Caribbean Reef Conservation
from £895 GBP
Caribbean Reef Conservation
Duration: from 1 Weeks to 6 Months
Countries: Belize
£75 discount for volunteers who combine more than one PoD project! Live on your own private island in the Caribbean and receive your PADI open water diving qualification! Enjoy a variety of research, recreational and night dives
During the week you will live on Tom Owens Caye which is beautiful 1 acre coral island in the Sapodilla Cayes reef system - a marine reserve in the Caribbean just off the coast of Belize. Volunteers do daily conservation dives and reef check dives which contribute to an ongoing conservation project headed by the Belizean government.
All the work you will do directly contributes to the protection of the environment and to the wider scientific understanding of the reef systems.
This project allows you to make a real difference to conservation whilst living on your own beautiful tropical island.
A typical week:
The main focus of the placement is to join in with the conservation projects through survey dives and coral reef check dives. By doing these you will help to develop an understanding of the complex ecosystem of the area in order to maximize conservation efforts and maintain the long term general health of the coral reef. You can do fun pre-breakfast and night dives most days. Many divers also get the chance to swim with whale sharks during their time on Tom Owens Caye.
You will find yourself becoming part of the local community in Punta Gorda at the weekends when you return to the mainland. For example our dive centre sponsors a local football team and guests often watch the matches.
By volunteering at the centre you will make a major contribution to the understanding of the reef ecosystem in the Sapodilla Cayes. Your time and efforts will also help to put pressure in the Belizean Government to protect the area.
Our dive conservation centre is not for profit and the majority of the programme costs directly benefit the local community. The contribution also provides a critical source of funding for future research and conservation work.
Savings:
£75 discount for volunteers who combine more than one PoD project!
Representative:
All the time
This placement would suit:
Anyone who wants to make a real difference to conservation whilst living on your own beautiful tropical island.
Do you accept non UK citizens?
Yes
Do you accept applicants with disabilities?
Yes
Feeback:
“Diving was a completely new experience for me, I’d never even snorkelled before, but after the two weeks on Tom Owens, it a part of me and I’ll definitely be adding to my dive log book – hopefully for many years to come. I’m buzzing about this experience because there isn’t one negative. Best decision ever made.”
Inclusions
accommodation, food, airport pickup
Reef Conservation
Reef surveys
Reef Conservation
Reef surveys
Reef Conservation
Whale shark
Reef Conservation
Sunset on the island
PoD
PoD is a leading non-profit organisation arranging ethical, inspiring and supported volunteering opportunities around the world. We work with long term projects that we know personally and where there is genuine benefit to local communities. Whether it is for 1 week or 6 months, volunteers are needed to help work with disadvantaged children, communities, animals and conservation projects in Belize, Cambodia, Ghana, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, Thailand and Vietnam.
