from 2,360€

Excellent 4.8rating (12)
  • Life Below Water

Marine Conservation Expedition

location
2,360€ per week  ·  1 - 1 weeks  ·  Age 14 - 50+

  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate
Contact Coordinator

Highlights

  • Get trained and certified in Marine Conservation with our profesional biologists and instructors.
  • Dive in one of the most biodiverse place on Earth: 10 dives on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, a paradise in pristine waters.
  • Learn every day about marine conservation, biology and all of our research projects during our daily lectures.
  • Make memories you will never forget with your co-expeditioners and live an experience full of adventure, laughter, and purpuseful work.
  • Enjoy our delicious menu 3 times a day of organic vegetarian/vegan food made by our incredible local chef. Conservation is also about what you eat!

Especially suitable

Age 14+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Join us in Costa Rica to get certified in Marine Conservation with our biologists and professional instructors. Have a positive impact while diving in paradise!

Are you a certified scuba diver or dream of becoming one? Join us in Costa Rica to get certified in Marine Conservation with our biologists and professional instructors. 

The Marine Conservation Expedition is seven days full of adventure, learning, laughter, and hard purposeful work. This expedition ...

About the program

Are you a certified scuba diver or dream of becoming one? Join us in Costa Rica to get certified in Marine Conservation with our biologists and professional instructors. 

The Marine Conservation Expedition is seven days full of adventure, learning, laughter, and hard purposeful work. This expedition is for experienced and non-experienced divers alike. It creates space for the everyday person to tap into the world of marine conservation and all the wonders it has to offer through our facility called the Marine Conservation and Education Center (MCEC). 

Each day, the expeditioners are taught a new subject which they will apply the next day during their underwater dives. These captivating lectures range from invertebrate theory, to sea turtle migration studies, to 3D Coral Modeling – providing a subject that will surely resonate with each person. By the end of the week, the expeditioners will leave with an abundance of knowledge, skills, friends, and memories.

During this week, we will dive in: 
  • Caño Island has been a biological reserve since 1978, meaning it has the highest level of protection possible. This pristine island is situated in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 50 km away from the Sierpe River (90 min by boat). Known to host the biggest variety of hard coral species in all the Pacific of Costa Rica, it is the perfect place to dive. Naturally, with an abundance of corals comes an abundance of marine life. While diving it is not uncommon to see sea turtles, reef sharks, eels, many types of beautiful fish and so much more. Most of the island is highly protected and solely open for research and conservation work.
  • Marino Ballena National Park. Named after the Humpback Whales that migrate here each year, Marino Ballena National Park is located in the south pacific coast near the town of Uvita, in the province of Puntarenas, Osa, Costa Rica. The park was officially declared as a Marine National Park in 1992 and is a very important area for conservation in the Osa region. Since this area is protected, there is an abundance of life found here including Humpback Whales, Olive Ridley and Hawksbill turtles, spotted dolphins, corals, sponges, anemones, and an important population of sea birds using the park for nesting.
We will also visit a beautiful indigenous community: The Boruca community is composed of around 2660 indigenous people living in the South Pacific of Costa Rica, close to the border with Panama, following the Rio Terraba. They are known for their art and artesania: weaving, paints, or wood masks. But their culture is also amazingly rich with legends and myths that they love to share with their visitors. Innoceana has been working in collaboration with the Boruca community for the past few years on reforestation programs, education programs with the kids, and cultural activities. Land and Ocean are more connected than you could ever imagine. The conservation of the Ocean starts on land and with local communities.

There are 2 expeditions you will get to choose from: 
  • Fish, Sea Turtles, and Elasmobranch (Rays and Sharks): 
Fish Survey, Water Quality studies, Turtle ID, Elasmobranch Survey, Microplastics, Fish ID, Turtle Migration Studies, Elsamobranch ID.
  • Corals and Marine Invertebrates
3D Models of Corals, Coral Restoration, Invertebrates survey, Water Quality studies, Reef Monitoring, Coral Taxonomy, Invertebrates ID.

Typical day

6:30 – Breakfast and preparation of conservation material

7:00 – Microbus drive to sierpe where the boat is waiting for us

9:30 – 2 Dives in Caño Island or Marino Ballena national park

2:00 – Lunch on the boat

4:00 – Back at the marine conservation center for a shower and chill time

6:00 ...

Typical day

6:30 – Breakfast and preparation of conservation material

7:00 – Microbus drive to sierpe where the boat is waiting for us

9:30 – 2 Dives in Caño Island or Marino Ballena national park

2:00 – Lunch on the boat

4:00 – Back at the marine conservation center for a shower and chill time

6:00 – Theory class and data analysis

7:30 – Dinner

Free-time activities

You will have 1.5 days free during the week which can be spent on the beach, in the waterfalls around, hiking, shopping, or even resting in a hammock, as you prefer of course. 

Free-time activities

You will have 1.5 days free during the week which can be spent on the beach, in the waterfalls around, hiking, shopping, or even resting in a hammock, as you prefer of course. 

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 14 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 14 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Education Requirements

Scuba Diving at Firsy level of Scuba Diving (Open Water or equivalent) level

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

If you are not a diver yet, no worries! You can do your Open Water certification with us just before the expedition. It will take 3 days (1 day in the pool and 2 days in the Ocean).

What's Included

What's Included

Accommodation

You will stay in a double room (2 individual beds), sharing with 1 other expeditioner. This room has a private bathroom (hot water shower!), a common room with a big table to share meals, high-speed WIFI, hammocks, chill area and couch. 

Food & Beverages

During the 7 day expedition, you will receive 3 meals a day, all vegan/vegetarian with local products! Please let us know if you have any food restrictions or allergies!

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Costa Rica provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Costa Rica you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Costa Rica. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

* LIMITED SPACES! ONLY 8 SPACES AVAILABLE *

We will meet on Sunday (before the start of the expedition) at 4pm at the UVITA Bus Station. Make sure you arrive at the airport in San Jose on Sunday in the morning latest as you will need to arrive in Uvita before 4pm. 

How to get from San Jose Airport (SJO) to Uvita? 
BUS: From San José Airport you will need to take a TAXI or UBER to San José center: about 1 hour for about $20. You can then take a direct bus called TRACOPA. It will take you 4 hours to arrive to Uvita and will cost around $10 for the bus ride. 
CAR: You can also rent a car in the airport. The ride will take you around 3-4 hours to Uvita. Make sure to use WAZE to find the fastest route.

We have expeditions every month. Here are the next dates available: 

Corals & Invertebrates – Sep 4-10, 2023

Corals & Invertebrates – Jan 8-14, 2024

Fish, Turtles & Elasmobranchs – Mar 4-10, 2024

Corals & Invertebrates – Jul 1-7, 2024

Fish, Turtles & Elasmobranchs – Sep 2-8, 2024

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

1 week 2,360€
Average fees 2,360€/week

Program fees

2,360€ per week 1 - 1 weeks Age 14 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

1 - 1 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 Innoceana during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your host

Innoceana

Excellent 4.8 rating (12 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2017

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Laura

About the project

Based in Costa Rica, Spain, and California, Innoceana is a Marine Conservation NGO. Our mission is to rewild the ocean with Innovation & Education.
Contact Coordinator

Meet your host

Innoceana is an international marine conservation NGO, specializing in innovation for ocean protection. First registered in Spain in 2017, Innoceana is now a 501(c)(3) in California since 2020, and an NGO in Costa Rica since 2021. Our team of professional engineers, biologists, and scuba divers have created the MCEC or Marine Conservation & Education Center to act as a hub for our conservation, research, and education activities in Costa Rica. More than a center for Innoceana’s activities, the MCEC highly values collaboration. We collaborate with various local and international NGOs, Universities, Schools, Foundations, and the local government. The MCEC hosts and supports all activities which focus on education and conservation of the environment.

12 reviews · rating4.8

Ben Cain rating4.8

2022 at Marine Conservation Expedition

My son and I participated in a 3-day marine conservation "Innoexpedition", organized by MECE Innoceana in Ojochal, Costa Rica. Over those 3 days, I participated in 4 training courses and 6 dives. We saw dolphins, humpback whales, turtles, sharks, rays, corals and more types of fish than I could ...
Laura Duchemin rating4.8

2022 at Marine Conservation Expedition

I did a 7 days marine conservation expedition with MCEC and it was a great experience. I learned a lot about marine conservation, corals and invertebrates. The team is awesome, always happy and smiling. They are very passionate about the ocean and marine conservation. The dive sites are amazing. We ...
Britt Cooke rating4.4

2022 at Marine Conservation Expedition

I did the 3-day program and I wished I had the time to do the 7-day program. Lots of great diving! The team was amazing and the living accommodations and food were also fabulous. ..
Marie Ehrhardt rating5

2022 at Marine Conservation Expedition

I volunteered with Innoceana at the MCEC (Marine Conservation and Education Center) in Costa Rica in January 2022 for 1 week. The program was about marine conservation. One week full of dives and lectures about conservation and how to help the ocean. All the volunteers were participated in citizen ...
Google Translator: An intense volunteering from which I took a lot of friends fortunately. Structurally I don't agree but the people who volunteer here have a lot of courage and good energy. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Original ...
Helena Lindberg Madsen rating4.4

2022 at Marine Conservation Expedition

This is a really Nice program, where you become part of a small family- the Innoceana family. You start your day with amazing breakfast made by the chef! You start together with the on the expedition and one or to from Innoceana. Then you head out to do fish surveys, water samples, turtle ID, fish ...

Location

Americas > Central America > Costa Rica > Ojochal

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