This expedition is based on Hoga Island in the Wakatobi Marine National Park and is aimed at training you to become a PADI Divemaster (DM). The course involves a combination of dive theory, in water practical sessions, and shadowing instructors teaching PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water courses
Spend 2 to 6 weeks working on real-world marine conservation research at various sites around the world. Research assistants work alongside experienced field biologists and academics, contributing to data that may inform conservation management and scientific publications, while gaining practical field experience
Operation Wallacea is a network of academics from European and North American universities, who design and implement university biodiversity and conservation management research programmes abroad. Research is supported by students who join the programme to strengthen their CV or résumé, gain course credit, or collect data for a dissertation or thesis
Reviews
This experience at the Opwall marine site in Akumal, Mexico has genuinely been one of the best things I’ve ever done!
Being taught about the reefs in the morning and then seeing them in person in the afternoon was an incredible experience
Working here has reaffirmed my love and passion for my future in marine biology and for a lifetime of diving. You definitely learn a lot about yourself and come away from it more confident and comfortable in your own scientific diving skills
My first experience like this going first hand into conservation research and being able to see the positive impact on coral conservation was so rewarding. A good experience to meet people from different backgrounds united over similar passions, and to get to know & support the locals too 😊
