Reef Buddy Philippines: Learn to Dive & Restore Coral Reefs (2–12 weeks)
- Philippines
- Dauin
Frequently asked questions
You can apply to this program by clicking the "Apply Now" button.
This program starts at $1,625 USD. For full pricing, visit the provider’s website.
This program is open to participants aged 18 to 100.
The program runs for 2 to 12 weeks.
Yes, the program includes housing. Participants stay in hotels.
The program fee includes accommodation, activities, airport transfers, equipment, meals, and wifi.
This program is located in Dauin, Philippines.
About Program
Never dived before? Two weeks from now you could be a certified Advanced Open Water diver, working on a real coral restoration project in the Philippines.
Reef Buddy Philippines is based in Dauin, a small, quiet town on Negros in the Coral Triangle — one of the most biodiverse stretches of ocean on the planet. In your first week you complete your PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water with our instructors at The Dive Hub. Then you join the project team: growing and maintaining coral in our nurseries, re-wilding damaged reef sites, and surveying reefs using Reef Check, the international method used by reef scientists worldwide.
Most of our volunteers aren't marine biologists. They're people who want to spend a few weeks or months doing something worthwhile — during university, between jobs, or on a career break. You don't need any background; we teach you everything on site.
You'll live with the other volunteers at Sierra Resort, with all meals included, and the whole team eats out
Program Highlights
- Learn to dive, get certified: PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water included in Training Week. No experience needed
- Grow and replant coral: Build and maintain coral nurseries, and help restore damaged reef sites through our new re-wilding and site recovery project.
- Survey reefs like a scientist: Learn Reef Check, the global standard for reef monitoring, and collect data used to track the health of Dauin's reefs.
- 3D Photogrammetry Reef Mapping: Use Agisoft software to build centimetre-accurate 3D models of reef structures, tracking changes in structural complexity over time
- Dive with turtles, seahorses and frogfish: Fun dives are mixed in with project work, on some of the most species-rich reefs in Asia.
2027 dates now open
Video and Photos
Program Impact
Reef Buddy Philippines launched in 2026, bringing the approach Caribbean Reef Buddy has used in Grenada since 2014 to one of the most biodiverse marine regions on Earth. Because we're new, the data our volunteers collect now becomes the baseline that every future survey is measured against.
Our work in Dauin has three parts. We run regular Reef Check surveys across Dauin's marine protected areas to build a long-term record of reef health. We grow resilient coral species in our nurseries and use them to re-wild damaged reef sites, monitoring each site to track its recovery. And we deploy baited underwater cameras to establish which large predators are using Dauin's reefs, information that doesn't yet exist for these waters.
Since launch, volunteers have completed 33 surveys and planted over 100 coral fragments across our outplant sites.
Across the Philippines and the Caribbean, more than 300 volunteers from 28 countries have joined Reef Buddy as citizen scientists, and many now work in marine conservation, research and education.
Response from Reef Buddy: Caribbean & Philippines
Thank you so much for the great review, Niclas!
It was an absolute pleasure having you with us for your Divemaster training. You completely crushed it! And your performance at the Snorkel Test celebration is definitely one for the books! Legend.
Our animals mascots Brownie, Blondie, and Harry send their love, too! Harry in particular is still missing his fresh lionfish treats from your hunting sessions!
Thank you for bringing such great energy to the shop and the volunteer house. Wishing you all the best in your diving adventures, and we hope to see you back on our peaceful little island again soon!