GVI's research permit
- 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 Advanced Open Water
- PADI Rescue Diver and PADI Dive Master certifications (not including PADI professional fees)
- Weekly evaulation with your mentor
- Final evaluation
- Certification and summary of training and experience received
- Confidential professional reference
- Work placement
- Breakfast and dinner (during the expedition)
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
- Meals (during the work placement)
