Mexico – Diving for Marine Conservation

This project is located in Puerto Morelos. Mexico, which is only half an hour away from the popular tourist area of Play del Carmen.

The monitoring stage of the program does not begin straight away; the training process for this is extensive and can take around 5 to 6 weeks depending on volunteers’ skills and if the weather permits. It includes a combination of diving training, book-based learning, identifying species specific to the region, and data collection techniques. Four-week volunteers will be doing a simpler methodology.

The main program focuses will be monitoring the health of coral reefs through monitoring the corals and fish. Volunteers are divided into fish or coral by the onsite Science Officer dive officer. The 4 to 8 week volunteers will be allocated to learn fish families where they study either adult or juvenile fish, they may also be able to help with and learn Coral Watch. If volunteers progress quickly they may learn both. Coral is divided into the study of sessile organisms on the reef and coral diseases, this will be done on base once they have learned the coral species list.

Other programmes which will run throughout the year as and when they are needed to be completed:

• Coral restoration nurseries
• Turtle photo id and monitoring
• Seagrass monitoring and mapping
• Tourist impact assessment ,
• Turtle nesting (seasonal) monitoring around the area,
• Incidental sightings recording
• Lionfish population studies & eradication program
• Weekly beach cleans
• Teaching in the local schools in town, and outreach work to assist the community and promote conservation practices

The educational standards of this program are extremely high. Volunteers will receive materials to study and learn before arrival. Additionally, the first few weeks of training consists of some lectures to be accompanied by further required studying.

The first 3-4 weeks are devoted to training. During this period you will be learning both in the water (about 1 dive per day/ 1 snorkel per day) as well as in a classroom setting.

Your daily schedule will include:

• PADI open water certification and Advanced open water certification (for those not certified already)
• Studying the local species
• Data collection techniques (both underwater and on land)
• Beach cleans
• Coral Restoration Nurseries
• Cooking and daily chores
• Rinsing equipment, filling tanks
• Attending lectures
• Community outreach in environmental education
• Following training, you will enter the monitoring phase of your volunteering, which will include 1 or 2 dives/snorkels a day including data collection underwater on the fish and coral status.

Five days a week will be devoted to your volunteer work. These days can often be quite long and tiring, beginning around 6 am. If the Scientific dives are going to plan, the fifth day may be dedicated to fun dives in the morning, and relaxing in the evening but of course cannot be guaranteed. Weekends are your free time.

Please note: The aim is to get every volunteer out on as many dives as possible, however the weather does not always permit diving. Volunteers must have a flexible attitude about this, as you will not be allowed to dive in unsafe conditions.

Internet: You will have limited Internet connection whilst on the program. Volunteers can rent SIM cards or use the Internet in cafes in Puerto Morelos.

Laundry: You can wash your clothes on base (hand washing) or take them to Puerto Morelos town on your day off. Cost is around US$2.50 per kilo with a minimum charge of around US$3.75. Please note that as part of your volunteer duties, you will be asked to do daily chores around the site. These include cleaning bathrooms and communal areas, cooking, preparing the boat, raking the grounds, or any other duties to ensure the base runs smoothly.

Accommodations: Mixed-gender, shared dorm rooms on research base. There is electricity and cold running water at the accommodations. There is bottled water available for cooking and drinking only. Cold water for showering and flush toilet facilities.

Food: Volunteers prepare their own breakfast from our choice of cereals. During work days lunch and dinner is prepared by a local cook, on weekends participants cook their own meals. Food is a very basic, mostly vegetarian diet, with meat available about once a week. Breakfast could be porridge, fruit or cereal, lunch is beans, vegetables, pasta and sauce, etc. and a typical evening meal may include lentils, pasta, beans, rice and vegetables. Local restaurants are also an option at your own cost during weekends.

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

• 4-week volunteers must be PADI Open Water certified upon arrival
• Police clearance
• Minimum age of 18 years
• Basic level of English
• Good physical shape
• Must complete the medical form and PADI medical statement. If “yes” to any medical statements, must have a doctor sign approval for the program.
• Mask, snorkel, fins, westuit and Inflatable Surface Marker Buoy with spool reel

Regarding PADI certifications:
If you are only volunteering for 4 weeks, you MUST have your Open Water Diving certificate before starting at the project. While at the project, you can earn your Advanced Open Water PADI certificate.

If you are volunteering at the project for at least 8 weeks, you can earn both your Open Water and Advanced Open Water PADI certificates while at the project.

Both the Open Water and Advanced Open Water PADI certifications are included in the project fees.

There are no included program excursions, however volunteers have Saturdays and Sundays to explore the grounds or go off base to discover the surrounding area. There is a lot to see around Akumal, as well as access to other hot tourist spots such as Playa del Carmen, Cancun, the Biosphere Reserve, and even Merida.

Program Add-Ons (Not Included):
Take your volunteering experience one step further!

• Take part in the Biological Survey Techniques Course for in-depth training that will allow you to effectively plan and execute your own field surveys in the future. Available for volunteers staying for 8 weeks or more.
• You can never be too prepared. Join the EFR training and get certified in First Aid and CPR for adults and children. Available for volunteers staying for 4 weeks or more.
• Get your PADI Rescue Diver certification and further your diving knowledge. To take part in this course you must have your EFR certification. Available for volunteers staying 8 weeks or more.
• Get both your First Aid and Rescue Diver certifications together! Available for volunteers staying 8 weeks or more.