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Earlier this year, I went to volunteer with a marine conservation organization in the Bali area of Indonesia… and within three days of arriving, I had quit. This episode is the story of what happened, and more importantly, what I learned from it, so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did.

Before you press play, one thing to know up front: I’m not naming the organization. I believe everyone trying to do marine conservation work has good intentions, even when execution falls short, and this isn’t a podcast about tearing other people down. But if you’re considering volunteering with a marine conservation program in the Bali area and you’re worried it might be the one I’m describing, please reach out to me privately. DM me on Instagram or send an email, and I’ll happily talk it through with you one-on-one.

This episode is really about something bigger than any one organization. It’s about how to vet a volunteering program before you commit your time and money, what red flags to actually take seriously, how to listen to your gut once you’re there, and how to walk away when you need to. The marine conservation field needs more volunteers, but it needs you to be safe, supported, and treated with respect. Let’s talk about how to make that more likely.

Okay, so here’s what happened…

I was in Indonesia to do my dive instructor training, and decided that I wanted to see another part of the country that I hadn’t yet explored, and wanted to combine that with some volunteering. I picked an organization I thought to be reputable, but oh boy, was I wrong.

I’d done my research and read the reviews, but the red flags started piling up almost immediately: radio silence after I paid the deposit, months of “there’s nothing you could do to prepare” followed by a massive Google Drive of materials on day one, and a co-founder with an air of condescension and superiority.

By day one, I was told my scuba methods were inferior (I had just become an instructor?!) and talked down to. Program participants confided in me that they weren’t happy with the organization, that the energy was painfully negative, and that they felt like they couldn’t leave because they were already too invested.

By day two, I’d been left underwater by a dive buddy at the safety stop and then blamed for it in a classroom session. The cofounder of the program belittled other volunteers.

On day three, I asked to talk with the co-founder in private to clarify my role, and rather than working things out, the situation imploded. Less than 24 hours later, I was back on the ferry to Gili Trawangan, where I’d done my dive instructor training, and the relief was instant.

1. Vet the organization thoroughly (even more thoroughly than you think)

There’s no centralized database for marine conservation NGOs, and in Indonesia, officially registering as a charity is reportedly very difficult, so a lot of orgs aren’t formally registered anywhere you can check. Don’t stop at the website or the curated reviews. Instead, look for a clear mission, transparent structure, responsive communication, and an impact report.

2. Demand a real conversation before you commit money

I will never, ever sign up for a volunteer experience again without an actual conversation first. A Zoom call is ideal, and a phone call is the absolute minimum. You can read every glowing review on the internet, and the energy can still be wrong for you. They have to pass the vibe check, and that can only happen voice-to-voice.

3. Listen to your gut on pre-arrival red flags

Radio silence after you’ve paid isn’t just an annoyance, it’s information. Slow responses, vague answers, “there’s nothing you could do to prepare,” those are patterns, not one-offs. If people aren’t communicating with you before you arrive, don’t assume they’ll start after.

4. A nonprofit is still a business

A noble mission does not excuse bad management. Boats showing up an hour late, sloppy briefings, weak buddy checks, obvious favoritism between volunteers — those are real operational problems that affect your experience and your safety. You’re a paying customer. Expect to be treated like one.

5. Watch how they treat the people already there

The other volunteers are a window into what your experience will be. If they’re being talked down to, if some are clearly favored and others aren’t, if they’re telling you “the vibes are bad, but we’re already in it” — that’s your future too. Don’t assume you’ll be the exception. I tried; I wasn’t.

6. You’re allowed to quit

The sunk cost is real: the fees, the flights, the time. I know it stinks, but staying in a situation that’s making you sick to your stomach costs more than walking away from it. A lost deposit is much cheaper than a lost month of your life in a place that’s all wrong.

7. Trust your own professional standards

If you know you’re doing something in a way that’s safe and credible, don’t lower your standards just because someone is pressuring you to do things their way. If the only answer you get is “because it’s better,” with nothing behind it, that’s information about them, not you.

8. A shared mission doesn’t mean shared values

This was the hardest one. I naively assumed anyone who’d dedicated their career to marine conservation would share my ethos. Turns out… not at all. Your credentials are not the same thing as your character. Your mission is not the same thing as managing your program well.

All this does not mean you shouldn’t volunteer!

I’m telling you all of this because I want you to volunteer in marine conservation. The world needs more people doing this work, and I promise you it is possible to have amazing experiences. I’ve had many of them myself. But thoroughly vetting your organization is absolutely vital. Listen to your gut, trust your professional standards, and remember that you’re allowed to quit. And if it does happen to you, don’t take it as a failure. You’re going to learn a lot about what you do and don’t want, and you’ll be wiser for it. Don’t let one bad experience defeat you. Just learn from it, and go find a kinder tide. 🩵

Links Mentioned

Worried the organization I’m describing might be one you’re considering? Reach out privately and I’ll happily share what I know one-on-one:

• DM on Instagram: @caseysnook_
• Email: casey@caseysnook.com

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