Dive the Belize Barrier Reef

Set on a tranquil, private island in the heart of the Caribbean, you'll get to spear invasive lionfish and participate in essential marine conservation.

Your hassle-free adventure includes:

• 4 nights on a private island
• 5 days diving
• 12 dives per week
• At least 1night dive
• Training for conservation work and participation in research
• Boat transfers to and from island
• All meals
• All diving equipment (excluding wetsuits, booties, masks and snorkels)

Perfect for: Anyone who wants to discover the wonder of diving while doing their part to help the environment. Dive training can be provided, so all you need is moderate fitness, a love for marine wildlife and a good attitude!

It was featured in the round-up of best Citizen Science holidays in the Metro.

Adventures for Good Your host is a non-profit based in Belize that’s committed to protecting the Barrier Reef through conservation projects and research. They offer hands-on experiences that combine world-class diving with practical activities that inspire and inform their volunteer citizen-scientists. See all of our Adventures for Good here.

Want to stay longer than 5 days? You can extend your trip for additional weeks. See the FAQs for more information.

Monday: Arrive on the island

Make your way to the Hokey Pokey Water Taxi Dock in Placencia and depart for the ReefCI island at 09:30. Arrive for orientation and learn more about the conservation work you’ll be participating in. Fill up your free time by stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkelling, fishing or playing volleyball and badminton.

Tuesday: Surveys and BBQs

Today, you’ll be IDing fishes, conducting surveys and getting to know more about the local ecology. After a day of diving, unwind in a hammock and tuck into some freshly caught food.

Wednesday: Coral and invertebrate conservation

Today you’ll be learning about all things coral. Once you’re below the surface, you’ll help identify any occurrence of coral reef bleaching, as well as help with lobster and Queen Conch surveys.

Thursday: Commercial species surveys

For your penultimate day on the island, you’ll be broadening your survey’s scope to include all the sea’s critters. You’ll also participate in a ReefCl check survey, which the team will use for their essential research, and includes whale shark monitoring, bio-diversity dives and reef health surveys.

Friday: Final dive before returning to the mainland

Wake up early for one last dive before returning to the mainland. Departure time ranges from 11:00 to 13:00, once back in Placencia, you’re free to explore more of Belize.

Note: This itinerary and the duration of the activities are subject to change due to group abilities and preferences, and weather conditions and forecasts.

The accommodation is hostel-like and basic but its location is unparalleled. Set miles from land, you can channel your inner cast-away by whiling away afternoons swinging in a hammock or lost in a good book. It’s not often in life you get to fall asleep to the sound of waves lapping just outside your window or wake up to the sun rising over the breath-taking Belize Barrier Reed.

The island is about 1½ acres, it has a large living area and there are a variety of twin, family and double en-suite rooms available in both the main building/cabana and on the beach. Some rooms have their own bathroom and some have shared bathrooms, and there is no hot water. However every room has beautiful views of the ocean and fans for when the sea breeze doesn’t suffice.

Tom Owens Caye is a private island in Belize’s Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve Park. The organisation has been operating for 13 years’ and gives travellers a truly unique opportunity to aid in conservation efforts while exploring a new world. ReefCl’s ethos is rooted in protecting and preserving our oceans by empowering, educating and inspiring their volunteer citizen-scientists.

Back on the mainland, Placencia is a quirky beach-holiday town that balances fine food with a laid-back ambience. It’s nestled between the reef and the Mayan mountains, and plays host to everything from ancient ruins and cultural tours, to jungles treks and nature expeditions.

Hokey Pokey Water Taxi Dock - 09:30 on Monday

You should fly into Placencia Airport (PLJ) on either a Saturday or Sunday. Please note that there are no direct flights between Placencia and the UK.

From Belize International Airport (BZE), fly down on a ‘hopper’ plane to Placencia with Tropic Air or Maya Island Air. The flight takes about 45 minutes and will range anywhere from $230-260 USD round-trip and is an exciting ride. Tropic Air and Maya Island Air provide 7-9 daily flights on the weekends to/from Belize International Airport and Placencia; the first flight staring at 7:00 am and the last flight around 5:00 pm.

Due to the arrival and departure times, you should book accommodation on the mainland for the weekends on either end of the trip. Cost ranges anywhere from 15 USD to 100 USD a night depending on your hotel preferences.

Travel Tip! Have your camera ready as you will fly low enough to take in all the beautiful scenery with the Mayan Mountains and jungle on one side and the Belize Barrier Reef on the other.

Hokey Pokey Water Taxi Dock at 11am-1pm on Friday

Schedule your departure out of Placencia, Belize on either on a Saturday or Sunday. Book any connecting flight which suits you from Placencia to Belize International Airport.