Gain practical experience in marine and sea turtle conservation on the Greek island of Kefalonia AND get career training from Conservation Careers!

Deepen your understanding of critical marine species, including green and loggerhead sea turtles, as you gain valuable experience for your marine conservation career. This internship runs in partnership with highly regarded organisations such as the National Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA). The skills and knowledge you gain will contribute directly to the future of this critical marine ecosystem.

Head to the picturesque Greek island of Kefalonia on the Ionian Sea, where you’ll contribute to endangered sea turtle and marine conservation. You’ll receive comprehensive training on local species including green and loggerhead sea turtles, as well as research techniques like seabed mapping, drone surveys, turtle capture-mark recapture and data analysis. Our research station on Kefalonia is just a five-minute walk from the beach, affording you easy access to project sites and an ideal place to relax in your downtime.

Internship activities vary throughout the year, as sea turtles are seasonal visitors to these waters. Year-long projects include identifying and mapping seagrass meadows and sea turtle foraging sites, habitat mapping, coastal plant identification and surveys, beach profiling and cleanups, bird surveys, light pollution assessments and sand dune surveys.

Seasonal activities include turtle capture-mark-recapture, megafauna population surveys, harbour surveys and seagrass snorkel surveys. Depending on your personal goals – whether you’re pursuing higher education or a career in marine conservation – you can tailor your internship project to fit.

A highlight of this internship is the opportunity to work with our local project partners, such as Wildlife Sense, a prominent Greek NGO dedicated to sea turtle conservation in the Ionian Sea. Alongside our partner Seagrass Watch, you’ll learn the role of seagrass identification and mapping for habitat protection. Through these partnerships and others you’ll contribute directly to vital research, conservation initiatives and community engagement efforts aligned with UN SDG: 13 Climate Action, 14: Life Below Water and 15: Life on Land.

Highlights

• Understand coastal ecosystems: Develop your knowledge and understanding of coastal ecosystems through habitat monitoring, coastal species identification and biodiversity mapping.
• Greek island activities: Enjoy Greece’s stunning beaches. Snorkel, hike, go birding and experience the island culture of Greece.
• Get hands-on experience: Get broad exposure to a variety of conservation fieldwork projects and training opportunities to grow your skills.
• Contribute to vital research: Support a team of scientists and academics with ongoing, cutting-edge research that gets published and makes an impact.
• Work for real partners: Work on a real project for a conservation partner to address critical environmental issues in the area.
• Stand out from the crowd: Participate in practical training sessions to develop your leadership skills and receive guidance from experienced mentors.
• Advance your career: Gain international experience, receive four recognised qualifications and get a LinkedIn reference to boost your CV.
• Live in remote habitats: Travel off the beaten track to live and work on a research station in the wild. Get exclusive access to protected species and unique ecosystems.

Our Award-winning Partner

Conservation Careers has teamed up with an award-winning, mission-driven organisation with a team of passionate experts across the globe who will make your experience a truly unforgettable one.

Founded in 1998, they run programs in 26 locations, in 22 countries around the world, each aligned to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as well as the objectives of local partners. They welcome participants from all around the world and help facilitate their development into global citizens. This is how they achieve their mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.

Their commitment to running high-quality sustainable development and experiential education programs has earned them recognition from numerous organizations such as Panthera, the Seychelles Parks & Gardens Authority, as well as Stanford, NYU, Duke, and Ohio State.

If you register your interest below, you’ll put you in touch with our partner to take the booking and to plan your trip!

Explore all our Conservation Careers Internship opportunities.

Life On Base

Experience the laid-back vibes of Mediterranean living in Kefalonia, Greece, where our research station is situated. Wake up to breathtaking views from your accommodation at Ammes Beach, which is just a five-minute walk from the beach. With its quaint village charm and proximity to the pristine beaches and clear waters of the Ionian Sea, Ammes offers the perfect backdrop for your island adventure.

Kefalonia’s underwater world is teeming with life, from colourful fish to graceful sea turtles gliding through the waves. Contribute to the preservation of endangered sea turtle species, including loggerheads, by joining in conservation efforts aimed at protecting their natural habitat. Your involvement will play a crucial role in ensuring the survival of these majestic creatures.

Since 2013, we’ve been teaming up with local partner organisations to safeguard the sea turtle population in Kefalonia. From conducting surveys to participating in beach cleanups, our efforts are aimed at preserving the island’s precious marine ecosystems.

Whether you’re soaking up the sun on the beach or diving into marine conservation efforts, there’s a vibe here that’s all about embracing the beauty of Kefalonia’s natural wonders.

Activities

Some of the example typical activities you could participate in on this program include:

• Fieldwork training: Receive comprehensive training on the biology of vital local species, including green and loggerhead turtles and Posidonia oceanica.
• Leadership responsibilities: Apply and develop your leadership skills as you lead conservation surveys and take on additional duties like data analysis and fieldwork checklists.
• Personal project: Work on an individual project that aligns with your interests, such as sea turtle foraging data or coastal pollution.
• Mentorship: Meet weekly with your small group and mentor to discuss projects and leadership, and to receive feedback.
• Turtle marking: Assist staff with identification toolkits for individual turtles, collecting observational data and analysing data.
• Drone surveys: Assist with seagrass mapping and identification; escort drone pilots on shallow area surveys; gain insights on drone use in marine conservation.
• Habitat mapping: Conduct visual assessments of orthophotos from drone surveys to determine the presence of habitats and assess seasonal changes.
• Biodiversity surveys: Evaluate sand dune and vegetation survey data using GIS and quadrant survey techniques.
• Harbour surveys: In season, observe turtles concentrated in harbour and record information regarding foraging and social behaviours.
• Megafauna counting: Review orthophotos from drone surveys to identify and count megafauna and understand habitat preference.
• Snorkel surveys: Take part in snorkelling expeditions to monitor and document Posidonia seagrass meadows.
• Light pollution assessments: Assist with wide-scale night studies of coastal light pollution, using specialised photometers.

Skills

• Biological survey techniques
• Coastal conservation
• Data entry
• Marine conservation
• Species identification
• Leadership
• Project management
• Critical thinking
• Creativity
• Resiliency
• Time management
• Volunteering
• Cultural awareness
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Easily adaptable

Duration, Dates & Costs

Register your interest below to learn about upcoming start dates, durations and costs.

What’s Included

General

• Food
• Safe and basic accommodation (usually shared)
• Airport pick up (unless stated)
• All project equipment
• 24-hour in-country support from local staff
• 24-hour emergency desk
• Experiences

Activities

• Sustainable project work
• Data collection and research
• Leadership responsibilities
• Personal project

Mentorship

• Weekly group sessions
• Internship supervisor guidance

Pre-program training

• Pre-departure webinar
• Pre-departure training (online)
• University of Richmond endorsed specialisation course

Welcome training

• Welcome presentation
• Health & safety
• Local culture & environment
• UN SDGs
• Impact & ethics
• Child protection

Register your interest below to learn about upcoming start dates, durations and costs.

What’s excluded

• Flights
• International and domestic airport taxes
• Medical and travel insurance
• Visa costs
• Police or background check
• Personal items and toiletries
• Additional drinks and gratuities

Reserve your place or ask a question