Venture East // Malaysia
Schools Conservation Project & PADI DIving, Malaysia
Dive with turtles in the South China Sea
Malaysia is a diverse country in both environment and culture. Being a peninsula, there is a huge amount of coastline including beaches, mangroves, and islands. Inland, steamy jungle gives way to tea plantations in the cooler highlands. Sitting on a major maritime trade route, Malaysia’s culture, cuisine and religious outlook has been influenced by traders from China, India, Arabia and Europe. Teams will get to appreciate all these different cultural influences when they explore the capital Kuala Lumpur.
The turtle conservation project, combined with learning to dive, gives students a whole new perspective on the importance of preserving our environment. Our teams work with the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia to assist with their important tortoise and turtle conservation work. From Kuala Lumpur, teams travel up to Kemaman on the east coast, where they’ll camp out while working on the project. Teams then move on to the Perhentian Islands to obtain their PADI diving qualification. Students will be supported throughout their expedition by our experienced expedition leaders and our in-country team.
Our conservation projects allow students to get hands-on experience working on a wildlife project. We work with selected charity partners who are speciailists in their conservation field. Their expert guidance enables our teams to take part in impactful conservation projects.
Teams will assist in the important conservation work of the Malaysian Turtle Conservation Society, who work tirelessly to promote population growth of native turtles and terrapins. The project will focus on assisting with the turtle breeding programme, habitat maintance, beach cleaning and, with luck, assisting with releasing hatchlings.
In addition teams will learn about the importance of mangrove swamps in the area and take part in conserving these important ecosystems.
Before departing for Malaysia students complete PADI’s e-learning programme to obtain the necessary theory required to learn to dive. Students who already have a PADI qualification can work towards advancing their expertise and improve their qualification level Advanced Open Water or Rescue Diver!
Once on the beautiful Perhentian Islands, team members undertake practical dive training in the crystal-clear waters of the South China Sea with the opportunity to see turtles in their natural unspoilt environment. The dive course is five days long, culminating in a free dive and certificate presentation.
Acquiring this new skill will give students the opportunity to stretch themselves and to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of their hard work on the conservation project phase
A diving qualification will enable students to discover a hidden world, previously the preserve of David Attenborough and other wildlife specialists. It will enable them to meet divers from all over the world, who may have a different culture and language, have a shared passion for sea life and the freedom of diving.
Read Astrid’s, Venture Force Expedition Leader, thoughts on diving.
“I find the underwater world to be the most enthralling, magestic and peaceful place. I enjoy the total freedom, the humble feeling that this is a place we can only spend as long as our air will allow, and the bewildering feeling that so, so much of it is yet to be discovered. I’m crazy enough to have completed most of my training in England, and fortunate enough to have dicovered what an incredibly diverse space these seas close to home are. Shipwrecks are my favourite, I find them impressive and sombre.”
Expedition Project
Our conservation projects allow students to get hands-on experience working on a wildlife project. We work with selected charity partners who are speciailists in their conservation field. Their expert guidance enables our teams to take part in impactful conservation projects.
Teams will assist in the important conservation work of the Malaysian Turtle Conservation Society, who work tirelessly to promote population growth of native turtles and terrapins. The project will focus on assisting with the turtle breeding programme, habitat maintenance, beach cleaning and, with luck, assisting with releasing hatchlings.
In addition teams will learn about the importance of mangrove swamps in the area and take part in conserving these important ecosystems.
PADI DIving Course
Before departing for Malaysia students complete PADI’s e-learning programme to obtain the necessary theory required to learn to dive. Students who already have a PADI qualification can work towards advancing their expertise and improve their qualification level Advanced Open Water or Rescue Diver!
Once on the beautiful Perhentian Islands, team members undertake practical dive training in the crystal-clear waters of the South China Sea with the opportunity to see turtles in their natural unspoilt environment. The dive course is five days long, culminating in a free dive and certificate presentation.
Acquiring this new skill will give students the opportunity to stretch themselves and to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of their hard work on the conservation project phase
Why we love diving!
A diving qualification will enable students to discover a hidden world, previously the preserve of David Attenborough and other wildlife specialists. It will enable them to meet divers from all over the world, who may have a different culture and language, have a shared passion for sea life and the freedom of diving.
Read Astrid’s, (Venture Force Expedition Leader) thoughts on diving.
“I find the underwater world to be the most enthralling, majestic and peaceful place. I enjoy the total freedom, the humble feeling that this is a place we can only spend as long as our air will allow, and the bewildering feeling that so, so much of it is yet to be discovered. I’m crazy enough to have completed most of my training in England, and fortunate enough to have discovered what an incredibly diverse space these seas close to home are. Shipwrecks are my favourite, I find them impressive and sombre.”
Embrace the challenge and remember the unique experience!
Expect an experience that is going to have a positive effect! This an expedition, not a holiday and is taking place in a country far removed from the UK, both in distance and cultural norms.
Accommodation and food are likely to be different to what students are used to. Team members are encouraged to embrace this, it’s part of what expeditions are about! At times students will be completely out of their comfort zone and that is an integral element of developmental expeditions.
KEY INFORMATION
All our expeditions are bespoke and tailored to your team's needs
Conservation Project
Scuba Diving
Qualification
Cultural Visits
Duration
14 Days (UK to UK)
- International Flights
- Two Venture Force expedition leaders
- Two funded teacher places
- 24/7 Operations Room support
- Comprehensive travel insurance (see our COVID info page)
- International communications package
- All in-country travel
- In-country agent support
- All in-country activities, food and accommodation
- Team t-shirts
- Heavy duty travel bag
- Group kit and equipment
- Online expedition portal
- Carbon off-setting
- Project donation (expedition dependent)
- Training Day
- PADI certification costs
- Personal vaccinations
- Personal equipment (a kit list will be provided)
- Visa costs and passport renewal (if applicable)
- Spending money for gifts and additional drinks/food