Program Reviews

I got to Carriacou. Nervous, not knowing what to expect. This may have been because it was my first time doing something like this alone.

But once I arrived at Deefer diving all of the nerves instantly vanished. As I see myself as fairly shy before I get to know people, going to Deefer was perfect for me as I was made to feel so welcome by everyone as soon as I got there. This would’ve been because of the amazing staff! They were incredible to work with, helping me have one of my best experiences ever as well as pushing me to succeed. The staff also do so well to bring everyone into one group, creating a family feel whilst you’re there. This is one of the things that I liked so much about Deefer as it makes you’re time there so unique.

The atmosphere of Deefer paired with the beautiful culture of the island makes it a perfect environment to learn as well as enjoy.

Not only did I learn so much about Marine conservation and Scuba diving, I had so much fun as well as making some great friends and memories.

Because of how much I enjoyed my time at Deefer I’ve been back several times and always have the same awesome experience.

So, coming from a young guy traveling alone. I would 10000% recommend to anybody really. To anyone having doubts about going. Do it! You won’t regret it!

Caribbean Reef Buddy have created the perfect programme for anyone interested in marine conservation, understanding the local eco system and providing the tools and skills necessary to reduce the impact we’re having on oceans.

My wife and I came to Carriacou in 2018 for 8 weeks to work on the conservations projects they run here (there a several projects running in parallel) and earn our Divemaster qualifications. The island is a slice of paradise, it is removed from the resort style living that’s conjured when one thinks of the Caribbean and is instead blessed with pristine long beaches, lush green forests and some of the most spectacular diving sites in the world.

The staff at Deefer Diving (where CRB is based) are professional, experienced and courteous. They are also amazing fun and can teach anyone to get in the water and enjoy themselves while also learning about the environment. You arrive thinking of them as your instructors and leave with friends you will keep forever.

I’ve already returned to Carriacou to dive with the team again and I know that this is a place I will continue to come back to, anyone interested in conservation, diving, learning and having an amazing time should do the same.

I came to Carriacou with an desire to learn more about our oceans following watching Blue Planet at the like. I didn't know much about what was going on or what we could do to make a difference. I do now! Wow, what an amazing 8 weeks with the team. In that time I learnt to dive, learnt about reef monitoring and learnt about coral reef regeneration. On top of this I became an SSI Divemaster and have gained so much confidence in and around the water, and now have the qualifications and experience to lead other divers in this amazing underwater world... I'll be coming back!

From the moment I read about this program, I knew it was the right fit for me and for what I was looking for.
It combined the perfect amount of volunteering in marine conservation (coral nursery, coral watch, reef check, invasive lionfish containment) and dive training (from OW to Dive Master) and what made it better were both the staff working on CRB, the professional team from Deefer Diving, and the scenario provided by the lovely island of Carriacou.
I absolutely loved everything about this place, so much in fact, that I ended up spending 2 more months as a Dive Master intern at the dive shop, which made me realise how much I love doing this, so I decided to make it a life style and I applied for a job and came back to work now as part of the staff at Deefer.

After diving for a month with Deefer Diving, my buoyancy control, fin kicks and air conservation has drastically increased. Diving with several dive master or becoming-dive masters has definitely increased the challenge and allowed me to strive for better. By having a certification means little, it is more on the experience that you build up.

Everyday we get at least 2 dives. Some on the weekends when we go to tobago cays (soooo many sea turtles!!)

There are other specialties like night diving, rebreather, nitrox, wrecks for very reasonable prices found nowhere else!!

The locals all speak English and the exotic environment allows all kinds of tropical fruits, I really really recommend Soursop smoothie, its literally the best thing ever.

Our Canadian college partnered with Caribbean Reef Buddy (CRB) to run a marine conservation field course. The Caribbean experience was unlike anything I have done before. The setting is quaint with a variety of excellent food choices and moderate shopping convenience. The staff are incredibly supportive. Local residents are friendly. The scenery and recreational opportunities are fantastic. Everyone on this trip experienced hands-on learning and made lifelong memories.
Caribbean Reef Buddy staff went out of their way to provide flexible instructional supports to different skill and ability levels of our participants. CRB was also very constructive in providing or suggesting additional social/recreational opportunities in the Island of Carriacou.

I spent 8 weeks improving my diving skills from Open water all the way through to Divemaster whilst completing a plethora of specialties on the side (Fish I.D., Nitrox, Deep, Lionfish Containment and Coral Watch). The easygoing yet experienced staff made adapting the program to my personal preferences incredibly easy and their good sense of humour and banter made for a very pleasant and fun experience. I found the accommodation to be perfectly fine and all meals provided were more than enough to satisfy a hungry diver! On top of all of this the incredible diving experience. is underscored by a strong and coherent environmental effort by the entire team, doing their utmost to protect the wildlife they love so much! Overall I would thoroughly recommend this program to those who are looking for a bit of an adventure within the relaxed comfortable lifestyle of a Caribbean island; utter paradise!

I cannot express how much I loved my time during the Caribbean Reef Buddy Program! I came into the program with no experience with being under water and in no time I was diving alongside the other volunteers without any trouble. Within my four weeks, I gained a number of certifications from PADI Advanced Open Water to Caribbean Lionfish Containment. The staff is extremely experienced in diving and their dedication towards marine conservation is amazing.
The island itself is quite literally paradise. From beautiful beaches to stunning dive sites, every moment feels like a picture from a postcard. The locals are extremely welcoming, making the island feel like home.
I could keep raving about this program but I'll keep it simple by saying that the only downside of my experience is that I was not able to stay longer. If you are looking for a program to begin diving, learn more about marine conservation or make amazing memories then this is the program for you!

The Divemaster course that CRB offer is undeniably an extraordinary experience. From gaining multiple PADI qualifications to helping take care of the delicate ecosystem myself, it was a truly unique and rewarding experience. As well as being under the water, there are plenty of other activities offered above it. We climbed the highest peak on the island, had a beach BBQ on Sandy Island, traveled north to Tobago Cays (where we found Baby Blacktip Reef Sharks!), and more. The Divemaster course is spread out over a very manageable 3 weeks, so there is room to change plans around if need be, and the tuition received from all of the team at CRB has made me a far far better diver. Inevitably, the island got under my skin and it didn’t take long for me to extend my stay to 3 months. Carriacou - a true tropical paradise, is free of chainstores, huge supermarkets or any urbanisation. The locals (known as Kayak’s) encourage a safe and friendly atmosphere, making your stay more relaxing and even more enjoyable.

The Divemaster course that CRB offer is undeniably an extraordinary experience. From gaining multiple PADI qualifications to helping take care of the delicate ecosystem myself, it was a truly unique and rewarding experience. As well as being under the water, there are plenty of other activities offered above it, climbing the highest peak on the island, having a beach BBQ, or heading up to Tobago Cays (where we found Baby Blacktip Reef Sharks!). The Divemaster course is spread out over a very manageable 3 weeks, so there is room to change plans around if need be, and the tuition received from all of the team at CRB has made me a far far better diver. Inevitably, the island got under my skin and it didn’t take long for me to extend my stay to 3 months. Carriacou - a true tropical paradise, is free of chainstores, huge supermarkets or any urbanisation. The locals (known as Kayak’s) encourage a safe and friendly atmosphere, making your stay more relaxing and even more enjoyable.