Marine Conservation Expedition
Coordinator | Laura
Coordinator | Laura
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
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!
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!
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 14+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+
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.
Activities
Marine Conservation
Sea Turtle Conservation
Whale Conservation
Diving
Diving certificate
Coral Reef
Marine Conservation
Green Sea Turtle
Blue Whale
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 2 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.
Swimming
Sightseeing
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Hiking
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 14 years old on the program start date.
You need to speak English (basic level)
Scuba Diving at Firsy level of Scuba Diving (Open Water or equivalent) level
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
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).
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
What's Included
For 7 days Expedition, everything is included (except for flights and dive insurance):
- Accommodation for 8 nights (private room shared with 1 other person, private bathroom)
- 3 Vegetarian meals a day
- Dive equipment
- Theory classes
- Certification of completion
- 10 dives
- Conservation material
- 1 Yoga class
If you wish to stay longer after the 7 days expedition, it is totally possible! In this case, we have prices per week extra which include:
- Accommodation (shared dorm, shared bathroom, fully equipped kitchen)
- Stocked fridge with ingredients for vegetarian meals (you will need to cook)
- Training on all our research/education/conservation projects (bring your computer!)
- You will participate in the projects and work in the MCEC with us 5 days a week (2 days off to explore the area)
- Equipment for diving (1 day a week of diving with 2 dives)
- High-speed wifi
- Laundry Machine
- Access to all theory classes
- A lot of fun!!
For the first week, 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.
If you stay longer than the 7 days expedition, you will stay in a shared dorm (8 individual beds), with 2 shared showers and 2 shared bathrooms, 1 fully equipped kitchen, a common area to chill, hammocks, deck to practice sport, high-speed WIFI, 20 away from the beach by foot, 13 minutes away from the supermarket by foot.
During the first week (7 days 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!
If you stay longer, we will stock the fridge with all the basic ingredients necessary to eat vegetarian meals. You will need to cook and of course can adjust your diet complementing with meat or other products if needed from local supermarkets.
Good access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.
The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica.
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.
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.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
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:
December 2022 5th – 11th – Corals and Invertebrates
January 2023 2nd – 8th – Fish, Turtles and Elasmobranchs
February 2023 6th – 12th – Corals and Invertebrates
March 2023 13th – 19th – Fish, Turtles and Elasmobranchs
April 2023 3rd - 9th - Corals and Invertebrates
May 2023 8th - 14th - Fish, Turtles and Elasmobranchs
June 2023 5th - 11th - Corals and Invertebrates
July 2023 3rd - 9th - Fish, Turtles and Elasmobranchs
August 2023 7th-13th – Corals and Invertebrates
September 2023 4th-10th – Fish, Turtles and Elasmobranchs
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 - 24 weeks
Program fees
1 week
(min. stay)
$1,975
2 weeks
$2,354
4 weeks
$3,174
8 weeks
$4,374
12 weeks
$5,574
16 weeks
$6,774
20 weeks
$7,499
24 weeks
(max. stay)
$8,199
Average fees
$1,158
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated.
Innoceana
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
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.
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.
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What are people saying about Volunteer World?
Marine Conservation Expedition
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!
$1158/week
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