Marine Conservation and PADI Divemaster Internship

Travel to the Carribean coast of Mexico to learn about coastal marine ecosystems by gathering scientific data and conducting coral monitoring and restoration research. 
 
Start your career in professional diving and gain your PADI Divemaster on this comprehensive dive leader training program. First complete your training with our international marine conservation team earning your PADI Coral Reef Researcher Distinctive Speciality and PADI Rescue Diver. Then go to work at a local dive centre, earning Divemaster experience.
 
PROGRAM FOCUS
 
Become part of an international team of marine conservationists and have the opportunity to learn biological survey techniques, contribute towards coral reef preservation and earn you PADI Divemaster, a dive leader qualification that will serve you well in any role that requires professional diving.
 
This internship includes a work placement at a popular dive centre located on Mexico’s Carribean coast and specific training in marine conservation. It is designed to equip interns with a set of versatile skills that will allow them to thrive in any role that requires professional dive expertise. 

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, and complete their Coral Reef Researcher Distinctive Speciality. 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. You will also complete the GVI ILM Leadership Development certificate, as part of taking on greater responsibility in the field. 

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.
 

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
 

• Earn your PADI Coral Reef Researcher Distinctive Speciality, PADI Rescue Diver, and PADI Divemaster certifications. 
• Earn your GVI ILM Leadership Development certificate, a qualification recognised by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM).
• Complete your work placement at a popular dive centre. 
• Gain experience in a range of marine conservation initiatives, including coral reef surveying and restoration.
• If staying 8 weeks or longer you will complete your Biological Survey Techniques training and qualification.
• 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