Marine Conservation

Marine Conservation

Imagine diving into the beauty of famous blue beaches surrounded by lush greenery just like scenes from Mamma Mia!

Now, picture yourself safeguarding marine life in Europe's largest National Marine Park, where dolphins, turtles, and falcons thrive and the endangered Mediterranean monk seal finds sanctuary.
This is all possible!

You just need to volunteer in the Marine Conservation Program in Greece Where you will be dedicating your time in preserving Alonissos island’s marine ecosystem, including its 6 smaller islands and 22 uninhabited islets.

Welcome to a transformative travel experience that goes beyond sightseeing – an impact trip to the enchanting island of Alonnisos, Greece!

We invite you to join us in an immersive journey that blends adventure, learning, conservation, community engagement and lots of fun!

Seize the opportunity to make a positive social and environmental impact by voluntarily participating to conservational projects, coastal and underwater clean ups, citizen science marine observations, recycling seminars of plastic waste following the concept of Precious Plastic community, and all this while exploring a greek island and earning the most recognized PADI scuba certification, to join the world’s largest dive community.

Your scuba skills will drive change, as you participate in underwater activities that contribute to cleaner environment and healthier ecosystems

Together with fellow volunteers, you’ll make a tangible impact on the local community and foster an environmentally aware change !!!

Price

1 week: 1490
2 weeks: 3290

Included

On the day of your arrival the ImpacTrip team will be at the ferry waiting for you with a big sign and a smile on their face! 🙂

We will reach out by WhatsApp a few days before your starting date 🙂
 

Our accommodation offers a unique blend of comfort, convenience in a true greek style 🙂

 

– Spacious common spaces for traditional baking and outdoor grilling (you even have a traditional oven to try!)

– Large yard with garden and seating area 🙂

– Grill-barbecue for culinary delights

– Just 100 meters from the beach!!

– Proximity to cafes, restaurants, and supermarkets

– Wireless internet (WiFi) access

– Individual balconies with breathtaking sea and garden views for each room

– In-room amenities include TV, air conditioning, refrigerator, and high-quality COCO-MAT mattresses

 

Food 

Our program includes breakfast & dinner.

Lunch must be paid by the volunteer.

However, prices are extremely competitive and the restaurant where we provide breakfast, has cheap meals available to the volunteers 🙂

At the waterfront restaurant, every meal brings together local flavors and Mediterranean influences, all while you soak in the harbor’s vibe. 

 

Introduction on the first day of volunteering – introduction to Greek culture, volunteer experience, overview of programs, practical information, safety guidelines!

Ongoing support throughout the stay!

24h/7 emergency support!

Not Included

  • Flights
  • Pick-up at the airport on other dates
  • Drop-off at the airport
  • Personal expenses 
  • Personal insurance (health or accidents)
  • Meal (lunch)
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How is a typical day in this volunteer program?

Tasks

  • PADI Scuba Certifications: Embark on a journey to learn or to continue your training education in scuba diving and earn a reputed PADI scuba certification, opening the door to a world of underwater exploration. Dive into captivating underwater landscapes around Alonnisos all within the largest National Marine Park in Europe, led by experienced dive instructors.
  • Conservation Projects: Engage in hands-on conservation projects to protect Alonnisos’ unique flora and fauna and sensitize both local community and seasonal visitors. Learn about environmental friendly practises that applied both underwater and on land.
  • Coastal and Underwater Cleanups: Dive into the Mediterranean waters for coastal and underwater cleanups, ensuring the preservation of marine life and habitats. Experience the joy of making a tangible impact as you witness the transformation of the underwater environment.
  • Citizen Science Marine Observations: Participate in citizen science programs in collaboration with Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, to collect valuable data on marine life, contributing to ongoing research efforts and becoming a Citizen Scientist.
  • Plastic Waste Management, the ”Precious Plastic” Movement: Initiate in managing plastic waste in local scale, through innovative recycling practices inspired by the Precious Plastic initiative and produce new useful objects out of discarded plastic waste

  • 08h00 AM – Breakfast at accommodation
  • 09h30 AM – Travel to project to join local placement staff and begin work on your project
  • 13h30 PM – Lunch at the boat
  • 17h00 PM – Finished day of volunteering
    18h30 PM – Reflective Session
    20h00 PM – Dinner served at the accommodation

Can I volunteer along with a friend of family member of mine?

Yes, of course you can! We regularly receive little groups of friends or family that come to participate in our programs together. 

Do I have to pay money for volunteering in Marine Conservation?

You are not paying for your volunteer work itself but for your stay with us overall! The costs for your program further include various elements that are part of your stay here! Respective to your program, those elements can, for example, include your accommodation, food, transportation from and to the airport, insurance, guided tours, professional guides, supervisors or instructors, placement coordination and 24/7 support!

In the case of the Marine Conservation program, your participation fee will also include costs that ensure for the project to be able to run successfully, like diving course and instructors, diving certification, equipment and tools needed.

Please have a look at the pricing details of your program to find an accurate overview of all aspects included in your fee. 

Do I need to speak the local language?

No, you don't need to have any previous skills in the local language! All of our programs are run entirely in English and our guides and staff are all comfortable speaking English as well! But we always encourage our participants to get acquainted with some of the most basic terms and expressions, as even just a simple "Good morning!" in the local language can be a great icebreaker to start interacting with the locals! 

There are also language lessons available for volunteers. The language lessons can be booked before or on the arrival. Lessons are taught by a professional teacher and tailored to each volunteer’s current language level.

 

How and when do I need to pay for my volunteer program with ImpacTrip?

You can pay us through Paypal or bank transfer. We will kindly ask you to pay 50% of your bill at the time of your booking to secure your spot! The other 50% will be due at least one month before your arrival! 

Is prior experience in diving required to take part in the Marine Conservation program?

No, you do not need to have any prior experience in diving, the professional diving instructor will teach you all the necessary basics and safety essentials right on the spot! In your program is included a certificated diving course adjusted to your diving skills.

But it's great if you already do have some previous diving experience, as you'll more easily be able to contribute to cleaning up the ocean by collecting trash from the seabed!

Shall I bring any own diving equipment for the Marine Conservation program?

No, the price includes all the professional diving equipment you'll need for your dive. We do recommend bringing comfortable swimwear, beach slippers, and a towel! 

What do I need to pack for my trip?

Are you already excited about your stay with us? We prepared a little list of essentials which can assist you with your packing:

  • Basics (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner…)
  • Medication contact lenses, glasses
  • Clothes according to the local weather and the project you applied for
  • Plug adapters and power converters
  • Unlocked mobile phone – we will give you a Portuguese SIM card that you can charge according to your needs
  • Laptop, tablet or smartphone so you have access to Wi-Fi almost everywhere
  • Camera (if you want to capture all the unforgettable moments.)

What is ImpacTrip's Cancellation and Refund Policy?

Impactrip deposit fees are designed to be as affordable as possible to allow everyone to join our programs. Therefore, considering its limited capacity and the expectations of everyone involved, ImpacTrip is unable to provide a total refund policy.

Deposit Fee

The payment of the deposit fees confirms a volunteer’s acceptance onto one of ImpacTrip's volunteer programs. Deposit fees are not transferable to other people but may be transferable to another program.

The deposit fee is refundable until sixty days before the start date of the volunteer’s chosen program. Requests for deposit fee refunds must be made via an email to your ImpacTrip Booking Manager, clearly detailing the reasons for cancellation.

Cancellations are subject to the following policies:

  • The notice period is based on the earliest start date the volunteer has ever been registered for.
  • If a volunteer cancels sixty days or more before their earliest program start date, they can request a refund of the deposit fee, which will be provided minus the transaction costs of the refund. Alternatively, they may ask for a deposit fee credit to be held in their name for future use on any ImpacTrip program, subject to availability, for a period of twelve months from their earliest registered start date. This credit may be issued minus the value of any change fees the volunteer has incurred.
  • If a volunteer cancels between fifty-nine and thirty days before their program’s start date, no refund of the deposit fee is available. A deposit fee credit may be held in their name for a period of twelve months from their earliest registered start date, for future use on another ImpacTrip program, subject to program availability and at the discretion of the Impactrip Booking Manager.
  • If a volunteer cancels less than thirty days before their programs start date, no refund of any fees is available. A deposit fee credit may be held in their name for twelve months from their earliest registered start date, subject to availability, provided deposit fees have been paid in full by their due date.

Where a group of ten or more people is volunteering with ImpacTrip, the group leader must register ahead of other group members in order to secure the group’s dates and plans. Group members must then register no less than sixty days before the program starts. Group members who register less than sixty days before the program start date may be excluded from the program unless approved by ImpacTrip.

ImpacTrip reserves the right to revise its program fees at any time. All program fees revisions will be made via the ImpacTrip website. Program fee revisions are not applicable to volunteers who have already submitted their payment before the revisions are due to take effect. A volunteer’s placement on a program is not confirmed until the deposit fee has been paid in full and the availability has been confirmed by their ImpacTrip Booking Manager.

Will I have time for some sight-seeing as well?

Of course! We want you to really get to know your natural and cultural surroundings and will provide you with useful tips and tricks that will help you discover the location of your stay like a local!

Your shifts will generally last between 3 and 5 hours per day and will take place either in the morning, in the afternoon or in the evening, which will leave you with plenty of free time to go explore, take a stroll around your surroundings, catch the most important sites, interact with the locals or simply go and relax! And of course, you will have your weekends off as well!