Belize Marine Conservation Expedition

Belize

From £2,695

Program Capacity: 24 Programme Focuses will get involved in a variety of activities such as:

Monitoring the reef and mangrove ecosystems in the waters around Ambergris Caye

Monitoring Fish, corals, invertebrates and megafauna

Conducting scientific research surveys

Performing essential monitoring, data collection and research tasks to advise conservation management in Belize

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. This program contributes to the following goals

Dates

Itinerary
Itinerary

Monitoring the reef and mangrove ecosystems in the waters around Ambergris Caye, monitoring fish, corals, invertebrates and megafauna. Conducting scientific research survey and performing essential monitoring, data collection and research tasks to advise conservation management in Belize.

Need to Know:

Due to the weather, there may be a chance the participants might not dive every day. We will be doing a mix of diving, snorkeling, and land-based projects to accommodate this.

Participants must not expect to be monitoring straight away as they need to train. Depending on whether volunteers are partaking in PADI courses the length of science training can vary.

Work is from Monday to Friday, the weekends are off and volunteers can leave base if they wish.

Orientation and training

If volunteers have no diving experience or have not done a PADI Open Water certificate or equivalent diving certificate they will need to book on for a minimum of 8+ weeks in order to able to finish certificates in time, get trained and participate in the research.

Volunteers doing 4-week programs must have PADI Open Water certificate or similar level before arriving at base. Volunteers doing 2-week programs must have PADI Open Water certificate and PADI Advanced Open Water Certificate or similar level before arriving at base.

Participants should be strongly encouraged to study before they arrive to speed up the training process.

Basic overview of location, province and places of interest

Belize is somewhat of a marine conservation leader, being the first country to ban bottom trawling, a harmful commercial fishing practice, as well as all offshore oil exploration and drilling. You’ll be helping to empower these pioneering local agencies by collecting data on the biodiversity of reef species. While you’re underwater you might stand a chance of catching a glimpse of rare, endangered species such as hawksbill sea turtles and manatees.

Free Time

Participants are able to walk the small streets of the town and try local snacks and foods and talk to the locals as well as visiting the local market on the weekend, or take a trip to ‘secret beach’ where they can sit on tables in the warm, clear water and enjoy food and drinks while fish swim around their table.

Boat rides are readily available to the nearby islands for day trips. Participants could also visit the local crocodile rescue centre to get involved in crocodile spotting and tagging.

Main attractions, activities and nature

The central point of the programme is to monitor the reef and mangrove ecosystems in the waters around Ambergris Caye. This can be endured within national reserves and in unprotected waters. This project has a holistic approach focusing on the ecosystems as whole by monitoring a variety of different health indicators. This programme includes monitoring objects such as fish, corals, invertebrates and megafauna, conducting scientific research surveys and performing essential monitoring, data collection and research tasks to advise conservation management in Belize.
Trip Overview

Trip Overview

Visa information: You will receive a 30-day tourist visa on arrival for this programme. This visa can be extended to up to 6 months by going to the immigration office in San Pedro every 30 days.

At the immigration office, you will have to pay $100USD to get a 30-day extension each month. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Belize.

Communications: You will have limited connection whilst on the program due to daily activities.

There is WiFi internet on the base.

Participants can also buy a local SIM with a data package. A SIM card costs $10USD and a data package of 3GB costs an additional $10USD. Mobile/cell phone reception is widely available depending on your phone carrier.

Alternatively, you can also use the internet in cafes or restaurants to keep in touch. There is free government WiFi in the central square upon arrival at the ferry terminal.
What's Included?

What's Included?

Program Logistics Arrival Information:

You can choose to arrive to San Pedro town on Ambergris Island by air or by ferry.

GVI Staff can provide an airport pick up / ferry pick up on the Friday before programme start. Please inform your GVI contact at least 1 week before arrival to ensure GVI staff on the ground can arrange for this.

Tropic Air and Maya Island Air both fly from Belize city (Phillip SW Goldson) to San Pedro Airport multiple times a day.

There are two ferry companies called Ocean Ferry Belize and Belize Express which depart from two separate ports in Belize City. If you are taking a taxi to your ferry it is important to inform the taxi driver which company you are going to travel with. The ferry ports are located close to each other and are approximately a 20-minute taxi drive from the airport ($25US).

You can buy tickets for the ferry online with a small extra fee or directly at the ticket office at the port. If you bought yours online they will validate it and give you the ticket at the ticket office. If you buy a ticket in person to San Pedro it is ($28USD) one-way or a return for ($38USD).

When you have your ticket you will give your luggage to the luggage handler at the entrance who will give you a small ticket in return.

The ferry takes 1.5hours to get to San Pedro. Be aware after about 30 minutes there is a stop on the island of Caye Caulker before continuing on to San Pedro.

Pre-Program Accommodation:

It is important that you stay in a 'Gold Standard Hotel' pre programme. It is not recommended for participants to stay alone in Belize City for safety reasons as Belize City has a high crime rate and it is not recommended for foreigners to walk on their own. If you chose to stay in San Pedro before the start date, it is recommended that you book your accommodation in plenty of time as the hotels are small and often run out of rooms quickly.

Accommodation:

Accommodation is in shared mixed dorm rooms with shared bathroom facilities. There is purified water available for cooking and drinking only (it is not recommended to drink the tap water on the Belizean islands). Ambient temperature water for showering and flush toilet facilities. You will share base duties. This may include cooking, cleaning, and gear and equipment maintenance, and other chores. You should expect to live in shared accommodation with common spaces and cooking facilities. The accommodation is near to the beach and to the town which has restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, and many smaller shops.

Food:

You will likely be involved in food preparation and cooking. The food is largely imported to the island and is therefore relatively basic. The food in San Pedro is a fusion of traditional Belizean dishes such as rice, beans, and stew chicken and Mexican food such as burritos, tortillas, and beans. Breakfast could be porridge, eggs, fruit, or cereal. Lunch could be beans, rice, fry jacks, chicken, etc. and a typical evening meal may include rice, beans, veggies, tacos, burritos. Local restaurants are also an option at your own cost during weekends or spare time. Most food items are available in San Pedro but as they are imported they often come at an increased cost.

Pricing & Availability

Cost for additional weeks:

4 week total: £3395.00

6 week total: £4495.00

8 week total: £4845.00

10 week total: £5545.00

12 week total: 6245.00

For extra info please contact:

Email: info@whereaboutsholidays.com Phone: 0161 703 8161

Date From	Date To	Price
10 December 2023	24 December 2022	£2695

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