What is Reef Conservation International?
Reef
Conservation International (ReefCI) volunteer trips are a unique opportunity to protect
the reef ecosystem by directly participating in our ongoing marine conservation
projects! We are located on a small, private, picture-perfect Caribbean
island on the Belize Barrier Reef. The diving is incredible and the
conservation work we do is meaningful! Join us and make a difference!!
What will I be doing?
Reef Conservation
International empowers you to take an active role in directly protecting and
conserving our oceans that we love via our marine conservation projects and
environmental education and awareness program. You will learn about the
invasive lionfish that is destroying our native coral reefs and
participate in our conservation dives to spearfish and remove this incredibly destructive invasive species. You will also learn all about
coral reefs, tropical fish, sharks, manatees, dolphins and many other species
from tiny invertebrates to the largest fish in the ocean, the whale shark. You
will participate in our marine conservation identification dives to discover
the wonders of the marine world. We also
cover many more topics from ocean acidification to climate change and you will discover things you can do to combat these issues. Join us and make a difference!
Each week/day will
differ but you will be helping and participating in the following areas:
- Invasive Lion fish: Spearfish
to remove this destructive invasive species that is destroying native coral
reef ecosystems.
- Marine Conservation Education: Learn
about coral reefs and marine animals and discover how we can protect our oceans
and reefs.
- Whale Shark Monitoring (if
spotted): Dive with the largest fish in the ocean and record sightings to improve conservation efforts.
- Biodiversity Identification Dives: Identification dives (fish, sea turtles, sharks, invertebrates, coral) to increase one’s
knowledge and understanding of reef ecosystems.
- Beach Clean-ups: Weekly
beach and island trash/plastic removal on islands of the Belize Barrier Reef.
Depending on the season and length of stay you might not take part
in all of these activities above but it is a good bet that you will experience
most of them.
Is this trip for me?
We attract a vast cross section of demographics
from diverse ages, backgrounds, and nationalities. We have singles,
students, working professionals, families, couples, and retirees that come to
our island! People coming on this type of volunteer experience
all have a shared passion for diving and ocean conservation, which makes for
great group dynamics. We give the general diver a unique opportunity to
learn about and help conserve the marine environment while having a fun
volunteer experience. Our trips are for both experienced and non-experienced
divers and those wishing to become certified divers. Everyone contributes
regardless of their background or experience. The research methodologies we
teach are very simple and you will learn all you need to know in our training
sessions prior to each dive. You will be spearing the invasive lion fish
and participating in our other conservation dives and making a difference!
Dive Certifications and Courses Offered on the Island
In
order to participate in our program, one must be a certified scuba diver.
Not certified? No worries, many of our volunteers come to the island to learn to dive. Looking to further your dive credentials? Many of our volunteers come to our island to further their diving certification status. Regardless of your diving level, our island is a wonderful place to learn with calm, clear waters and little current. Our volunteer trips are for both non-experienced and experienced divers - all levels of divers are welcomed.
We have many dive courses available to help you develop your scuba skills and marine conservation knowledge while on the island volunteering with us. Below is the price our program charges for each PADI certification course and approximately how long it will take you to complete the certification course on the island. Approximate time to complete the course is based on your aptitude, understanding, and your ability to complete the PADI requirements for the course.
PADI Certification Courses Offered on the Island
- Open Water Certification – $225 USD (3 days)*
- Advanced Open Water Certification – $275 USD (3 days)*
- Rescue Diver Certification – $325 USD (1 week)*
- Divemaster Certification – $750 USD (4 week minimum stay)*
PADI Specialty Certification Courses Offered on the Island (One must be open water certified before taking any PADI specialty courses below)
PADI Specialties with a Marine Conservation Focus
- Coral Reef Conservation – $175 USD (1 day)
- Fish Identification – $175 USD (2 days)
- Invasive Lionfish – $175 USD (2 days)
- Shark Conservation – $175 USD (2 days)
- Underwater Naturalist – $175 USD (2 days)
PADI Specialties with a Diving Skills Focus
- Deep Diver – $175 USD (3 days)*
- Emergency First Response – $175 USD (1 day)*
- Underwater Navigator – $175 USD (3 days)*
- Underwater Photographer – $250 USD (2 days)*
*Please Note: The PADI Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, Divemaster, Deep Diver, Emergency First Response, Underwater Navigator, and Underwater Photographer courses require the PADI eLearning prior to arrival. All other courses do NOT require the PADI eLearning prior to arrival. You must be a fully certified open water diver before taking any PADI specialty courses.
In order to be
certified on the island, you will need to complete the PADI eLearning portion
of your course (Open Water,
Advanced, Rescue, Divemaster, Deep Diver, Emergency First Response, Underwater Navigator, or Underwater
Photographer) prior to
your arrival to our island. With PADI’s online eLearning, you will
complete the classroom/theory portion of your course online before your
arrival. PADI charges from $125 to $225 USD (cost varies depending on
course) for the eLearning and the cost is paid to PADI via their
website. A link to register for PADI’s online eLearning will be sent to you upon registration and you must complete the eLearning before your arrival. This link will affiliate you with ReefCI and lets us know you are
registered and taking the course with us. After completing the eLearning, you must
print out your eRecord (or snap a picture of it on your phone) and bring it
with you to the island for our instructors. Once on the island, you will
complete the required in-water training portion of the course with
ReefCI. The cost paid to ReefCI for the in-water portion of your course
depends on which course you are taking with us. (see our prices above)
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