35 hrs of fieldwork per week
1:6 staff to participant ratio
Includes GVI Experiences
Join a marine biology research project with a focus on marine mammals when you travel to Spain’s Canary Islands. Based on the island of Tenerife, you’ll work alongside marine biologists, conservationists, scientists and volunteers from around the world. Your role involves contributing to the collection and analysis of data on whales and dolphins, making an impact on marine conservation efforts.
Want to know what being a marine biologist is really like? Looking to trial a job in marine science before pursuing a qualification in this field? Do you have a particular interest in whales and dolphins? Then our marine biology research and conservation program, based in the Spanish Canary Islands, might just be for you.
Our research station is based in Tenerife, a beautiful island situated near Morocco. It’s a short three-to-five hour flight from many European destinations. The island’s balmy waters are an excellent location for marine biology research, specifically studying whales and dolphins. This is because its waters are warm all year round, are up to 2,000 metres deep and are sheltered from harsh, open-ocean conditions. These same factors make it the perfect location for other marine species such as sea turtles and blue rays.
Many of these species are endangered, vulnerable or threatened. But several of these species, specifically dolphins and whales, are classified as data deficient. This means that we don’t have enough information about their populations. We also don’t yet fully understand how environmental threats such as plastic pollution and climate change affect these marine creatures.
This is how volunteers like you can assist professional marine biologists and conservationists. You’ll participate in citizen science projects, contributing to data collection. This hands-on experience introduces you to marine science and helps you gain valuable technical skills.
On this program, you’ll travel the waters around Tenerife with other volunteers, keeping an eye out for whale and dolphin activity. You’ll collect data on their numbers, health and behaviour. You’ll also take photos to assist with identifying specific individuals, and conduct surveys on boat activity and marine litter as part of our research initiatives.
Then, you’ll learn how to input the data you’ve gathered into a database and find out how the data is analysed. Learn how this data is used by local and international marine conservation organisations to make decisions about establishing, adapting and implementing environmental policies. During this program, participants also take part in other marine conservation activities such as beach cleans.
Please note that this is not a diving program, although you can go for a recreational dive during your free time.
Some of the example typical activities you could participate in on this program.
Some of the partners we work with 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.
Wi-Fi is available on base for participants to use and there’s also decent phone signal reception. Internet cafés can also be found in town.
We want you to make the most of the chance to live in – and contribute towards – the most diverse and unique wildernesses and communities on earth. Introducing GVI Experiences – immersive adventure, cultural and wellness activities exclusive to GVI that have been specially designed in collaboration with our local partners to support and stimulate sustainable economic development.
Enhance your impact. Expand your adventure. Explore your world.
By joining a GVI program, you not only contribute to preserving unique ecosystems but also get the chance to explore the surrounding area or venture further to see what else the region has to offer on weekends.
Our field staff are a great source of advice on local travel options. Many participants choose to travel before or after their experience, solidifying friendships made on the program.
Engaging with a new context teaches global awareness, adaptability and critical thinking – skills highly valued in today’s world. Cultural immersion is encouraged, and there are many activities to enjoy during your free time or before and after your program. Please note, these suggestions aren’t included in the program fee and are at your own expense.
Wander the streets of this historical town which is home to the most colourful and well-preserved buildings on the island of Tenerife.
Recognised as a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2015, this reserve contains the largest number of endemic species in Europe. It’s also a great place to enjoy scenic views.
With sands ranging from golden yellow to volcanic black, visit Tenerife island’s many beaches.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts the highest mountain in Spain, the Pico del Teide volcano. Take a cable car up the mountain during the day or go stargazing at night.
If you’d like to find out what the experience of joining a GVI project is really like, simply contact us and we’ll put you in touch with one of our many Alumni.
We’ll try to match you to an Alum based on your location, nationality, age, stage of academic career, gender, and program interests. This allows you to gain insights into the experience that is most relevant to you.
Depending on your location you might be able to speak to an Alum over the phone or online, or meet up with them face-to-face at a coffee shop nearby. We also run a series of small events around the world where you can speak to GVI Alumni, Ambassadors and staff members.
Tenerife Program Manager
This is Ale, our wonderful Program Manager at the GVI base in Tenerife, Canary Islands. She is passionate about conservation and marine life, spe ...
When it comes to support, we ensure that each participant is provided with unparalleled, 360 degree support, from your initial contact with the GVI Family, all the way through your program, and even after, as you become part of the GVI Alumni Team.
As part of this promise, we will ensure, whenever possible, that one of our dedicated staff will be available to meet you at the airport. In most locations, we also set up a Whatsapp group to help with managing airport arrivals.
We will arrange with you prior to your departure that, should you arrive in the agreed upon pick up window, a member of our staff will be there to welcome you, easily identifiable in a GVI t-shirt or holding a GVI sign and wearing a friendly smile.
This means there will be someone there to greet you as you land, and from there you will be transported to your GVI base to start your adventure and meet the rest of your team.
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All of our programs have short-, mid- and long-term objectives that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This enables us to report on our 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.
Prior to your arrival on base, you will be educated about the UN SDGs. Then once you arrive on base, you’ll learn about the specific goals we have in this particular location, our various objectives, and also clarification of how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these.
Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to be an active global citizen after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.
The aim of the program is to build up a database of information which will assist in protecting the wildlife of the Teno-Rasca Marine Reserve and the west coast of Tenerife. The corridor between Tenerife and La Gomera is also a migratory route for more than 20 cetacean species. The noise pollution from boats and island life is incredibly disruptive to their migratory patterns, but current data is insufficient to petition for this corridor to become a marine protected area. In an effort to make this happen, we share our information with the local authorities.
Tenerife is a popular tourist destination, with up to five million international visitors arriving each year. Many come to experience the biodiversity of the island. Known for its large population of whales and dolphins, the presence of sea turtles and other marine species also makes the region an appealing location for tourists. Tenerife is home to many marine mammals in the cetacean family, including Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bryde’s whales, Risso’s dolphins, sperm whales, common dolphins, humpback whales, fin whales, blue whales and pygmy sperm whales. Green and loggerhead turtles are also seen in the region.
While tourism is the island’s largest source of income, the influx of tourists can lead to an increase in boat traffic, overfishing, and excess waste on the island. GVI works with local whale watching tour providers and other local organisations to monitor the impact of tourism on the marine environment – ensuring 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. This assists them with making decisions concerning marine resource management.
Whale and Dolphin Surveys
Through boat- and land-based monitoring, our team collects data on whales, dolphins, and other marine species spotted in the waters around Tenerife. Movements, acoustics and behaviours are recorded, and photos are taken of sightings for later identification and cataloguing. The location is also mapped. The collected data is inputted into databases that contribute to ongoing research used by the government of the Canary Islands for local decision-making. Analysed over time, data trends can be used for making further recommendations on tourism practices, fishing regulations, waste management, and other factors impacting the marine and coastal environments. GVI produces quarterly and annual reports which communicate our research findings and other relevant updates.
Due to data deficiencies on short-finned pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins, we’re collecting pertinent information to fill this gap. We’re trying to get a better understanding of the habits and behaviours of cetaceans as they relate to the ecotourism industry, which we can feed back to local marine management schemes. We’d also like to determine the least disruptive amount of sea traffic and share this information with the ecotourism industry. In an effort to limit the impact on the cetaceans in the area, sharing our collected data assists in educating local boat operators and ecotourism providers.
Marine Plastic Pollution and Beach Cleanups
The GVI team in Tenerife maintains an ongoing commitment to contributing towards waste management initiatives in the Canary Islands. We work with local communities and tourists to minimise plastic and other waste products. This includes removing marine debris while on coastal surveys, and organising beach cleanups.
Sustainable Tourism and Community Awareness
Contributing to sustainable tourism by raising environmental awareness is a critical element of the GVI program in the Canary Islands. With tourism being the largest industry in the Canary Islands, it’s important that local communities and tourists understand the impact of tourism on the environment and how they can contribute to sustainable practices. Our team joins local communities on the beach and gets involved in local beach cleanups. To create as little disruption to the patterns and natural behaviours of the cetaceans as possible, we aim to work with ecotourism boat providers, educating them about responsible traffic patterns and noise pollution.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals
All of our programs have short-, mid- and long-term objectives that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). We want to be able to measure our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, so all our staff and volunteers know which UN SDGs they’re making a substantial contribution to. This also helps our local partners and communities measure and visualise their contribution to the UN SDGs.
Prior to your arrival on base, you’ll be educated about the history of the UN SDGs. Then, once on base you’ll learn about the specific goals of your location, the long-, mid- and short-term objectives, and also insight into how your personal, shorter-term involvement contributes to these goals on a global level.
Our 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.
The main UN SDGs the GVI Canary Islands team contribute towards are Goal 14: Life Below Water and Goal 15: Life on Land.
GVI Canary Islands Long-term Objectives:
1. Provide a long-term and consistent collection of data, assessing the populations and behaviours of whales, dolphins, and other marine species in the waters surrounding Tenerife. This is used to promote local sustainable tourism practices and coastal marine management, and create a greater international understanding of changing marine ecosystems.
2. Increase the scientific output and awareness of the project through the publication of findings.
3. Assist with local marine and coastal waste management efforts through data collection and cleaning of beaches and other habitats.
4. Raise awareness about the importance of marine and coastal conservation as well as best sustainability practices.
5. Through marine conservation efforts, raise awareness of sustainable and ethical tourism practices.
A GVI program is an investment in your career. No matter which you choose, you will be working toward improving your employability by mastering new social skills, gaining further technical expertise and earning qualifications in many cases. Most of our staff are, in fact, GVI Alumni, and we have helped many of our Alumni discover, move toward, and earn their own personal dream jobs. Each program includes introductory workshops, ongoing presentations, as well as on-the-ground professional support provided by our very own trained staff members. In addition, our training programs are critical for helping us to ensure the long-term impact of our sustainable development projects around the world.
Learn about the importance of child and vulnerable adult protection best practices and how to apply them while on project.
Introduction to the history and evolution of sustainable development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and how these related to your project work.
Learn about our country locations and further opportunities available to you during or after your program.
Learn how to design environmental education learning materials for local schools such as lesson plans, fact sheets, art and crafts activities and demonstrative workshops.
Learn about our empowerment principles.
An introduction to different survey techniques and best practice guidelines for surveys; introduction to different types of data and how to record information via a datasheet.
Learn about biodiversity and how biodiversity is measured, and classifying different species and how to identify species that indicate the health of the habitat.
Learn about issues with plastic and measures that can be taken to help reduce plastic consumption.
Learn about what a coral reef is, its importance, how it is formed, how this ecosystem works.
Learn about the impact waste has on oceans, beaches and marine species as well as what we can do about it.
Learn about the biodiversity of the Canary Islands and how to successfully identify the species you’ll be monitoring.
Learn how to collect, input and analyse data. Get an overall understanding of how research science and citizen science works. Learn how it can be used to affect government and organisational decision-making and create positive change.
Learn more about what is contributing to the decline in the health of the world’s ocean and marine species and what can be done to prevent it. You’ll gain a greater understanding of the field of marine conservation, explore how to protect marine ecosystems and discover how you can contribute towards conservation-related initiatives. After successfully completing the course, which you have the option of doing prior to your in-country program, you’ll receive a certificate from the University of Richmond.
This online course, valued at £295, is included in all volunteering programs. Full course details can be found here.
We won’t sugarcoat it — traveling abroad is usually a complex process that carries an element of risk. But this is exactly why we’re passionate about providing extensive support throughout the process as well as the highest safety standards during the in-country phase. We believe that volunteering abroad should not only be impactful, but an enjoyable experience that carries as little risk as possible. This is exactly how we’ve been able to maintain our reputation as the most highly respected volunteering organisations in the sector over the past two decades.
Make the most of our unique programs with these exclusively curated local adventure and wellness experiences.
