Overview

Contribute to conservation while whale and dolphin watching off Spain’s subtropical island archipelago, help raise awareness about ethical tourism AND get career training from Conservation Careers!

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. And 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, humpback whales, blue whales and killer whales.

Understandably, a popular activity for Tenerife tourists is whale and dolphin watching. But unsustainable tourism practices now threaten these species. Part of your job as a volunteer in Tenerife will be to help educate tourists about the importance of choosing an ethical whale and dolphin watching tour.

But 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

• Go whale watching and see wild dolphins in their natural habitat.
• Contribute directly to effective whale and dolphin conservation efforts.
• Work towards the protection of endangered, vulnerable and threatened marine species.
• Enjoy Tenerife island’s many beaches. Go diving, kayaking, hiking or island hopping among the other Canary Islands.
• Live and work with other volunteers from around the world who share your interest in marine conservation and adventure travel.

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!

To see all our Conservation Careers Internship opportunities, please click here.

Location and life on base

Our base in the Canary Islands is located on the island of Tenerife. It’s situated near the three main harbours where visitors board Tenerife’s famous whale and dolphin watching tours.

The base is a basic but comfortable house with ample space to spread out for training, working through project data or just relaxing after a busy day. We cultivate a family atmosphere on base, cooking as well as tidying duties are shared on a rotation basis among staff and participants.

Depending on the weather conditions, participants can look forward to boat trips on the Atlantic Ocean to monitor the whales and dolphins found around Tenerife. On other days, participants might collect data on other marine species or conduct beach surveys, plastic pollution clean-ups or environmental awareness sessions with tourists visiting Tenerife. Participants will often start their 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.

Accommodation

Participants sleep in dorm rooms that can accommodate 4–6 people. Bathrooms with showers and flush toilets are shared. The accommodation is equipped with electricity and running water.

Meals

Staff and participants take it in turns to prepare meals according to a rota. Meals are usually simple but healthy, combining the flavours of Canary Island ingredients. Breakfasts may include cereals, eggs, toast, pancakes and fresh fruit. Depending on the preferences of participants, lunch and dinner options vary, but favourites include curries, pastas, salads and stir-fries. Participants can also buy their own snacks in town.

Transportation

A staff member will be at the airport to welcome you. From there, we’ll provide a transfer to our base location. Transport is also provided for project work unless the project site is within walking distance. On weekends, participants can visit local tourist attractions on foot, by bus or by taxi.

Communication

Wi-Fi is available on base for participants to use and there’s decent phone signal reception. Internet cafes can also be found in town.

Climate

Tenerife has a warm and pleasant climate, which is just one of the reasons why it’s such a popular year-round tourist destination. With an average temperature of 18–24 °C (64–75 °F) during the months of December, January and February and 24–28 °C (75–82 °F) during the months of June, July and August, most days are sunny and precipitation is minimal, except in the mountains.

Your impact

This program has short, mid and long-term objectives that fit with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or UN SDGs. This enables reporting on a collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.

Upon arrival to base, you will be educated about the history of the UN SDGs. You will learn about the specific goals of your location, the long-, mid- and short-term objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these goals on a global level.

The aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to act as active global citizens after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.

Tenerife is a popular tourist destination seeing up to five million international visitors a year. Many come to experience the biodiversity of this island. The region is known for its large population of whales and dolphins. The presence of sea turtles and other marine species make it an appealing location for tourists.

While tourism is the island’s largest source of income, the influx of tourists can lead to boat traffic, overfishing and excess waste on the island. Our partner works with local whale watching tour providers and other local organisations to monitor the impact of tourism on the marine environment to ensure that it’s managed in a sustainable and ethical way. In addition to tourism, the impact of other human activities on marine life is also monitored. The team in Tenerife collects data, inputs the information into databases and submits reports to local authorities to assist them with making decisions concerning marine resource management.

Whale and dolphin surveys

Our team monitors and collects data on whales, dolphins and other marine species spotted in the waters surrounding Tenerife. Movements and behaviours are recorded and photos are taken of sightings for later identification and cataloguing. The location is also mapped. All data collected is inputted into databases that contribute to ongoing research used by the government of the Canary Islands for local decision-making. Data analysed over time show trends which can be used for making further recommendations on tourism practices, fishing regulations, waste management and other factors impacting the marine and coastal environments of the Canary Islands. Our partner produces quarterly and annual reports to communicate research findings and other relevant updates.

Marine plastic pollution and beach cleanups

The team in Tenerife maintains an ongoing commitment to contributing towards waste management initiatives in the Canary Islands. They work with local communities and tourists to minimise plastic and other waste products. This work includes removing marine debris while on coastal surveys, and organising beach clean-ups.

Sustainable tourism and community awareness

Contributing to sustainable tourism by raising environmental awareness is a critical element of the program in the Canary Islands. Since tourism is the largest industry in the Canary Islands, it’s important that local communities and visiting tourists understand the impact of tourism on the environment and how they can contribute to sustainable practices. One of the ways in which this is actioned is for our staff and participants to join tourists on their whale watching tours and speak to them about ethical, sustainable and responsible ecotourism practices. The team also joins local communities on the beach and gets involved in local beach clean-up efforts.

Community engagement and environmental education

Our partner works with local communities to increase community engagement and awareness regarding local environmental initiatives. The team arranges beach clean-ups with the local community and facilitates environmental education workshops and mobile classrooms. Topics covered in these sessions include marine conservation, science and research; marine mammals and marine and coastal plastic waste pollution and management.

The main United Nations Sustainable Development Goal the Canary Islands team contributes towards is #14, Life Below Water.

Long-term project objectives

Exploration

Further travels

Spain

Spain is only about a three-hour flight from the Canary Islands and features warm weather, even more beaches and adventure activities. Enjoy the diversity of the iconic Spanish snacks known as tapas, experience the music and dance of Flamenco and see the artistic expression of Picasso, Dali, Goya and Gaudi on display. For those interested in cultural history, you can visit Spain’s more than 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Outer Island visits

The Canary Islands archipelago is made up of many islands and islets. Besides Tenerife there are also seven other main islands that are well worth the visit. They are: Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Graciosa, El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma. These locations can be much more remote and are less popular with tourists. As such, their natural environments are in a pristine condition rarely found anywhere in the world today This gives you the opportunity to observe marine life and wildlife left relatively undisturbed by human activities.

Cultural immersion

Engaging intimately with a new context teaches not only global awareness but adaptability and critical thinking, skills highly valued in the modern marketplace. Local and cultural immersion is encouraged on all our programs around the world, and is also one of the most enjoyable aspects of your experience. Luckily, there are many activities you can get involved with in your free time, or before and after your program. On our community programs the focus is on cultural topics, while on marine or wildlife programs the emphasis is more on the environmental element. Use your evenings and weekends to explore diverse and eclectic topics like Theravada Buddhism in Laos or how plastic pollution and climate change affects Indian Ocean coral.

Marine life and wildlife

The waters of the Atlantic surrounding the Canary Islands are home to resident species of whales and dolphins such as short-finned pilot whales and bottle-nosed dolphins. They also act as a passage for other migratory whales and dolphins species such as striped dolphins. These volcanic islands boast a series of distinctive

microclimates which has led to the formation of a characteristic biodiversity. There are many endemic species such as the Atlantic Canary bird, the Tenerife Blue Chaffinch bird, the Canary Big-eared bat and the dragon tree.

Crafts and music

The Canary Islands have a strong tradition of creating local crafts, with the different islands often specialising in a particular craftwork. On the islands of Tenerife and La Gomera you can find basketware and pottery made in the Guanche style, as well as Vilaflor lacework. Also on La Gomera and the islands of El Hierro and La Palma you can find woven rugs. On Gran Canaria and Lanzarote islands you’ll find a small ukulele-style instrument known as a timple, that’s a symbol of the musical heritage of the Canary Islands, and can often be heard at traditional parties and dances.

Festivals and celebrations

There are many festivals held throughout the year in the Canary Islands. The most notable is the Santa de Cruz carnival, held on Tenerife in February. A different theme is chosen for this festival each year by a public vote. In January, music lovers can experience The Canary Islands Music Festival and those interested in local traditions and food can visit in November to experience the Festival of San Andrés.

Languages

The majority of Canary Island residents speak their own dialect of Spanish known as Canarian Spanish. However, these days, many people also speak English and it’s the second most commonly spoken language on the islands. Many people also understand German.

Experiences

During your program, you’ll also have the opportunity to experience tailor-made adventure and wellness activities. These have been specially designed to further immerse you in the diversity and richness of the habitats and cultures around you.

Exclusive local experiences:

• Learn to make delicious Canarian dishes
• Tour Old Town Tenerife’s 15th century port
• Learn about the our galaxy
• Bike across an active volcano
• Kayak and snorkel in paradise
• Hike prehistorical micro-climates and laurel forests
• Cable car up an active volcano
• Explore an ancient tropical forest

BONUS! Conservation Career Kick-Starter online training programme (worth £295)

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 clear, get ready, and get hired as a professional conservationist.

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

Reserve your place or ask a question