from 16,845€

Brilliant 4.7rating (220)

Marine Expedition & PADI Divemaster Apprenticeship

location
24 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Brilliant 4.7  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Volunteer project with the highest quality. This project sets unprecedented standards in quality - an unparalleled level of excellence.

Highlights

  • Earn your PADI Rescue Diver and PADI Divemaster certifications.
  • Gain experience in a range of marine conservation initiatives, including coral reef surveying and restoration.
  • Contribute to UN SDG #14, Life Below Water.
  • Immerse yourself in Mexican culture, learning the language and sampling authentic Mexican cuisine.
  • Make new friends when you work with a group of like-minded individuals from around the world.

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples

About the program

Get your PADI Divemaster qualification and boost your career when you join a scuba diving and marine conservation internship in Mexico’s picturesque Yucatan peninsula.

Dive straight into the world of marine conservation with our Internship program situated on the Caribbean coast of Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula. Our base is located a few meters from the beach. The National Park Reefs of Puerto Morelos is one of the natural protected areas that are included in ...

About the program

Dive straight into the world of marine conservation with our Internship program situated on the Caribbean coast of Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula. Our base is located a few meters from the beach. The National Park Reefs of Puerto Morelos is one of the natural protected areas that are included in the recently formed Marine Biosphere Reserve of the Mexican Caribbean. One of the largest Marine Biosphere reserves in the World. The Biosphere Reserve has a diversity of specific marine and coastal ecosystems for that are unique for the mexican part of the Caribbean Sea, from the coral reef, to seagrass meadows, to mangrove forest and the outlets of the largest underground river in the world (cenotes).

You will live and work in this tropical paradise with our research team. Participants will undergo an extensive training programme, designed to test and improve your diving skills and take your knowledge of the marine eco-system to another level. The theory will be met with practical application, as you and your team work to compile crucial research on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world, its local fish species, as well as seasonal turtle nesting surveys.

This project works in conjunction with several highly regarded organisations such as the National Fisheries Ministry of Mexico, local Fishing cooperative, Healthy Reefs for healthy people, local and national universities among others. Through such partnerships, volunteers can be sure their efforts are making a serious and measurable impact under the water. 

Increasing Employability: Pre Departure Program Training:

Our programs are not only life-changing experiences but are also designed to help participants increase their employability. We have developed a curriculum to be completed prior to arrival in the country in order to ensure that more time is dedicated to program work once you commence your volunteer program. 


Eight weeks prior to your start date, you will complete the following online courses in preparation for your in-country program:

PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION (1 hour)

PROGRAM SPECIFIC TRAINING (1 - 5 hours)

OPTIONAL: MARINE CONSERVATION COURSE (10 - 15 hours)


In order to obtain a certificate for the Marine Conservation course which is endorsed by the University of Richmond and UNC Charlotte, you will need to complete quizzes & assignments and will be given 4 weeks post program to submit your work. 


If you are looking to travel in less than 8 weeks from now, you will still complete the course however this will be done in country and all content will need to be downloaded before arrival. 





Typical day

Your First 12 Weeks of Training

The first portion of this internship is much like a marine conservation expedition. Interns join GVI staff and other participants from around the world to learn about and contribute to ongoing marine conservation initiatives taking place in the Riviera Maya. Here ...

Typical day

Your First 12 Weeks of Training

The first portion of this internship is much like a marine conservation expedition. Interns join GVI staff and other participants from around the world to learn about and contribute to ongoing marine conservation initiatives taking place in the Riviera Maya. Here interns will learn and practice underwater monitoring techniques and species identification. During this time interns will also earn their PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, if they haven’t earned it already. Receive the Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Speciality segment of the PADI Divemaster course. This unique offering by GVI & PADI teaches you about best practices when conducting underwater coral reef surveys. This is offered to participants staying for 2 weeks or longer. Afterwards they will go on to conduct coral reef surveys and participate in a range of other marine conservation projects. Throughout this first phase of the internship, you will be trained up to Rescue Diver level by GVI’s on-site dive instructor in Mexico. 

Your Three Month Work Placement

If the training portion of the internship is successful, interns will earn a place at a popular dive centre close to GVI’s base. It is located on Mexico’s Carribean coast and is frequented by many international travellers. Here interns will have the opportunity to gain experience in selecting dive sites, leading dives, and teaching dive lessons. They will also be able to create awareness of the importance of marine conservation among international visitors. Throughout their three month work placement, interns will gain the experience necessary to prepare for their Divemaster qualification. We ask that before joining this internship you first complete your PADI Open Water Diver or an equivalent qualification.

Free-time activities

You will be 2.5 kilometers (1.59 miles), over an 15 minutes away from downtown Puerto Morelos within the National Park Reefs of Puerto Morelos. Travelling outside of base is reliant on taxis, minimum US$15 one way per taxi to downtown Puerto Morelos. Larger taxis are cheaper depending on number of ...

Free-time activities

You will be 2.5 kilometers (1.59 miles), over an 15 minutes away from downtown Puerto Morelos within the National Park Reefs of Puerto Morelos. Travelling outside of base is reliant on taxis, minimum US$15 one way per taxi to downtown Puerto Morelos. Larger taxis are cheaper depending on number of people going out. Public transport is easy and relatively cheap, travelling regularly between major towns.
In your down time you will be free to travel in the local area and will have 2 free days per week. Every 4 week volunteers get a 3 day weekend. In your time off you could do daytrips such as visiting Tulum or Coba Mayan ruins, do some cenote diving, visit Playa del Carmen, etc. Before and after your programme you could go to Merida, Chichen Itza, Chiapas or Central America - the possibilities are endless!

Divemaster and IDC/MSDT Interns going to the dive shop:
During the dive shop placement, you will be based in Xcalak National Marine Park located about one hour away from Mahahual. Travelling to the nearest town can only be done by bus or taxi. Taxi charges around US$40 one way.


We also now include cultural/local experiences. These experiences will take place once every 4 weeks. 

These activities may include: 

  • Learn to cook traditional Yucatán food
  • Visit a Mayan ruin
  • Take a beach yoga class
  • Dive through the cenotes
  • Stand-up paddleboard at sunrise
  • Climb rock formations in the jungle
  • Learn the unique geography of the Yucatán Peninsula
  • Explore the ancient city of Coba

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Education Requirements

at School level

Criminal Background Check

required

Required Documents

Padi Medical form Signed by Doctor

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Need to be Open Water Qualfied to join the Dive Master Program

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by GVI

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • 24-hour emergency phone
  • 24-hour in-country support
  • Access to Alumni Services and Discounts
  • Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated)
  • All necessary project equipment and materials
  • All necessary project training by experienced staff
  • Certification and summary of training and experience received provided online 8 weeks prior to arrival: 
    • PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION (1 hour)
    • PROGRAM SPECIFIC TRAINING (1 - 5 hours)
    • MARINE CONSERVATION COURSE (10 - 15 hours)
    • LEADERSHIP COURSE (10 - 15 hours)
    • CAREERS COURSE (10 - 15 hours)
  • Community work workshop
  • Confidential professional reference
  • Coral reef ecology
  • Diving compressor training workshop
  • Final evaluation
  • First Aid & CPR training and certification
  • Introduction to teaching techniques
  • Leading biological surveys course
  • Live and work in a protected reserve surveying deserted reefs under GVI
  • Location orientation
  • Long term experienced staff
  • Meals while on project (except on work placements for long term internships)
  • PADI Advanced Open Water
  • PADI Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Speciality
  • PADI Rescue Diver and PADI Dive Master certifications (not including PADI professional fees)
  • Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared)
  • Teamwork and leadership experience
  • Transfer to base location
  • Use of O2 equipment workshop
  • Weekly evaluation with your mentor
  • Welcome meeting
  • Work placement - if successful during the first 12 weeks of the internship

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

  • Additional drinks and gratuities
  • Extra local excursions
  • Flights
  • Food during the placement portion of your internship
  • Internal transport to placements
  • International and domestic airport taxes
  • Meals (during work placement)
  • Medical and travel insurance
  • PADI Open Water
  • Personal dive kit, e.g. mask, fins, wetsuit, timer etc.
  • Personal items and toiletries
  • Police or background check
  • Some equipment is not included
  • Visa costs (where necessary)

Airport Pickup at Cancun International Airport

Airport pickup is included and we will ensure, whenever possible, that one of our dedicated staff will be available to meet you at the airport. We will arrange with you prior to your departure that, should you arrive in the agreed upon pick up window, a member of our staff will be there to welcome you, easily identifiable in a GVI t-shirt or holding a GVI sign and wearing a friendly smile. This means there will be someone there to greet you as you land, and from there you will be transported to your GVI base to start your adventure and meet the rest of your team.


Accommodation

Live on the beach a few metres from the Puerto Morelos National Park Reef and a 15-minute drive from downtown Puerto Morelos. Situated in the stunning Puerto Morelos, the oldest porteño community in the Mexican Caribbean, this site allows for some fantastic diving. A typical day may involve diving, lab work, training on base, community days, and beach cleanups. You will live in shared accommodation, along with the other volunteers. The accommodation features shared facilities such as a communal kitchen, work area, and living space. We aim to leave as small of a footprint as possible on the environment which means we keep facilities basic. There is bottled water available for cooking and drinking, andarticipants share base duties including cooking, cleaning, gear and equipment maintenance, and other chores. Private accommodation is available, speak to your enrolment manager about accommodation upgrades.

Food & Beverages

Volunteers prepare their own breakfast from our choice of cereals. During work days lunch and dinner is prepared by a local cook, and on weekends, participants cook their own meals. Food is a very basic, mostly vegetarian diet, with meat available about once a week. Lunch is beans, vegetables, pasta, and a typical evening meal may include lentils, pasta, beans, rice and vegetables. Local restaurants are also an option at your own cost during weekends. Conveniently, restaurants and supermarkets are walking distance from base.

Internet Access

Limited access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Cancun International Airport (CUN) in Cancun. We assist you to find cheap flights to Mexico. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Mexico provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Mexico you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Mexico. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

2025

  • 04 Jan 2025
  • 29 Mar 2025
  • 21 Jun 2025
  • 13 Sep 2025

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

24 weeks 16,845€
Average fees 702€/week

Program fees

702€ per week 24 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

24 - 24 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with GVI during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

GVI

Brilliant 4.7 rating (220 reviews)

Agency - founded in 1998

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Bianca

Spoken languages: English

About the project

GVI tackles critical local and global issues by operating award-winning education and training programs on sustainable development projects around the world.

Meet your organization

Founded in 1998, GVI runs programs in 21 locations, in 13 countries around the world, each manned by our own staff and aligned to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or UN SDGs as well as the objectives of local partners. We welcome participants from all around the world and help facilitate their development into global citizens. This is how we achieve our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.


We are truly a global family brought together by our dedication to long-term positive impact. At the root of our success is our commitment to investing in authentic, meaningful connections with one another, which is why mutual respect and trust are central to our operations. Although we respond with empathy to difficult situations, we believe that most circumstances can benefit from taking a light-hearted approach. By sharing stories of local achievement with our teams worldwide we build the momentum to catapult us toward our vision for the future.

220 reviews · rating4.7

In January 2019 I spent a month in the Seychelles, of which I spent two weeks on Curieuse Island with GVI. The volunteer work was simply amazing; I have been facinated by the ocean since I was a baby and started diving at the age of 8. The work with the turtles was facinating but my heart was stolen ...
Volunteering with GVI was magical. Like the title, it felt like summer camp for adults. It was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. The friendship and comradery were by far the best parts though. Our camp was over 20 and we got along well. We slept on a tropical beach in palapa huts, dove into ...
After getting into scuba diving as a hobby last year and as an ocean lover, I decided to participate on a volunteer program for marine conservation through GVI. I was there for a month in February, living in a remote location called Pez Maya on the Caribbean side of Mexico. There were 30 people ...
GVI was one of the best experiences of my life, i was a participant on the U18 costa rica trip! This program allowed me to interact with new people and make lifelong friendships, but also i was able to experience a new culture and be up close to a wide range of wildlife. If you are reading this and ...
Mary Christensen rating5

2024 at Community Development Internship

GVI is a passionate organization that works diligently to promote life long learners and explorers. As an intern with GVI, I was able to explore the culture of my country of choice, serve a purpose greater than myself, and meet friends all around the world. I highly recommend this program to anyone ...
Olivia Babbage rating5

2024 at Teach English to locals

3 month English Teaching internship in Madagascar The most incredible time of my life. I feel so lucky to have experienced all that is Nosy Be, Madagascar. I chose GVI because they are so impact driven, and during my time in Madagascar that was the evident. Being able to immerse myself into such ...

Location

Americas > Central America > Mexico > Puerto Morelos

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