Marine Expedition and PADI Divemaster Marine Conservation Internship

Life on the Internship

Your First 12 Weeks

This is the first phase of the project where you should expect working days to be long and starting early in the morning. Depending on weather conditions, we aim for everyone to get into the water everyday to dive or snorkel but this is also dependent on the needs of our partners as there are conservation measures in place which will not require you to dive 5 days a week. During this time you will be trained up to Rescue diver level and contribute to marine conservation efforts by monitoring and gathering data of the reef within the biosphere reserve.

On other days, you should expect to be involved in additional projects and activities, including training sessions, beach cleans, marine debris surveys, environmental education sessions at the local community depending on local and project needs at the time. The days are rounded off with an evening debrief, followed by dinner and time to relax and share stories.

While your living conditions will be basic, our base is located on a property a few hundred meters from the beach. When not working, you can take the opportunity to brush up on your knowledge of the reef and marine species, explore the nearby cities, cenotes, relax with your fellow volunteers or just take in the stunning sunsets that have to be seen to be believed.

Project Details

You will be spending the majority of your time on this internship in the water, scuba diving, so you need to be qualified to at least PADI Open Water, or equivalent before you start the internship. You will need one logged night dive before your Divemaster certification can be processed. Due to the restrictions of diving within a protected reserve we are unable to conduct night dives on base. You can arrange your night dive before arrival or even in Playa Del Carmen or Cozumel during one of your weekends off.

Work Placements

Your work placement will be conducted at our Akumal base. During this time you will complete your PADI Divemaster certification whilst continuing to collect data on the health of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

You will take on increased responsibilities and gain the knowledge and ability to conduct your own Coral Watch surveys from start to finish, including data entry. You will gain a working knowledge of Project AWARE and how you can collect data for them. You will also have the option of helping to arrange fundraising events for them. You will be shown how to service dive equipment, compressors and boat engines under the supervision of our dedicated maintenance officers.

The data you collect will contribute to the conservation of the marine environment of the Yucatan Peninsula. This means that you can be sure that even after you leave the programme your involvement will have a lasting impact.

Akumal's short, mid, and long-term objectives:

All of our programs have short, mid and long-term objectives that fit with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualize their contribution to the UN SDGs.

Upon arrival to base, you will be educated about the history of the UN SDGs. You will learn about the specific goals of your location, the long-, mid- and short-term objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these goals on a global level.

Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to act as active global citizens after your program, helping to fulfill our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.

Learn about the long-term objectives you will be contributing to in Akumal:

1. Provide data to our partners on the overall health of the reef, to be used for coastal management, and to have a better understanding of the Mesoamerican barrier reef system.


2. Raise environmental awareness within the area and local community.


3. Minimise the environmental impact that visitors and other people have within the bay area.


4. Increase in-country capacity within our partners and community members in the area.

What's Included

What's Not Included

Exploration

Internships with GVI not only allow you to participate on programs assisting disadvantaged communities or endangered ecosystems, but it also offers wonderful opportunities to travel in the local area in your down time or further afield either before or after your program. Many decide to travel after their internship, solidifying the lifetime friendships established on the program.

Our long term field staff are a great source of advice and are here to help you make the most of your time abroad. Remember to ask about discounts on local activities and side trips through your association with GVI. Our Yucatan field teams have helped us put together the following information on trips and travel options in Mexico!

Optional Side Trips
As a large and vibrant country, Mexico can seem daunting at first, but here are a few ideas to get you going in the Yucatan Peninsula on your weekends off:

In this region you are spoilt for choice in the number of opportunities to explore a stunning underwater world. You could start with a dive or snorkel within the unique cenotes (the underground river systems); dive Cozumel, where the wall dives along the island have been voted as part of the world’s best top ten diving locations; or, for a full weekend, try Isla Holbox, a small island off the north of the peninsula. It’s a beautiful, tranquil place, great for a quiet weekend away. Whale sharks (the world’s largest fish) migrate up near the island from June to September and snorkelling alongside them while they filter feed is a truly breath-taking experience!

Alternatively, if you are looking for a break from the water, make your way to Río Lagartos where flamingos flock and river crocodiles abound; visit Bacalar – known as the lake of seven colours due to the various shades of blue; or visit prime breeding areas for the hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback, and green turtle (May to October).

Immerse yourself in the surviving Mayan culture of the area and visit remote and untouched Mayan archaeological sites, such as the famous and easily accessible sites of Tulum and Coba, or visit the beautiful and majestic Mayan ruins of Palenque in the Chiapas region. And finally, the colonial city of Mérida is the peninsula’s cultural capital and the local artisans of Izamal will be sure to offer you some souvenirs of your trip.

Further Travel Opportunities
If you want to travel throughout the rest of Mexico either before or after your time with us, there is more than your fair share of interesting places that are well worth a visit. Take a trip to the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve and experience lowland tropical forests and have an opportunity to try and seek out threatened species; the island of Espíritu Santo offers kayaking with whale sharks (seasonal) and sea lions; if you are keen to try surfing, Puerto Escondido is rated as one of the world’s best surfing spots.

Oaxaca is a beautiful city to visit on the Pacific Coast, a colonial city with some of the nation’s most magnificent architecture, also offering several archaeological sites including the Zapotec ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Further south, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, is definitely worth a visit. Colourful buildings, historical architecture, and impressive nearby ecological sites with fun activities will easily keep you entertained for days.

Neighbouring countries to the south, Guatemala and Belize offer something different yet again. In Belize, island hop all the way down the coast, stopping to dive the Blue Hole, another world-class dive site. Guatemala can be reached easily by bus and offers everything from the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Antigua, to volcanoes, the beautiful Lake Atitlan, adventure sports such as mountain biking, and the majestic Mayan ruins of Tikal.

If you do decide to spend time travelling through Central America, make sure to allow yourself time to take it all in, because this region will pull you in and not let go!