At a glance
- Snorkel through the world-famous, warm waters of the Maldives, learning marine conservation skills from local experts, surveying marine species, and volunteering at a marine centre
- Discover local life in the Maldives, learning the Dhivehi language, cooking traditional recipes, and island hopping through stunning scenery
- Join forces with other teens from around the world to balance marine conservation, cultural immersion, and social activities. Build your independence, confidence, and adaptability
- Download a sample itinerary for this project
Is Marine Conservation in the Maldives for Teenagers right for me?
This Marine Conservation project is perfect for people looking to build their practical conservation and personal skills while experiencing life on a stunning tropical island.
You’ll contribute towards real marine conservation work, enjoy social activities with islanders and other teenagers from around the world, and immerse in a new culture.
Your primary focus will be on sea turtle and coral reef conservation. You’ll work in a nearby marine centre to support the care of rescued sea turtles in the hopes of rehabilitating them. This includes preparing their food, cleaning their tanks, and observing their behaviour.
Outside of that, you will join beach and ocean cleans to remove debris and pollution from the area, conduct Coral Watch surveys to assess the health of the ecosystem, and provide outreach presentations to local schools.
But don’t worry, that doesn’t mean your journey will be all work, no play. In your free time, you’ll truly immerse in island life. Enjoy picnics, painting, yoga, and volleyball on the beach, join an island scavenger hunt, complete a simple local language lesson and cooking class, sing your favourite karaoke hits, and take a boat to explore nearby islands with your new friends.
Learning isn’t just about sitting in a classroom. This experience will teach you real world skills and enhance your global perspective. You’ll develop your independence, confidence, and set yourself up for a career in marine conservation all while enjoying tropical weather and sandy beaches. What’s not to love?
Our High School Specials run over fixed dates during school holidays. This means you’ll also travel with a group of people your age from all over the world, sharing your experience and forging lifelong (global) friendships.
What will I be doing during this project in the Maldives?
As a marine conservation volunteer, you’ll work with expert conservationists in the stunning ocean scenery of the Maldives. You'll get up close and personal with tropical coral reefs, snorkel in the sun, and immerse in island life.
Here are some of the tasks you can expect to do during your placement, depending on the needs at the time:
- Coral surveys - survey and inspect the health of coral reefs alongside experienced conservationists, collecting crucial data and removing harmful waste or invasive species. Upload your findings as part of the global Coral Watch citizen science project.
- Beach clean-ups - feel warm sand between your toes as you patrol scenic beaches to collect discarded and washed up waste, plastic, fishing nets, and more. All of these can pose a serious threat to marine life and ecosystems.
- Sea turtle care - volunteer at the local marine centre and care for the rescued sea turtles living there by cleaning their tanks and preparing their food. Also learn about the process of sea turtle rescue and the coral reef ecosystems you’ll survey.
- Community outreach - conduct community outreach as part of our long-term commitment to environmental protection and education. You might develop educational resources for local children, deliver educational presentations, or organise field trips.
- Conservation workshops - attend workshops on topics like upcycling, where you will create useful items out of recovered ocean waste, and seagrass, where you will learn about its importance. You’ll even join a local fishing trip to learn sustainable fishing techniques.
Conservation volunteering is all about supporting the protection of our natural world. Your work will help protect the unique ecosystem of these islands and the species that live there, including sea turtles and coral reefs. You’ll also support and inform future conservation efforts.
Join a conservation volunteering project to create a world in which people and planet can thrive!
What are the aims and impact of this project?
The main aim of this marine conservation project is to provide you with real-world conservation experience where you can learn new skills and set up your career.
You’ll contribute to local conservation efforts and learn from experienced professionals, rehabilitating sea turtles, protecting coastlines, and monitoring coral health.
Your experience will help you to develop key personal and professional skills that are crucial throughout all stages of life, especially for university and employment. Travelling abroad for this experience also means you’ll build confidence, adaptability, and independence, navigating life in a new environment and embracing different ways of thinking.
You’ll fully immerse in tropical island culture, enhancing your global perspective, cultural awareness, and intercultural communication. You’ll develop a sense of empathy and see the world in new ways, interacting with and learning from local people and enhancing your critical thinking skills.
Additionally, you’ll learn the local language of Dhivehi, discover how to cook traditional Maldivian dishes, and join in with local leisure activities like island hopping, cookery classes, beach yoga, karaoke, and volleyball.
Join this project to learn about life around the world, pick up new and transferable skills that will help you throughout your life, and meet like-minded teens from around the world!
Where in the Maldives will I be working?
The Maldives
Described as "the last paradise on Earth," the Maldives is a breathtaking chain of nearly 1,200 coral islands scattered across the Indian Ocean. It is the lowest-lying country in the world, with an average ground level of just 1.5 metres.
Land only accounts for about 1% of the Maldives territory, with unique, soft, white-sand beaches bleeding into clear water. They have been inhabited for more than 3,000 years, are famous for Whale Sharks and Manta Rays, and are high on many people’s bucket lists.
Naifaru
Located in the Lhaviyani Atoll, a 40 minute seaplane flight north of the capital Male, Naifaru is a small island that’s home to approximately 5,000 people. It is one of the most densely populated islands in the Maldives, offering a more authentic look at local life than a typical tourist resort.
Naifaru is famous for its fishing industry and skilled traditional craftsmanship. It has a tropical climate and friendly community, making it an authentic way to access the culture of the Maldives.
Food & Accommodation
We make sure your time in the Maldives is both productive and relaxing, handling everything for you while you’re there. You’lll stay at a comfortable guest house with all the amenities you expect, including three meals a day, fresh drinking water, and a cosy bed.
Above all, your accommodation will be clean, safe, and welcoming. We’ll always try to make sure you share your room with at least one other Projects Abroad participant of the same gender and a similar age.
While there, you’ll enjoy a Maldivian cooking class plus try the fresh and spicy flavours of the unique Dhivehi cuisine. Heavily inspired by Indian, Sri Lankan, and Arabic flavours, the most common dishes often use fish, coconut milk, and aromatic spices found in traditional Indian curry.
Tuna is a staple of the Maldivian diet, used in dishes like mas huni (shredded tuna with vegetables on a flatbread), mas riha (spicy fish curry), and rihaakuru (tuna paste). However, there’s plenty of choice if you don’t like fish, like deep fried yams, tharukaaree riha (vegetable curry), and dhonkeyo kajuru (sweet fritters).
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems in place to ensure you have all the support you need as a young person travelling abroad.
Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24/7 to provide support and guidance. They will also make sure you feel comfortable and safe at your placement and accommodation.
Find out more about safety and backup.
This placement is fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector.
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