Location
  • Grenada
    • Carriacou
Length
2 to 12 weeks

Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
17
Age Max
100
Timeframe
Short Term Summer Year Round
Housing
Hotel
Travel Type
Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
875
Price Details
Join us as a certified Advanced Adventure Diver (or equivalent) with a minimum of 15 logged dives for at least a 2-week marine conservation program and step right into one of our exciting science and education projects. You have never dived before, or don't have the minimum experience? That's not a problem, join us for Training Week for an additional $650 and we'll provide you with all your dive training.

While you are here you'll participate in up to 4 different conservation projects. Self-catering accommodation can be arranged for you or is available with our local partner hotel, where you'll have breakfast and an evening meal every day. Accommodation is at additional cost depending on options.

Click the link for more information
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Equipment Some Meals Wifi
What's Not Included
Some Activities Airfare Some Meals SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance Visa
Sep 02, 2023
Oct 13, 2023
37 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Do you want to make a real difference in the world? Join Caribbean Reef Buddy as a volunteer and help protect the beautiful marine life of the Caribbean. Work alongside experienced professionals and gain hands-on experience in marine conservation.

Explore some of the world's most vibrant coral reefs and see marine life up close. But being a volunteer with Caribbean Reef Buddy is about more than just an adventure. It's about forming lasting connections with like-minded people, discovering new strengths, and making a tangible impact on the world.

Give back and experience the rewards of marine conservation with Caribbean Reef Buddy.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Learn to SCUBA dive, or advance your diving qualifications.
  • Predator Week: Learn to spearfish to remove this destructive invasive species that is destroying native coral reef ecosystems. Using BRUVS we can explore our marine environment to discover the species and prevalence of apex predators
  • Marine Conservation Education: Discover how little changes you can do in everyday life can help protect our oceans and reefs
  • Macroinvertebrates & Underwater Photography: Learn or improve your underwater photography skills while discovering the world of macroinvertebrates.
  • Biodiversity Identification Dives: Increase your knowledge and understanding of reef ecosystems and learn about coral reefs and marine animals through ID dives

Program Impact

To date, we've increased awareness of Lionfish as a sustainable food source into the local community. We increased the awareness of the importance of herbivore fish on the reef (like Parrot and Surgeonfish) which are now fished less. We have involved community members in the development of a new coral nursery, which is increasing the understanding of threats to our reef ecosystem.

Each project we are involved in has a direct impact on the local community as we provide data and information which allows the local community to make better-informed decisions regarding coastal zone and fisheries management.

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 34 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.85
  • Support 5
  • Fun 4.95
  • Value 5
  • Safety 5
  • Growth 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 8 of 34 reviews
Default avatar
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!!!!!!
8 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
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
14 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
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
10 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jackson
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I'm so glad I signed up!

Scuba diving and marine conservation have always been on my bucket list. I'm so glad I found Caribbean Reef Buddy and was able to tick two things on my bucket list. I've learned so much from this experience. From scuba diving to protecting marine life. This is my first time to get involved in Marine Conservation and the program gave me so much enlightenment how climate change has been affecting the marine life. I would definitely come back one day and be more involved in their program. Proud Reef Buddy here!

Pros
  • Friendly environment
  • You learn new things everyday
  • Attentive instructors
Cons
  • Limited availability of fruits & vegies on the island
  • Accommodation is close to where parties happen on weekends
13 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Robyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I only wish I'd booked for longer!

What can I say in 500 characters? I came to Carriacou on a 3 week program thinking I'd learn to dive and have a little fun. I'd never dived before, but love the ocean so wanted to give it a try. The first week was intense and I had to overcome many personal hurdles. Particularly with the scuba equipment. But it passed in a blur and then we were right into the project work.

I only managed to do 2 of the project weeks. So only touched on coral regen and predator monitoring. I only wished I could have stayed longer to get more involved.

The key to this thing though was the people you meet. Made some amazing friends who I hope to be able to see again.

14 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Racquel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience

I had a great time during my 4 weeks of volunteering with Caribbean Reef Buddy. On my first week, we did training where I got my required diving qualification/certification. For the remaining 3 weeks, we did various marine conservation activities (different projects every week --- while SCUBA diving) such as predator monitoring, lionfish containment, coral micro-fragmentation & propagation, and reef monitoring. I got to meet new people from the volunteer program as well as locals (and expats) from the island. The locals in Carriacou are very friendly and the staff of Caribbean Reef Buddy are all great. All in all, it's a life-changing experience and I had so much fun. I enjoyed every bit of their program!

Pros
  • Learned so much about diving and marine conservation
  • Carriacou is very laid back and relaxed, people are friendly
  • The members of CRB staff are amazing
Cons
  • Sand flies / mosquitoes
  • There times when it's noisy on weekend nights because of parties happening in town
14 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Tom
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Experience Ever

I'd just completed a degree in Marine Ecology and was thinking about what to do next. I saw this program advertised and decided to come down to Carriacou for a month before thinking about applying for work to get some headspace after exams. It was without doubt the best thing to have done.

Carriacou is one of those really magical, unspoilt gems of an island. Its warm, friendly, and the locals really know how to party too. I always felt very safe, and the group of volunteer on the program I was on all commented on the same thing. We had a blast!

The program was intense too! We were diving practically every day, 5 or 6 days a week and I felt like we were really making a difference. The work we were doing on the coral nursery and out planting elkhorn corals was really interesting. Of course lionfish hunting was also pretty cool too. I feel I learned so much about the challenges faced relating to the implementation of these types of projects which I never covered in my studies, and certainly never would have thought about. Particularly social and cultural differences in attitudes and approaches. In my month here I feel I learned more than in a whole semester back home.

Pros
  • The team are amazing!
  • The Island, the rum, Lambi Queen on a friday night
  • Learning so much more about conservation in the real world
Cons
  • No A/C and the rooms were small
23 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Billy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

This was an overall great experience.

The accommodations were the only downside to the whole trip. The staff was fantastic, and as a DiveMaster intern, I learned much more than if I had tried to do it locally. Gary was very hands-on in my training and made me fill like I could do it through the whole process.
The staff made sure that we were taken care of while on the boat and in the water, but this was not a vacation. We worked six days a week, and it was great. I would recommend them to anyone that was looking at doing work on the reef.

Pros
  • Great Staff
  • Diverse programing
Cons
  • Accommodations
25 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers