Join
Intern Abroad HQ, the world’s most affordable international internship organization, and invest in your future with a
Marine Conservation Internship in Thailand.
Program Information
As a Marine Conservation intern, you will develop underwater research skills, whilst enhancing your scuba diving proficiency; contribute to impactful and meaningful underwater research, monitoring, restoration and conservation projects; and gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of coral reef ecosystems, threats to these environments, and ways in which they can be protected. All while enjoying the beautiful scenery and culture Thailand has to offer.
This program ranges from 4-12 weeks and has
bi-monthly start dates from January through September each year.
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.
Eligibility Requirements
Recommended for students enrolled in (or recently graduated from) Marine Science/Biology related degrees. Students on a gap year or moving towards a Marine Biology field will be considered, depending on the strength of their application.
This program involves scuba diving and all participants are required to have the following diving qualifications, prior to commencing the program: (1) Open Water (2) Advanced Open Water (3) Rescue Diver (including First Aid certification). For those who already hold these qualifications, they may wish to have a one-day Refresher course. Interns with no prior dive experience or certifications are still welcome, as all prerequisite dive courses can be signed up for and and completed on-site (at an additional cost), prior to the internship start date.
Internship Details
As a Marine Conservation intern in Koh Tao, Thailand, you’ll gain a comprehensive introduction to topics including coral reefs, their rich and diverse ecosystems, threats to marine biology and ecology, and conservation measures which are undertaken for their protection. Come prepared to learn through direct observations during dives, to understand first-hand how conservation work comes to life, outside the classroom.
Short term interns (those joining for less than 8 weeks) should expect an introductory experience. This typically involves gaining an understanding of marine ecology, learning how to ID diverse marine organisms and their environmental threats, and the development of survey methods for underwater research, monitoring, and conservation. Interns have the opportunity to develop foundational skills and understanding of what balanced and healthy ecosystems require to thrive.
For those enrolled in durations of 8 weeks or more, you’ll become a crucial member of the data collection team, and assume a lead role amongst research dive groups. You’ll collect valuable data from Koh Tao’s reef ecosystems, contributing to collaborative projects with the Thai Department of Marine & Coastal Resources and academic institutions , as well as scientific research publications.
The program fee for this internship covers up to 10 dives per week (subject to weather conditions) in addition to the rental of some dive equipment, including: BCD, regulators, wetsuit, fins, dive computer. Interns are required to additionally supply their own mask, surface marker buoy + reel, whistle, dive knife, and compass. These accessories can be purchased in-country through the host organization. Individuals must take core responsibility while using any borrowed items, so will be required to replace anything that’s lost or damaged (outside of reasonable wear-and-tear).
Given the highly structured nature of this program, internship start dates are only offered bi-monthly, commencing at the beginning of January, March, May, July, and September. The program is unavailable from November through till January, due to suboptimal weather conditions during this period.
Program Highlights
Intern Abroad HQ's Thailand programs are available from January through September, with bi-monthly start dates.
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 is available for all experiences with 45 hours or more through our School of Record partnerships with University of Montana (1-5 credits) and Warren Wilson College (6-16 credits), that you can apply towards your degree at your home institution.
We offer flexible booking and free changes so you can register with confidence.
How to Apply
Apply for free: Complete an online application form via the Intern Abroad HQ website.
- Select your start date and duration: All Intern Abroad HQ programs are available year-round and you can choose to intern for durations on this program ranging from 4 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.