Eco Koh Tao - Eco Diving,Gap Year & Internship Opportunities on Koh Tao in Thailand

Ecodiver Vacation

4 Weeks	4 Fun Dives	Download dossier
5 Courses - 5 Certifications	Conservation Project Involvement
Thai Cooking Class	8 Yoga Sessions
27 Nights Accommodation

The Ecodiver Vacation is designed for those who would love to dive but who also want to put that knowledge towards a worthwhile cause. With our specialised 4-week program you’ll learn to dive in an eco-friendly manner & develop that environmental consciousness by becoming a Reef Check Ecodiver.

The 4 week program allows you to develop your diving and your knowledge at a relaxed pace. It also provides time to participate in additional specialty courses and other areas of interest. In addition you’ll have time to put your conservation training into some practical use.

As an Ecodiver you’ll be able to organise and participate in surveys of coral reefs worldwide providing invaluable data to scientists, government bodies and other parties.

Arriving on Koh Tao you’ll first have to learn how to dive. You’ll partake in PADI’s introductory course, the Open Water Diver Course followed soon after by the Advanced Open Water Course. Your dive training will continue at a leisurely pace as you gain experience in the underwater world fine tuning your skills.

A PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course will be a prerequisite to your Ecodiver Course a week long program supported by Reef Check International. After being certified an Ecodiver you will be able to participate in surveys to collate data and monitor the ongoing health of our planets coal reefs. A PADI Project Aware Specialty course is conducted alongside the Reef Check Program which helps by providing a thorough understanding of the marine environments, what threatens them, & what you can do to ensure the healthy survival.

Interspersed with your time in Koh Tao you will have the opportunity to indulge your senses and delve into the local culture. You’ll participate in a Thai cooking course to tantalise your taste buds. Engaging the body in some Yoga between two and three times a week to tantalise the soul during your stay in the tropics.

**Ecodiver Vacation - Tentative Schedule**
WEEK ONE	Arrival Orientation – Soon after arrival we’ll give you a thorough introduction to your two week Ecodiver Vacation including distribution of learning materials and development of an appropriate schedule for you. PADI Open Water Diver Course (4 Days) – This is PADI’s introductory level diver training course that will teach you all you need to know to safely manage yourself whilst diving in the Open Water. Yoga – With our resident yoga teacher we’ll include a session of yoga suited to your level. (2 Sessions)

WEEK TWO	PADI Advanced Open Diver Water (2 Days) – PADI’s Advanced Open Water Course builds on your basic training allowing you to develop greater confidence in, & understanding of the aquatic environment. 4 Fun Dives – These few dives will allow you to spend some time developing your dive skills & confidence before we move onto the more environmentally detailed Project Aware & Reef Check Ecodiver courses. Thai Cooking Class - With our resident local cooking teacher you will take part in a Thai cooking class. You’ll attend a local market to buy the required ingredients (included in the course price) and be actively involved in the cooking of 4 dishes. The best part is getting to eat your own creations. YUMMY! Yoga – With our resident yoga teacher you’ll continue to develop your knowledge & skills with further sessions of yoga suited to your level. (2 Sessions)

WEEK THREE	PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty Course (1 Day) – Once you have learnt the basics Buoyancy becomes the most important skill you need to master. Good buoyancy helps you protect the environment while seeing & exploring more of the aquatic realm. Reef Check Ecodiver Course including Project Aware Specialty Course (4 Days)– The Reef Check Ecodiver course will train your focus on the health of the reef and the aquatic realm in general. The Project Aware specialty course is an ideal juxtaposition for the Reef Check Ecodiver course. The Reef Check course teaches you to collate scientific data using a standardised methodology that will help in monitoring the health of the reef so that trends can be identified. The certification allows you to join volunteer teams monitoring coral reefs around the world. Yoga – With our resident yoga teacher we’ll continue to develop your knowledge & skills with further sessions of yoga suited to your level. (2 Sessions)

WEEK FOUR	4 Fun dives – During these 4 fun dives you will have the opportunity to put some of your eco-training into practice. During your dives you will collect scientific data using Project Aware’s Coral Watch monitoring program and upload that data to Project Aware’s online database. Yoga – With our resident yoga teacher we’ll continue to develop your knowledge & skills with further sessions of yoga suited to your level. (2 Sessions) Conservation projects – Depending on our current projects you will be involved in what is required at the time. This could involve beach or dive site clean ups, Reef Check surveys, biorock development, Coralwatch surveys, artificial reef development. Optional Internship Opportunities for intersted ecodivers following the completion of the program. See our Internships page for more details.

Notes This itinerary is flexible and may be reorganised for logistical reasons. Participants have the option to become more involved in any number of activities depending on individual interests & time constraints Should you need some help we would be pleased to assist with travel arrangements to Koh Tao

Price: US$2290 - Thai Baht 68,900 Book Now!

PRICE INCLUDES:

All teaching materials (Dive course manuals, tables and other equipment as required)
Full Certification for listed courses
All dive equipment (participants will be encouraged to purchase their own equipment and we can assist you with this)
27 nights accommodation (Additional nights charged at 600 baht per night)