INTERNSHIPS
LAUNCH YOUR CAREER
Interns can expect to be challenged, mentored, and inspired, working with a dynamic team that is dedicated to helping them find their focus.
CORAL CONSERVATION AND REEF RESTORATION INTERNSHIP
Our Coral Conservation and Reef Restoration Internship introduces individuals to the nonprofit sector of marine conservation, focusing on the restoration of coral reef ecosystems.
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Internships last 4 months and are full-time volunteer positions.
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Interns gain a vast amount of experience through participation in our community engagement programs, daily operations, and fieldwork.
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During their first semester, each intern will be mentored while they undertake a personal intern project.
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Interns who wish to progress further have the chance to be considered for positions as Lead Interns during a second semester, and then Program Interns during a third semester.
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Interns will be provided with a small educational stipend to offset living costs.
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
Age & Academic Status
Applicant must be 21+ years of age or older.
Applicant should be enrolled in an undergraduate program having completed at least two years of study at an accredited college or university, be in enrolled in a graduate program, or be a recent graduate from a college or university.
Preference will be given to students who have studied or are studying marine science, specifically coral reefs.
Diving
Applicant should have at least 30 dives; 15 of which must be ocean dives and 5 from a boat. Applicant must have at least one logged dive within a year of the start date of the internship.
Preference will be given to those with Advanced Open Water dive certification and higher, those with boat diving experience, and those with ocean diving experience.
All dive gear (excluding tanks) must be provided by the intern. This means: BCD, regulator, mask, fins, snorkel, dive computer, wetsuit, weights, and gloves.
Upon selection, candidates will be required to provide a dive physical, dive certifications, and log-books as well as proof of active dive insurance, active CPR/First Aid certification, active Oxygen Administration certification, and proof of regulator purchase/servicing.
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All selected candidates' dive status is pending the approval of their dive physical by our DSO and Dive Safety Board.
Other requirements
Housing and reliable vehicular transportation must be provided by the intern. Applicants should keep in mind the cost of living in the Florida Keys can be between $800 and $1,200 monthly. Rent will be less expensive if intern teams share living spaces.
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Applicant must be physically fit and able to work on the water and in the sun for long periods of time (eight hours a day several days in a row).
Coral Restoration Foundation reserves the right to accept or deny any applications regardless of minimum requirements met.
CURRENT INTERNS
Our current interns join us from around the country, each with unique academic backgrounds and ambitions.
Charis Peterson
DIVE PROGRAM INTERN
Charis grew up in Michigan where her curiosity for the underwater world started in the local rivers and lakes. She always had a passion for marine biology. While she was in high school, her family unexpectedly had to relocate to coastal Georgia. Moving across the country allowed her to pursue her passion. After learning about the threats and harm humans have caused to coral reefs, she decided she did not want to just study coral reefs, but she wanted to be a part of the solution.
Charis is a recent graduate from the University of Houston-Clear Lake with a M.S. in Biotechnology and a concentration in Molecular Biotechnology. She received her B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Coastal Ecology from the College of Coastal Georgia in 2017. She is a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and has enjoyed working as a dive professional in the British Virgin Islands and the Florida Keys. Charris is excited to intern with CRFâ„¢ because she is passionate about educating the public on how to protect our oceans.
CRF ALUMNI
Our interns have gone on to do some amazing things! Where are they now?
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