Photography & 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 Photography and Marine Conservation with our profesional photographers and instructors.
Dive in one of the most biodiverse place on Earth and enjoy HUMPBACK WHALES season!!
Learn and improve your skills every day in photography, edition, and marine conservation 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 learn or improve your underwater photography skills and participate in marine conservation. Have a positive impact while diving in paradise!
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+
Are you an underwater photographer or dream of becoming one? Join us in Costa Rica to learn and get certified with our professional photographers and instructors. This expedition is designed for underwater photographers that want to improve their skills or those who want to learn. You can expect to dive in one of the most biodiverse places on earth and learn about the marine environment.Thi
The Photography & Marine Conservation Expedition is seven days full of adventure, learning, laughter, and hard purposeful work. 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).
Join us in September for Humpback Whales season !!!
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 photo edition, macro photography, wide-angle photography, conservation and storytelling, corals 3D modeling, etc - 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.
Whale Conservation
Activities
Intern Abroad
Hotspots
Marine Conservation
Humpback Whale
Diving
Photography Internship
National Park
Marine Conservation
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
7:30 – Dinner
Free-time activities
You will have 1 and a half-day 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.
We also offer options of night tours or bird watching with our amazing naturalists!
Diving/
Snorkling
Snorkling
Hiking
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Sightseeing
Swimming
Water Sports
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.
You need to speak English (basic level)
Scuba Diving at First level of Scuba Diving (Open Water or equivalent) level
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
You will need to have a minimum of 15 dives before the start of the expedition.
You will need to bring your own camera and accessories for this expedition. We can of course help you decide on which camera to bring and are happy to share any advice.
If an underwater camera is not in your budget or you prefer to wait before buying one, a GoPro can also be used for this expedition.
You will need to bring your own camera and accessories for this expedition. We can of course help you decide on which camera to bring and are happy to share any advice.
If an underwater camera is not in your budget or you prefer to wait before buying one, a GoPro can also be used for this expedition.
Regular working hours are hardly predicable. It mainly depends on the work force. Get in touch with Innoceana straight ahead to get more infos about current to dos and objectives.
What's Included
For 7 days Expedition, everything is included (except for flights, dive insurance, and camera):
- 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
- 8 dives
- Conservation material
- Transportation during the week
- Entrances to National Parks and Biological Reserves
- 1 Yoga class
You will stay inside the Conservation Center, 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, library, hammocks, chill area, and couch.
We will share 3 meals a day, all vegan/vegetarian made with local products by our amazing cook! Please let us know if you have any food restrictions or allergies!
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 4 pm 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 4 pm.
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.
Here are the next dates available:
March 27 to April 2, 2023
1 - 1 weeks
Program fees
1 week
(min. stay)
$2,415
1 week
(max. stay)
$2,415
Average fees
$2,415
/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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application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
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All program fees are charged directly by Innoceana.
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Photography & Marine Conservation Expedition
Join us in Costa Rica to learn or improve your underwater photography skills and participate in marine conservation. Have a positive impact while diving in paradise!
$2415/week
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