Caribbean Reef Conservation
Belize

This award winning project is focused on conserving the environment and contributing to ongoing marine research, working alongside the Belizean government to monitor and protect the reef ecosystem at the tip of Belize Barrier Reef in the Caribbean.

You will be involved in marine conservation work whilst learning to dive, improving your dive skills or simply exploring the reef with the research team!

With a small friendly team and the opportunity to live on your own tropical island, it really is a great way to experience and help save the marine life in the Caribbean. 

You can be contributing and participating in the following areas:

• Invasive Lionfish – spearing Lionfish to remove this destructive invasive species that is destroying native coral reef ecosystems
• Marine Conservation Education – learn about coral reefs and marine animals and discover how we can protect our oceans and reefs from climate change
• Biodiversity Identification Dives – ID dives (fish, sea turtles, sharks, invertebrates, coral) to increase knowledge and understanding of reef ecosystems
• Beach Clean-ups – weekly beach and island rubbish removal from islands in the Belize Barrier Reef 

Dive Courses

All levels of diver are welcome as training is provided while you are at the project. You need to be an Open Water diver to participate in the conservation work so you will complete this course first if you haven't dived before. It is a great location for beginners as there is good visibility and no strong currents.

If you are a beginner doing your PADI Open Water Course, there is a limited amount of conservation work included during your first week, so if possible we would recommend booking for 2 weeks or longer to get more involved with the conservation programme.

While on the island you can also choose to develop your dive skills by taking additional PADI dives and courses:

• Specialty Courses – Invasive Lionfish, Coral Reef Conservation, Fish Identification, Shark Conservation, Underwater Naturalist, Deep Diver, Underwater Navigator, Underwater Photographer
• Advanced Open Water
• Rescue Diver
• Dive Master

Itinerary and typical day

On the first Sunday that you arrive into Placencia you can explore the village restaurants and beach before meeting the team on Monday morning and travelling over to the island together by boat. Once on the island you will have an orientation and certified divers will do an initial refresher dive.

From Monday to Friday morning you will be living on the island and going out daily for research and conservation dives. There are normally around 10-12 dives each week in small groups and also one night dive for Advanced divers.

For a detailed itinerary, please see:

• Week 1 schedule
• Week 2 schedule (additional weeks are similar to week 2)

On Friday morning you will travel back to Placencia where you can spend your free time over the weekend.

Other volunteers

There are usually 6-18 volunteers (with a maximum of 20), numbers vary throughout the year.

Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) award

This placement has been approved by the DofE as meeting the requirements for the Residential section of the Gold Award.

Local support

Volunteers are supported by the island dive team including PADI dive instructors.

“Coral reefs are home to 25% of all marine fish and the scientific community recognizes the need to work with non-scientists. Volunteers help us monitor and maintain the health of the reef and its inhabitants” Anthony, Project Director

During the week (Monday - Thursday) volunteers live on a private tropical island. Volunteers will either stay in the project house in a shared room or in a small private cabanas overlooking the sea. If you would prefer to stay in your own room you can request to stay in a cabana. All rooms are simple but comfortable and have fans.

The bathroom facilities are shared and there are communal areas to relax, eat and socialise in. No internet access is available on the island.

Weekend accommodation (Friday-Sunday) is not included but there are a number of options in the popular coastal village of Placencia.

Meals 

All meals are provided for you whilst you are on the island, which is a mostly plant based diet with protein sourced from the ocean (invasive lionfish). Here are typical examples of the food you may have: 

• Before first dive of the day - tea, coffee, biscuits, fruit
• Breakfast – toast, eggs, omelette, beans and fry jack (Belizean doughnut) 
• Lunch – pasta, rice and beans, tortillas, fried fish, salads 
• Dinner – traditional Belizean meals of burrito, rice and beans, ceviche, curries, pasta 

Vegetarian and vegan options can be provided. Those with gluten allergies can also be catered for.  

Drinking water is provided on the island. 

You will need to fly into Belize City (BZE) and then take a connecting flight to Placencia (PLJ).

You will stay overnight in Placencia, before being met by the team and transferred to the island by boat.

Location and free time

You will live on a small private Caribbean island from Monday to Thursday which is at the tip of the second largest barrier reef in the world. This is a true ‘castaway’ island and is extremely idyllic and an amazing ‘get away’ experience as only the project team and volunteers stay here. The island is part of the Sapodilla group of islands, located in the south of Belize. It is a World Heritage Site and a marine reserve situated around 40km from the mainland.

Whilst you are on the island you can spend your free time using the kayaks, snorkelling, playing volleyball, paddle-boarding or just soaking up the laid back Caribbean atmosphere in the hammocks!

Volunteers spend their weekends in Placencia, a coastal village located in southern Belize with 16 miles of sandy beaches so the weekends are a chance for you to relax on the beach or explore.

If you would like to explore Belize there are a huge variety of things to do in your weekends from Placencia including exploring caves and visiting waterfalls, Mayan ruins or chocolate making tours. Whilst travelling along the rivers by boat or canoe you can often spot howler monkeys swinging in the trees as well as a huge variety of bird life. These activities are best booked locally once you are at the project.

Dive conditions

Water temperature: 26-29°C

Visibility: 15-30m

Depth range: Usually 10-18m, sometimes up to 40m for Advanced divers. There are around 30 dive sites which you access by boat or from the shore.

Common marine life you will encounter includes: barracuda, butterfly fish, parrot fish, angel fish, dolphins, mackerel, lionfish, grunt, surgeon fish, moray eels, hawksbill turtles, sting rays, nurse sharks. If you’re very lucky you may see whale sharks, black tip sharks, manta rays, leatherback turtles and hammer headed sharks.

Climate

Belize has a tropical climate meaning that it’s generally hot and humid all year round. Temperatures usually between 15–35°C, averaging 26°C but due to the humidity (approximately 85%) it can feel much warmer. The cooler months are from December to February. The dry season with higher temperatures runs from March to July whilst August to November normally sees the heavier rains. 

Travelling in Belize before or after your placement

Belize is a tropical small country on the Caribbean coast nestled between Mexico and Guatemala. It has a relaxed vibe and is a great place to volunteer and explore the beautiful scenery and diverse nature.

With over 60% natural forest cover, and 40% of its land area under protection, Belize is one of the most pristine countries in the world. Popular activities in Belize include:

• Visiting the Maya ruins
• Exploring the jungles
• Diving the famous Blue Hole

For more information on Belize and some of the things we loved when we visited there please see our Belize country page. 

Frances 

“This was an amazing opportunity to spend time on a tiny but beautiful island in the reef conservation area of Belize barrier reef. I felt incredibly lucky. The diving was great fun with nurse sharks, sting ray and unfortunately plenty of lion fish to spear. 

I am an advanced diver already but there is the opportunity to obtain your open water or further qualifications whilst you are there and where better to do this!”

Fred 

“If you wish to volunteer for any project, this is a great way to go. You are well prepared for your project and there are no surprises. The advanced information is spot on with regard to what you will accomplish and what is expected of you. 

Every aspect of the trip unfolded exactly as I expected. If I were looking to volunteer again with one of my grandchildren, this is the only way I would do it.

If you love to dive and want to contribute sign up and be prepared to have a great experience.”

Andrea 

“My volunteering experience was everything I had been hoping for and even more! I loved living on a tiny island and scuba diving all day in such a remote and beautiful place.

The conservation work was fun and interesting and I learned a lot about coral reefs and the creatures living in them. During my 2 weeks’ stay we spotted several nurse sharks, turtles, octopuses, moray eels and an eagle ray.

The staff were amazing, I felt completely safe diving with them and enjoyed doing my Advanced Open Water certification. I also loved meeting so many like-minded people from all around the world and sharing this experience with them.”

Faye 

“It is a beautiful little island and after only four weeks it became a second home. I miss it already! Instructors Willy and Pete were amazing both on the island and under the water; 10 out of 10.

The diving was fantastic with wonderful coral and so much wildlife: turtles, sharks, rays, and much more. Hardly a day would go by without me suddenly squeaking underwater after sighting something spectacular.

I really felt I was helping the environment with every lionfish I speared because I was preventing the birth of potentially millions of harmful organisms." 

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