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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Brandon
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Incredible Experience

My experience with Caribbean Reef Buddy was nothing short of incredible. Everything about this program was incredible to me and I could not recommend it enough to those seeking to get involved with the underwater world. I applied to this program as a Freshman studying Marine Biology in college and was a bit anxious about spending three weeks in Grenada. However this anxiety quickly faded as I got to know everyone involved with the program. Everyone involved is unbelievably welcoming, knowledgeable and truly want you to enjoy your time working with them. Speaking of which, the work I did with CRB was truly rewarding and I felt as though I was truly helping to protect Carriacou's local reefs. In addition, I gained invaluable field experience in the realm of marine science which has and will continue to aid in future endeavors with work. I also went into this program as an open water diver and while partaking in this program received my advanced open water scuba certification as well as deep diver specialty certification. Gary is an incredible dive instructor, the best I have ever had, and puts safety as an utmost priority. He taught me invaluable skills in the water and I am a more confident diver than ever thanks to his guidance. For those wondering about the diving itself, the reefs in Carriacou are gorgeous and were full of photography opportunities for those interested in the field. I will say that much of the marine life there is on the smaller size so macro photographers should be excited. I got to see so many incredible creatures and experience so much during my time with CRB. I truly could not recommend it enough.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing I saw was a purple-crowned sea goddess nudibranch. I managed to spot this small sea slug out of the corner of my eye and was ecstatic to have found it. Definitely a highlight of my trip.
Pros
  • Hands on experience in Marine Biology
  • Experienced and involved diving instructors who prioritize safety above all else
  • In depth and involved volunteer work that contributes to protecting local coral reefs
Cons
  • The island is small and there is not a ton to do outside of the volunteer program
  • There is not an incredible amount of variety in terms of food options due to the small size of the island.
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Angela
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I learned so much from this motivated and dedicated crew

As a 19 year old single female I was a little apprehensive about traveling to a Caribbean island I had never heard of. Talking to the team before I arrived they assured me it was safe and explained the travel plans. When on the island and meeting the crew and the other volunteers it was brilliant. Safe, fun and very very informative. I learned so much in a hand on way. Not too much study and no heavy lectures. Plenty of time to party and socialise.... although to be honest we were typically too tired after diving to do too much party.

The team at CRB are fantastic too. Very knowledgeable, very passionate, and very real. Good vibes all round.

What was your funniest moment?
We were able to see and participate in one of the other volunteers 'snorkel test' after she completed her divemaster qualification. OMG that was a wild night.
Pros
  • Informative team
  • learned to dive.... really well
Cons
  • Stay was too short
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Owen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Caribbean Reef Buddy is Amazing place to volunteer!

I wrote a review but realized I only spoke about Deefer Diving, the dive shop that works with Caribbean Reef Buddy. But I wanted to make sure I wrote a review about them too because they are an amazing organization! When looking for a program and where I wanted to volunteer, I read reviews about other places that didn't really offer any educational value. This is not the case here! I learned SO much and really felt like I made an impact helping their marine conservation work! They are very organized too!

Pros
  • I'm only 17 and felt safe and supported entire time.
  • I learned a lot and am using it for my senior project.
  • The dives are amazing and you can get additional certifications.
Cons
  • NONE!!!!!!
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Hannah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Diving in Paradise ✅

After some planes, planes and more planes you arrive at this tiny island in the middle of the Caribbean that is filled with amazing people and nature that is a must visit. Everyone at the dive shop is professional, knowledgable and friendly making for a great and worthwhile experience. I stayed for 2 weeks in July for Lionfish management and reef monitoring and learnt so much about the local reef environment and its challenges. The diving was top tier with so much beautiful marine life. I cannot wait to go back!!

Pros
  • Blondie and Harry the Shop Pets
  • Bucket List Level of Marine Life
  • Big Family Atmosphere
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Owen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life changing experience.

This was my first time traveling abroad alone. From the very start everyone was welcoming. The dive shop is located right across the street from the beach. The dive shop is very organized and the dives are throughly planed out and explained to you. I enjoyed every second of diving and being on the island and around the dive shop and I’m already thinking about when I can get back. There is plenty of spots to eat near the dive shop. There is also hikes that you can do on the island which have amazing views.

Pros
  • Staff is amazing
  • Location is perfect
  • Dive site are incredible
Cons
  • N/A
  • N/A
  • N/A

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.