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Conservation Experience with TIC
After almost eight months of interning here, one thing I’m deeply grateful for and constantly inspired by is TIC’s collective dedication to conservation. What began as a mission to protect sea turtles has now evolved into something far greater, expanding to include their habitats, foraging grounds, and nesting areas, with the help of advanced technologies like drones and ROVs.
Throughout these months, I’ve had the privilege to be involved in a wide range of activities from reef and seagrass surveys, turtle nest monitoring, and hatchling releases, to marine debris management, guest engagement, and even learning new skills like 3D photogrammetry. Each task, whether big or small, taught me patience, teamwork, and the value of dedication in conservation work.
Interning at TIC wasn’t limited to observing; it was about active participation. I learned how to conduct seagrass and coral reef surveys, handle data entry and analysis, and even operate tools like HOBO loggers and drone mapping systems. These hands-on experiences strengthened my technical skills and showed me how science supports conservation in real time.
Here, every piece of trash tells a story. Bottles, plastic wrappers, toys—many still with labels from faraway countries—all washed ashore on this pristine island. It made me confront a hard truth: we are far too careless with the things we consume. Rarely do we think about the life cycle of what we buy, or the consequences of our convenience-driven habits.
From breathtaking sunrises to spotting baby sharks gliding under the crystal-clear water, and the endless ocean views that never got old, every moment was something to soak in and enjoy.
No one will tell you…
That life is a journey full of unexpected twists and turns when you begin your internship at Tengah Island Conservation!
Where should I begin?
Let’s say that we were among the luckiest interns, involved in many activities and programs during these four months as islanders.
The fresh air, the beautiful sound of waves, and the peaceful environment away from city life. You also get to see beautiful marine life, and yes, guys, just want to flex that I saw sea turtle and blacktip shark during my diving survey.
Greetings! My name is Rahman Syahputra, and I'd like to share my journey as a conservation intern at Tengah Island Conservation over the past few weeks. It all began on August 6th, when my fellow interns and I set foot on Tengah Island with a sense of excitement and purpose. Our arrival was greeted by the mesmerizing sight of juvenile blacktip reef sharks gracefully gliding near the jetty.
Who would've thought luck would lead me to the extraordinary journey of Nature's Nouveau at Tengah Island Conservation? As my feet landed on Tengah Island, everything unfolded like a vibrant tapestry of new experiences—scenery, people, food, and facilities surpassed my wildest expectations. Gratitude filled me as part of this incredible team, in a place beyond perfection. To seize every moment, I pledged to contribute fervently to our environment, particularly our oceans and planet. Thus, my spirited adventure commenced in the heart of Johor Marine Park!
Just 20 minutes off Mersing and civilization seems a world away… (fear not! There was still access to the internet and local phone networks – though intermittent at times) What can we do on an island that is just 3 km in circumference? The answer is a lot! Situated within the Johor Marine Park, Tengah Island Conservation (TIC) focuses mostly on conservation of sea turtles and coral reefs across 7 islands. It was a world of unknown for me as I had no prior knowledge on marine science and was purely interested in understanding what is happening in the conservation world – thank you to TIC for creating this platform for people from various backgrounds!
It was the last few weeks of my final semester when my supervisor gathered the class for our internship briefing. As a Marine Biology student, the first thing that came to everyone’s mind was to do their internship on an island and I, too, was planning to do the same. After some reading and discussion with my supervisor, I decided to apply for an internship at TIC. Their wide coverage of conservation work ranging from terrestrial mangrove restoration to underwater coral rehabilitation seemed like a great opportunity for me to begin my journey as a marine biologist.