In-Water Sea Turtle Volunteer / Study Program

The in-water project is located in Playa Blanca, close to Puerto Jiménez on the Osa Peninsula in the southern pacific province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Sea turtles spend only 1% of their lives on the nesting beaches and due to this behavioral pattern, mainly only adult females are studied. Very little information is available about juvenile populations and sex ratios of adult populations. Therefore, more in-water work is needed to increase knowledge about habitats used by sea turtles in different life stages in order to assess the types of threats they are exposed to. Surveys will be conducted twice a week, and volunteers assist with the measuring of turtles, recording data, restraining turtles, and preparing the nets and equipment. We also have an extensive mangrove reforestation project which takes place on other days - to restore the natural ecosystem of the region.