Conserve and explore the shores of the Yucatan peninsula while learning to scuba dive
Program Overview
Bask in the sun and dive in the refreshing and clear waters of the Caribbean Sea while teaming up with GVI’s marine conservation team to monitor the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world. Here you will also earn yourself a PADI diving certificate, a universally recognized award.
The GVI team is focused on monitoring and protecting the surrounding reef, by conducting surveys on fish and coral as well as turtle nests and gaining and overall understanding for this water-based environment.
Just a few Highlights!
Participating in monitoring dives that explore different sites along the coast; seeing mega-fauna such as dolphins, sharks and manatees; snorkelling in cenotes or waterways; searching the beach at night for turtles laying eggs; joining in with community programs; teaching English and raising the environmental awareness of the local community; and joining fun-dives, immersing yourself in a truly remote tropical paradise, one of the world’s only remaining truly pristine environments; living in a beautiful part of a different country, with the opportunity to experience a new culture, food and way of life; learning about the Mesoamerican coral reef and how to identify the wildlife it supports.
The efforts of our team are coupled with local leading organizations such as Amigos de Sian Ka’an, a conservation-focused Mexican NGO. By collaborating with local partners GVI can ensure to its volunteers that the daily efforts they make will have dramatic and measurable impact on the overall survival of the marine environment.
You will spend the majority of your time on this expedition Scuba diving and as such you need to be qualified to at least PADI Open Water, or equivalent. Non divers can join for 8 and 12 week durations, GVI will supply you with all the training you need to be certified up to PADI Advanced Diver training. The 4 week duration is only open for divers already qualified to PADI Open Water Diver or equivalent. For non divers wishing to attend for 4 weeks, we can recommend local dive centres that will help you qualify before your intended start date.
Scholarships
We are always looking for enthusiastic and dedicated people to join our team. This expedition offers qualifying and high-performing volunteers the chance to stay on the expedition for a longer duration on a GVI Scholarship free of charge and as part of the staff team in the field. If you would like to work towards a field career and make the very most of your time abroad, you might want to work towards a place on a GVI Scholarship. Successful scholars may find themselves offered full time employment with GVI, and many of our current staff have come through this route. Contact us for more information!
Please note, the awarding of scholarships is at the sole discretion of GVI and may be offered immediately after the completion of your program or at a later date.
Life on the Program
Rewarding experiences on the expedition do require long and tiring days, which you should be aware of.
The GVI team aims to facilitate diving on four days each week with one to two dives or snorkels a day. During these excursions you will learn about and execute underwater surveys. Beyond this, the program provides training sessions on the local base, beach cleans, base responsibilities and local community outreach such as teaching English and providing environmental workshops to local children. The fifth day will be spent having fun dives in the morning and relaxing in the evenings, often with a barbeque. You'll have your weekends off.
While the provided accommodation is basic, you will enjoy stepping out of the constructed huts onto white sandy beaches that are protected within a biological reserve. During your down-time you can choose to study the reef and marine species, sunbathe with other volunteers or witness some of the most vibrant and stunning sunsets the world has to offer.
Project Details
GVI has chosen to work side-by-side with a local partner in the northern Mesoamerican Barrier reef in order to:
- Develop our understanding of the reef’s ecological health
- Determine the species and breeding patterns of sea turtles (seasonal)
- Evolve the expedition base into an “Ecological Research and Awareness Center”
- Create education and awareness programs within the local community
In the end, our main aim is to build on a critical monitoring program to establish a long-term record of the fish and coral species to contribute to the ultimate survival of the reef.
How this program makes a difference:
Over time and with the contributions of volunteers, we have been able to amass one of the largest databases in existence on the condition, health and changes of any section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
As a result of our efforts, our partners have been able to continue with the protection of the Sian Ka’an reef system and local fisherman are now trained in diving and monitoring skills and partake in marine surveys with the park and Amigos de Sian Ka’an staff.
Volunteer Testimonials
Nothing compares to the satisfaction of launching out on one of the dive boats, suited up in your gear, plummeting down 20 meters to the depth of the oceans, collecting your data for research and...
Nothing compares to the satisfaction of launching out on one of the dive boats, suited up in your gear, plummeting down 20 meters to the depth of the oceans, collecting your data for research and surfaces on a successful dive. Skilfully accomplishing that twice a day every day left me with a sense of triumph and pride. By the end of my 10 week phase, my confidence in my diving
abilities increased tenfold, I had made dozens of good friends, had some real adventures on the side, and came home feeling like a changed person. To this day I think back and feel inspired by all the hardship and rewards I had faced. Highly recommended.
As I was packing my bags for my long awaited trip to Mexico, all I had in front of me was my gear list. These were the only clues I had about my lifestyle for the next 5 weeks. For the last 3...
As I was packing my bags for my long awaited trip to Mexico, all I had in front of me was my gear list. These were the only clues I had about my lifestyle for the next 5 weeks. For the last 3 months I had been emailing 3 girls who I had got in touch with through the GVI website. We had all become good friends from winding each other up about what we were to expect. As soon as the 4 of us met in Playa Del Carmen with the rest of the group it felt great to know that the waiting was over. Everyone was already chatting to each other, and the staff were very friendly and clearly keen to get to know everyone. As the taxi’s pulled up outside our new home, I couldn’t wait to get out and explore my new surroundings. The base manager gave us a tour of Pez Maya, showing us things like the bucket flush toilets, the “showers”, the iguana’s that would be running round our feet for the next 5 weeks and the large amount of mosquitos. So far my first impression wasn’t great. I didn’t have strong enough mosquito repellent, probably didn’t have enough clothes bearing in mind we would be showering 3 times a week and the bucket flush toilets really didn’t smell too great. Although, as soon as we were shown the view we would be enjoying for the next 5 weeks, my impression dramatically changed. It seemed so surreal; I couldn’t quite believe we were going to be living on a beach, relaxing on the hammocks under the palm trees, diving twice a day and seeing some amazing sea creatures. From then onwards my first perception was changing, even the negative points I picked up on when we had the tour, began to change into fun challenges.
The amount of studying, courses, lectures and training required combined with adjusting to a new climate, sleeping conditions, diet and fighting off food poisoning left me completely blind-sided and stunned. However after adjusting to this, the remaining weeks of my program were probably the best experience I've ever had so far in life. I absolutely loved it.
GVI really knows how to run a good volunteer program and seems to leave all of its volunteers wanting to return for another trip. I hope to be able to encourage my friends to try out a program for themselves and hopefully attend another expedition myself.
I gained a sense of understanding and appreciation. I had no idea how well I had it before I went and saw how people in rural Mexico are still living. I came home a completely different person from when I left home 3 months ago and I have GVI to thank for that.
Latest from the Base...
Program Details
Build Your Program
What's Included
- Pre-departure support and discounted services
- 24-hour emergency phone
- Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated)
- Arrival orientation
- Long term experienced staff
- Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared)
- All meals (unless otherwise stated in field manuals)
- Welcome meeting
- Location orientation
- All necessary project training by experienced staff
- All necessary project equipment and materials
- 24-hour in-country support
- Transfer to base location
- Live and work in a protected reserve surveying deserted reefs under GVI’s research permit
- PADI Open Water (for 8 and 12 week volunteers) and Advanced Open Water
- PADI Coral Reef Research Diver Distinctive Speciality
- First Aid & CPR training
- Coral reef ecology
- Community work workshop
- Use of O2 equipment workshop
- Diving compressor training workshop
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Medical and travel insurance
- Visa costs
- Personal kit
- Additional drinks and gratuities
- Extra local excursions
- International and domestic airport taxes
