Marine Conservation Volunteer Project
Learn to scuba dive and then help with this Fuze Ecoteer Marine conservation volunteer project. Help restore corals and join the research team on anemones or reef surveys – depending on what needs doing.
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Why Choose This Project?
Our Marine Conservation Volunteer Project is the newest of all the FE established projects with an aim to preserve and restore coral reefs and seagrass beds around the islands. This project is perfect for you if you want to improve your diving skills or interested in coral reef restoration and conservation. You will also be able to learn valuable conservation and stakeholder engagement skills which are a must for any future conservationists.
Download and read our project impact reports below :-
Annual Impact Report 2023
Annual Impact Report 2022
Annual Impact Report 2021
Annual Impact Report 2020
Annual Impact Report 2019
Project Highlights
- Prices start from RM1,600
- Bring a friend and get a discount
- Start any Monday in April until Sept
- All meals inclusive
- 6-55 Nights
- Minimum Age - 18 years
About the Project
The Perhentian Marine Research Station is a small scale research station which focuses on the practical aspects of marine research and conservation. This means that PMRS can accommodate a wide range of volunteers who undergo training in marine life identification and underwater survey techniques, before the acquisition of survey data.
What kind of research, is always based on what’s needed at that moment. However, our primary aim is to collect vital marine data through the mapping and health assessments of seagrass beds and coral reefs. Moreover, we also seek to collaborate and work with dive centres and local resorts for environmental conservation. Our team also works closely with the Marine Parks Department and Reef Check Malaysia. Learn more about the project and its impacts in 2019.
Volunteer Project Details
Conservation in Action
Arrival on Monday | Briefing and Orientation | Water confidence session and project initiation.
Week 1
Dive Course (if you are a Qualified Diver, you will start research training and survey immediately)
Week 2 onwards
- Research Training and Survey Weeks – an example of the dives are below, but what you do depends on the needs of the project.
- 1 survey skills & buoyancy dive
- 2 coral nursery dives
- 2 Reef survey dives (fish/invertebrates & substrate/coral health).
- 3 other dives – clean up, ghost net removal. depending on what is needed.
- Sundays – It’s time for you to wave goodbye to the island. If you are staying for more than a week, it is your day off! Have fun exploring the island or do more diving!
* Detailed itinerary will be provided after booking with us.
Diving
If you haven’t taken your PADI Open Water certification, you soon will have! We utilize local dive schools to train our divers. Join us and you can be a certified diver in no time! Furthermore, for expert divers, we know you are constantly looking for ways to perfect your buoyancy. Hence, conducting research dives is a great way to raise your buoyancy game!
Seagrass Monitoring
Joining us in April or September means that you will get to be involved in the seagrass research and conservation project. We use the Seagrass Watch method for surveying seagrass. The survey is done to collect vital data. As a result, the data will then be analysed and compared with other seagrass beds around the world.
Are there any other methods that will be used?
In addition, you will also use quadrants to assess seagrass or will map the boundaries of the beds. This programme will also teach you vital research skills.
Coral Rehabilitation Methods
First and foremost, you will learn our method of developing artificial reefs and coral nurseries. This is done by transplanting coral fragments on to specifically designed bottle reefs. Another method that we use is the creation of coral pyramids out of coral rubble. It allows the improvement of the overall health of a degraded reef ecosystem.
Reef Diversity monitoring
The Reef Check surveying methodology will be used to help us with our ongoing monitoring of the coral reef health. The data we collect will build upon our previous years of research. Consequently, this will help us to understand species richness and abundance on our reefs. In addition, it also helps us to introduce, implement or influence effective conservation strategies.
Waste Management & Beach Cleanup
The next part of the programme is that you will also get to help out the team with their waste management efforts. We have an educational booth at Long Beach to educate tourists and locals alike on eco-snorkeling. Moreover, the team are also in constant contact with stakeholders around the island. As a result, this collaboration helps to ensure that the waste management system on the island can be sustainable.
We have all seen the photos and videos and heard the story; a plastic straw stuck in the nose of a poor sea turtle. At our project, we commit to weekly beach clean-ups. This is done to ensure that the beach and ocean is clean and safe for marine life.
How can I help?
Volunteers will help us during our beach clean-up and collect data on the clean up. Not only that, the trash will then be sorted according to recyclable or non recyclable items.
Awareness Campaigns
We visit the local bays and brief tourists going on snorkel tours about how they can be more eco conscious while snorkelling. This is done weekly and is important to reduce harm to corals and marine lives.
Precious Plastic Machine
As part of education on plastic wastes, our team also work the Precious Plastic Machine. Through this initiative, plastic wastes of Type 2 and Type 5 are collected and made into something new.
During this programme, you will get to learn and go through the whole process yourself. What better way to reduce wastes! See our products made from recycled plastic – Precious plastic products.
Malay Dinner
What better way to taste Malaysian food other than cooked by a local. You will get to have a taste of authentic Malay food at the house of one of the ladies of PILA i.e the Perhentian Ladies of Association.
The Malays are big on hospitality and having visitors at their house is always a great experience. This is also the perfect time to learn more about a new culture and to educate others about your own! What a way to see the world.
Starting Dates
Starting on a Monday every fortnight from 15th April 2024 until end of September 2024.
Non-qualified divers would have to volunteer for a minimum of 2 weeks. Qualified divers, on the other hand, may volunteer for a minimum of 1 week.
Malaysian Volunteers
with dive course
1 week Not Available
2 Weeks RM3,900
3 Weeks RM5,000
4 Weeks RM6,250
All fees include return boat transfer, three meals per day, basic fan dormitory with shared bathroom, PADI scuba course first week then 7 dives + 1 snorkel per week after, all activities. No Marine park fee.
Bring a friend and save RM200 each!
NO dive course
1 Week RM1,750
2 Weeks RM3,000
3 Weeks RM4,250
4 Weeks RM5,500
All fees include return boat transfer, three meals per day, basic fan dormitory with shared bathroom, 7 dives + 1 snorkel per week, all activities. No marine park fee.
Bring a friend and save RM200 each!
International Volunteers
with dive course
1 week Not Available
2 Weeks RM5,300 pprox GBP920
3 Weeks RM6,700 approx GBP1,110
4 Weeks RM8,200 approx GBP1,400
Longer duration’s are available upon request
All fees include return boat transfer, three meals per day, basic fan dormitory with shared bathroom, PADI scuba course in first week then 7 dives + 1 snorkel per week after and all activities. No marine park fee.
Bring a friend and save RM200 each!
NO Dive Course
1 Week RM3,000 approx GBP500
2 Weeks RM4,500 approx GBP780
3 Weeks RM6,000 approx GBP1,040
4 Weeks RM7,350 approx GBP1,280
Longer duration’s are available upon request
All fees include return boat transfer, three meals per day, basic fan dormitory with shared bathroom, 7 dives + 1 snorkel per week and all activities. No marine park fee.
Bring a friend and save RM200 each!
Fees Breakdown
Project Fees
Diving Fees
Food
Accommodation
Transport
Marketing
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Project fees include, project staff wages house rental and upkeep for 12 months, gear maintenance, staff food, staff logistics
Food
Food in Perhentian is simple Malaysian dishes mixed with some Malaysian styled western foods like Burger Ramli, which are a must!
The volunteer programme package includes all daily meals:
Breakfast – Generally, for breakfast it’s simple toast, fruits or roti canai. (The Malaysian pancake a.k.a the Malaysian Flattened Croissant).
Lunch – Lunch is normally eaten out at local restaurants.
Dinner – Volunteers normally help to cook dinner with our project team and we eat together. Once a week, you will eat a delicious dinner when you go to the home of one of the villagers. This is the time for you to experience authentic Malay cooking and ask as many questions as you’d like.
Accommodation
Volunteers will stay at the Fuze Ecoteer Volunteer House, which has 3 sections/rooms with a communal toilet/ bathroom. Bedding and mosquito nets are provided. Safe drinking water and fans also provided.
Other Facilities
Wi-fi internet access is available at the project house. Shops are available in the village to purchase toiletries, snacks, drinks, veg, chicken and fruits. For laundry, hand wash/washing machine is available at the Ecoteer House. Paid laundry services is also available in the village. There are NO ATMs on the islands.
Check out our other projects!
Our Merchandises
You can support the Fuze Ecoteer projects and supported organisations by buying their merchandise. A minimum of 60% of your fee goes directly towards the conservation cause linked to that product. The other percentage is used for production costs.
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Sale!
Natural ‘Coral Friendly’ Sunscreen Cream SPF25
Original price was: RM30.00.RM25.00Current price is: RM25.00. Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Precious Plastic Shark Necklace
RM10.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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