Maldives – Marine and Turtle Conservation

The project is on the locally inhabited island of Naifaru, which sits within the Lhaviyani Atoll in the north of the Maldives. As the fifth most populous island in the Maldives, Naifaru boasts a lively community and offers a fantastic opportunity to meet new people. Most of the approximately 6000 inhabitants are Maldivian, however Naifaru is also home to several immigrant workers from countries such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The island has many intricate streets lined with shops selling everything from ice creams to tailoring services, and there are several restaurants serving both local and western delicacies. Take the time to immerse yourself in the vibrant, friendly community and kick back and relax on the island’s beautiful beaches.

In the Maldives, we are lucky to be surrounded by an abundance of tropical marine life, including five species of sea turtle. Unfortunately, because of threats such as habitat loss, poaching, the illegal pet trade, and injury from ghost net entanglement, most sea turtle species are now endangered.

As part of a local NGO, the Marine Centre works to combat this by rescuing, rehabilitating and ultimately releasing sea turtles back into the wild where they belong (predominantly the green sea turtle and olive ridley sea turtle). Some of the turtles we receive are non-releasable, but function as a good example to raise awareness about the effects of human activities on our marine life. Most of the green turtle hatchlings we receive arrive at the center after being kept illegally as pets, whereas the team rescues most of the olive ridleys after being caught in discarded fishing gear.

As a volunteer, you will be an integral part of our team, working alongside our Marine Biologists to gain practical turtle husbandry skills from cleaning and feeding, to assisting with administrating medical treatment. There is an on-site veterinarian that volunteers work with on most days at the marine center (as well as the marine biologist). Additionally, you will play an important part in raising awareness about marine conservation issues in the Maldives and creating awareness on our island.

This program is perfect for budding conservationists who want to gain practical skills and field experience, or for volunteers who simply love sea turtles and want to interact with them sustainably.

Volunteer Activities 

Mornings:

• Prepare food for the turtles
• Collect sea grass in the ocean
• Feed the turtles
• Clean out the tanks
• Turtle scrubbing
• Guide resort guests

Afternoon Activities:

• Take one of our resident turtles for a swim in the ocean
• Snorkeling around the jetty or off the beach near the marine centre
• Fish surveys
• Beach clean-ups
• Beach surveys
• Watching sunset at the beach or at a nearby café
• Watching a documentary or playing cards/games
• Enjoy some free time

Evenings

• Card games
• Catch crabs to feed to the turtles
• Film night
• Downtime

Daily tasks may vary depending on the time and duration of your stay, and the number of turtles at the marine center. Saturdays are days off and set aside for fun morning or afternoon excursions arranged by the project staff. All excursions are weather and season-dependent.

Vet student placement

This program also offers veterinary student placement with more in-depth tasks. Veterinary students may apply of all university years but should still be enrolled in university. Surgical experience is beneficial, but not mandatory. We can provide further information during your application interview.

Community outreach 

Even though it may have bright turquoise waters and white sand beaches, Naifaru Island is not a resort. Local island life is very different and reflects the huge wealth disparity in the Maldives. In Naifaru, many issues have arisen because of this disparity. For example, living conditions can be basic and the island’s waste management is very poor. As a result, there is a large amount of litter on the island, as well as incomplete construction projects where money has run out.

The local NGO’s work stems far beyond our marine conservation efforts. As a volunteer, you may also work with the community in many areas to educate, support and campaign for a better Naifaru. Whether it’s improving sports facilities, hosting beach clean-ups or protecting the marine environment. This work contributes to a happier and more thriving Naifaru!

Please note: Volunteer activities can change based on the needs of the project. The Marine Conservation Program is available for 2-week durations but we strongly recommend at least 3 weeks to get the full experience. Weather conditions can impact your activities, and bad weather may keep you out of the water for several days.

Internet: Wi-Fi is available at the accommodation, but it may not always be strong enough for streaming or video calls and can go offline during bad weather. We recommend downloading some movies or series to watch when the wifi is struggling.

Laundry: Laundry facilities are available at the accommodation.

Accommodations: Volunteers stay with up to three people in a single-gender room, each room includes an en-suite with a wet room. The volunteer house only has cold water. The volunteer house includes a communal space and a kitchen with a fridge/freezer, kettle, and washing machine, but no other appliances. The program offers an option for a private room upgrade at a nearby guesthouse for an additional fee. The guesthouse is closer to the center, restaurant, and beach, though the volunteer house is just a 10-minute walk away, as the island is very small. The guesthouse boasts hot water and faster, more reliable Wi-Fi. Each room includes a fridge, TV, and laundry services.

Food: We provide volunteers with three meals daily. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at a local restaurant. Vegetarian/vegan options are available, but protein supplements are limited. Please inform us of any specific dietary requirements in advance and the local team will cater for these.

Volunteers staying less than 29 days in the Maldives will just need a tourist visa. Volunteers staying longer than 29 days will need to apply for a business visa.

Business Visa Requirements

All applications to volunteer longer than 29 days in the Maldives need 4 weeks in advanced notice to apply for the visa. We will cover the cost of the business visa application by the programme fees. However, any additional costs required to get the documents listed below are not included.

• Completed Bachelor’s degree (scanned copy of your degree certificate)
• Police check (less than 12 months old with no convictions)
• Medical (forms provided)
• Colour scan of your passport (minimum 300dpi)
• IM30 (forms provided)
• Covid Vaccination card or certificate (copy)
• Passport-sized photo with white background (minimum 300dpi)

Please note that we will provide you with further information and help after your application to and acceptance on the program. 

Volunteer program minimum requirements:

• Age 18+
• Good level of physical fitness, confident swimmers, and comfortable snorkeling
• Possess an interest in marine life and marine conservation
• Willingness to immerse in the culture and volunteer experience, living and eating like a local
• Positive, open-minded, with a strong work ethic
• Snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel and fins)

The project staff organizes weekly excursions for all volunteers – selected excursions are included in the project fee. Activities range from exploring uninhabited islands and specific snorkeling trips to dolphin watching, fishing, and searching for manta rays. All excursions are weather and season-dependent.