Top tips to eco living on our island in Belize

Here are our guides on how to live green with limited environmental impact on the island in Belize where our Reef Conservation volunteers stay! 

The island is beautiful but very fragile so please help the team protect it by following the team’s sustainability guidelines:

1. Ensure that your sun cream and sunscreen is reef-safe 

As part of their conservation work to protect the underwater world, the team have banned all sunscreens that kill coral reef and all volunteers must bring only reef-safe sunscreen. The chemicals found in sunscreen (most notably oxybenzone and octinoxate) can kill developing coral, increase the bleaching of coral and damage the developing polyps. You an learn about what you need to consider when buying sunscreen and sun cream here.

2. Fresh Water

Fresh water is an extremely precious resource on our island! The team have to collect rain water for our systems and during the dry season rain becomes very rare. Once the reserve is empty, they have to import water and use the dive boat to transport water to the island. 

Please help to preserve fresh water by using hand sanitizer and switch off the water when you shampoo your hair. Try to minimize your water consumption with one quick shower at the end of the dive day!

3. Waste Water Management

Waste water systems in Belize cannot process toilet paper or hygiene products. The tanks will overflow into the drain fields and ruin the septic system. Remember to use the trash bins provided!  

4. Electricity

The team depend on a generator to supply the island with electricity. To minimize carbon emissions, gas consumption, and noise on the island, it is usually powered from 5am till 7:30am and 5:00pm till midnight.  The team are looking to source a solar powered system in the future however until then… 

Please be efficient and switch off lights and fans when you are not in your room!

5. Reduce plastic items

We recommend bringing reusable shopping bags, set of cutlery and straws which come in very handy, especially when you are on the mainland at weekends. The monthly beach clean up which is organised by the team is a stark reminder of the huge impact that plastic waste has upon our oceans. 

6. Avoiding meat

According to scientists, a plant-based diet is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on the planet. Meat production affects not only climate change emissions, but also freshwater and land use, as well as water and air pollution. Our Reef Conservation team strives to provide a mostly plant based diet. Invasive destructive lionfish are hunted by the team on the reefs surrounding the island so you get to eat very locally sourced fish from the ocean. Eating invasive lionfish is a win-win for the environment! 

You can learn all about our Reef Conservation project and volunteer role on the following webpage: https://www.podvolunteer.org/projects/marine-conservation-belize