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Volunteer Marine Conservation Program in Bali
Volunteer for Marine Conservation, and do your bit for the rising pollution hampering marine life in the oceans, develop skills of locals and fishermen for practicing alternative livelihood activities
In Tianyar, a small fishing village on Bali's north coast, you join a marine conservation project working to restore a reef damaged by years of unsustainable fishing. Day to day you help build artificial reef structures such as fish domes for deployment on the reef, take part in beach and reef cleaning campaigns, and support marine conservation education sessions at two local schools, discussing sustainability and plastic pollution with villagers, fishermen, and children. This suits anyone with a genuine interest in marine conservation who can swim and is comfortable with practical, physical outdoor work.
Placements run 1–12 weeks, starting every week (sundays), with the next intake on 27 Sep 2026. You live in a volunteer house in Tianyar, a cluster of bamboo cottages by the beach, with meals provided Monday to Friday. Programs start from $724 (deposit included). A specific reason to pick this project is the chance to build your own fish dome structure that is deployed directly onto the reef as part of ongoing work with LINI, the Indonesian Nature Foundation.
- Volunteer for Marine Conservation, and do your bit for the rising pollution hampering marine life in the oceans
- Develop skills of locals and fishermen for practicing alternative livelihood activities to generate income like diving, help them learn English to work as tour guides so that they do not rely only on extracting and exploiting resources from the sea
- Share your efforts in preservation and protection of marine life and coral reef
- Create awareness and discuss with locals, fishermen and school children about sustainability, marine life, and risks from elements like plastic wastes etc.
- Help in building artificial reef structures
Your role on this program
- Build a personalized fish dome or Roti Buoya structure for deployment on the reef
- Help construct artificial reef structures as part of coral restoration work
- Take part in weekly beach cleaning campaigns with local children
- Join reef cleaning sessions to remove plastic waste damaging the coral
- Assist with marine conservation education sessions at local schools
- Discuss sustainability, marine life, and the risks of plastic pollution with villagers and fishermen
- Support alternative livelihood initiatives for fishermen, such as diving skills and English lessons
- Take part in optional clean-up dives to remove plastic wrapping from the reef
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
Volunteers do not set conservation strategy, dive commercially, or work unsupervised; a local Balinese team directs all tasks, and the specific mix of construction, education, and clean-up work depends on the season and the project's current needs. Learning to dive and gaining a PADI qualification is available as a separate, additional-cost option and is not part of the volunteer role itself.
A typical day and week
As a volunteer for the Marine Conservation Program in Bali, your general schedule would be:
Day 1 (Sunday) – Arrival and Pick up day
You should aim to arrive at least 1 day before your program start (Sunday). Please ensure you arrive into Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali (DPS). A member of our team will be waiting for you when you get through customs. Please go and wait at the
flight information display board after you have exited the last of the duty free shops. Our driver will take you directly to Tianyar.
*You are able to arrive few days earlier however, your pick up day will be still on Sunday. You should find your own accommodation until Sunday by yourself at your own expenses.
Dinner will be provided in Tianyar. Your program orientation will be on either the Sunday afternoon or Monday morning after you arrive in Tianyar.
Day 2-5 (Monday – Thursday) – Volunteering
You will start your volunteering program on this day. Our local staffs are available for your support.
Day 6-8 (Friday – Sunday) – Weekend
Whether you are looking for a relaxing weekend on the beach at the accommodation, or looking to explore everything Bali has to offer – this is your time to do as you please.
The following weeks will follow the same kind of pattern, with volunteering between Monday and Thursday and exploring Bali and the surrounding islands at the weekends. You will find that time will really start to fly by, so it’s important to make the most of your time! Don’t forget, our local teams are there to support you and to answer any questions you may have.
Last day (Saturday)
On your last week, Saturday is your official last day in the program. You will check out from the accommodation and continue your travels in Bali or take flight back home. The coordinators can help you in arranging taxi back to the airport at extra charges.
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 17; participants under 18 need a signed parental consent form
- Clean criminal background check required, issued within 12 months of the start date
- Ability to swim is mandatory for this program
- Reasonable physical fitness for outdoor, practical conservation work
- A keen interest in marine life and conservation is desirable, though no prior experience is required
- Compulsory travel and medical insurance, either your own policy or the one arranged by Volunteering Solutions
The placement, its limits and your part in it
Volunteering Solutions partners with a local Balinese organization running the Tianyar reef project, which also works with LINI, the Indonesian Nature Foundation, on artificial reef structures, and with local fishermen and government on longer-term coral restoration and alternative livelihoods. A local team based on-site directs the day-to-day work, runs your orientation, and provides a 24-hour emergency contact throughout your stay.
Because the role includes education sessions with school children, a clean criminal background check is required, and volunteers work within tasks set by the local team rather than independently. Your contribution is practical and additive: building reef structures, running clean-up sessions, and supporting education efforts that are already underway, alongside the ongoing work of local staff and fishermen.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Safeguarding policyBackground checks, supervision and our code of conduct with children
- Child & vulnerable adult protectionThe rules every volunteer follows on placement
- Animal welfare policyOur rules for wildlife, marine and animal-care projects
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in BaliCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | $724 | |
| 2 weeks | $994 | |
| 3 weeks | $1,299 | |
| 4 weeks | $1,589 | |
| 5 weeks | $1,779 | |
| 6 weeks | $1,939 | |
| 7 weeks | $2,119 | |
| 8 weeks | $2,289 | |
| Each additional week | +$275 / week |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Airport Pickup
- Orientation
- Meals from Mon – Fri
- Accommodation in Tianyar
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from Local Staff
- Transfer from Airport to Tianyar
- Certificate of Participation (On Request)
Not included
- Airfare
- Return Trip to Airport (Can be arranged at extra cost)
- Flights
- Visa Fees
- Vaccinations
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfer
All volunteers will have to reach Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar (DPS), on Sunday. The local team will arrange your transfer from the airport and a designated driver shall be there to pick you up. We provide pick-up each Sunday for volunteers until 5pm. It is strongly advised that you arrange a flight which allows you to arrive at the airport before 5pm on Sunday.
If you wish to arrive in Bali a few days earlier, we can pick you up from your hotel on Sunday instead. If you do this, we recommend that you book your hotel in ‘Kuta’ or ‘Sanur’, both comfortable touristic areas for you to spend your first few days in Bali which are not too far from the airport.
Accommodation
In Tianyar, accommodation is in a volunteer house, which is a cluster of beautiful cottages. The traditional bamboo-built shelters are located right next to the beach and offer some great views.To make it environment-friendly, each cluster has a separate bathroom and toilet, also made of bamboo and canes. Each cottage has a sit out area and fans are installed. There is Wifi within the accommodation but it can be intermittent.There are common areas where volunteers can have meals or can sit and chat. There is a kitchen where meals are freshly prepared for the volunteers by the cooks. Volunteers need to bring their own towels and toiletries.The accommodation also offers some great facilities for the volunteers such as hammocks and volleyball pitch. At a short distance from the accommodation, amenities such as ATM, department stores are available.
Your accommodations will be simple yet cozy, allowing you to connect with the local environment and bond with fellow volunteers. The spacious communal outdoor dining area is ideal for sharing stories over tasty meals. Nearby, you’ll find essential amenities like supermarkets, ATMs, and a laundromat within a short walking distance.
You will share a room with three other volunteers and have access to a shared indoor bathroom equipped with a western-style toilet and cold showers. Each room is fitted with a ceiling fan, and all bed linens are provided.
You’ll have easy access to explore the island from Friday to Sunday. Taxis and other transport options are available, allowing you to reach all parts of Bali quickly and affordably. Whether you want to scuba dive at the famous Tulamben sites (20 minutes away), explore the city of Ubud (2 hours away), or party in Kuta on the south coast (3 hours away), our local team can assist with your plans.
Some important points to remember about the accommodations –
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All bed linen is provided
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Please bring your own towel and toiletries. Nearby laundry service (approximately IDR 7,000 per kilo)
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The journey to the airport takes around 3 hours
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Nearest shops are just a 5-minute walk. Wi-Fi is available but can be intermittent
Orientation
The in-country team in Tianyar will conduct the Orientation Session for the volunteers.You will be provided with all the details about the project, about the work that you’ll have to do, as well as information about the place. If you have any questions regarding safety issues, traveling and project, the local team will be there to assist you always.
Meals
You’ll enjoy three freshly prepared meals each day, cooked on-site from Monday to Friday. While most volunteers explore on weekends, meals are available from Saturday to Sunday for a small additional fee if you choose to stay at the camp.
Most of the meals feature traditional Indonesian cuisine, with rice as a staple accompanied by fish or chicken. Here’s a taste of what you can expect:
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Breakfast usually comprises pancakes, toast, fruit, tea, and coffee
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Lunch includes Rice, fried noodles, pasta, rendang, gado-gado, soto, chicken, and soup
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Dinner usually comprises Rice, chicken, fish, noodles, pasta, rendang, gado-gado, and soto
Vegetarian options are consistently available, and we can accommodate vegan requests upon advance notice. Our team will strive to meet any dietary needs, but please note that there may be times when you’ll need to purchase alternative ingredients at your own expense.
During Free Time
During your time in Bali, you will be based in Tianyar, a small fishing village located in the Northern part of the island. The region is much quieter in comparison to other touristic parts of the island.During your extended weekend from Friday to Sunday, you can travel and explore other parts of Bali such as Ubud or head down south to Seminyak or Kuta. Taxis and other modes of transport are easily available for traveling within the island. The local team would always be available to assist in your weekend plans.
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Bali
Airport pickup
Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar (DPS), on a Sunday before 5pm. A team member waits for you at the flight information board past the duty-free shops, and the drive to Tianyar takes about 3 hours.
First night
Dinner is provided once you arrive in Tianyar. If you arrive a few days early, pickup is still on Sunday, and you arrange your own accommodation until then.
Orientation
The local Tianyar team runs your orientation on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning, covering the project, your tasks, and safety information.
First project day and ongoing support
Volunteering runs Monday to Thursday, with local staff on hand throughout for questions or support; Friday to Sunday is free time to explore Bali before the pattern repeats the following week.
From volunteers in Bali
Frequently asked questions
What do I actually do as a volunteer?
You help build artificial reef structures like fish domes, take part in beach and reef cleaning, and support marine conservation education sessions with local schools, fishermen, and villagers.
Who is this program suitable for?
It suits anyone aged 17 or older who can swim, is reasonably fit, and has an interest in marine conservation; no prior diving or conservation experience is required.
What does a typical week look like?
Volunteering runs Monday to Thursday, with local staff supporting you throughout, and Friday to Sunday free for you to explore Bali or rest at the accommodation.
How long can I volunteer and when do programs start?
Placements run 1–12 weeks, with new starts every week (sundays); the next start date is 27 Sep 2026.
What does the cost include and what is the deposit?
Programs start from $724, deposit included; this covers airport pickup, orientation, accommodation in Tianyar, meals Monday to Friday, and 24-hour local support. The $249 deposit counts toward your total, is valid for a year, and is refunded if no placement can be offered.
Where do I stay and what are meals like?
You stay in a volunteer house made up of bamboo cottages near the beach in Tianyar, sharing a room with other volunteers, with three freshly prepared meals a day from Monday to Friday, mostly traditional Indonesian food with vegetarian options.
How does airport pickup work?
Pickup is arranged from Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar on Sundays until 5pm; if you arrive earlier, the team can instead collect you from a hotel in Kuta or Sanur on the Sunday.
What safety and support is available?
A local Balinese team is based on-site, runs your orientation, acts as your contact person throughout, and provides 24-hour emergency assistance.
Do I need a visa or vaccinations?
The marine programs help with the C6B volunteer visa and a local SIM card; specific visa and vaccination guidance is sent to you before departure.
Can I learn to dive during the program?
Yes, volunteers have the option to train toward a PADI diving qualification at an additional cost, separate from the core conservation role.
Is a background check required?
Yes, because the role includes education sessions with local school children, a clean criminal background check issued within 12 months of your start date is required.
What if I want to arrive early or stay on after the program?
You can arrive a few days early and arrange your own accommodation until the Sunday pickup, and dates or destination can be changed free of charge up to 45 days before your start.
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