Belize Diving and Marine Conservation Internship

Get ready to kickstart an exciting new career in professional diving and tropical marine conservation. Take a trip to the second-largest reef system in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. You’ll be working to research and preserve one of its most valuable sections, the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Belize is a leader in conservation policies and has banned certain harmful commercial fishing practices and even oil drilling off the coast. The result is that the clear, warm Caribbean waters flourish with parrotfish, eagle rays, sea turtles and a vibrant array of corals including the eye-catching elkhorn coral. Manatees and whale sharks also frequent these waters. 

Unsurprisingly, ecotourism is an important part of the country’s economy. However, the authorities are also aware that they need to manage it effectively so that it doesn’t negatively impact the environment. You’ll learn all about how this is done and it’s challenges on this internship. 

You’ll also learn how authorities manage other threats, such as the coral bleaching resulting from climate change, invasive species such as the lionfish and the pollution caused by nearby farms.

Your internship will get started before you even set foot in Belize.