
Work towards integral marine conservation in one of the most marine-rich locations on earth!
In the tiny and idyllic beach town of Tofo, lies an ocean paradise complemented by pristine beaches and the warm waters of the Indian ocean. The coral reefs here are bustling with exceptional marine life, and you’ll find whale sharks, manta rays, reef sharks and even seasonal humpback whales visiting the shorelines, making this location the perfect spot for conservation research and incredible scuba diving!
Monitoring the health of coral reefs, as wells as marine life and their behaviour, is key to understanding the potential threats they face and how to minimise them. With the world’s oceans facing the perils of pollution, climate change, unsustainable fishing practices and poaching, this project was established in 2014 to protect the regions marine megafauna and conserve the underwater ecosystems they inhabit.
As a volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to complete a world recognised PADI dive qualification, alongside contributing to scientific research and helping to design regulations to preserve and protect marine species and ecosystems in the area. Through research dives, surveys, monitoring, shark tagging and more, you’ll gain knowledge and experience in marine biology and conservation, whilst diving in one of the most species-rich locations in the world. You’ll also take part in a number of community initiatives such as beach clean-ups, school visits and community events, helping to promote marine conservation and education to the people of Tofo. So, to make a difference both above and beneath the waves, dive into this incredibly diverse marine conservation experience today!
In the tiny and idyllic beach town of Tofo, lies an ocean paradise complemented by pristine beaches and the warm waters of the Indian ocean. The coral reefs here are bustling with exceptional marine life, and you’ll find whale sharks, manta rays, reef sharks and even seasonal humpback whales visiting the shorelines, making this location the perfect spot for conservation research and incredible scuba diving!
Monitoring the health of coral reefs, as wells as marine life and their behaviour, is key to understanding the potential threats they face and how to minimise them. With the world’s oceans facing the perils of pollution, climate change, unsustainable fishing practices and poaching, this project was established in 2014 to protect the regions marine megafauna and conserve the underwater ecosystems they inhabit.
As a volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to complete a world recognised PADI dive qualification, alongside contributing to scientific research and helping to design regulations to preserve and protect marine species and ecosystems in the area. Through research dives, surveys, monitoring, shark tagging and more, you’ll gain knowledge and experience in marine biology and conservation, whilst diving in one of the most species-rich locations in the world. You’ll also take part in a number of community initiatives such as beach clean-ups, school visits and community events, helping to promote marine conservation and education to the people of Tofo. So, to make a difference both above and beneath the waves, dive into this incredibly diverse marine conservation experience today!
If you do not have any dive qualifications, you will spend your first 4 days getting your PADI Open Water qualification. After this, you can take part in all the activities, and if staying for longer than 3 weeks, can also opt to gain additional dive qualifications. If you are already PADI Open Water qualified or above, you do not need to complete any additional courses to take part but can if you wish.
The itinerary below is based on a 13-night stay, however, we recommend joining for a minimum of 3 weeks if you will be completing any dive courses to ensure you have plenty of opportunities to contribute to the research dives and experience all the activities on offer.
To secure a place on this project a deposit of $245 is required at the time of booking, with the remaining balance due any time up to 60 days prior to your start date.
If you do not have a PADI Open Water qualification, you must include a PADI dive course. You can also select this option if you already have your PADI Open Water qualification and would like to complete either your Advanced Open Water or Rescue Diver course.
Enjoy stunning seafront views from the volunteer house balconies, where you will be allocated a room on a twin-share, same-sex basis (unless volunteering as a couple where double rooms are available). Each room has an en-suite bathroom, fans and mosquito nets. Elsewhere in the volunteer house, you'll find kitchen facilities, a bar, relaxation areas - and an outside hot tub!
Keep your eyes peeled for breaching humpback whales during the winter season, as you may spot them from your balcony!
A private chef will prepare three meals a day for you in the volunteer house kitchen. Meals will consist of local cuisine with some western-style dishes. Tap water is available and safe to drink, and other drinks, such as soft and alcoholic beverages can be purchased for a minimal cost from the local shops and supermarket. Additionally, there are some bars and restaurants in Tofo with stunning views of the bay if you're looking to treat yourself of an evening or weekend!
Dietary requirements, including vegetarian and vegan diets can also be catered for.
With over 18 reef sites along the 40km coastline around Tofo, it is renowned for the extensive marine megafauna that is regularly spotted throughout the year. You can expect to see whale sharks, reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, manta rays, small-eyed stingrays, eagle rays, bottle-nosed dolphins, bowmouth guitarfish, 3 species of turtle and much, much more.
In winter (July – September), you can also see the incredible humpback whales that make their annual migration from Antarctica to mate and give birth. If you join during this period, we offer a specialist humpback whale monitoring programme which offers the opportunity to study these giants of deep (please enquire for more details).
In terms of weather, Mozambique has a subtropical climate and you can expect daytime temperatures of 30-32°C (86-90°F) throughout most of the year, and even in winter, the temperatures only fall slightly to approximately 27°C (81°F). The rainy season runs from December - March; however, the rain typically falls in short showers and you can still expect blue skies for much of the day.
You will need to arrive into Inhambane Airport in Mozambique on your project start date. Upon arrival, you will be met by a project representative who will transfer you to your accommodation (approximately 45 minutes from the airport).
A popular flight route to Inhambane is with LAM Airlines, who operate a daily indirect flight from Johannesburg in South Africa (via Maputo).
You will require a tourist visa to join this project and we recommend contacting your local Mozambican embassy or consulate to obtain this prior to arrival. If you are travelling from a country that does not have a Mozambican embassy or consulate, it is possible to get a 30-day tourist visa on arrival which can then be extended if required when in-country, and the team will assist you with this. Should you require an invitation letter to support your visa application, this can also be provided. Please also be aware that your passport must be valid for a period of at least 6 months from your date of entry.
This project involves open ocean swimming, so you must be fit enough (and a strong enough swimmer) to cope with this! Those that struggle with swimming are not advised to join this project, and we advise that you must be able to swim around 200 metres comfortably in order to join. Additionally, to take part in the activities you must be at least PADI Open Water qualified, therefore, if you are joining without a dive qualification, you will complete this course in your first 4 days. The other important requirement is that you work well within a team and have a significant interest in marine life and the overall conservation efforts!
There are no specific medical requirements or vaccinations needed to join this project. The vaccinations required depend on the individual medical history of each volunteer, and we therefore recommend consulting your doctor/GP regarding your own vaccination needs. We also recommend that you take a look at the Fit for Travel website for more helpful information on how best to prepare for your experience, and also note that Mozambique is a high-risk location for malaria, so preventive medications are highly recommended.