JOIN us aS A volunteer

Our volunteers play an essential role to the continued success of our conservation/research projects! Do you want to get involved in and contribute to conservation projects? Work with sea turtles and coral reefs? Learn and share your knowledge with visitors on conservation? If this sounds like you and you are keen for an adventure - get in touch!

WHAT projects will you be helping with?

As a volunteer you may expect to participate on the following projects:

• Nesting surveys for conservation of the endangered green turtle and critically endangered hawksbill turtle

• Hatchery maintenance and nest hatching checks

• Hatchling releases and nest excavations

• Reef monitoring: underwater surveys on coral reefs; substrate surveys, invertebrate surveys, and fish surveys

• Beach and underwater clean-ups

• Micro-plastic surveys

• Coral nursery & replanting

• Educational activities and talks with tourists and resort staff

What to expect?

Volunteers follow a weekly schedule, which covers varying different projects, activities, and downtime. The day might start early before breakfast with patrolling the island on foot, or surrounding islands by boat, to look for turtle tracks and nests! The rest of the morning will then be divided up into general tasks or projects such as beach cleanups, dive surveys, or educational talks. Lunch is followed by some free time to enjoy the island or rest, and then activities start again in the afternoon. Evenings after dinner will involve checking the hatchery for any hatchlings on a rotating schedule to make sure that everyone gets some sleep. We never know when they’ll hatch so late night checks and hatchling releases are a big aspect of the volunteer’s responsibility! In addition, you may get to join in with one of our off-site projects such as our schools programme or island waste management programme!

Free time can be spent chilling out in the hammocks, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, jungle trekking, and sometimes diving (always with a buddy!)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

age requirements - 18+

We are only able to offer positions to people who are 18 years of age or above. The project involves remote and physically demanding work, as well as solo and night working, with the team living in a shared house.

Where will I be Living?

You’ll be staying at our project site on Pulau Tengah, Johor, Malaysia which operates in collaboration with Batu Batu Resort. We also have projects based in Mersing and on Pulau Besar which you may get to visit but you will primarily be living on Pulau Tengah.

how do i apply?

To apply you can send over your CV a complete application form to tell us a little bit about yourself. Download the form at the bottom of this page and email it to izzat@tengahislandconservation.org & aiman@tengahislandconservation.org and cc-ed to workwithus@tengahislandconservation.org with the subject heading Volunteer2024.

PROGRAMME DURATION - 9 weeks

The programme lasts for 9 weeks and there are four timeslots available. You’ll be living and working with our team and receiving training on various conservation skills from sea turtle monitoring, hatchery management, and reef surveys to giving presentations and raising awareness of conservation issues.

Malaysian volunteers may be able to stay for shorter periods of time, so please contact our team if you are interested. For local students - please check out our Internship page for more details!

Will I get to see turtles?

This depends on which timeslot you choose to volunteer with us, as Phase 2 & 3 are more likely to have turtle nests hatching. It is rare to encounter nesting females, or turtles in the water at our site, so if this is what you are looking for then we might not be the right project for you.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Food (3 meals a day and drinking water)

• Shared accommodation

• Transfers between Mersing and Pulau Tengah on our scheduled passenger boat

• Uniform T-shirts x 4

• Eco-Diver Training & Certification

• Accommodation on the mainland for one night before your arrival and during any supply trips during your stay

• All project-related costs and equipment

What’s not included:

• Travel to and from Malaysia/Mersing

• Snacks and personal items

• Travel/diving insurance

Do you accept shorter term volunteers?

Due to the nature of our projects and the training we provide, usually not. But if you are a local or can offer some special skills like videography or construction, please get in touch with us!

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Open-minded, outgoing, friendly, and a team player

• Passionate about nature and conservation

• Ideally an Open Water Diver with minimum of 20 logged dives - but we are open to hear from volunteers with other skills to offer!

• Background in conservation, biology, environment or a related field - or looking to pursue a career in this field

• Very comfortable and confident swimmer

• Physically fit and able to walk long distances on sand and in the jungle

• Comfortable working at night and alone

• Willing to get your hands dirty with fieldwork, beach cleanups, trash sorting, and general chores

• Able to communicate in English

• Willing to obtain travel medical insurance which covers diving

• Comfortable to live in a shared accommodation which is very close to nature

HEAR FROM OUR PREVIOUS VOLUNTEERS:

to apply, please send a completed application form and your cv to IZZAT@TENGAHISLANDCONSERVATION.ORG & AIMAN@TENGAHISLANDCONSERVATION.ORG and CC-ED IT TO workwithus@tengahislandconservation.org

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM 2025