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Marine Conservation Volunteer Program in Belize
Next start date available: Jun 19, 2023

Marine Conservation Volunteer Program in Belize

Ready to dive into a new adventure as a Marine Conservation volunteer in Belize? International Volunteer HQ’s Marine Conservation project is set on a tiny private island in the Caribbean where volunteers have the opportunity to help conserve and preserve the stunning marine environment. Volunteers will scuba dive at least twice a day in various locations to assist local marine biologists to gather data, conduct surveys and remove invasive species.

Highlights:
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Affordable fees from CA$1480 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, meals, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Volunteer alongside scientists to help combat climate change

  • Explore breathtaking Belize, above and below the waves

  • Step out of your room or cabana and onto the beach

Key information

Protect & preserve precious marine life
Based on a private island
Volunteer house accommodation
Volunteers aged 16+, or 12+ accompanied
Fully hosted experience from CA$1480 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 8 weeks
PADI Dive courses and certificates available
Up to 5 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Volunteers who are passionate about marine conservation and want to make a difference to vulnerable ecosystems. You’ll also need to be a confident swimmer and be Open Water Dive certified. This certification can be obtained while volunteering on the island, or in advance of your trip.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

Climate change, pollution and development have seen coral reefs all over the world suffer and deteriorate. The Caribbean is no exception and its reefs have been showing the detrimental effects of increasing human activity for decades. This volunteer project in Belize has taken a proactive approach to help the marine ecosystems recover and ensure their health and survival long-term. As a Marine Conservation volunteer, you’ll assist local marine biologists to achieve this by gathering data, conducting surveys and removing invasive species.

Volunteers can expect to take part in 12-13 dives each week which will be a combination of both shore dives and boat dives. This usually works out to be two dives on Monday, three dives on Tuesday through to Thursday, one dive on Friday, and at least one night dive.

On the Marine Conservation project activities vary depending on the season, but can include:

  • Learning how to use spearfishing to control the invasive, reef-destroying Lionfish
  • Discovering the wonders of the marine world on biodiversity identification dives where you’ll see a plethora of fish, sharks, sea turtles, coral and invertebrates
  • Learning how to protect reefs and marine animals from a warming planet
  • Weekly beach and island trash and plastic removal on islands of the Belize Barrier Reef
Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water

The ocean regulates and drives global systems that make the Earth habitable for humankind. Marine biodiversity is critical to the health of people and our planet. Preserving threatened ecosystems, as well as tackling marine pollution and overfishing through conservation activities is key to saving our ocean.

Why do Marine Conservation volunteering in Belize with IVHQ?

When you join the Marine Conservation project in Belize, you’ll be helping protect the extraordinary natural environment while getting hands-on conservation experience and achieving personal growth by:

  • Helping keep endangered marine life safe and healthy
  • Scuba diving around Belize’s Barrier Reef
  • Gaining experience in marine conservation, data collection and biodiversity
  • Learning about the effects of climate change
  • Discovering the beautiful islands of the Caribbean

Volunteer requirements

  • In order to participate on the Marine Conservation project, you must be a competent swimmer and have an Open Water Dive Certification. This certification can be obtained while volunteering on the island, or in advance of your trip.
  • Young people over 12 years of age are able to volunteer on this project if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • Volunteers aged 16 and older may be able to participate independently.
  • All volunteers under the age of 18 who are traveling with one parent or guardian, or independently, will need to complete a Minor Travel Consent Form, which is required by the Belize government and international airlines. Independent volunteers under the age of 18 years will be required to provide additional waivers and documentation, which a guardian must complete. All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance All volunteers must speak fluent English.
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”If you are doubting on whether to go or not, do it! Belize is a beautiful and mysterious place full of beautiful people and magical places. The program itself is something you´ll never forget! Every single moment on the program I felt like I was helping and I felt surrounded by people full of love. When I arrived on the island for the first time, it felt like a giant hug, like I was supposed to be there. Being on the program opens opportunities and will help you to learn about yourself.”

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Volunteer Abroad in Belize with IVHQ

Location

Set on a tiny private island 45 minutes off the coast of Belize, volunteers at IVHQ’s Marine Conservation project will have an incredible opportunity to stay in and dive around the Caribbean. The island is warm, sunny and remote so you’ll be able to rest and relax when you’re not out exploring the breathtaking beauty of the area and its marine life.

Volunteers will stay on the island from Monday to Thursday before being taken back to Placencia, on mainland Belize, by boat on Friday. Volunteers will need to arrange and pay for their own accommodation on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. There is a range of accommodation options to choose from in Placencia, or you can choose to explore other parts of Belize during the weekends. The boat will take you back to the private island again on Monday if you are staying more than a week.

Arrival and orientation

The program begins every Monday and volunteers need to arrive in Placencia on the Sunday before their program begins. On Monday, volunteers travel by boat from Placencia to the island where the program is based. This transfer is included in the Program Fee.

After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Placencia Airport (PLJ) on the Sunday before your program start date. Please note that flights to Placencia Airport need to be booked to depart from Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City. The airlines that fly from Belize City to Placencia are Maya Island Air and Tropic Air.

Once you have arrived in Placencia, you will need to take a taxi to the accommodation that you have booked for Sunday night. There are a number of taxis at the airport and the fare into town should cost between US$5-US$10. Accommodation on the private island is provided from Monday to Thursday each week. If you are staying for 1 week, you will need to book your own accommodation on the mainland for the Sunday before your program start date and for the Friday night when you arrive back to the mainland. If you are staying longer than 1 week, you will also need to arrange accommodation for the weekends during your program.

If you are traveling in Belize prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to meet up with the local team in Placencia on the morning of your program orientation.

The program orientation will be held on the island when you arrive on Monday. The orientation is hosted by the local team and includes an introduction to the IVHQ Belize Program, rules and expectations, health and safety, and an introduction to the local marine ecosystem. Orientation will also give you a chance to get to know the other volunteers who you will be living on the island with.

Volunteer schedule example

First Day

On your first day of volunteering, you will be taken by boat out to the island, have orientation and lunch, then begin the project work or your dive certification.

Weekdays

Full days on the island typically include three dives, on Mondays and Fridays you will have one or two dives. Please note the daily schedule will vary depending on the project goals and if you are working on your dive certification. A typical volunteer day is as follows:

6:30 AM Fruit, tea and coffee at the volunteer accommodation
7:30 AM Volunteers begin work at the project
9:00 AM Breakfast at the volunteer accommodation
10:30 AM Volunteers continue work on the project
12:30 PM Lunch is served at the volunteer accommodation
3:00 PM Work at the project continues
6:30 PM Dinner and relaxing at the volunteer house

Weekends

Volunteers will stay on the island from Monday to Thursday before being taken back to Placencia, on mainland Belize, by boat on Friday. Volunteers will need to arrange and pay for their own accommodation on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. There is a range of accommodation options to choose from in Placencia, or you can choose to explore other parts of Belize during the weekends. The boat will take you back to the island again on Monday.

If you’re spending your weekend in Placencia, you’ll be able to relax on the palm-tree lined white sand beaches, hire kayaks or paddle boards and even take yoga classes. There are also ancient Mayan sites, spice farms and waterfalls you can visit within a day’s trip from Placencia. Further afield, you can visit Caye Caulker, Great Blue Hole, Caracol, Ambergris Caye or San Pedro.

Accommodation and WiFi

On the Belize program, you will stay on a small private island in a volunteer house. The accommodation on the island is comfortable but basic. Bedrooms are located in the main house or in cabanas. The bedrooms have single or double beds and you can expect to share a room with up to four other volunteers. Most bedrooms have an attached bathroom, and there are basic cold showers and flush toilets. Bedding is provided, however due to the hot climate, most volunteers sleep with just a sheet and some may choose to sleep with the doors open.

Regardless of the bedroom you have, you will have ocean views and wake up naturally with the sun and to the sound of gentle waves crashing. In your spare time you can go stand up paddle boarding, snorkeling and fishing; have a game of volleyball or badminton with your fellow volunteers or just relax in a hammock or on the beach.

Power is delivered to the volunteer accommodation by an on-site generator and the generator will usually run for up to 2 to 4 hours per day to charge electrical equipment. Volunteers are encouraged to minimize the amount of electronic equipment they bring, as the camp only has limited power points available to charge devices. We recommend volunteers bring solar chargers to charge their devices, if possible.

There is no Wifi or cell phone reception on the island which means you won’t be able to send text messages or make phone calls. If you need to check in with family and friends you’ll need to do this before you arrive and when you depart from the island.

The island is isolated and you will not be able to go back to the mainland during the week. The return trip to the mainland is on Friday. Due to the remote location, it’s important that you bring everything you need for the week to the island on Monday.

Please note your accommodation is covered Monday through to Thursday night while on the program. You will need to book accommodation in Placencia for your first night (Sunday) and on the weekends (Friday through Sunday). As soon as you register for the program, the local team will provide a variety of accommodation recommendations to suit all budgets.

Meals

You will be served three tasty meals each day by the on-site cook. The meals are fresh, varied and balanced, and you can expect corn tortillas, beans, polenta, stir-fried vegetables, coconut curry, fresh seafood and sometimes other meats.

Please note that you will not be able to purchase food on the island or go back to the mainland during the week, so it’s important to bring snacks with you. Keep in mind that you will be diving three times per day which means you may need to eat more than normal. You can easily stock up on high energy snacks in Placencia and take them out to the island with you. Nuts, oats and bananas are all great high energy food options. There is plenty of drinking water on the island so please bring a reusable drink bottle.

Pricing

Duration
1 week CA$1480 Equivalent to CA$296/day
2 weeks CA$2784 Equivalent to CA$278/day
3 weeks CA$4087 Equivalent to CA$273/day
4 weeks CA$5391 Equivalent to CA$270/day
5 weeks CA$6695 Equivalent to CA$268/day
6 weeks CA$7999 Equivalent to CA$267/day
8 weeks CA$10607 Equivalent to CA$265/day
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately CA$463) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in CAD.
  • 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, and transport to and from the airport.
  • Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Belize generally find US$300 to be sufficient for basic weekly expenses, including accommodation and meals on the mainland for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and miscellaneous spending.
  • Please note: Volunteers will need to budget an extra US$30 per week for Marine Conservation Park fees and US$30 per week for dive gear rental.
  • Any changes or cancellations within 14 days of your start date are subject to a US$550 late change/cancellation fee.

Check what's required to visit Belize

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Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Belmopan
Population 366,000
Languages English, Spanish, Creole
Currency Beliza Dollar (BZD)
Time zone UTC-06:00

Weather and climate

Belize has a tropical climate year-round which means visiting at any time during the year is enjoyable. December to February are the coolest months, the average temperature is around 75°F (24°C). The rainy season runs from June - October the average temperatures are around 81/82°F (27/28°C), with highs around 86/90°F (30/32°C). You can expect light winds out on the island year-round.

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