Project summary

During the week you will live on Hunting Caye which is a small island in the Sapodilla Cayes reef system - one of a number of marine reserves 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.

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 Hunting 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.

The location

During the week, you will stay on a small secluded Caribbean island, which has a large living area, a restaurant and bar as well as stunningly beautiful white sandy beaches. The island is an idyllic 5 acre coral caye, so if you've ever wanted to experience your own secluded Caribbean island this is it!!

The diving and surveys

Diving here is structured, but relaxed, and not regimented. There are no other dive boats in the area. There are opportunities to do a mix of fun dives, fantastic wall dives, reef check survey dives and commercial species dives.

Your survey dives will give you a fascinating insight into the reef system and develop your knowledge of the environment, identifying fish, coral and invertebrates. You can help in a variety of ways depending on how long you want to stay for and your diving ability. Even if you have never dived before, you can learn on the project and get PADI qualifications in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. Or you can assist with the surveys as a non-diver or snorkeller.

It is safe non challenging diving with visibility ranges from 15-40 metres and no strong currents. There are rarely other divers in the area and often new dive sites are discovered. The early morning and night recreational dives are a great way to begin or end your day. Along with the usual Caribbean reef life such as Spotted Eagle Rays, Groupers, Moray Eels, Hawksbill and Loggerhead Turtles and Dolphins you may be lucky enough to see giant Manta Rays and Whale Sharks.

The reef itself is very beautiful, covered with a wide range of soft and hard corals as well as numerous lovely songs and the giant barrel sponge. The night dives are fantastic with a huge amount of life. You can see lots of shrimps, octopus and free swimming moray eels, lobsters out of their holes, squid and crabs. During the full moon cycle you will get to the fantastic light show from the String of Pearls.

PADI Dive Courses
While on the island you can do your PADI Open Water, Advanced Diver, Rescue Diver, a variety of speciality dives, EFR first aid and you can also do your Divemaster course.

• Open Water is included for free in the first week for those that do not have it
• Advanced Diver 2-3 days £150
• Rescue Diver 4 days £300
• Emergency First Aid 1 day £150
• Divemaster £750

The above prices do not include manuals and PADI fees.

How you can make a difference

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.

What's included

• A comprehensive information booklet
• Travel advice and assistance
• Collection from Punta Gorda airstrip
• Boat transfers to and from Hunting Caye
• All dives
• Dive equipment (excl wetsuit, mask, booties, dive computer)
• PADI Open Water if you do not already have it
• Free scuba review if you have a dive qualification but haven't dived recently
• All meals on the island
• Weekday accommodation on Hunting Caye

What else to budget for

The following items are not included and estimates are given as a guide for your budgeting: flights (£450-£800), travel insurance, visa (free). Weekend accommodation £30 upwards depending on where you choose to stay. Weekly personal spending £20 to £50.

If you want to do some trips at weekends then allow an extra £50 to £100 per trip away.

Other projects you might also be interested in....

* Marine conservation in Thailand

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More details

Background information about the project

The marine surveys involve collecting data on coral, fish & invertebrates, which is submitted internationally to Reef Check headquarters for inclusion in global coral reef status reports, and locally to the Belizean Department of Fisheries. The current primary objective is for the Belizean Government to enforce preservation zones in the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve.

If you are there during the months of June to December you may also have the chance to work on the turtle conservation project.

Volunteer accommodation and food

The accommodation is in a brand new building that was donated to the University of Belize for research and education purposes.  The rooms are clean and comfortable, the building is run on solar power and all rooms have fans.  The food is excellent with a mix of local and international dishes.  We often eat fresh fish and seafood and vegetarians are catered for. 

Freetime and travel opportunities

At the weekend, you will leave the island and return to the mainland town of Punta Gorda, a chance for you to have some Internet catch up time and eat out. It is also a great chance to sample laid back Belizean village life or stay in a jungle lodge.

There is a huge variety of things to do including exploring south Belize, visiting caves and waterfalls and staying in jungle lodges. Travelling 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 including the Montezuma bird, toucans and parrots.

If you wish you can spend your weekends at the Cotton Tree Lodge where you stay in amazing cabanas by the Moho River in the heart of the jungle. Or you can stay at the charming Hickatee Cottages in a jungle setting just outside Punta Gorda.

Alternatively you can explore further a field and travel to Livingstone, Guatemala and visit the gorgeous Rio Dulce where you can stay in beautiful jungle lodges. You can also visit neighbouring Mexico or Honduras.

Challenges

You will need to be reasonably physically fit, able to tolerate high temperatures, work well within a team and be adaptable to living and working in a group.

Requirements

To participate in the dive conservation and survey work you will need to be at least PADI Open Water so if you do not have it you will need to take the course when you arrive. We also recommend that you take your Advanced diver to be able to participate in the deeper pre-breakfast fun dives.

Where does your money go

PoD is run as a non-profit organisation and does not receive any external funding. We charge a fee for all our placements to cover the overseas costs of volunteering and the costs of running our organisation in the UK. 

For this project approximately 80% of the fee you pay is passed to the project in Belize.

Volunteer reviews

Click here to read volunteer reviews for our Belize marine conservation volunteer project.