Overview

Contribute to whale and dolphin conservation while exploring the beautiful Spanish Canaries
AND get career training from Conservation Careers!

Travel to Spain’s sun-drenched, subtropical island archipelago, off the coast of Morocco. Based on the island of Tenerife, you’ll go whale and dolphin watching with volunteers from around the world, taking photographs of the animals and recording other information.

Want to go whale and dolphin watching in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Want to volunteer with whales and dolphins? Want to make sure it’s done ethically? Our whale and dolphin conservation program, based on the warm-weathered island of Tenerife, might be the program for you.

Tenerife is only about three to five hours from most major European locations. It’s also one of the top locations for whale and dolphin watching. Between 20 and 28 species can be spotted here. Pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins can be seen on most days, all year round. If you’re lucky, you could also catch sight of other species, such as Atlantic spotted dolphins, common dolphins, Bryde’s whales and killer whales.

Understandably, a popular activity for Tenerife tourists is whale and dolphin watching. But unsustainable tourism practices now threaten these species. These species are threatened by more than unsustainable tourism practices. As a result, many species of whales and dolphins are listed as endangered, vulnerable or near threatened. But, several are also classified as data deficient, meaning that information about their populations is lacking.

You’ll help to change this. Part of your role will be to spend time on a boat with other international volunteers and observe whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. You’ll take photographs and record their numbers and behaviours. You’ll also spend time on local beaches, where you’ll help to clean them and record environmental factors that might affect the health of marine life.

The information you collect will be used by local organisations to make decisions about setting and enforcing environmental policies. It will also be used by local and international organisations to learn about the long-term effects of threats to whale and dolphin conservation and other marine species.

Please note that this is not a diving program, although you can go for a recreational dive during your free time.

Highlights

  • Contribute to cetacean conservation. Contribute directly to effective whale and dolphin conservation efforts.
  • Explore island activities. Enjoy Tenerife’s many beaches. Go diving, kayaking, hiking or island hopping among the other Canary Islands.
  • Be part of the real deal. Contribute to ongoing environmental projects that address critical challenges aligned to the global UN SDGs.
  • Join ethical initiatives. Work with local conservation partners and qualified professionals to ensure your efforts are highly ethical, meaningful and sustainable.
  • Experience unreal adventures. Venture outside typical travel itineraries to get exclusive access to extraordinary remote habitats, rare species and unique ecosystems.
  • Make friends for life. Share epic experiences with like-minded changemakers from all over the world who are also passionate about protecting the planet.
  • Enjoy a hassle-free, safe trip. With expert local staff and 24/7 support every step of the way, you can relax and enjoy a stress-free travel experience.
  • Take a break. Disconnect from the digital world. Relax and take a break, reconnect with nature, rediscover yourself, and align with your true purpose.

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 21 locations, in 13 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.

Location and life on base

Our research station in the Canary Islands is located on the island of Tenerife. With amazing views and waters teeming with megafauna, there are loads of hikes, as well as dormant and active volcanoes. The island itself is home to a variety of microclimates, such as cloud forests and deserts.

Within easy travelling distance from the port of Puerto Colon, our research station overlooks the ocean, and has loads of nearby amenities and facilities, as well as many restaurants. From the harbour visitors can board one of Tenerife’s famous whale and dolphin watching tours. We’re situated near the town of Costa Adeje, an area popular with tourists. There is also a large shopping mall called Siam Mall about 50 minutes away.

The base is basic but comfortable, with ample space for training, working through project data, or just relaxing after a busy day. We cultivate a family atmosphere on base. Cooking and tidying duties are shared on a rotation basis amongst staff and participants.

Depending on the weather conditions, you can look forward to boat trips on the Atlantic Ocean where we monitor the whales and dolphins living around Tenerife. On other days, you might collect data on other marine species or conduct beach surveys, plastic pollution cleanups, or environmental awareness sessions with tourists visiting Tenerife. You’ll often start your mornings early with training, carrying out surveys, or capturing collected data from marine research. Evenings are spent enjoying a meal and being debriefed on the activities of the day. Afterwards, there’s time to sit back and relax while chatting with your fellow participants. During free time on base, participants play card games or chess, read, relax, or watch documentaries.

Activities

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

  • Monitor dolphins/pilot whales. Conduct data collection on an inflatable motorboat, participating in fin identification and documenting behaviour, species and individual counts.
  • Land surveys. Take part in land surveys to monitor boat activity, evaluating its impact on dolphin migration and movement patterns.
  • Beach cleans. Assist with beach cleans and help collect garbage and plastic on Tenerife’s shoreline and record this data which is added to a citizen science database.
  • Citizen science. Input data into databases and citizen science sites to gather info for later analysis and reporting.
  • Sustainable tourism practices. Explore the principles of sustainable and ethical tourism. Gain valuable knowledge about responsible travel practices.
  • Environmental education. Learn about marine and environmental topics through participant-focused environmental education.

Skills

  • Data collection
  • Data entry
  • Marine conservation
  • Population ecology
  • Species identification
  • Survey research
  • Volunteering
  • Cultural awareness
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Easily adaptable

BONUS! Conservation Career Kick-Starter online training programme (worth $495 / £375 / €450)

Do you want to spend your career helping wildlife to flourish, but are feeling a little lost, confused or disillusioned?

Start your career in wildlife conservation with a unique programme of training, support community & jobs from Conservation Careers!

The Conservation Career Kick-Starter is a proven step-by-step system to get you hired quicker as a professional conservationist.

The Kick-Starter is trusted by over 2,500 people, and 40 universities, with 99% ratings. Whether you’re at university and planning your next steps, a graduate in the job hunt or working in an unrelated job but interested to switch into conservation, this course is designed to help you.

After going through the course, you’ll have created a personal career plan which will give you confidence in your job hunt and will make everything quicker, simpler and more fun!

All you need to do is register your interest in the project below, and if you choose to make a booking we’ll save a place for you on the Kick-Starter when you get back from your placement.

Included with the Kick-Starter is a year’s full-access to the world’s biggest conservation job board with over 15,000 jobs, plus access to our private online support community, CC Pro.

Duration, dates and cost

Register your interest below to learn about upcoming start dates, duration 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

What’s included (continued)

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

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