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Sea Turtle Conservation in Bali

Sea Turtle Conservation in Bali

Keen to do Sea Turtle Conservation volunteering in Bali - Nusa Penida? International Volunteer HQ’s Sea Turtle Conservation project is on the small but breathtaking island of Nusa Penida off the southeastern coast of Bali. Volunteers will gain experience in turtle care and marine conservation while helping to increase the population of these incredible creatures in Indonesia.

Highlights:
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Affordable fees from AU$1231 for 2 weeks
  • Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Help ensure the survival of endangered sea turtles

  • Discover the enchanting Nusa Penida island paradise renowned for its pristine beaches and vibrant marine life.

  • Stay in a basic but comfortable volunteer house on a tiny island

Key information

Protect & preserve precious marine life
Based on the island of Nusa Penida
Dormitory-style volunteer accommodation
Volunteers aged 16+ and families
Fully hosted experience from AU$1231 for 2 weeks
Durations from 2 - 12 weeks
Explore the island of Nusa Penida
Up to 5 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Volunteers who have an interest in wildlife, conservation efforts and like being outdoors. You will also need to be comfortable with the basic standard of food and accommodation arrangements on the island.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

In Indonesia, the endangered Hawksbill and Green Sea turtles face a number of threats to their survival, including overfishing, pollution and human consumption of their eggs. Young turtles are especially vulnerable and for every sea turtle that hatches, only one in 100 will survive to adulthood. Often they die after eating plastic bags they’ve mistaken for jellyfish or when they get a flipper stuck in a six-pack ring.

This means that efforts to help the turtles include protecting their eggs, nurturing young turtles, rescuing injured turtles and cleaning trash from the ocean. These all contribute to the goal of increasing the turtle population and ensuring that these fascinating creatures are around for many years to come.

IVHQ’s Sea Turtle project on Nusa Penida collects turtle eggs from fishermen and keeps them safe until they hatch and grow big enough to have a good chance of survival back in the sea. Locals also find injured turtles which are treated and rehabilitated by volunteers on this project. Volunteers are key to the project’s ongoing success and its impact on marine life.

As a Sea Turtle Conservation volunteer in Nusa Penida your duties will include:

  • Feeding and cleaning turtles
  • Teaching turtles to catch fish
  • Cleaning tanks and equipment
  • Beach clean-ups
  • Helping improve waste management

The aim is to fight the ever-declining sea turtle population in the area. Volunteers typically work around 4 - 5 hours per day. Approximately two hours are dedicated to feeding and cleaning the turtles, cleaning the tanks, and training turtles to catch live fish. The remaining 2 hours are spent on beach clean-ups, seaweed collection, and catching crabs for the turtles. Work typically begins at 9:00 am for 2 hours, after which volunteers return to the accommodation for lunch and some downtime. Volunteers then contribute another 2 hours of work, starting around 2:00 pm onwards. The order of your workday may vary depending on the number of volunteers on the project.

Important dates to note for 2024:

  • The 11th of March is Silent day (Nyepi day) and you will have to stay at the volunteer center as everything will stop including orientation, volunteering, the airport, restaurants, shops, etc will all be closed.
Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water

The ocean regulates and drives global systems that make the Earth habitable for humankind. Marine biodiversity is critical to the health of people and our planet. Preserving threatened ecosystems, as well as tackling marine pollution and overfishing through conservation activities is key to saving our ocean.

Why do Sea Turtle Conservation volunteering in Nusa Penida with IVHQ?

When you’re volunteering with turtles, you’ll be assisting local groups to protect the extraordinary natural environment while getting hands-on conservation experience and achieving personal growth by:

  • Helping increase the population of endangered marine wildlife
  • Living on one of Bali’s small but beautiful islands
  • Gaining experience in turtle care and conservation
  • Learning about waste management
  • Discovering spectacular Nusa Penida

Volunteer requirements

  • It is important to note, if a volunteer will be in Bali for less than 30 days and has chosen to join one of the add ons available such as the Introduction week, Adventure week or theYoga and Meditation Week, the volunteer will be able to join with a visa on arrival.
  • Alternatively, all volunteers joining the Bali program must obtain the Social Cultural Visa (C6B). This type of visa is required to join the program, no matter your nationality or duration in Bali. The visa can typically take up to 15 working days to process and once registered you will be provided with instructions on how to apply for this visa.
  • To respect the local culture and customs in Bali, volunteers should be aware that they’re unable to have anything obstructing their face while at their volunteer placement.
  • Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
  • Volunteers aged 16-18 are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
  • All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
  • All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

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What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

RC
Ryan Corp
07 Mar 2024

I gained friendships with lovely people from around the world. Assisting the turtles was such a humbling and rewarding experience. I have already recommended this program to some friends of mine. If you are hesitant about this program that’s ok, but don’t let that stop you. Step out of your comfort zone and reap the rewards and memories that will last a lifetime.

...
JS
Jillian Schmuckler
07 Mar 2024

I learned so much about how turtles are needed for the ecosystem. I also feel cleaning the beaches and helping the turtles thrive was a great experience. Volunteering with others from around the world gave me a multicultural perspective on things.

...
LC
Laura Carter
01 Mar 2024

Just loved this, I learned about myself, the turtles and those around me and gained a whole new perspective on life. Releasing the turtles was emotional but so wholesome.

...
IP
Isabella Platt
29 Feb 2024

I have learnt a lot about the Balinese culture, style of living and about the life of a turtle and statistics. I grew so much as a person in independence and confidence!

...
VW
Victoria Werngreen
08 Feb 2024

I got to make a difference by helping/cleaning sea turtles, nature and the ocean. I got to meet cool people from different countries and made great memories. Advice: just do it - you get to make a difference while enjoying a beautiful place surrounded by sweet and kind people and having fun!

...
HL
Hsin Jung Lee
01 Feb 2024

It's rare to have contact with such turtles. If you like animals, this will be a great program.

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

Learn about course credit
Volunteer Abroad in Nusa Penida, Bali with IVHQ

Location

The Turtle Conservation volunteer project is located on the small island of Nusa Penida, which is a 45-minute boat trip from Sanur on the southeastern coast of Bali. A nature-lover’s paradise, Nusa Penida is not only a haven for turtles, but is also a recognised bird sanctuary and home to several species of endangered birds which have been released there and are thriving.

Nusa Penida is not a tourist island and there are fewer shops and attractions available, but the beach is practically at your doorstep and the hilly island and its surrounds are bursting with natural beauty.

Arrival and orientation

The Bali volunteer program orientation begins every Monday and volunteers need to arrive in Bali on the Sunday before orientation.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Denpasar International Airport (DPS) before 1pm to catch the boat to Nusa Penida. If you arrive after 1pm on the Sunday you can still get a pick up and will spend your first night at the Ubud volunteer accommodation. Your airport pick-up is included in your program fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation. Your accommodation is covered by your program fee and includes the night before your program orientation. If you are in Bali prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Ubud or Denpasar on the Sunday morning before your program orientation.

There are two options for orientation for the Bali program:

1-day Orientation:

This covers everything you need to know for your volunteer project and stay in Bali. You will have an introduction to the IVHQ Bali program, your project and the local staff, Indonesian customs, rules, expectations, and safety.

5-day Introduction Week:

This not only teaches you everything you need to know for your volunteer project, but also gives you the opportunity to learn more about the culture and tick off some must-do Bali experiences including a language lesson, cooking class, village walk and visits to the Garba Cave and the Holy Water Temple. This week has an additional cost of AU$574. As your transfer from Ubud to Nusa Penida after your introduction week will be required, there will also be a transfer fee of AU$80. Join the Introduction Week by making a note in your application or contacting your IVHQ Program Manager after you register.

Volunteer schedule example

First Day:

On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.

Weekdays:

A typical volunteer day is as follows:

8:00 AM Breakfast at the volunteer house
9:00 AM Volunteers spend 2-3 hours at the turtle sanctuary, feeding and cleaning the turtles and their tanks, as well as training them to catch live fish.
12:00 PM Lunch and downtime
2:00 PM Volunteers return to the beach to assist with beach clean ups, seaweed collecting, catching crabs and other turtle conservation work.
4:00 PM Work at the project usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to their accommodation or do some sightseeing.
5:00 - 6:30 PM Dinner at the volunteer house.

Weekends:

In Nusa Penida you can use your free time to relax on the beach and go snorkeling at the palm-tree dotted Crystal Bay, visit one of the many tiny islands nearby or take advantage of the excellent diving spots where you can see coral reefs and lots of fish and marine life.

There are also daily boats back to the mainland, so the rest of Bali can be at your feet in less than an hour. Bali is packed with museums, temples, stunning natural features, outdoor adventures, art galleries, markets, small farms and rice paddies so you won’t be short of things to do on the weekends.

Accommodation and WiFi

You’ll be staying in a volunteer house in Nusa Penida. Volunteers can expect to share a dormitory style room with one to five other volunteers of the same gender. Each bedroom has a bathroom with showers and western toilets. Bedding is provided.

Living conditions are basic but comfortable with hot water, electricity, filtered drinking water and air conditioning provided. Lockers are available in the office but you’ll need to bring your own padlock. There’s also limited room for your stuff, so try to pack light.

You can walk to the project in 5 minutes, as well as the beach, minimart, ATM and Nusa Penida harbour within 10 minutes.

There is WiFi available at the volunteer accommodation, however the connection is unreliable so it’s a good idea to buy a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone during your program orientation.

Meals

Volunteers are served mainly Balinese style dishes and should expect light vegetarian meals like:

  • Rice, fresh vegetables and occasionally tempeh/tofu
  • Nasi goreng (fried rice and vegetables - often considered as the national dish)
  • Mie goreng (fried noodles and vegetables)
  • Gado gado (mixed vegetables with a satay sauce)

Western meals may be served during the week. Breakfast can include fresh fruit, toast, and eggs. Tea, coffee, and toast will be available throughout the day. Purified drinking water is also available in the volunteer house; we do not recommend that you drink the tap water.

On weekdays you’ll get three meals a day, but during the weekend only breakfast and dinner are provided. If volunteers wish to eat out in Ubud, there are a large number of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets.

If you have special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply so that we can make arrangements for you. However, you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home and need to be as flexible as possible. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of.

Pricing

  • USD
Duration
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
  • USD
2 weeks AU$1229 Equivalent to AU$88/day
3 weeks AU$1785 Equivalent to AU$85/day
4 weeks AU$2333 Equivalent to AU$83/day
5 weeks AU$2808 Equivalent to AU$80/day
6 weeks AU$3292 Equivalent to AU$78/day
8 weeks AU$4132 Equivalent to AU$74/day
10 weeks AU$4980 Equivalent to AU$71/day
12 weeks AU$5819 Equivalent to AU$69/day
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately AU$528) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in AUD.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
  • Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check and return to the airport when your program finishes.
  • Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Bali - Ubud generally find US$80-100 per week to be sufficient for expenses.

Free-time experiences & tours in Bali

Take your volunteer experience to the next level with IVHQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Bali! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Bali program.

Bali Adventure Week
Bali Adventure Week

We highly recommend the Bali Adventure program on your Bali trip! The Bali Adventure week is the perfect way to experience the adventurous side of this beautiful little island. Go on a cycle tour, visit an active volcano, tread into spice plantations and rice fields, hike into the mountains and take part in Turtle conservation. The program will unleash the adventure in you.

AU$720
Bali Lovina Yoga and Meditation
Bali Lovina Yoga and Meditation

Bali is identified by many travelers around the world as a unique place for reflection and contemplation. Balinese Yoga is about feeling and appreciating the spiritual nature. A good combination of Balinese Meditation and Yoga will make your body and mind feel more relaxed.

AU$672
Bali Yoga and Meditation Week
Bali Yoga and Meditation Week

Many people travel the world to experience Bali as they believe it is a unique place for reflection and contemplation. In fact, they take this a step further and say Ubud is a sanctuary within Bali, an idyllic environment in which you can experience true tranquility. Thus, this program shall help you to get rid of stress, anxiety and physical ailments by engaging in Yoga and Meditation.

AU$672
Ubud Introduction Week
Ubud Introduction Week

Learn more about the Balinese culture and tick off some must-do Bali experiences.

AU$574
Bali Adventure Week
Bali Adventure Week

We highly recommend the Bali Adventure program on your Bali trip! The Bali Adventure week is the perfect way to experience the adventurous side of this beautiful little island. Go on a cycle tour, visit an active volcano, tread into spice plantations and rice fields, hike into the mountains and take part in Turtle conservation. The program will unleash the adventure in you.

AU$720
Bali Yoga and Meditation Week
Bali Yoga and Meditation Week

Many people travel the world to experience Bali as they believe it is a unique place for reflection and contemplation. In fact, they take this a step further and say Ubud is a sanctuary within Bali, an idyllic environment in which you can experience true tranquility. Thus, this program shall help you to get rid of stress, anxiety and physical ailments by engaging in Yoga and Meditation.

AU$672
Bali Lovina Yoga and Meditation
Bali Lovina Yoga and Meditation

Bali is identified by many travelers around the world as a unique place for reflection and contemplation. Balinese Yoga is about feeling and appreciating the spiritual nature. A good combination of Balinese Meditation and Yoga will make your body and mind feel more relaxed.

AU$672
Lovina Introduction Week
Lovina Introduction Week

Learn more about the Balinese culture and tick off some must-do Bali experiences.

AU$574

Check what's required to visit Bali

Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Denpasar
Population 4.22 million
Languages Bahasa Indonesia
Currency Indonesia Rupiah (IDR)
Time zone UTC+08:00

Weather and climate

Bali has a tropical climate with year-round warm weather and an average temperature of 30°C (86°F). High humidity can be expected during the wet season from October to April. The dry season is between the months of May and September and has the lowest humidity.

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How to get started

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