MAR Expeditions

“I’ve spent 3 months in Zavora and I couldn’t have made a better choice! Nakia, Em and Ed are very welcoming and when I had to leave I felt like leaving home. Nakia is a superwoman with organizational superpowers. She is so knowledgable when it comes to marine life, and manta rays in particular, and I learned so much during my time in Zavora. I also did my rescue diver with Em, which was so much fun. She is an amazing dive instructor that spices up everything with some fun. Would I do it again? YESSSS, no question :)”

“The best experience! Even from before I arrived, the team at MAR expeditions made me feel so welcome, and made the travel to Zavora as easy as possible. Throughout the month that I stayed here, I had some incredible encounters with Manta Rays, Humpback whales and lots of shark species, and learnt some really valuable research skills when assisting with data input and identification. It was lovely to meet and spend time with other like-minded interns, and I would highly recommend this experience to anyone considering a career in Marine Biology/conservation, or to anyone who just wants to see how they can help save our oceans!”

“MAR is the perfect learning experience for any up and coming ocean advocate. With a friendly atmosphere, a wide variety of experiences and skills, in the field, diving, and in theory, I highly recommend this internship. Thanks to Nakia and the team for an exciting, fulfilling and fun experience!”

“Joining MAR was the perfect first post-undergrad experience. Besides becoming completely hooked on diving, I learned a lot about marine research in Africa. Everyone was extremely knowledgeable and it was a blast to work with and learn from them. I definitely would recommend this to anyone interested in diving or conservation!”

“I recently had the privilege of spending two months at MAR expeditions and I can confidently say that it was one of the best experiences of my life. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed and at home. The founder, Nakia, truly embodies the saying “come as interns, leave as friends”. Not only did I get to experience some of the best diving sites in the world, but I also got to live in a beautiful place in rural Mozambique. The diving conditions may have been tougher than what I was used to, but it was 100% worth it. I saw an incredible array of marine life including manta rays, humpback whales, turtles, dolphins, sharks, and a vast range of nudibranchs. The diving was just one aspect of this amazing organization. Living in this beautiful place was an unforgettable experience. The founder, Nakia, has created an environment where interns and friends can come together as one big family, supporting each other and creating lifelong bonds.”

“I joined the MAR team for a three-month internship to become a better well-rounded biologist and therefore a better wildlife conservationist. With the majority of my work being terrestrial, I was excited to expand my knowledge and diving skills with the talented and enthusiastic team at MAR. The work we did and the new discoveries we made far exceeded my expectations. Learning first hand about all the marine life was like stepping into another world and helped me create a better understanding of how ecosystems function on this planet. Putting into practice different fieldwork techniques and interacting with wildlife in its natural habitat is what made my time at MAR so important and valuable to my conservation career.”

“Spending two months in such a remote area of Africa has been one of the best experiences of my life so far. Being an intern at MAR hasn’t only shown me how an organization of this kind works, but also how important this work is in helping towards the establishment of marine protected areas or protection of certain species. In addition to that, Mozambique is such an amazing place; living with the minimum, which is more than enough, and getting know the daily life in Zavora by meeting the local people was such an incredible experience.”

“Being part of the MAR team during the summer of 2019 was the most exciting and rewarding 2 months I’ve had. Working with and learning from such knowledgeable and passionate marine biologists was inspiring and gave me a great understanding of the importance of local marine research and conservation. The regular dives and daily data entry tasks were brilliant, especially whilst working with the awesome team. Zavora is an incredible place to live and the internship has given me such amazing memories and experiences.”

“I joined MAR to complete an undergraduate research project in Zavora, and enjoyed it so much I decided to come back for my graduate research project as well. Not only did I receive excellent scientific knowledge and support for my research, but also a caring and friendly atmosphere that made my time in this beautiful place even more special.”