Reef Conservation in the Heart of the Caribbean

Caribbean Reef Buddy

Why choose Caribbean Reef Buddy?

Our Story in Carriacou is to work closely with the community and people like yourself to make a sustainable difference to marine conservation awareness and education. Caribbean Reef Buddy (CRB) do this through the delivery of environmental and conservation projects which are linked to global ecological and social themes. Our projects include assessing marine species and coral health, repopulation of our reef systems, and supporting greater awareness within our local schools.

You too can write a chapter in our on-going story of how our Reef Buddies took some time and made a huge difference on this tropical island paradise. Your story can not only include your first-hand experience of delivering our projects, but also of your hikes in the tropical forests, your walks along deserted beaches and the bond you’ll make with new friends from all over the world. Join us in the Caribbean as we help you to start a new chapter in your story.

Reviews

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Megan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Caribbean Reef Buddy with Deefer Diving: Experience in Carriacou

The work I got to do with Caribbean Reef Buddy, volunteering on the coral reef and helping to identify coral species was truly special. The diving instructors at Deefer Diving were incredibly knowledgeable and supportive throughout all of the training and they provided a lot of one-on-one instruction, even in a group setting. In my spare time, I also hiked on the island which was amazing and everyone I met was very welcoming. I really benefited from the experience and I'd recommend the program to people of any age with an interest in adventure.

Pros
  • Great learning experience
  • Amazing people
  • Beautiful views
Jeremy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Excellent Caribbean SCUBA programming

This is my fourth year bringing college students down for dive training. This year, we also included a project week wherein students applied all of their new skills in a reef monitoring and coral out-planting research. Staff here have always been very accommodating of various skill levels and interests of participants and provide flexibility in our programming. We are super excited to partner with them on this new research project. Additionally, their staff have an excellent understanding of the social, economic, and environmental interplay in coral reef management, educational outreach, and enhancement projects.
In addition to diving and project work, staff organize weekly social events and can also provide guidance on additional recreational activities including hikes, snorkeling, kayaking, and more. Five Stars!

Pros
  • Guest house close to dive shop. .
  • Lots of great dive sites.
  • Training AND conservation work.
Cons
  • The shop is closed on Sundays.
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Ashley
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Caribbean Reef Buddy

My experience was great! Though at the beginning I was a bit hesitant to get in the water and do the training activities once I was doing them it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The staff here are really supportive and are willing to accommodate for any needs people had. They are willing to work at your own pace while still pushing you to do your best. After all the training was complete I felt more comfortable diving and it made the experience more enjoyable. The dive sites are really cool as well. There are many different locations not too far away from the shop. I would recommend this dive shop to people, it was a great experience and I wish to come back.

Pros
  • supportive environment
  • interesting research
  • A lot of dive time
Cons
  • Compact schedule oin the mornings
  • large diving groups (depends)
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Kaili
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Deefer Diving/Caribbean Reef Buddy Volunteering

The team at Deefer Diving made learning how scuba dive fun and exciting. As a new comer, having kind, knowledgeable and confident instructors made the process easy. They answer all questions with enthusiasm. Their goal is to help people reach theirs. Not only was diving a fantastic experience, but the location of Carriacou was perfect. The work being done with the reefs in the area was extremely interesting to those have a knack for marine sciences.
If you have ever wanted to scuba dive, this is a great team to start with.

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Shawnna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Experience of a lifetime in Carriacou

The staff at Deefer Diving are absolutely phenominal. They are patient, understanding, incredibly safe, knowledgable, and they're so much fun. We had a fairly large group, and they were able to accommodate eveybody's specialized needs and skill levels. They gave great recommendations for adventures to explore outside of diving as well. This was truly the experience of a lifetime, and I could not recommend them enough! Thank you to all of the staff at Deefer Diving for giving your 110% every single day. Your hard work and dedication is seen and appreciated.

Programs

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Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Jon Wright

Job Title
Dive instructor/supervisor, skipper, equipment technician
Jon is a CCR and technical diving instructor trainer who brings 30 years of diving and boating experience to the team. He has been involved with scientific diving for the past 12 years, primarily focused on the technical, logistical and safety elements of many varied projects.
Jon in a wetsuit and dive pack

What is your favorite travel memory?

I have so many! One that stands out for me is a sailing trip out to dive Bassas da India, which lies about halfway between Mozambique (where I lived for 12 years) and Madagascar. Bassas is an uninhabited atoll, formed by a volcano, which rises from the sea bed at 3000 meters to just breaking the surface. It is difficult to find a more remote or more pristine part of the Indian Ocean, the diving was out of this world and the fantastic sense of isolation was surreal.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I love to experience new locations and cultures and it is great to get into the Caribbean vibe! Carriacou has that lovely old world charm of a bygone age which is hard to find now days. Getting back in to sailing after a bit of a hiatus is my short term goal, the region is awash with boats and boaters!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

The large number of return students we get speaks volumes for their enjoyment of their time spent here. As I write this we have 1 return student working here as a dive instructor and a couple who have come back for a holiday. It seems like every month we have at least 1 person coming to dive who was previously a student here.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

That would depend on previous diving experience. A qualified diver would want to get straight into marine field work, learn scientific diving techniques and data collection/entry techniques, possibly rounding this off with some higher level diving qualifications. Non divers would want to start with their Open Water dive course before getting into the scientific fieldwork. As our structure allows for both these groups, students just decide where they ''get on'' to the course and how long they want to stay.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

We are a group of passionate divers, conservationists and scientists with incredibly diverse backgrounds and skill sets. For me it is really gratifying to see local staff get enthusiastic about conserving the underwater world and being part of their progression as professional divers, skippers and the conservationists of tomorrow.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Good open and honest communication is vital not just for a company but for daily life. Many problems stem from poor communication, conflict can arise over misunderstandings and no team endeavor can succeed if all members are not clear about objectives and roles.
Scientific research is also of far more importance when the results are in the public domain, enabling people to make informed decisions and policies.