Work and dive on a private Caribbean island this summer from just £495 with PoD

We need building and interior design volunteers - skilled or unskilled - to upgrade our reef conservation and research facility in the Caribbean this summer.

• Join one of the top 5 volunteer locations in the world, as rated by The Independent

• Help to develop a leading research centre and be part of an international drive to conserve and understand coral reefs

• Live on a private Caribbean island and be the only divers in the area

• Spend every afternoon diving for free on pristine and unvisited reefs.  And if you don’t dive we can teach you!

About the project

Our reef conservation organisation works off Frank’s Caye, a private 4-acre island in the midst of a Caribbean nature reserve. This summer they will be refurbishing all the buildings and need volunteers to help with the work. It’s a unique chance to live on a private island in the Caribbean, help a valuable scientific organisation expand and dive for free on some of the most unspoilt sites in the world.  

How you can help

We will use your skills to help us with basic building work, carpentry, electrics, plumbing, decorating and soft furnishings.  This summer, we are refurbishing our buildings (wooden cabanas) to improve the site and increase the amount of research that can be done. The work includes refurbishing the kitchens, the dining cabana, the accommodation cabanas and the dive store. We are also hoping to build a research classroom.  We therefore need skilled and unskilled volunteers to help with:

• Foundations
• Carpentry
• Framework
• Roofing
• Weatherproofing
• Electrics
• Plumbing
• Internal fittings
• Soft furnishings

There will be plenty of work throughout July, August and early September so both skilled and unskilled volunteers are more than welcome. We will always attempt to make the most of each volunteer’s particular expertise, so the work schedule will be created around the volunteers that we have booked throughout the summer. We will normally try to pair up skilled and unskilled volunteers so that those with less experience can learn and help those with more.

Lifestyle

The Belizian lifestyle is a typically laid back Caribbean one.  You will find the rest of the world melts away as soon as you step onto the island!

The building work will generally take place in the mornings as the afternoons can get very hot. This frees up the afternoons to spend diving on the incredible dive sites around the island. It’s a true divers’ paradise: most dive sites are less than 10 minutes from the island and the marine life is incredible. Best of all, you are unlikely to ever see other divers. We include free diving every afteroon for all building volunteers.

What's included

• A comprehensive information booklet
• Travel advice and assistance
• Collection from Punta Gorda airstrip
• Boat transfers to and from Frank's Caye 
• Use of building equipment 
•  Support and guidance throughout your placement
• All dives
• All dive equipment (excl wetsuit, mask, booties, dive computer)
• Free scuba review if you have a dive qualification but haven't dived recently
• All meals
• Week time accommodation on Frank's Caye and weekend accommodation in Punta Gorda

What's not included

Flights (£450-£800), travel insurance, visa (free).
You won't need other expenses for living but if you want to have a bit of fun at weekends and do some trips allow £20-£30 for weekends and £50 per trip.

The requirements

We welcome skilled and unskilled volunteers and both divers and non divers.

However we do have a particular need for:

• An experienced site foreman / project manager to design the work schedule
• Carpenters
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Decorators
• Interior designer / seamstress to design and create the furnishings

For more details about the island and our year round dive conservation and research work Click here

Next steps and how to apply

Please contact us if you would like to discuss the placement, or go to the how to apply section where you can apply online or download an application form.

You can book this trip on the phone: 01242 250 901

Is there a barefoot builder in you?

Frank's Caye from the pier