Sea turtle swimming with small fish above a coral reef

Summer program · Hawaiʻi

Dive, survey and protect Oʻahu’s reefs

Earn your PADI Open Water certification, learn how scientists monitor coral reef health, join local conservation projects and surf the North Shore.

Check dates & applyGet the itinerary
WhereOʻahu, Hawaiʻi (USA)
Length2 weeks
GroupMax 13 · ages 17‑22
Tuition$7,500 USD+ flights est. $1,000 USD
ActivityMedium
College creditOptional · University of Montana

What makes this program different

Two scuba divers sitting on the back of a dive boat

Two dive certifications

Three days earning your PADI Open Water Diver certification, then the Conservation Diver Ecological Monitoring Program certification.

Scuba diver placing a measuring frame on the seafloor

Real reef monitoring fieldwork

Classroom sessions and survey dives on coral reef ecology, invertebrate populations, fish identification and substrate composition, including photogrammetry.

Scuba diver writing on a slate while swimming over a reef

Hands-on conservation

Service days with local organisations working on invasive species removal and reforestation.

Smiling scuba diver climbing out of the water onto a boat

All-inclusive On The Ground

3 Meals a day, lodging, in-country ground travel, activities, entry fees and guides are included.

Your journey at a glance

Route map from Honolulu to Haleʻiwa on Oʻahu’s North Shore and back
  1. Days 1–4Honolulu · Orientation and three days of PADI Open Water Diver certification
  2. Days 5–8Honolulu · The Ecological Monitoring Program: reef ecology, invertebrates, fish identification and substrate composition
  3. Days 9–10Honolulu · Two days of conservation service learning with local organisations
  4. Days 11–14Haleʻiwa · Surf lessons on the North Shore, snorkeling at Shark’s Cove and program wrap

Where you’ll stay

Hostel in Hawai'i

Hostels

Hostel in Waikiki at the start and end of the program, and in Haleʻiwa on the North Shore.

Sun farm Hawai'i

Yurts at Sun Farm

Group living in yurts at Sun Farm during the reef monitoring and service days.

Week by week

Download full itinerary
Week 1Scuba & reef monitoring certificationsHonolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi

You’ll meet your Program Instructors in Honolulu for orientation, then spend three days earning your PADI Open Water Diver certification, learning essential dive skills and completing open-water dives. Next you begin the Ecological Monitoring Program with Ocean Alliance. Each day starts with a classroom session on topics such as coral reef ecology, invertebrate population management and Hawaiʻi fish identification, followed by dives where you practice buoyancy and conduct underwater surveys.

  • Scuba
  • Marine science
  • Orientation
Scuba diver writing on a slate while swimming over a reef
Week 2Service, surf & Shark’s CoveHonolulu → Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi

The monitoring program wraps up with substrate composition, using photogrammetry to build 3D models of reef structures. Two days of service learning follow with local organisations such as Papahana, the Aloha Tree Alliance and Mālama Maunalua, from native tree planting to removing invasive algae in Maunalua Bay. Then we head to Haleʻiwa on the North Shore for two days of surf lessons and exploring, snorkel at Shark’s Cove and wrap up the program before flying home from Honolulu.

  • Conservation
  • Surfing
  • Snorkeling
Scuba diver holding a camera rig above a sandy seafloor

This is a guide to what you can expect to do on program. The order in which activities occur might vary. Itineraries are subject to change.

Learn while you travel

Conservation Diver Ecological Monitoring Program

Classroom sessions and research dives covering coral reef ecology, invertebrate population management, fish identification and substrate composition, with photogrammetry of reef structures. You earn the Conservation Diver Ecological Monitoring Program Certification on successful completion.

Optional college credit

Earn college credit through the University of Montana. 529 education funds can be used to pay for your credits and your Pacific Discovery program tuition.

How college credit works

For parents: how we keep students safe

24/7 Emergency Line

Parents, students and instructors can reach a real person at any hour. Every call is logged and passed to our on-call staff member by phone.

Wilderness First Aid & Live Risk Assessment

All our instructors hold Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification and have extensive training in group leadership and risk management.

Accredited Safety Systems

Our safety systems are assessed and accredited by the Gap Year Association (USA), Year Out Group (UK) and OutdoorsMark (NZ). Students on Go Overseas voted us one of the top gap year providers for safety.

Insurance & Health

Comprehensive travel insurance is required, covering medical costs and emergency evacuation. Check vaccinations with your doctor, and pack a first-aid kit and any personal medication. Our instructors can't legally give students any medication.

Read our full safety approach

What it costs, all in

Program tuition$7,500 USD
Flights (estimate)~$1,000 USD
College credit (optional)$1950

That’s about $3,750 USD per week of tuition.

App Fee: $250 · Deposit: $2250 · 529 funds can cover tuition

Included

  • All in-program travel and transport
  • All accommodation
  • Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (not including snacks)
  • All expeditions, activities, excursions, volunteer projects and entry fees
  • Experienced Program Instructors and local guides
  • Informal lectures from resident experts on conservation and eco-tourism
  • Experiential core curriculum
  • Certificate of Program Completion

Not included

  • Flights to and from Hawaiʻi
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal spending and snacks
  • College credit fee
  • Optional activities or adventures

Pick your start date

1 Jul 2027 – 14 Oct 2026Spring
OpenApply

Questions we get about this program

Do I need to know how to scuba dive?

No. You’ll spend three days earning your PADI Open Water Diver certification before the Ecological Monitoring Program begins.

Do I need to know how to surf?

No. Surf lessons on the North Shore are for first-timers and for those looking to sharpen their skills.

How fit do I need to be?

The program suits anyone of average fitness with an enthusiasm for the outdoors. Expect daily diving in the first week, surf lessons and snorkeling, and some physical work on volunteer projects.

Where will I stay?

In clean group accommodation: hostels in Waikiki and Haleʻiwa, and yurts at Sun Farm. There’s no camping on this program.

What's included, and what isn't?

Tuition covers all in-country transport, accommodation, meals, and the activities and entry fees in the itinerary. It doesn't cover flights to and from Hawaiʻi, travel insurance, spending money, optional college credit or optional activities.

How much spending money should I bring?

About $15 a day for snacks, laundry, personal shopping and optional activities. It varies from student to student.

Can I stay in touch with home?

Yes. We encourage keeping phones on flight mode so you stay present, and wifi is available where we stay in cities and towns. There will also be a photo album that students and instructors can upload photos and video to, so parents and caregivers can stay up to date.

Summer 2027 is filling. Hold your place.

$2500 holds your spot.

Apply nowRequest the itinerary