Marine Life Stewards: Assisting in the Protection of Belize's Underwater World

North America, Belize, Placencia
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Duration : 1 to 8 Weeks

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Program Highlights

Immerse yourself in the Caribbean culture and lifestyle while volunteering on a beautiful and pristine island.
Work alongside experienced marine conservationists and biologists and learn from their expertise.
Contribute to the protection and preservation of endangered marine species such as sea turtles, rays, and sharks.
Participate in beach cleanups and learn about the impacts of marine pollution on the ecosystem.
Develop teamwork and leadership skills through collaborative conservation projects.
Gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the importance of marine conservation and environmental sustainability.

UN’s Sustainable Development Goals:

This program is ideal for

Volunteers wanting to make a difference through our hands-on volunteer marine conservation programs while having a fun and unforgettable experience. Join us and feel the thrill of swimming with a whale shark, the excitement of spearing the invasive lionfish, and the satisfaction in helping the marine environment.

Volunteer with Reef Conservation International: Protecting Belize's Underwater World

Are you passionate about marine life and eager to make a difference? Join Reef Conservation International (ReefCI) and experience the thrill of swimming with whale sharks, the excitement of lionfish spearing, and the satisfaction of protecting Belize's stunning coral reefs.

What is Reef Conservation International?

Reef Conservation International (ReefCI) offers a unique opportunity to actively participate in ongoing marine conservation projects. Located on a private Caribbean island within the Belize Barrier Reef, we combine incredible diving experiences with meaningful conservation work. Dive into the heart of marine preservation with us and make a positive impact!

Is This a Good Fit for Me?

Reef Conservation International provides a fantastic platform to engage in real-world conservation efforts while having an incredible time. Whether you are:

A gap year student with aspirations of a marine biology career.
A college student majoring in marine biology seeking hands-on experience to boost your resume.
A working professional exploring new career possibilities in marine biology or professional diving.

ReefCI is an ideal destination for you to learn and gain insights into your potential career choices.

Scuba Certification and Diving with ReefCI

Our volunteer opportunities cater to both novice and experienced divers. If you're not certified, worry not, as many of our volunteers come to the island to learn to dive. Looking to advance your dive credentials? Our island offers a serene learning environment with clear waters and minimal currents, replacing the traditional classroom with a scenic outdoor setting under the shade of palm trees.

We offer various dive courses to enhance your scuba skills and marine conservation knowledge during your stay. Here are some of the PADI certification courses we provide:

Open Water Certification – $225 USD (3 days)
Advanced Open Water Certification – $275 USD (3 days)
Rescue Diver Certification – $325 USD (1 week)
Divemaster Certification – $750 USD (4-week minimum stay)

PADI Specialty Certification Courses Offered on the Island

(Open Water Certification is a prerequisite for all PADI specialty courses)

PADI Specialties with a Marine Conservation Focus:

Coral Reef Conservation – $175 USD (1 day)
Fish Identification – $175 USD (2 days)
Invasive Lionfish – $175 USD (2 days)
Shark Conservation – $175 USD (2 days)
Underwater Naturalist – $175 USD (2 days)

PADI Specialties with a Diving Skills Focus:

Deep Diver – $175 USD (3 days)
Emergency First Response – $175 USD (1 day)
Underwater Navigator – $175 USD (3 days)
Underwater Photographer – $250 USD (2 days)

*Please Note: Some courses require PADI eLearning prior to arrival, while others do not. Full open water certification is required before taking PADI specialty courses.

Beyond Diving

When you're not exploring the underwater wonders, our island offers a plethora of activities:

Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Kayaking
Snorkeling
Fishing from the island
Conservation activities (dissections, data collection)
Volleyball and badminton
Delectable food and plenty of hammock time
Optional PADI courses to further your dive training

Join Reef Conservation International, and together, we can protect Belize's underwater world. Dive in, make a difference, and experience the thrill of marine conservation like never before.

Role and responsibility

Since 2006, Reef Conservation International has sustained itself through our volunteer program, enabling us to protect the underwater world we love. ReefCI has relied on dedicated conservationists and environmentally conscious volunteers from around the world who have contributed their time and effort to protect the Belize Barrier Reef.

Our conservation work is funded solely through environmentally minded eco-volunteers who come to our unique island sitting in Belize to assist in our various marine conservation projects. Without your help and funding, ReefCI would not be possible. Our ultimate goal is to preserve and manage the Belize Barrier Reef for generations to come by inspiring, educating, and encouraging change via our volunteers. Our volunteers truly are the change they wish to see in the world.

Volunteering work per day

4-9 hours volunteering per day

Volunteer schedule

Each week/day will differ but you will be helping and participating in the following areas:

* Invasive Lionfish: Spearfish 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.

* Whale Shark Monitoring (if spotted): Dive with the largest fish in the ocean and record sightings to improve conservation efforts.

* Biodiversity Identification Dives: Identification dives (fish, sea turtles, sharks, invertebrates, coral) to increase one’s understanding of reef ecosystems.

* Beach Clean-ups: Weekly beach and island trash/plastic removal on islands of the Belize Barrier Reef.

Depending on the season and length of stay you might not take part in all of these activities above but it is a good bet that you will experience most of them.

We are located on a beautiful, idyllic remote private island that is part of the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve Park, located in southern Belize about an hour boat ride from the mainland. Our island, Tom Owens Caye, is a true ‘castaway’ coral caye island located directly on the Belize Barrier Reef. The island is about 1½ acres and has a large living area, great views and lots of hammock space. All of our volunteers upon arrival tell us that the photos do not do the island justice! It really is a perfect Caribbean paradise.

Accommodations are basic but clean and comfortable and can best be described as hostel-like. If you are expecting or wishing a 5-star resort then our island is not for you. The location of our island however is 5 stars as every room has incredible views of the Caribbean Sea! Imagine waking up to the sound of lapping waves and a spectacular Belizean sunrise! Our large main cabana building houses couples, families, groups, and singles. We also have individual single cabanas that surround the island. Bathroom and shower facilities are shared by all. We do not have air conditioning on the island as the strong trade winds provide a continuous cooling breeze on the island. However, rooms can occasionally become stuffy so all rooms have fans if needed. Our island manager allocates rooms upon arrival on Monday morning based on the number of singles, couples, and groups for the week. Couples, groups, and families are always roomed together.

A generator is kept in its own room to reduce noise pollution. It is run all night on the island allowing guests to charge their laptops, iPhones, iPods and cameras etc. and use a fan if the sea breeze is not enough. This generator is turned on in the evening so during the day electricity is limited.

Accommodation Type

Cottages

Volunteer House

Wifi

Food & Beverages

ReefCI is known for our great food!! We provide 3 hearty meals a day plus an early morning snack and a mid-afternoon or late evening snack everyday while on the island.

Vegetarian, Vegan, Food Allergy? All Dietary Needs Fully Catered For!

All dietary requirements are catered for (food allergies, vegan, vegetarian, no seafood, dairy, tree nuts etc). No worries - we have vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, gluten free eaters, diabetics, and nut allergy volunteers that come to the island every year. Our chef is quite accustomed to meeting the needs of our volunteers. Don't worry, we will make sure your dietary needs are met : ) However, it is always a good idea to bring special food and snacks that you like.

All meals and drinking water/juices are provided for you while you are at the island. There is an honesty book system on the island, which has a small selection of sodas, beers, and rum drinks available at an additional cost.

1 weeks	$1124	Equivalent to $161/day
2 weeks	$2189	Equivalent to $156/day
3 weeks	$3253	Equivalent to $155/day
4 weeks	$4318	Equivalent to $154/day
5 weeks	$5382	Equivalent to $154/day
6 weeks	$6447	Equivalent to $154/day
8 weeks	$8576	Equivalent to $153/day

What's included

24/7 in-country support
Accommodation
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Lunch
Pre-departure support from your Program Manager

Important things to note

Cost Note

Details on arrival

Our conservation dive trips are Monday thru Friday – we depart for our island at 9:30am on Monday from Placencia, Belize and return to the mainland (Placencia) on Friday anywhere from 10am-12pm depending on ocean navigability. Volunteers must schedule arrival and departure in and out of Placencia, Belize either on a Saturday or Sunday.

Weekend Accommodations

All volunteers will need to book a hotel or hostel in Placencia upon their arrival and departure on a Saturday or Sunday. Those staying multiple weeks will need weekend accommodations on the mainland Friday night thru Sunday night in between their weeks with us on the island. So with ReefCI you get the best of both worlds. An amazing marine conservation volunteering experience Monday thru Friday on a private Caribbean island on the Belize Barrier Reef and the weekends on the mainland exploring all Belize has to offer. From ancient ruins, jungles and nature expeditions, spelunking, repelling, ziplining, cave and river tubing, to cultural tours; there is something for everyone on the weekends. You are guaranteed a trip of a lifetime in Belize!

Flights to Placencia, Belize

All volunteers will fly into Belize’s only international airport - Belize International Airport (BZE) which is located in Belize City. From there, you will make a connection flight to Placencia, Belize via a small hopper plane. The short hopper flights typically provide around 9 daily flights on the weekends to and from Belize International Airport and Placencia. There are two airline companies that operate hopper flights in Belize. Tropic Air and Maya Island Air –google them to search flight times and prices. All volunteers must schedule arrival and departure on a Saturday or Sunday. We will depart for the island on Monday from Placencia, Belize at 9:30am and return on Friday to Placencia anywhere from 10am-12pm.

Availability

We are open year-round including all holidays.

Duration

1 - 8 weeks

Deposit (15%)

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment (85%)

Your final payment will be agreed with ReefCI during the application process. Common solutions are credit card or bank transfer.

If you cancel your trip, payment is non-refundable. Paid trips or deposits can be rescheduled or transferred into another’s name. Rescheduled trips must be rebooked within 12 months of your original departure date. If you cancel your trip 60 days or less before departure date, trip is non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled. If ReefCI cancels the trip 100% of the payment will be refunded; EXCEPT in cases of natural disaster and force majeure (hurricanes, tropical storms, sickness, pandemics, etc…). Should diving or island boat transfers not take place due to force majeure, natural disaster, or unforeseeable circumstances including rough sea conditions, monies will not be refunded. ReefCI highly recommends travel insurance that covers such events as they will affect operations from time to time. If a person does not complete their certification course there will be no refund for the course or the difference of diver/non-diver rate. ReefCI operates under a strict no drug policy. Drugs are not allowed on the boat or the island. ReefCI reserves the right to immediately dismiss any volunteer violating the drug policy without a refund.

ReefCI reserves the right to charge for lost or damaged dive gear (BCD, regulator, fins, mask, booties, weights, wetsuit, dive light, or any other ReefCI item) if the borrower lost or damaged said item while in possession of the item. ReefCI reserves the right to charge a weekly food and fuel inflation surcharge for a nominal fee to keep up with rising inflation costs. All payments must be made via credit card – ReefCI does not accept cash.

Important Things to Note

All programs attract a Registration Deposit Fee of 15% of the program cost in addition to the main program fee. This fee is refundable in the event of your booking cancellation by our partner organisation.
A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transport to and from your placement each day and for returning to the airport when your program finishes.
Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Belize generally find US$50 - US$100 to be sufficient for basic weekly expenses.

100% refund

100% refund of amount paid if you cancel at least-in60days before check

50% refund

50% refund of amount paid (minus the service fee) if you cancel at least31days before check-in

No refund

No refund if you cancel less than 30days before check-in.

Reschedule Program Date

You can reschedule up to 7days prior to the arrival date your booking free of charge

Reschedule or switch programs anytime free of cost. Our Felx Option covers it!

Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

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Marine Life Stewards: Assisting in the Protection of Belize's Underwater World

Program Fees (View Cost Details)

$1124

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Marine Life Stewards: Assisting in the Protection of Belize's Underwater World

Program Highlights

UN’s Sustainable Development Goals:

This program is ideal for

Program Overview

Role and responsibility

Volunteering work per day

Volunteer schedule

Criminal background check

Yes, volunteers are required to have educational qualifications

Accommodation Type

Wifi

Food & Beverages

What's included

Important things to note

Cost Note

Activities

100% refund

50% refund

No refund

Reschedule Program Date

Reschedule or switch programs anytime free of cost. Our Felx Option covers it!

Are you eligible to volunteer?

Your Volunteering journey simplified

Thank you..

Team Meaningful.Travel would get back to you within One working day.

Got a Question? Write to us

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