Mexico Global Health Internship (short-term)

 
Start your career in ocean conservation by completing an internship with GVI in Mexico. You will be introduced to coral reef research techniques and participate in basic coral reef health monitoring such as using Coral Watch surveys.
 
You will have the opportunity to conduct coral restoration activities in and outside the water on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest in the world while running other marine conservation initiatives like plastic cleanups and environmental awareness programs.
 
PROGRAM FOCUS
 
Join our international team located on Mexico’s Carribean coast to gain experience in marine conservation and start your career in the field. The team here work with local authorities to protect the unique habitat of the Marine Biosphere Reserve of the Mexican Caribbean home to unique habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and Mexico’s famously magical cenotes. 

Your internship will start with you mastering the diving and underwater survey techniques needed to conduct coral reef surveys which are accurate and don’t harm the reef. Our experienced instructors will support you all the way while you work toward earning your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and your PADI Coral Reef Researcher Distinctive Speciality, a speciality exclusively available on GVI marine conservation programs. 

Once your training is complete you will work with other participants to help monitor assigned sections of the reef. Depending on the duration of your stay you will learn about how to identify fish, coral, and other marine life as well as how this data is used by local authorities to make decisions about conservation. You will also assist our local partners with their ongoing coral restoration project by either growing coral fragments in a laboratory or transplanting these coral fragments onto the reef.

You will also participate in a range of other initiatives designed to work toward achieving the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #14, Life Below Water. Some of these include ocean floor and beach cleanups and the subsequent recording of the plastic collected for later data analysis, sea turtle monitoring, environmental awareness workshops with local students, community groups, businesses and tourists. Please note that these activities don´t run all year long as they are locally driven and it depends on the needs of our local partner's. 

Throughout the internship, you will learn about the importance of engaging local communities to ensure that marine conservation initiatives have long-lasting positive results. Reflecting this reality, you will not only master technical diving and marine research skills on this internship but also have the opportunity to practice your interpersonal and leadership skills.
 

LOCATION
 
GVI’s base camp is in the town of Puerto Morelos, situated on a stretch of the Carribean coastline known as the Riviera Maya. Puerto Morelos is the oldest town on the Mexican Carribean coast.  The Riviera Maya is a top tourist destination, and there are many spots for snorkelling and diving in this area. 
 
While the biggest industry in Puerto Morelos is tourism, fishing comes in a close-second. The fishing trade is essential to the economic well-being of this Mexican community. 
Volunteer work in Puerto Morelos focuses on community development and marine conservation. Volunteers assist the local community in planning and implementing sustainable practices aimed at making a positive impact in Puerto Morelos. 
 
This may mean assisting the local community with beach cleans, to reduce environmental pollution. It could also involve volunteers contributing to marine conservation by running environmental awareness workshops with school children and the broader community. Another way that sustainability is promoted is through programs focused on the conservation of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, and other marine life.
 
These programs look to find the balance between the usage and maintenance of natural resources in Puerto Morelos. Volunteer work in Mexico that’s focused on marine conservation has an immediate effect on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, as well as on the well-being of other marine life in the Riviera Maya.
 
By contributing to sustainable development efforts on land and in the sea, this volunteer work in Mexico can go a long way in contributing to the sustainability of the Puerto Morelos community.
 
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
 

• Gain experience in a range of marine conservation initiatives, including coral reef surveying and restoration.
• Earn your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and PADI Coral Reef Researcher Distinctive Speciality Certification.
• If staying 8 weeks or longer you will complete your Biological Survey Techniques training and qualification.
• Earn your GVI ILM Leadership Development certificate, a qualification recognised by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM).
• Preserve the unique ecosystem of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. 
• Contribute to UN SDG #14, Life Below Water. 
• Learn to dive in the tropical waters of the Caribbean sea. 
• Make new friends when you work with a group of like-minded individuals from around the world.
• Immerse yourself in Mexican culture, learning the language and sampling authentic Mexican cuisine.

 
If applying for this program to obtain credit from an institution, GVI can supply learning outcomes and support in the application.
 
For more information, check out our video https://youtu.be/vKuzdAOzQDg