• Life Below Water

Shark Research Assistant

location
3 - 8 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Outstanding 4.9  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Good response rate

Highlights

  • Experience life as a Research Assistant on a tropical island
  • Enhance your dive skills and become a PADI Scientific Diver and Shark & Turtle Specialist
  • Master various research methods under the guidance of experienced marine biologists

Highlights

  • Experience life as a Research Assistant on a tropical island
  • Enhance your dive skills and become a PADI Scientific Diver and Shark & Turtle Specialist
  • Master various research methods under the guidance of experienced marine biologists
  • Make memories while making a real difference on your holiday
  • Become a valuable member of our research team and family

    • Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Families
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Our mission is to promote shark conservation and conduct citizen scientific research essential for effective marine conservation management worldwide. Join us on now! 🦈

    Get involved in marine conservation: join our research team!


    Ready to dive into action and make a real impact on ocean protection? Would you like to learn different research methods in the field of shark, turtle and coral conservation and practice how to collect and analyze data? Would you like to ...

    About the program

    Get involved in marine conservation: join our research team!


    Ready to dive into action and make a real impact on ocean protection? Would you like to learn different research methods in the field of shark, turtle and coral conservation and practice how to collect and analyze data? Would you like to make your next trip count while having fun along the way?

    Investing yourself in a conservation project that you care about will change your life forever! Being part of our research team provides you with the opportunity to network and connect with a variety of inspiring individuals. You get to meet people from all different backgrounds who share your passion for the ocean. Bonding with these like-minded individuals is easy, and you’ll immediately become part of a strong community.

    We offer packages from three-weeks upwards including eight dives a week, minimum 2 scientific dive courses (PADI Scientific Diver, Conservation Diver 'Shark Ecology & Population Studies Course', Conservation Diver ‘Sea Turtle Ecology & Monitoring Course’, Conservation Diver 'Ecological Monitoring Program Course'), minimum 70 project hours and two different workshops, accommodation in our HQ including yummy breakfast, in country transport, visa support, and much more!

    Ready to make waves? Apply today for our research assistant program and take the next step towards a career in marine conservation or the diving industry under the guidance of our experienced marine biologists and researchers to guide you along the way.

     

    Typical day

    OUR DAILY LIFE

    As a participant, you will spend 5 days a week from 7:30 AM till 5 PM with our research team. Our mornings are spent mostly exploring the magical underwater world and our afternoons are spent either in the office inputting and analyzing data or in the field doing community work. 

    We ...

    Typical day

    OUR DAILY LIFE

    As a participant, you will spend 5 days a week from 7:30 AM till 5 PM with our research team. Our mornings are spent mostly exploring the magical underwater world and our afternoons are spent either in the office inputting and analyzing data or in the field doing community work. 

    We are all working very closely together and have a team/family-like atmosphere at the project. You will be a critical member of the team and may be in charge of various data collection projects depending on your personal interests, goals, and length of stay.

    Office time doesn’t mean that you will be sitting in an office all day. The ocean and the whole island is our office (lucky us!) so we could literally be anywhere. We are a very ambitious organization with big dreams. To make sure we reach our goals, every day has a theme so you and the other members of the research team know exactly what to focus on.

    Free-time activities

    Our project week runs from Sunday - Thursday allowing you to explore the Gili Islands, Lombok, and Bali on your weekends.

    With both tourist attractions and off-the-beaten-track destinations close by you have plenty to do during your spare time and weekends (Friday and Saturday). The Gili Islands ...

    Free-time activities

    Our project week runs from Sunday - Thursday allowing you to explore the Gili Islands, Lombok, and Bali on your weekends.

    With both tourist attractions and off-the-beaten-track destinations close by you have plenty to do during your spare time and weekends (Friday and Saturday). The Gili Islands are a dive destination, however yoga and a variety of water sports such as snorkeling, stand up paddleboards, surfing, Subwing, and many more are key components of the lifestyle on Gili Air. Gili Trawanagan is a busy tourist island with lots of nightlife, and Gili Meno is the quiet ‘Honeymoon Island’ with beautiful white sandy beaches.

    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)

    Required Documents

    Dive medical

    Nationality Restrictions

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

    Other Skills

    You need to be able to swim and be comfortable on boats. All other skills are welcome! We encourage our participants to give back any way they can.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 08:00 - 17:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    Services by Gili Shark Conservation

    Program fees include:

    3-4 week program
    • PADI Scientific Diver Distinctive Specialty Course
    • Conservation Diver ‘Shark Ecology & Population Studies Course’
    • Conservation Diver ‘Sea Turtle Ecology & Monitoring Course’
    5-7 week program
    • Conservation Diver ‘Marine Ecology & Monitoring Course’
    • Conservation Diver ‘Shark Ecology & Population Studies Course’
    • Conservation Diver ‘Sea Turtle Ecology & Monitoring Course’

    Furthermore you program fees include:
    • Coral ID book + Indicator Species Guide
    • Entry ticket for the Gili Matra Marine Park
    • 8 dives a week including rental equipment and guides
    • Dive computer rental 
    • Shared accommodation @ our HQ
    • Breakfast during project days (Sunday till Thursday)
    • In-country transportation by our lovely drivers Gede & Bagus
    • Return boat ticket from Bali / Lombok to Gili Air
    • Program T’ shirt
    • Visa Support

    Airport Pickup at Ngurah Rai International Airport

    Arriving in Bali 

    Our lovely driver 'Gede' will be waiting for you in the international arrivals area of Bali Denpasar Airport. He will have a sign with your name so you can easily recognize him. Sometimes you are able to catch the boat to Gili Air on the same day, and sometimes you need to stay 1 night in  Bali depending on your arrival time. 

    If you are not able to travel to Gili Air on your arrival date, we would recommend you to book a hotel either in Kuta / Denpasar (close to the airport) or Sanur (halfway between the airport and the port) or close to Padang Bai (from here the boat will leave to Gili Air). In this case, Komang will take you to your hotel, pick you up the next day, and drive you to the port in Padang Bai. The boat makes four stops in total, one in Gili Trawangan, one in Gili Meno, one in Gili Air, and finally one in Lombok. The crew will let you know which stop is Gili Air.

    Arriving in Lombok 

    It doesn’t matter what time you arrive in Lombok you can always make it on the same day to Gili Air. Our lovely driver Bagus will wait for you at the airport and bring you to Teluk Nara. From the airport its around 1.5 hour drive depending on the traffic. In Teluk Nara a private speedboat is waiting for you and will drive you to Gili Air in 10 minutes. 

    Accommodation

    What makes our conservation project truly special is our island family. All our shark warriors live and work together, creating a close-knit and caring atmosphere at our HQ. We are passionate about making everyone who joins our island family feel a genuine sense of belonging and comfort.

    Our HQ is located just a short two-minute bike ride away from the beach. We have five lovely traditional bungalows that were renovated in December 2022, with a beautiful ocean theme. Each bungalow has hot and cold water, air conditioning (A/C), and a safety deposit box for your convenience and safety.

    During your stay with us, you will be sharing a bungalow with maximum three other ocean lovers. If you prefer more privacy, you can choose to book a private bungalow for an additional $20 USD per night. To find out if there are any private bungalows available during your requested program dates, just send us a message. We are always happy to help!

    Food & Beverages

    We always start the day together by having breakfast at our headquarters. We make our own bread, yogurt, granola, and jam and will serve you the best (vegan) pancakes! Furthermore, fresh fruit is always available as a range of cakes and cookies. 

    P.s. Do you have any dietary requests? No problem, we can cater to (almost) all diets!

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar. We assist you to find cheap flights to Indonesia. 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 Indonesia provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

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

    Details on arrival

    Have you been accepted into the Gili Shark Conservation Program? Congratulations, now it’s time to start planning your trip. 

    Our week runs from Sunday to Thursday and you have the weekends off to relax and enjoy islands. It is best to arrive on Gili Air on a Friday or Saturday (which means arriving in Bali or Lombok on a Thursday or Friday so you are able to come to Gili Air the next day.) This way you get the most out of the program. 

    You can either book your flight to the Lombok International Airport (LOP) or to Denpasar, Bali (DPS). Either way – just let us know your flight details and we’ll organise pick up and transfer to Gili Air.

    All the cost for your transportation is included in your package so you don’t need to pay for anything. Please send us a copy of your flight itinerary so we can organize your pick up and transfer.

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

    Program fees

    3 weeks (min. stay) 3,141€
    4 weeks 3,889€
    5 weeks 4,638€
    6 weeks 5,386€
    7 weeks 6,134€
    8 weeks (max. stay) 6,682€
    Average fees 941€/week

    Program fees

    941€ per week 3 - 8 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES

    Duration

    3 - 8 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 Gili Shark Conservation during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

    Meet your organization

    Gili Shark Conservation

    Outstanding 4.9 rating (44 reviews)

    Agency - founded in 2015

    Verified by Volunteer World

      Good response rate

    Coordinated by

    Rose

    About the project

    Gili Shark Conservation is an international marine research center that hosts researchers, scientists, and oceans lovers from all over the world.

    Meet your organization

    About Gili Shark Conservation

    We are an international research center dedicated to shark conservation and citizen scientific research. We're always on the lookout for individuals eager to live and work alongside our diverse team. From passionate marine biologists and researchers, to dive instructors, scholarship candidates, and social media enthusiasts, our collective mission is to safeguard our oceans.

    At Gili Shark Conservation, we're driven by a desire to offer curious minds in marine conservation a one-of-a-kind experience. Our efforts have earned us multiple awards, with recognition as the world's best marine conservation program! We firmly believe in the power of a vibrant community, understanding that collective action is key to protecting our oceans. That's why we collaborate closely with the local research team of NGO Gili Matra Bersama. 

    During your program you will be staying at our HQ, which is located on the quiet and relaxed island of Gili Air, one of the three beautiful Gili Islands in Indonesia. We’ve put a lot of hard work and love in creating a place for you that feels like a home away from home All our shark warriors live and work together, creating a close-knit and caring atmosphere at our HQ. 

    About our Research Assistant Program

    We are proud partners of PADI and Conservation Diver, we offer a comprehensive range of training and globally recognized certifications in marine research and ocean conservation.

    Depending on which package you choose, you will receive one or more of the following courses:

    • PADI Scientific Diver Course
    • Conservation Diver ‘Shark Ecology and Population Studies Course‘
    • Conservation Diver ‘Sea Turtle Ecology & Monitoring Course’
    • Conservation Diver ‘Marine Ecology and Monitoring Diver Course‘

     For our 2-week package, a diving certification is a prerequisite. However, opt for a stay of 3 weeks or more, and we'll include the next level of diving certification in your program at no extra cost.

    During your time with us, you learn how to dive / improve your diving skills and we will teach you all about our various research methodologies, including remote underwater video (RUV), roving survey dives, photographic identification of sharks and turtles, Reef Check surveys, Coral Health Index surveys, Coral Watch surveys, photogrammetry, fish belt transects, invertebrate belt transects, coral restoration, Dive Against Debris, land and marine-based time-lapse projects, data analysis, and much more!

    Jour mission to conserve our seas and dive into an experience that will never forget!

    44 reviews · rating4.9

    Bertrand Tauzin rating5

    2024 at Shark Research Assistant

    Wonderfull experience in Gili air with Gili Shark Conservation program ! First, the location is just paradise on earth, ideal mix between beautifull island, relax atmosphere, and adorable locals. Not too crowdy and busy, but still enough things to do and enjoy to never get bored. Only positive vibes ...
    Julia Bisaz rating4.8

    2024 at Shark Research Assistant

    Long story short: It was truly amazing, there is no better place I could think of. Nothing I would change! I absolutely loved it! Long story long: This place has my heart. All the people from GSC are amazing & everybody on the island is amazing. This was my first big journey alone, that far ...
    Irene Fabig rating5

    2023 at Shark Research Assistant

    My experience was amazing! The program trained me to do scientific diving, and I really felt like I was able to contribute and use my skills to help even in two weeks. There were also super informative lectures and they let me jump right in to help with data entry and turtle identification right ...
    Melissa rating5

    2023 at Shark Research Assistant

    I really enjoyed my EMP training ! It gave me in-depth knowledge about invertebrates, fish and substrate, and helped me better understand how to evaluate the ocean’s health! ...
    Brad Sledz rating5

    2023 at Shark Research Assistant

    Having minimal diving experience or education regarding ocean habitats before arriving at GSC I was unsure of what to expect. Three weeks and 27 dives later, I was sad to leave but extremely satisfied about a fantastic experience with a great program ran by wonderful people. I was treated so well ...
    Billy rating5

    2023 at Shark Research Assistant

    I reached out to Rose at GSC and the team at Oceans5 in the hopes of completing my PADI Divemaster program in a destination where I could also help with conservation work concurrently. After some correspondence and personal back-and-forth brainstorming between destinations I decided to spend 9 weeks ...

    Location

    Asia > South East Asia > Indonesia > Gili Air

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    Volunteer Abroad  >  Animals  >  Marine Life in Indonesia
    Contact Rose
      Good response rate

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