Programme Overview
Immerse yourself in the Ankay Conservation Experience. We personalize each stay to your needs and include everything in the program—accommodation, meals, transportation, training, and plenty of diving—so you can arrive, settle in, and focus entirely on learning, exploring, and enjoying the experience.
Whether you are an experienced diver or have never dived before, the EcoDiver Program will open your eyes to the underwater world like never before.
Join us in our mission to monitor and protect Caribbean coral reefs.
About the Organization
Ankay Conservation is a PADI 5-Star Dive Resort and marine conservation center.
Our mission is to empower people through hands-on citizen science and education, building meaningful awareness of coral reef health while contributing reliable monitoring data. Through collaboration and community engagement, we support long-term reef conservation across the region.
We are guided by our core values: Bliss, Awareness, and Excellence.
About the Program
EcoDivers are the volunteers who support Reef Check’s global citizen science program, collecting the data needed for coral reef management and conservation worldwide.
This course is designed to teach you everything required to conduct full-scale Reef Check surveys and collect high-quality, standardized data for Reef Check’s global database.
What Can Volunteers Expect?
During the program, you will learn about:
Key marine conservation challenges
The role of citizen science in reef protection
Identification of Reef Check indicator fish, invertebrates, and substrates used to assess coral reef health
Upon successful completion, you will join the Reef Check monitoring team and be qualified to assist with underwater surveys around the world.
This course includes both classroom sessions and fieldwork.
What Do We Expect from Volunteers?
Volunteers are expected to:
Attend all theoretical classes
Study independently when necessary to strengthen their knowledge
Properly rinse, store, and care for their dive equipment at the end of each day
Do Volunteers Need Special Equipment?
If you have your own dive equipment, you are welcome to bring it. However, all necessary dive equipment is available on-site.
Location
We are located on Solarte Island, part of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago in Panama. Our center is nestled in lush jungle surroundings and sits just 80 meters from the ocean.
We are only a 10-minute boat ride from the main island (Isla Colón), where you’ll find a wide selection of restaurants, supermarkets, and nightlife. This setting offers the perfect balance between tranquility and accessibility.
In December 2019, Bocas del Toro was designated a Hope Spot by Mission Blue. The region is home to an extraordinary diversity of marine life, including sharks, sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, over 120 species of sponges, three species of mangroves, and a wide variety of Caribbean coral species.
Duration
For divers already certified as Open Water Diver or higher, the minimum stay is 6 days.
