5 Week Marine Professional Development Program

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

2026
19th April – 24th May (Ending 31st May inc. safari)
24th May – 28th June (Ending 5th July inc. safari)
28th June – 2nd August (Ending 9th August inc. safari)
9th August – 13th September (Ending 20th September inc. safari)
13th September – 18th October (Ending 25th October inc. safari)

Program Fee: £2150
Program Plus Safari Fee: £3350

PREREQUISITES

Applicants must be studying or have studied a relevant degree area. Please enquire at info@lovetheoceans.org if you’re unsure if your degree is relevant to marine conservation. Not qualified? Don’t worry, you can apply for our 10 day citizen science expedition or our 2 week program.

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

Applicants must be at least PADI Open Water qualified. If you are not Open Water qualified, it is possible to come and do your Open Water the week before your program starts at an extra cost. Please email info@lovetheoceans.org for details.

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

As a Love The Oceans Research Assistant you form an essential part of our team. During your program, you will be support the following activities:

Megafauna surveys
Fisheries research
Aerial surveys
Coral reef surveys
Ocean Trash Research
Teaching and painting at the local schools
Swimming Lessons

In your first week with us, after you have settled in, your program will start with training. Although everyone is studying or has studied a related subject to university level or equivalent, different universities cover different modules so we need to make sure everyone is familiar with our research areas, is aware of the expectations of the Research Assistant Role, and is confident in our scientific methodologies to ensure robust data collection to enable us to publish peer-reviewed papers with the data.

LTO’s holistic conservation approach is very complex, involving traditional marine science data collection, utilising local ecological knowledge and addressing socio-economic based route-causes. At Love The Oceans we aim to provide you with the knowledge and skills understand the need for this approach, and to allow you to go on to develop your own projects and continue in conservation science. You will participate in a series of educational lectures led by our qualified marine biologists during your first week with us, based around our specific areas of research and community outreach. Want to use our data for your dissertation? No problem. Find out how here.

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

Toward the end of training week you will be placed into a team and will rotate around the following key activities:

CORAL REEF SURVEYS

Like many places in the world, our reefs are under threat from climate change, overfishing and pollution. Tracking the health of our reef is important – coral reefs form the nursery grounds for many commercially important fish species so the loss of them would heavily impact food security.

Unfortunately this data has already shown a decline in fish biomass and diversity, and an increase in algae cover. This has informed our conservation action like our Sustainable Fishing Project and our Biodiversity Enhancement and Algae Management Project (both of which you can read about on our website).

For this reason, it’s important now more than ever to continue monitoring these reefs and adjust conservation strategies based on the scientific findings. We recently contributed a subset of this data to CORDIO’s East Africa chapter for the Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2025 Report with the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. You will be trained in LTO’s coral reef methodology and once trained, you will conduct reef surveys while scuba diving.

LTO has 3 other coral projects we are currently working on. Whilst not included in this program, there may be an opportunity to assist on these projects as well.

MEGAFAUNA SURVEYS

Humpback whales migrate through our waters from June – November. LTO is collecting data on these magnificent creatures, looking at surface behaviour, pod formation and bioacoustics, never before studied in our area.

After training, during humpback season you will ride the boat with a camera, binoculars, a hydrophone and survey sheets in order to record humpback whale bioacoustics, sightings and IDs. Our whale sharks, dolphins and rays are residential so no matter what time of year, you will boat ride and collect ID and frequency data on these species too, and bioacoustics on dolphins.

OCEAN TRASH

Unfortunately plastic pollution is a problem the world over. We’re on the edge of the Indian Ocean Garbage Patch which spans approximately 5 million kilometres squared. One of the most efficient and easiest way to remove trash from the ocean is through beach cleans.

We’ve committed to doing at least 2 beach cleans a week and weighing and logging what we collect to work out if it is international or local trash and what we can do to reduce this pollution. LTO has collected 1000s of kg of trash off the beach and developed our own phone app to help log the data.

After we have collected the trash off the beaches, we wash & dry it, and then we process the trash, up-cycling it into new items using our upcycling trash machine. You will get to use and see this trash machine yourself while you’re with us.

AERIAL SURVEYS

Drones are an important tool in conservation and the accessibility of them has been transformational for marine science. We use them to survey our ocean and map megafauna presence. You’ll receive basic training DJI Mavic 2 drones in our proposed MPA area. 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

Improving community ocean literacy levels is a critical part of our strategy. Our community illiteracy rates are 50% and lack of marine ecosystem knowledge is a huge limitation for effective ocean governance. LTO runs Ocean Literacy classes for adults and children. Research Assistants assist Pascoal, our Community Outreach Manager, in delivering a community-approved ocean literacy syllabus in the free periods at two local schools. Improving ocean literacy at a young age increases community ocean stewardship and protection. You’ll assist in this for approximately 3-5 days (at the schools discretion) during your time with us.

The Government does not have enough money to provide the standard of learning facilities children need in our area. LTO fundraises for money to improve the school facilities in consultation with the local community. Our community is at the heart of our work. We employ a local building team to complete the desired construction work which puts money back into the local economy and provides employment. Our Research Assistants then add to this by painting educational murals on the walls which the school teachers approve and request. This is guided by our team.

FISHERIES

Our fisheries data is arguably one of our most powerful datasets. It allows us to assess how sustainable local fisheries are, which methods are most and least sustainable, and therefore which gear types should and shouldn’t be allowed in the Marine Protected Area. This data has already informed our Sustainable Fishing Project and we’re currently working with the Community Fishing Council and local fishermen to move the community towards more sustainable fishing methods.

We cover two key fisheries sites, with a third sporadically covered. Both sites have active local fisheries landing everything from small reef teleost fish to critically endangered elasmobranchs. One fisheries site is close to our base (20min walk) whilst the other is an hour walk. Expect to walk to both sites. Mobile signal is available at both sites so contact with base should be regular and help is always at hand if required.

Every fisheries research day, Research Assistants will be responsible for IDing catches (checking these with staff), methods and sizes, logging the data and collecting and processing tissue and vertebrae samples after training from staff.

N.B: Sometimes the fisheries research work can be upsetting and as much as we might want to, we cannot get involved in releasing animals. Please remember that we are there to photograph and record data in order to achieve a long-term solution.

SWIMMING LESSONS

There’s been 13 drownings in our area over the last 2 years and around 95% of our community cannot swim. These drownings have led to a fear of the ocean, and people do not want to protect what they are scared of. Lack of swimming skills is also a huge barrier for inclusive ocean governance – if you cannot swim, you cannot snorkel or dive to collect data, and data collection is critical to monitor and evaluate the ecological success of a Marine Protected Area.

LTO runs weekly free swimming lessons with adults and children (4-18yr olds). Research Assistants help with this on weekends. You’ll be allocated a qualified instructor to assist for the afternoon.

These swim programs are linked closely with our Ocean Conservation Champion program, which empowers the next generation of ocean stewards, and our gender equity initiative.

OTHER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Since you’ll be joining an active research base, as well as the research projects in this booklet, we may have other research areas you may be able to get involved in and experience. LTO’s projects run year-round, regardless of if we have students joining us on site. These extra projects are not included in this booklet as they are completely funding dependent and grants are very unpredictable. However, in the past, the Baited Remote Underwater Video study has proved a popular and useful study for some of our Research Assistants to get involved with. You will learn about any extra projects and opportunities available to you when you arrive on site.

SAFARI (OPTIONAL)

After 5 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. You will have the opportunity to participate in at least two 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!

As a Love The Oceans Research Assistant you form a valuable part of our team and you build a broad, job-ready skill set. Our accommodation is simple, shared (max two per room), and close to the beach in Jangamo Bay. Bedding and mosquito nets are provided and there is power and hot water but there can be occasional outages – this is a remote field station. Bring a charging bank for your phone. You’ll be fully catered, so you only need money for snacks, treats, and mobile data. You’ll have a lot of fun while expanding your conservation knowledge and skills, contributing to real datasets on an active research base, and supporting local education projects.

For more information, enquire below or email info@lovetheoceans.org to get a full detailed booklet about this program and what to expect.

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.

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 Research 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 your program you’ll also be added to our Alumni Job Network. That means you’ll have access to our connections, events, and other internships 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.