Dive into paradise & collect
research data in Raja Ampat

You should ensure you fly into Domine Eduard Osok Airport (SOQ) in Sorong, located on the western tip of Papua in time for an early pickup on your selected Wednesday start date. The most common route is to transfer in the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta the night before and to stay within the Darefan Hotel overnight.

You will need to make your own way to the Darefan Hotel (5 minutes from the hotel) where the local team will meet you at 8am on your programme start date.

A member of the local team will collect everyone from the hotel to take you to the port to board the 9am ferry to Waisa (the capital of Raja Ampat).

The local team's boat will then be waiting in Waisai to take you on your final 90 minute boat ride to Arborek Island, where the volunteer project is located.

The programme ends on the Wednesday of your final week and you should depart the accommodation on this day. On the day our departure from the expedition, the local team's boat will take you back to Waisai, where the ferry to Sorong leaves at 2pm. You will arrive into Sorong approximately 2 hours later, where you will need to book a hotel for the night (the local team will assist), as no flights depart in the afternoon.

Most flights from Sorong to Jakarta leave in the morning and arrive in Jakarta in the late morning. From here you can transfer from the domestic terminal to the international terminal to wait for your connecting international flight home.

You should arrive at Domine Eduard Osok Airport (SOQ) in Sorong, Raja Ampat.

The programme fee does not unfortunately include flights. You will find a list of what is included as part of the volunteer fee within the 'What's Included' link, just above this FAQ section.

You will need to arrange your flights to and from your chosen destination and we will happily assist wherever required. When you first sign up to volunteer with The Mighty Roar you will gain access to your pre-departure volunteer handbook that will have all of the important arrival and departure details, including correct airports, dates and times.

We recommend using a flight comparison website like Sky Scanner. Not only will you be able to see the range of prices, but you can also see what airline and route / duration is best for your requirements and budget. Although we recommend booking your flights as early as possible to help ensure you secure the best price and required dates, it can also help to monitor the price over the course of a few weeks to see what the average is.

There may also be times when changing your flight dates by a day or two provides substantial savings, so this is always worth checking and bearing in mind. We may not be able to accommodate you within the volunteer accommodation outside of your selected dates, but can provide hotel recommendations etc...

If you are unsure about anything regarding your flights then please just get in contact with us. We are more than happy to check over your preferred flights to ensure they are correct with the requirements of your programme before you book them.

We strongly recommend that you do not make any flight and / or third party travel arrangements until your place has been confirmed via email by The Mighty Roar. Please note that we cannot accept standby flights, all flight details provided to us must be fully confirmed.

The gap year market is our largest audience, which means our average age range is between 18 and 25 years old. The vast majority of our volunteers are travelling by themselves and generally for their first time, ensuring our programmes are perfect for making new lifelong friends!

If you are hoping to volunteer with us in Raja Ampat, then you will need to be at least 18 years old on the programme start date.

None of our programmes have an upper age limit and in the past we have hosted participants of all ages. We find that age does not play an important part of volunteering abroad, as everyone has travelled for the same reason and to make new friends. However, in saying this, we have found at times that our more mature participants have perhaps expected a higher level of accommodation or structure. We cannot stress enough that all volunteers should remain open minded and flexible.

The Mighty Roar welcomes volunteers from all nationalities, religions and backgrounds. No previous experience is required to volunteer, however you will need to be PADI Advanced Water certified to take part in the scuba diving - this can be easily arranged whilst in Raja Ampat if required. 

We ask that all volunteers have a good level and understanding of English, although it does not need to be your first language. You of course do not need to speak the local dialect, but you will find learning a few words will go a long way.

You must be able to provide a clean criminal background check in advance of volunteering with us abroad. We're afraid we are generally unable to accept anyone who has any previous convictions, but please do get in touch so we can discuss this further.

Volunteering abroad can at times be both physically and mentally challenging, therefore we ask that all participants be fit in both areas. If you do have any medical / mental health conditions that you believe may affect your time volunteering, then these must be declared to us during the application process. If you have any questions regarding your suitability, then please do not hesitate to contact us.

You are more than welcome to apply at any time for any of our programmes, with start dates available at least two years in advance. We recommend that you apply as soon as you know it is something you 100% want to do, to ensure the best chances of availability on your chosen dates. Many of our programmes have limited capacity and at times these spaces can get filled very quickly - this is particularly true for our peak period between June and August.

We generally recommend applying at least 60 days in advance to give you ample time to ensure everything has been arranged. However, if you are looking to volunteer sooner than this, then it should not be a problem. Please do get in contact if you have any concerns about arranging any essentials within a shorter timeframe.

Once you have applied and confirmed your place on the programme, then it is possible to amend your start date and / or duration. Any changes need to be made at least 60 days prior to your start date and are subject to availability. 

This is of course down to personal preference, however, on gaining feedback from previous volunteers we believe 3 to 6 weeks is the ideal amount of time to volunteer for. Not only will you be able to get fully involved with all aspects of the programme but you'll also integrate yourself within the local community. 

While we can never guarantee your volunteer experience will be 100% trouble free, we have taken all of the necessary precautions to minimise all risks and to ensure all programmes are as safe as possible. Our helpful and knowledgeable UK team are with you throughout your whole journey, from answering questions about programmes, through the application process, providing pre-departure information, support while in-country and to answer any questions you may have on your return home.

A member of our UK team visit each and every volunteer programme we offer on a regular basis to rigorously check all aspects of the project - something generally not done by most other organisations! We experience every programme just like a volunteer would, from staying within the accommodation, helping on the projects, eating the meals provided and travelling the local area. By doing this, not only can we ensure everything is safe and running as planned, but we can truly tell you what to expect and can provide informed recommendations and advice about anything relating to your trip.

As part of our commitment to your safety, we monitor the stability of all of our volunteer destinations on a daily basis. We are in communication with the local embassies and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and we are also in constant contact with our overseas teams to ensure we can identify and act upon any problems immediately.

Every volunteer programme we offer has a co-ordinator and several key team members who will be in charge of ensuring your whole trip runs smoothly. Our local teams are made up of highly experienced individuals who have hosted international volunteers for many years. Everyone will be introduced to you during your orientation and it's these amazing people that will be on hand to answer any questions, deal with any issues and to help make any travel arrangements. Over the duration of your programme, we are sure that the local staff will also become your new best friends and will make your experience even more enjoyable!

With the majority of our programmes, a member of our local team or a trusted appointed driver will be waiting for you at the airport for when you arrive. Over the first day or two you will be given a full orientation that will cover things like emergency procedures, how to use the local transport, the do's and don'ts, local cultures and health and safety information.

Please do not forget that our UK office is available 24/7 in case of any rare emergencies, on the number provided within the volunteer handbook. Both our UK and international team's contact details can be passed onto friends and families and to ensure everyone has peace of mind.

As we are not medical experts and have no qualifications or experience within this field, we are unable to give any advice about what vaccinations you should or should not have. It is important for you to consult with your local doctor or travel clinic to find out which vaccinations are needed / recommended. They will generally ask where abouts you will be travelling to and what activities you will be involved in. Additional information can be found on the NHS Fit For Travel website.

Over the years we have hosted many volunteers across all of our programmes in Raja Ampat and have obtained lots of feedback from everyone. The comments suggest that if you are looking for a large social experience then volunteering during the European summer months of June to August will provide the best experience. During this time we host our peak numbers across all projects and this is when we will be at total capacity in terms of the accommodation and numbers at the projects.

Conversely, volunteering outside of these months will typically provide the greatest opportunity to become fully immersed at the projects and within the local community and give you the chance to build a greater bond with our local team. You will of course still make many new lifelong friends along the way too!

Day 1 (Wednesday) - Arrival & Orientation

You should ensure you fly into Domine Eduard Osok Airport (SOQ) in Sorong, located on the western tip of Papua on your selected Wednesday start date. The most common route is to transfer in the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta.

You will need to make your own way to the Darefan Hotel (5 minutes from the hotel) where the local team will meet you at 8am on your programme start date.

A member of the local team will collect everyone from the hotel to take you to the port to board the ferry to Waisa (the capital of Raja Ampat). The local team's boat will then be waiting in Waisai to take you on your final 90 minute boat ride to Arborek Island, where the volunteer project is located.

After settling into your new home, the local team will provide an in-depth orientation. They will go through all of the do’s and don’ts while in Raja Ampat, such as the dress code, personal conduct etc... You will also have a guided tour around the island, with all of the local amenities being pointed out.

Day 2 (Thursday) - Training

After a good night’s rest and a delicious breakfast, you will start the programme by receiving some science and dive (if non-qualified) training. 

Volunteering Days (Monday - Friday)

Breakfast will be served between 7am-8am and depending on weather and advice from our local dive guides, you will either start your first survey dive of the day at 9am or visit the local community to assist on various projects.

At the end of each survey dive you will relay the data from your dive slates on to the data recording sheets, so these can be entered onto the database at a later time.

After lunch (12:30-13:30) you will do the opposite of what you did during the morning. So if you worked within the local community in the morning, you will undertake survey dives in the afternoon and vice versa.

Dinner is served between 18:30-19:00 and after a short de-brief session on the days activities, the evening is yours to relax and talk about the amazing marine life you saw or the kind villagers you made friends with. Some evenings may involve advanced presentation or Indonesian language lessons for those interested and theory sessions for volunteers taking extra PADI scuba courses.

Saturdays

Saturday is for fun dives where dive profiles are relaxed and dive computers are used for mulit-level dives to go deeper for longer.

Sundays

Sunday is a complete no dive day, for health and safety reasons and to give you body time to recover from the previous dives. This gives you some valuable downtime where you can sunbath, play beach volleyball or football, go for a swim/snorkel, read a book, go for a walk around the island, watch a movie or visit the local village.

The Following Weeks

Your next week(s) will follow a similar pattern, with volunteering from Monday to Friday, fun dives on the Saturday and nothing planned for Sunday.

Our local team are there to support you throughout your stay. If you need advice about your travel plans or just someone to talk to then they are there for you.

Last Day (Wednesday)

The programme ends on the Wednesday of your final week and you should depart the accommodation on this day. On the day our departure from the expedition, the local team's boat will take you back to Waisai, where the ferry to Sorong leaves at 2pm. You will arrive into Sorong approximately 2 hours later, where you will need to book a hotel for the night (the local team will assist), as no flights depart in the afternoon.

Most flights from Sorong to Jakarta leave in the morning and arrive in Jakarta in the late morning. From here you can transfer from the domestic terminal to the international terminal to wait for your connecting international flight home.

Yes of course! Although The Mighty Roar is located within the United Kingdom, we welcome participants from all around the world. Over the years we have hosted many volunteers from across the globe, including USA, Germany, France, Canada, Australia and more. We wish for everyone to have an equal opportunity to travel and help make a difference, no matter where you are from.

You are of course more than welcome to travel and volunteer with your friends, family members and / or your partner. If required, we can ensure that you stay within the same accommodation and volunteer at the same project - so that you are together as often as wanted. Our volunteer accommodation is on a single-sex basis, so if you are wanting to share a a room with someone of the opposite sex, you will need to request and pay for a private bungalow - an additional £150 per week.

The Mighty Roar was founded with the aim to make all of our volunteering programmes as affordable and accessible as possible, allowing this once in a lifetime opportunity to all travellers. If you really want, we will even allow you to compare our pricing with other organisations, charities and not-for-profits where you will find us significantly cheaper.

How can we do this I hear you ask? Well, it’s pretty simple really! We do not need big fancy offices, lots of employees or massive monthly overheads. Our small family team work from a cosy farm office and we have done away with out-dated glossy brochures, an unnecessary high street shop or plush office and because we are passionate about what we do, we don't need 10+ staff to handle all of the operations.

Due to the remote project location, there will no opportunity to travel and explore the rest of Raja Ampat while volunteering. However, you are more than welcome to extend your trip and plan to see more of Indonesia either before or after your volunteer programme - we would be happy to help assist with your arrangements. 

In order for you to confirm your placement on one of our programmes, you need to pay the registration fee of £179. Your remaining balance for your programme fee and any weekend trips and / or optional extras is then due no less than 60 days prior to your programme start date. if you're applying within 60 days of your programme start date then the remaining balance will be due no later than 7 days after your initial application.

When paying for your remaining balance, this can be made in one lump sum or split into several smaller instalments - just as long as the balance is clear 60 days prior to your programme start date. If you have chosen to take travel insurance through The Mighty Roar, then this must be paid in full before the policy can be processed and made live.

We accept payments via BACS (bank transfer) or through our website using all major debit and credit cards. All details required to make payment will be outlined in our email communications with you and they can also be found within your online account once you have confirmed your place.

Yes, it is generally possible to use the majority of our programmes as part of your university or college placement. Since all placements have different requirements and parameters, we recommend that you speak to a member of our UK team to ensure that your chosen volunteer programme will be suitable. Any school / college / university representative is more than welcome to contact us to discuss further the suitability of our programmes and to ensure they are satisfied with all aspects of the trip.

Our UK and in-country teams are able to complete and sign-off any paperwork that is required before your volunteer placement begins, during your trip and upon your return. The Mighty Roar regularly receives college and university students on our programmes and have built up strong ties with many leading universities.

Although we do our best to keep our programme costs as low and as affordable as possible, when you add flights, travel insurance and spending money you may find that you need a little financial help. The money you and other volunteers pay for the programme goes towards the overall structure of the project and includes your accommodation, meals, airport transfers and support from our UK and local teams.

Consequently, a large number of our volunteers decide to fundraise for their upcoming trip. We find that the best way of letting all of your friends and family know about your volunteer adventure is to create an online fundraising page. The Mighty Roar have teamed up with GoGetFunding who are an online crowd funding website that many of our volunteers have used and have recommended in the past. You will be able to create a personalised fundraising page of your own where you can tell everyone exactly what you are doing and why you need some extra money (the more detail you go into the better), set financial goals and upload lots of pictures.

You can read some more advice about fundraising for your upcoming trip here. 

It is very difficult for us to give an exact figure for how much spending money you will need to take with you. The amount you spend is totally dictated on what you plan on doing during your free time. We recommend that you budget between £50 and £100 per week for general expenses. 

Our programmes in Raja Ampat are run by a dedicated and experienced in-country local team. Simon and his colleagues are in charge of providing the overall structure for your stay, including the accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, in-country orientation and 24/7 emergency support.

All local staff have been fully vetted by our UK team and over the years we have built up a strong relationship with them. The local team provide a great framework for you to enjoy a unique volunteering experience with us in Raja Ampat and they are sure to become your good friends, giving you a unique insight into Raja Ampat.

Our volunteer accommodation in Raja Ampat largely comprises of shared beach-front bungalows. However, there are several dedicated private bungalows for volunteers who want a bit more privacy or for couples. There is however an additional fee of £150 per week.

Our local team will do their best to cater for any dietary requirements you may have. Any dietary requirements should be provided on your application and re-iterated to the local team on arrival into the country. It is important that if you have any concerns for major requirements, that you raise these with our UK team before confirming your place on the programme.

It is important to note that we cannot guarantee that we can cater for all requirements. Consequently, there may be instances where you need to purchase alternative ingredients or arrange dinner plans at a third party restaurant at your own expense.

You will be volunteering on the picturesque island of Arborek. This is your chance to escape to your very own paradise island, where you will wake up each day within your beach-front bungalow with the sun glistening and the waves crashing down on your feet.

You can walk around the whole island in its entirety within 20 minutes and there are a few small local shops, a volleyball court, football pitch and a few other basic amenities. 

Although you won't have to many chances to explore the surrounding islands, you will make lots of new friends from around the world and get to take part in many arranged evening activities, including volleyball, football, murder mystery, fancy dress parties and more.

Being located very close to the equator, its warm tropical climate means the average year-round temperature is 28 degrees with a humidity level of around 85%.

Raja Ampat benefits from having no defined wet or dry seasons, with the weather remaining fairly consistent throughout the year. There will be the odd downpour of rain, but these bursts generally last for 30-60 minutes or occur during the night.

We ask that all volunteers take the approach of a smart and responsible image during your time in the communities and on projects. It is best to also take some older clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.

Generally, it is best to avoid tight and very short clothing and anything that may have offensive slogans on it. It's recommended that you take some nicer clothes for weekends or any free time you may have.

We do not wish to impose strict regulations, however we do ask that you respect the local culture and do your best to adhere to the clothing guidelines within the volunteer handbook.

We aim to communicate as clearly and accurately as possible all holidays that may affect project availability and closures. However, holidays can often be sporadic or prone to change. We ask that you be flexible with regards to holidays and generally a holiday would offer a unique experience to enjoy in the festivities. Some programmes may not be affected by certain holidays, so if you would like to confirm any details please just let us know.

As it stands we do not foresee any public holidays that will alter the programme’s opening dates.

Whether you are travelling for 1 week or 6 months, having adequate travel insurance that covers your entire duration abroad is an essential and compulsory part of your adventure. Although The Mighty Roar does everything in their power to ensure each and every trip is safe, inevitably things can and do go wrong. Therefore, having a travel insurance policy in place will help you with any problems you may encounter during your time away.

We have teamed up with Endsleigh to create an affordable and comprehensive travel insurance policy specifically for The Mighty Roar volunteers. You can be safe in the knowledge that you have full protection if needed and that our polices cover all of your volunteering activities.

If you would like to purchase your travel insurance through TMR then you can easily add this on when applying under the optional extras page. Alternatively, you can contact us today to add this onto your existing application. Please do not contact Endsleigh directly, as they will be unable to assist.

We recommend that you organise your travel insurance as soon as you confirm your place. This will ensure that your pre-departure cancellation starts from the day you are accepted and will cover you should you have to cancel your trip for an insured reason (such as illness).

You should ensure that your travel insurance covers you for the total duration of your trip i.e. from when you depart your home country to the day you return. It is important to note that our travel insurance is inclusive of your start and end date. For example, if you are volunteering for one week, from Saturday to Saturday, this is in actual fact 8 days and you will need to take out 2 weeks insurance to be fully covered.

For further information about our travel insurance, please click here.

In order for you to participate in any of our volunteering programmes, you will need to present to us a clean criminal background check (also known as a DBS or Police Check). This must be submitted and approved no less than 21 days prior to your programme start date. A criminal background check is a mandatory requirement for all volunteers aged 16 and over. We are unable to provide any exceptions to this, which is why it is important that you apply for one as soon as possible – at least 6 weeks prior to your start date.

If you already have a criminal background check that has been issued within 18 months of your programme start date, then you are more than welcome to provide this.

If you don't have a valid DBS check then you will need to apply for one. UK volunteers need to apply for a "Basic Disclosure" through the government website here. This costs £23 and can take up to 15 working days to process.

For international participants, we recommend you obtain a Police/Criminal Background Check through your local police station or official governmental body.

All volunteers will receive a comprehensive volunteer handbook that provides all of the information you need to prepare for your upcoming trip. This includes details on what to pack, how to obtain a visa, what to expect and so much more. With this in mind, it is really important that you read through the volunteer handbook carefully.

You will receive your volunteer handbook once you have confirmed your place by paying the registration fee. We will send an email entitled 'Welcome to TMR', which will include a link to your online account where you can access the handbook and other important details. Please note, all material is sent via email and hard copies cannot be sent.