Join Intern Abroad HQ, the world’s most affordable international internship organization, and invest in your future with a Marine Biology & Reef Conservation Internship in South Africa.

If you’re passionate about marine conservation and diving - or if you’ve always wanted to learn - this is the opportunity for you! Sodwana Bay is a World Heritage site with renowned natural beauty and coral reefs that are home to turtles, whales and manta rays. Learn about Indian Ocean reef conservation, gain marine ecology training and scuba experience in one of the world’s prime marine habitats.

Interns are accommodated in a camp, in Sodwana Bay village. This is within walking distance to the local restaurants and shops. The beach in iSimangaliso Wetlands Park is about a 10 minute drive away. Shared rooms are provided, either in the main house or smaller wooden cabins. The main house is fully furnished with all modern conveniences, including large outside gardens with ample shady trees and a swimming pool.

Eligibility requirement

Interns must be competent swimmers. Dive training from a certified PADI Dive Instructor is included in the program. All participants must complete the PADI Medical Questionnaire & Statement to determine their fitness and ability to participate in scuba diving activities. Depending on responses to the PADI Medical Questionnaire, it may be necessary to complete an examination with a Physician, to obtain medical approval for diving activities. High School graduates aged 18+ are welcome to apply, provided that you have a genuine desire to learn and grow within this field.

Language requirements

This internship is conducted in English.

What's Included

This program ranges from 2-12 weeks. Your fully-hosted experience includes sourcing of your internship placement, personalization of your project plan, airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 support. For a full list of our transparent fees, check out our website.
 
This internship is tailored towards providing young people with 5 star PADI dive tuition, along with an excellent introduction to Indian Ocean marine ecology (via online training presentations).

Sodwana Bay is South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with world-renowned dive sites and coral reefs. It’s home to some of the world’s most diverse fish communities, including turtles, manta rays and sharks, and is a main highway on the seasonal migration routes of humpback whales. It’s also the base for this Marine Biology and Reef Conservation internship, where interns assist with a wide range of marine conservation and research tasks.

Interns are based in a marine camp, where they learn and utilize scuba diving skills to aid research into the health of the marine ecosystem and effectiveness of reef conservation methods in the area. The internship endeavors to include 20 dives per month, or 10 dives every two weeks (subject to weather conditions).

• If not already dive certified, you will be trained as a PADI Open Water Diver. Following successful completion of the training, you will receive your PADI Open Water certification. This certification qualifies a diver for open water dives to 18m (with a dive buddy).
• Already qualified divers will get the chance to complete further advanced dive training, allowing them to dive to 30m and experience some of Sodwana’s deeper reefs. You can also choose from a range of dive specialty courses, which may be available at an additional cost (e.g. Deep, Nitrox, Peak Performance Buoyancy, etc) or the Rescue Diver course.

Interns contribute to creating marine conservation awareness for Sodwana Bay through interpretive sea dives. This can involve the capture of underwater photographs for the iNaturalist citizen science database, to support awareness around the keystone species inside the marine protected area. Such species include sea turtles (Green, Hawksbill and Loggerhead), potato bass grouper and nudibranchs.
 
Intern Abroad HQ's South Africa programs are available year-round, with the Monday start date of your choice.

Intern Abroad HQ provides the most affordable and top-rated programs. Detailed pricing available for your duration on our website.

We match you with innovative and entrepreneurial host organizations around the world that give you the opportunity to make a real contribution on high-impact projects with the support of travel experts with an outstanding safety system and track record.

Gain valuable international career experience that will boost your employability in a volatile job market.

Our experiential learning approach provides a structured and guided platform for you to think critically about your experiences on your internship. It accelerates and deepens your learning by asking self-reflective questions around the contexts, actions, and outcomes of your placement.

Academic credit available for all experiences with 45 hours or more through our School of Record with University of Montana that you can apply towards your degree at your home institution.

Flexible booking and free changes so you can register with confidence.

• Select your start date & duration: All Intern Abroad HQ programs are available year-round and you can choose to intern for durations on this program ranging from 2 to 12 weeks.
• Complete your registration: After you have been accepted on your chosen program, you can secure your place by paying the Deposit.
• Pay your Balance: This is only due 60 days before your program starts.

Need to make changes to your booking? You can make free unlimited changes to your destination, project and dates up until 60 days before you start.