Overview
Mexican Marine Conservation Expedition in the Caribbean Sea

This unique expedition takes you to learn scuba diving and earn yourself an internationally recognized PADI diving qualification in the Caribbean waters of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Here you can take part in important marine conservation work on the world’s second largest barrier reef with coral reef and fish monitoring, turtle nesting and crocodile surveys, as well as community education and sustainable tourism development on land.

On top of the dive training, volunteers will have the chance to vastly expand their knowledge of this tropical marine environment, learn Spanish and partake in expeditions to the almost innumerable places of interest in this beautiful and historically rich area. This expedition takes place in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a stunning area with diverse wildlife both above and below the waves. College credit may be available for those attending this expedition. Consult GVI’s college credit page for helpful tips and advice.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, volunteer stories from the field, volunteer video diaries and more at the programs media centre

Through a mutual concern for one of the most stunning environments in the world, GVI brought together 23 people from different walks of life, and gave me one of the most exciting and beneficial experiences of my life.

Alex Simmons, 2004 Volunteer

What Difference Does This Expedition Make?

GVI’s base lies within the Sian Kaán Biosphere Reserve. The data GVI obtains here provides an invaluable baseline to assess the health of reefs found in a pristine location. Since the beginning, and with the assistance of our partners, GVI have amassed one of the largest databases in existence on the condition, health and changes of any section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. This data is now being used by GVI and its partners to promote the management of the reserve’s resources in a more sustainable manner. As a result of GVI’s work, a variety of changes have been implemented in the area, including educating local fishermen, increasing development controls and creating signs to educate visitors about the fragile ecosystem.

Highlights

Living and working on a remote jungle base with incredible wildlife; waking up to the deserted white-sand beach and turquoise Caribbean sea; learning about the reef and how to identify the fish or coral you see; participating in monitoring dives to explore different sites along the coast; being the only people diving in the biosphere reserve surveying the deserted reefs under GVI’s special research permit; chancing upon mega-fauna such as dolphins, sharks and manatees; searching the beach at night for turtles laying eggs; learning some Spanish; joining sea and cenote fun-dives and enjoy cultural visits to Mayan ruins.

Skills And Qualifications Received

PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water, PADI Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Specialty, Optional PADI courses (Rescue Diver, Dive Master) , First Aid & CPR training, Coral reef ecology, Turtle ecology and monitoring protocol (seasonal), Intro to TEFL, Use of O2 equipment workshop, Diving compressor training workshop with practical experience , Environmental Education, Interpersonal skills

2-week option participants will only receive PADI Open Water and Advance Open Water, First Aid and CPR training, Introduction to Coral reef ecology, Fish and Coral Species Identification and monitoring protocol, Introduction to Turtle ecology and monitoring protocol (seasonal), Diving compressor training workshop with practical experience, Interpersonal skills

See Requirements And Training page for more information

Location

Located about an hour from Tulum on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the expedition base is situated in the heart of the Sian Ka’an (Mayan for ‘Where the Sky is Born’) Biosphere Reserve at Boca Paila. The fishing village of Punta Allen, founded by the infamous pirate Blackbeard in the 18th century, is two hours drive away. The Mayan ruins of Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza can also be visited in the area. To reach the remote GVI marine base you travel on a dirt track through dense jungle from Tulum into the biosphere reserve, meandering south along this beautiful peninsula past Caribbean beaches until you reach your very own.

See Life on the expedition page for more information

Field Conditions

This base is set in the jungle on a narrow peninsula, with the open Caribbean Sea and coral reef on one side and a sheltered lagoon on the other. It supplies very basic cabana accommodation, with bunk beds (approximately six volunteers per room) or tents. Conditions are basic and all freshwater comes from a well and is restricted, so volunteers take bucket showers. The base has views of the ocean, a main socialising area and an abundance of hammocks.

See Life on the expedition page for more information