• Experience many unique snorkel locations around Adelaide and South Australia (including the Fleurieu Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and the South East)
• Have fun as part of a friendly and diverse team, with optional team social events and team trips
• Learn new skills and marine knowledge
• Undertake free and subsidised accredited and non-accredited training
• Share information about SA’s marine ecology and promote marine conservation and marine sanctuaries
• Access EMS merch and team clothing – long-sleeved polo shirt – great for sun protection, and EMS hoodie and beanie for those who volunteer at least 3 days at CuttleFest

EMS needs volunteers for in and out of the water at our community snorkel events.

The pathway for in-water volunteers is usually:

• trainee snorkel guide
• assistant snorkel guide (after some experience with EMS) 
• lead snorkel guide (when experienced and / or after completion of the Lead Snorkel Activities certification with EMS)

EMS also needs volunteers to assist with:

• shore support
• kayak support
• registration desk and wetsuit & gear fitting
• site setup and pack down

EMS welcomes volunteers for roles out of the water including:

• assisting with VR sessions at special events, community centres or schools
• manning the EMS table at events and festivals
• administration or special projects depending on skills and experience

There is no obligation to be available every week. Ideally a volunteer could assist at a minimum of 3 events per year. While there is no minimum requirement, EMS rewards volunteers for their level of involvement.

You have the option to volunteer on occasional weekends at our community snorkel events, or on occasional weekdays at our school snorkel events and VR sessions. On our volunteer portal, you can select the dates that suit you.

Most of our snorkel days run in the warmer months from September – May, but we also hold cuttlefish snorkel tours in June/July.

Our volunteers range in age from 12–70+. Our Ethan London Youth Program allows young people aged 12–17 to volunteer with parent supervision.

See more information about the Ethan London Youth Volunteer Program

• Complete the online induction in the volunteer portal.
• Apply for your Working With Children Check (if you don’t have one already). This is free for volunteers and instructions are on our volunteer portal.
• Book in to do your First Aid certificate, if you don’t have this already. See below for more information.
• Complete the RRHAN-EC Free Online Fundamentals Training here
• Check out the Opportunities Calendar on the volunteer portal and start signing up.

As a minimum, all volunteers aged 18 and above need their First Aid Certificate. EMS can reimburse up to $100 of the cost after you have completed at least one day of volunteering with us.

EMS provides free accredited and professional development training for volunteers. We suggest coming along to volunteer at one or more events first, and then you may consider signing up for further training including:

• Basic Oxygen Administration
• Lead Snorkel Activities (including Freediver Breathing Techniques)
• PADI Basic Freediver Training
• Inclusive training
• Risk Management and Rescue skills
• Cultural Awareness

It helps if you have experience in the water as a snorkeller, diver, kayaker or swimmer, but many of our volunteers develop more confidence with snorkelling after they start volunteering at our events. Most volunteers start as a trainee guide, and progress to an assistant guide or lead guide.

Our roles are well-suited to marine biologists and marine biology students. However EMS welcomes volunteers from a range of backgrounds and experience. The most important is that you have a passion for conservation of our local marine environment and marine sanctuaries and want to inspire the community to get involved and learn more about EMS.