Spain – Marine Conservation in Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain. The diving club is in Sant Adrià de Besòs, one of the most appreciated municipalities in Barcelona for its beaches and sporting events, mainly aquatic sports. Near the diving club, you can find some of the most famous Barcelona beaches, such as Platja del Fòrum or Platja del Camp de la Bota.

Volunteers’ daily tasks can vary depending on the time of the year, but can include:

• Clean-up the seabed to reduce the marine debris—equipped with diving equipment and nets; logging information on items and trash collected;
• Remove the marine living organisms from the trash collected and put it back in the sea;
• Document and collect information about fauna, fish and invertebrate species in a monitored biodiverse area as part of a scientific research project;
• Learning more about the marine ecosystem and how to protect it and collect and register information about the biodiversity in an ecosystem created with the natural colonization of a former dismantled thermal power plant.
• If you volunteer in the Summer, you might also help in the summer camps for kids at risk of marginalization or with fewer opportunities through assisting with their dives or developing workshops about the sea and the environment.

Program achievements  
138 kgs of trash collected last year
2021 goal: To collect 500 kgs

A typical weekday may look like this:

07:00-08:30 am | Breakfast at the volunteer’s accommodation
08:30-01:00 pm | Walk 10 minutes to the bus station, then take the bus to the project site. You will start by learning the fundamentals and after a couple of days you will start the eco-diving
01:00-02:15 pm | Take the bus back to the volunteer accommodation (about 1.5 hour commute).
02:15-03:00 pm | Lunchtime
03:00-07:00 pm | Relaxing & Travel time. Usually, the afternoons are free to travel around the city, learn Spanish, or relax. Sometimes, you can also dive during the afternoons depending on the specialties or certification you are doing. Your instructor will inform you about this on the first day.

Sample of Diving Plan – Depends on your diving level and the number of weeks you join.

Note: volunteers with no diving experience will learn to dive before engaging in any underwater conservation activities. The program fee covers the cost of the required online and in-person training, full scuba equipment, and volunteer supervision from an experienced dive instructor. All volunteers staying for 2 weeks or more will complete internationally recognized diving certifications (CMAS). Depending on the current diving experience and the length of the stay, the volunteer will complete a certification ranging from Open Water Diver to Advanced Open Water Diver and specialties such as Marine Ecology and Fish. The project works with a local diving school, therefore the volunteer will always be supervised by an experienced dive instructor.

*Participants that join for 1 week only get diving activities on Tues, Wed and Thur. (this is the schedule for the 1st week for 1 week bookings).  

Internet: Free Wi-Fi is available at the volunteer accommodation.

Laundry: There are laundry facilities available.

Accommodations: You will stay in a sustainable hostel with a meaningful mission, located 45 minutes from the city center. Accommodation options include dormitories with gender separation and shared bathrooms. Bed sheets are provided, and volunteers can store their belongings safely in a lockable box. Private rooms are available upon request for an extra fee and subject to availability.

Food: The program provides two daily meals prepared by local chefs: breakfast and lunch. The food features fresh, locally sourced ingredients, allowing volunteers to savor a diverse range of traditional Catalan and Spanish dishes. We can accommodate most dietary restrictions or needs. Just mention this in your application form.

• Minimum 18 years old
• Minimum 2 weeks stay for uncretified divers
• GoEco interview
• Basic level of English
• Criminal background check
• Your respiratory and circulatory systems must be in good health for diving
• No other serious medical issues

Barcelona has some of the most incredible sites in the world. Gaudi’s world-famous architecture, unparalleled Catalonian cuisine, gorgeous beaches, and incredible local culture. The city is also a springboard for easily visiting the rest of Spain and Europe. We will provide you with excellent advice to discover Barcelona like a local! Weekday afternoons and weekends are free for exploring and relaxing.