Conservation volunteers working together in the field

Volunteer with marine life and sea turtles

Reef, seagrass and nesting-beach work supporting turtles, fish populations and the habitats they depend on.

Animal type

7 programs

Diver conducting a reef health survey on the Great Barrier Reef

Marine Conservation

Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Reef-based citizen science and marine conservation on the Great Barrier Reef, with dive training or a liveaboard reef experience.

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Rainforest meeting the reef coastline in Far North Queensland

Marine Conservation

Reef & Rainforest Adventure

Far North Queensland (Cairns · Great Barrier Reef · Daintree · Cape Tribulation · Kuranda)

Three weeks combining reef research, marine conservation and rainforest exploration in tropical Far North Queensland.

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Family snorkelling on a reef conservation expedition

Marine Conservation

Eco-Expedition for Families & Groups

Far North Queensland, Australia

A 5-day expedition for families and small groups: reef, rainforest and wildlife, with real marine conservation alongside the O2E team.

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Smiling volunteer in a blue t-shirt on the back deck of a boat, with the wake and open sea behind

Marine Conservation

Marine Conservationist for a Day

Fitzroy Island or Green Island, near Cairns, Australia

Spend a day on a Great Barrier Reef island learning reef science and contributing to real citizen-science surveys.

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Study-placement volunteers recording marine survey data on the reef

Marine Conservation

Diploma of Marine Conservation Volunteering

Cairns, Queensland (fieldwork) + online study

A study-and-fieldwork pathway combining an online diploma with hands-on reef fieldwork on the Great Barrier Reef.

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Family taking part in a reef education day near Cairns

Marine Conservation

Family Education Day

Fitzroy Island or Green Island, near Cairns, Australia

A family day on the Great Barrier Reef: reef learning and hands-on citizen science in a beautiful island setting.

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Turtle work is seasonal and largely nocturnal during nesting. Reef work runs year round and is dominated by survey and restoration tasks.

Animals are not handled except where a permitted research protocol requires it.

Get the 5-day ethical volunteering course

One short email a day. How to spot a genuine project, what fees really pay for, and how to prepare.