2 Week Research Program

We are currently offering positions for a select number of participants in 2026 on the following program dates:

22nd February – 8th March (finishing 15th March including safari)
8th March – 22nd March (finishing 29th March including safari)
22nd March – 5th April (finishing 12th April including safari)
5th April – 19th April (finishing 26th April including safari)

In 2026 we’re only running the 2 week program March – April. If you would like to join us at a different time of year, please check out our 5 week Marine Professional Development Program, or our 10 day Whale and Waves Citizen Science Expedition

Program Fee: £1100

Program Plus Safari Fee: £2300

PREREQUISITES

Applicants must be +18 on the time of arrival. We’re busy developing an under 18s program at the moment. Watch this space!

It’s important to know where your money is going. For a full price breakdown please click here.

As a Love The Oceans field assistant, you form an essential part of our team. You will support 6 principal activities:

Fisheries research
Coral reef surveys
Aerial surveys
Sea turtle nesting patrols
Teaching and painting at the local schools
Teaching swimming lessons to the local children

We highly recommend joining us for a week safari since it is not too far away from Jangamo and is another incredible experience.

Our field assistants have Saturday mornings and Sundays to participate in optional extra activities such as surf lessons, sailing trips or just relaxing on the beach. Saturday afternoons will be spent teaching the local school children how to swim.

After you have settled in, your program will start with an intense 3 days of training. We aim to ensure that everyone on the program has the same level of knowledge about LTO, the conservation work we do and your role and responsibilities as an LTO field assistant.

In these 3 days you’ll learn about your next two weeks in Mozambique. It is during the training that we will get to know each other better, refresh diving skills and learn new skills as you come up to speed with the research requirements. We expect you to learn and work together, setting a positive tone for the coming weeks. Towards the end of the training you will be placed into a team and will rotate around the following key activities:

TURTLE NESTING PATROL

Sea turtle nesting season is November to March on our beaches in Mozambique so we may do patrols to ensure there’s no late lays. Mozambique is home to 5 of the 7 species of sea turtles, and all of them are globally threatened. We have a local team of beach patrols who we may join to ensure mothers are safe when laying, and as many babies make it to the ocean as possible when they hatch. If you’re lucky you’ll get to witness a hatching event, its an incredible experience!

PLEASE NOTE: if you join a program after March we won’t be doing this activity.

CORAL REEF SURVEYS

We believe we’re in a biodiversity hotspot and we need coral reef data to prove our area is worth protecting. You will be trained in LTO’s coral reef methodology and once trained, you will conduct LTO surveys on your dives.

LTO collects this data to develop a robust dataset which will provide the evidence base required to effectively lobby for changes to certain fishing legislation and a Marine Protected Area (MPA) to be established. Securing an MPA will create opportunities for eco-tourism, bringing income into the region, and providing a viable alternative to unsustainable fishing.

FISHERIES

Collecting fisheries data allows us to assess how sustainable local fisheries are. From these assessments, eventually we would like to determine minimum landing size for individual species, as well as changing certain fishing legislation.

We cover two fisheries sites; Guinjata Bay and Paindane Bay. A third may be sporadically covered from time to time. Both sites have active local fishermen. The Guinjata research site is next to our base, while the Paindane research site is a 45minute walk. Expect to walk to both sites. Every group will have a mobile phone so help is always at hand.

Every day on fisheries you will be responsible for recording the data into the logs along with the corresponding images (checking shark and ray IDs with a field specialist if you are unsure), cleaning the collected shark/ray vertebrae, and ensuring equipment is clean and stored.

AERIAL SURVEYS

You’ll receive basic training on how to use DJI drones to survey our proposed MPA. You’ll be working with a staff member to cover a grid section, specifically surveying wildlife sightings and behaviour types, following our established drone methodology.

TEACHING AND PAINTING

Educating the next generation of fishermen in schools about sustainable fishing and why the ocean is important helps the local community protect their biodiversity assets – assets because of ecotourism and fisheries.

As part of your expedition, you will assist our Community Outreach Manager Pascoal at Guinjata and Paindane School. You will be teaching 10-13 year olds about the marine environment, as well as basic biology, geography, marine resource management and sea safety. You’ll do this usually for 3-5 days during your time with us – it’s dependent on what the schools request

SWIMMING LESSONS

Few local children are confident in the water. Part of our commitment to the community is teaching 4-18 year old local children swimming on weekends. As part of your program you’ll assist our qualified swim teachers with lessons. We do this to improve water safety skills and reduce drownings, reducing fear and igniting passion for the marine environment in the younger generations. Learning to swim also opens up career options. This swimming initiative feeds into our Ocean Conservation Champion program, which empowers the next generation of ocean stewards.

SAFARI (OPTIONAL)

After 2 weeks in Jangamo, you have the option to go on safari in South Africa and explore the stunning Balule Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger Ecosystem with our amazing ethical partners Campfire Academy. We LOVE it here. All accommodation and overland transport to the safari lodge and onto Johannesburg airport is included, but the drinks are on you!

This is one of the best spots for spotting the Big 5 our team have ever come across, with one of the most ethical operators in Southern Africa. You will be taken on game drives, bush walks, and participate in ecology, conservation management and sustainable tourism lectures and walks – all with a very experienced field guide. You’ll learn how to track animals and pick up trails. You’ll have a sleep-out under the stars in the bush. You’ll learn what it’s like to be a ranger from experienced professionals.

There will be a scenic tour through the Drakensburg Mountains to see the iconic God’s Window, the Three Sisters and the spectacular Bourke’s Luck Potholes. When it’s time to say good-bye, you will be transported to Johannesburg Airport to arrive Sunday evening.

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

There are a variety of adventures available around the local area which have proved great fun in the past. You will have the opportunity to participate in at least one of the below adventure trips depending on the time of year, weather and availability. You can pay for these while you’re in Mozambique, no need to pre-book:

Fish Tagging Trip – learn how to tag fish and help contribute to an international database
Surf Trip – Day trip to Tofo (a surf hub) for a fun surf lesson, shop around the local market and the chance to enjoy some delicious cakes
Seahorse snorkel trip – snorkel Inhambane estuary hunting for seahorses
City Walking Tour – discover more of the history of the City of Inhambane in a 3 hour walking tour
SUP Rio Mutamba trip – SUP down the Rio Mutamba river to spot monkeys, eagles, flamingos and much more!
PADI dive qualifications – we’re partnered with a PADI 5 * Centre and you can increase you dive qualifications over the weekend
Birding trip – explore the forests of Mozambique for game and spectacular birds!

We stay on the stunning beach of Jangamo Bay on the side of the Indian Ocean. Our accommodation is rustic and rooms will hold a maximum of 4 people (genders will be separated). Running water, hot water and electricity is available at all times… with the exception of a few power cuts! Mosquito nets are provided.

Your program is fully catered, however you may want to bring money for internet, drinks and treats. Bring an network unlocked mobile phone with you in order to buy a local sim for internet as there is no wifi available. The local shop is a short walk away and holds a few western treasures.

For more information, enquire below, email info@lovetheoceans.org or check out our FAQs page.

After I’ve been on a program, what other opportunities are there for me with Love The Oceans?

After you join us on one of our programs, there are plenty of on-going opportunities to stay involved in the organisation and utilise our connections to get a leg up in your career.

You’ll have the opportunity to apply for our Internship which involves coming out to Mozambique with your in-country expenses covered. Our internship is only open to past volunteers and you can do this while still at university or when you’ve graduated. It is highly competitive.

Once you have graduated you can apply for a seasonal staff role with us. We look kindly on applications from past program participants because we have got to know you as a field assistant in Mozambique and you’ll know how things run. You will start off in a seasonal role and this could move into something more long-term in Mozambique or the UK.

On completion of the program, you’ll be added to our exclusive alumni job network. This means you’ll have access to our connections, events, and other internships and jobs we know other NGOs are offering. You’ll be able to utilise our extensive network within the industry. If you’ve volunteered with us in the past and we think you’d fit a role, we’ll happily put you forward.

During your time on program you will also receive a performance review. This will form the basis for your job reference, which we will be happy to provide a future employer with on request, if you wish.