4-week Volunteering

TRACC

The Tropical Research and Conservation Centre (TRACC) is a marine conservation organization based in the Celebes Sea, dedicated to protecting sea turtles and restoring coral reefs destroyed by the local fish bombing practices of Malaysia.

TRACC CURRENT PROJECTS

TRACC develops and executes numerous projects involved with marine conservation, notably that of coral reef restoration. TRACC has planted over 75000 coral fragments over a course of 6 years, drastically improving the destroyed reefs of Pom Pom Island, employing numerous methods along the way. TRACC works together with volunteers from all over the world to turn these projects into a reality. TRACC has a number of other projects ranging from invertebrates all the way to marine reptiles and megafaunas. Community development and resilience programs have been established on nearby islands to create marine aware communities. As the current state in Borneo nears critical and pivotal years, the work being conducted needs environmentally aware individuals with a genuine love and passion for the world’s oceans. Let us, as a society of people who love, depend and rely on the oceans come together for the protection and conservation of the world beneath the waves.

POM POM ISLAND

Pom Pom is surrounded by a fringing coral reef with minimal lagoon development.

As well as a sloping reef on Pom Pom, we also have deep, vertical walls starting at 27-30 metres depth, located on the Northern Tip, Eastern Plateau, and Lobster Wall dive sites. Depending on the tide, the current at these locations can be strong, offering excellent drift dives with many sea fans and pelagic fish. 

Although much of the island has been extensively bombed and reduced to rubble, we do still have patches of natural reef. As well as walls and a sloping reef we have a small wreck, and many artificial reef structures around Pom Pom, which make for great diving, as many different fish and invertebrates gather around these sites.

The water varies from 25 to 29 degrees C, with generally good visibility, averaging on around 20 meters.

WHAT WE EXPECT FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS

TRACC is not a resort, we are a conservation centre, looking for passionate like-minded people who aren't afraid of a bit of hard work in order to make a difference. Our staff is here to help, teach and guide you, but we want volunteers who will be independent, show initiative, and are self-motivated. 

We are looking for positive people who not only want to learn but want to actively help us restore our reefs and improve our camp. 

We hope you are willing to temporarily make some sacrifices and go without certain creature comforts, in order to be a valuable part of a team working towards a common goal.

It is also important to come to TRACC with an open mind and be willing to learn about ways you can reduce your environmental impacts in your everyday life, and hopefully spread the message to friends and family.

Most of all we ask that you behave in a respectful manner towards, not only the local people and their culture but also your fellow volunteers and TRACC staff. We like to see ourselves as a little community, and we would like our community to be happy, peaceful, productive, and strong because we need to be in order to create change.