Coral reefs are an attraction in tropical countries all over the world, but are sadly being damaged by the effects of climate change and litter. On top of that, marine debris represents a significant threat to the ecosystem and is having a devastating impact on marine life. However, volunteers are able to help to reduce these effects by using your scuba diving skills to help with important conservation efforts.
Volunteers on the Marine Conservation project in Jamaica focus on the restoration of the coral reef in Ocho Rios. You’ll support marine life and local community through a range of initiatives, including:
- Dive tasks: Coral cleaning and monitoring, removing invasive species, transplanting, coral surveying and data collection.
- Site maintenance: Beach cleans to remove damaging litter and other waste, and helping with ground beautification of the local area, through painting and other maintenance tasks.
- Administrative tasks: Update records, help with preparing written reports, planning, monitoring and data evaluation.
- Community outreach: Help to improve environmental awareness in schools and community groups in order to proactively assist conservation efforts.
This is an exciting opportunity for volunteers to help with contemporary conservation efforts. You’ll receive training on coral reefs and get a good understanding of environmental challenges, as well as an understanding of methods being used to combat these issues. Volunteers are required to bring their own diving equipment. Scuba tanks will be provided. You also need to have completed at least 20 dives before starting conservation efforts.
Those without the required experience have a range of options to upskill in Jamaica before starting on the volunteer project. A complete two-week pre-project training course that includes dive certification and 20 open water dives is available for US$1300. If you are certified but haven’t yet completed 20 dives, you’re able to take a 10-day, 20-dive experience for US$900, or gain dive experience with an instructor for US$50 per dive.
Apply now