Perhentian Islands Marine Research Station

Dive into marine conservation while leading waste management schemes

Dive Into Marine Conservation

Discover the underwater world while protecting the underwater environment and marine lives with our Perhentian Marine Research Station team. Volunteers for our project will be aiding the research team to conduct scientific research on coral reef, seagrass and even sharks! The researches conducted are important to ascertain the health of corals in the area and the effect of the Monsoon on the area.

Volunteers will also get to learn and hone their scientific dive skills. Volunteers will get to practice buoyancy, transect layouts, and partake in various types of surveys and reef maintenance dives. If you do not know how to dive, don't worry as you can take your diving course while volunteering with us. We partner with local dive shops in the area to provide these dive courses.

Apart from diving, volunteers will also be involved with the waste management side of the project. Volunteers will be aiding the team to ensure the Perhentian islands' wastes are better managed. Under the slogan #plasticfreePerhentian, the team has been actively educating, creating awareness and collaborating with various local businesses ie.resorts and dive shops in the area to achieve Perhentian islands that are free from single-use plastics. The team also has set up a Conservation Education Station at Long Beach - one of the most popular beaches in Perhentian with tourists, to promote public awareness and educate on recycling bins, plastic-free Perhentian and also briefings on how to snorkel and dive responsibly.

How do I start?

It's simple! Join our mission here and make payments for your ticket according to the duration of your volunteering stay. We will then send you our Volunteer Guide which has all that you need to know to prepare you for your volunteering adventure! 

Great! When can I start?

This project runs from April - September. Our volunteers may volunteer for a minimum of 1 week (30 mission hours) if he/she is a qualified diver and 2 weeks (60 mission hours) if he/she is an unqualified diver. Volunteers will start on a Monday and depart on a Sunday. Volunteers can choose to start on any Monday starting from the 6th of April 2020 until 14th of September 2020 (for international volunteers).

DO I HAVE TO PAY?

Your kind contribution will also help to ensure the continuity of our projects and will always go back to the local community as we always work with the locals.
There is a certain programme fee that you would have to pay. The programme fee will cover your food, accommodation, activities and transport within the project.

The prices are as follows:

Duration	Malaysian Volunteer -With Dive Course	International Volunteer - With Dive Course	Malaysian Volunteer - Without Dive Course	International Volunteer - Without Dive Course
1 week	N/A	N/A	RM3,070	RM3,688
2 weeks	RM5,269	RM6,603	RM4,281	RM5,437
3 weeks	RM6,753	RM8,352	RM5,764	RM7,186
4 weeks	RM8,236	RM10,101	RM7,247	RM8,935

I don't know anything about marine lives. Can I join?

If you are 18 years old and above, yes you can! All we need from our volunteers are a positive attitude, willingness to learn and respect for different cultures. If you are not a certified diver, you can first take a dive course whether personally or when you volunteer with us!

“We need to respect the oceans and take care of them as if our lives depended on it. Because they do.”

-- Sylvia Earle