Have you ever wanted to travel and give back to the environment at the same time? Are you interested in visiting incredible destinations, experiencing different cultures, and meeting people with shared interests and values? Are you captivated by seeing wildlife up close, learning about key issues, and participating in hands-on research that can help conserve threatened marine species?
If you answered yes to any of the above, then one of our volunteer abroad programs may be perfect for you. Oceanic Society’s volunteer vacations offer travelers rewarding, life-changing experiences that combine exploration and adventure with impactful work to help save the environment.
Here are 5 inspirational volunteer abroad programs that give back to nature:
1. Volunteer Abroad with Sea Turtles in Trinidad
Volunteer abroad with sea turtles in Trinidad, home to the world’s largest concentration of nesting leatherback turtles. © Brian J. Hutchinson
Join us as a sea turtle volunteer on the beaches of Trinidad to see and study the amazing leatherback turtle at one of the world’s most important nesting sites. With roughly 20,000 nests laid per year, Trinidad hosts the world’s densest leatherback nesting colony, and we have timed this volunteer trip to coincide with the peak of their nesting season.
Why we love it: Leatherback turtles are the largest of all sea turtles and also among the rarest. There’s no better place and no better time to see them than Trinidad in April-June. Participants on this volunteer abroad program will see multiple turtles per night as they get hands-on in helping with research.
How we give back: Leatherback turtles are threatened with extinction globally, and long-term monitoring of their nesting populations provides critical information to monitor their status. Our volunteers lend needed support to our local partner, Nature Seekers, a community-based organization that has been studying and protecting sea turtles in Matura, Trinidad for decades. Volunteers’ labor and visitor fees provide needed support to Nature Seekers’ work.
2. Help Study Manatees, Sea Turtles, Coral Reefs, and More in Belize
See and study endangered marine wildlife while volunteering abroad in Belize. © Linda Searle
Nestled on a beautiful private island east of Belize City, our volunteer research trips in St. George’s Caye, Belize offer the chance to help study coral reef health and monitor endangered manatees and sea turtles, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, and queen conch populations in partnership with ECOMAR, a Belizean non-profit.
Why we love it: This trip is a fantastic experience to soak in the sun, snorkel, and see wildlife that inhabit coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests. One of the highlights is a day spent at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which is often cited as one of the best snorkeling sites in Belize.
How we give back: The data collected by volunteers adds to an annual report that is shared with the St. George’s Caye Village Council and Fisheries Department. The department uses the data to provide evidence that the area is critical habitat for threatened and endangered species. Our goal is to show that building and maintaining a marine reserve will help nurture coral reef health inside and outside the reserve and protect key threatened species.
3. Monitor Coral Reefs in Puerto Rico
Help monitor coral reef health in Puerto Rico while learning to identify reef fish. © Islamar
Located in the heart of the Caribbean, Puerto Rico’s reefs are rich in biodiversity. Once dominated by agriculture and fisheries, the economy of the sleepy western beach town of Rincón is now driven by tourism. In an effort to protect the area’s beaches, coral reefs, and wildlife from coastal development, the community established the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve in 2015.
In partnership with Amigos de Tres Palmas, our trip helps researchers monitor coral reef health by gaining a better understanding of the issues that impact the local marine species including marine debris, climate change, coral bleaching, and invasive lionfish.
Why we love it: Puerto Rico has beautiful coral reefs, chock-full of schools of fish, elkhorn corals, brain corals, stony corals, and sea fans. The trip offers a fantastic opportunity to experience Puerto Rico’s rich culture, sharpen your reef fish ID skills, become familiar with field techniques used to evaluate the health of coral reefs, and help local scientists monitor the health of the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve. Another highlight is the day spent snorkeling at the picturesque, offshore remote reefs of Desecheo Island.
How we give back: Data gathered during the trip is used to help show that the newly established marine reserve is helping to preserve Puerto Rico’s marine resources.
4. Study Sharks & Coral Reefs in Palau while Scuba Diving
Help study sharks and coral reefs in Palau’s Rock Islands. © Fish N Fins
Known for its vibrant corals, abundant fish populations, breathtaking jungle-capped, mushroom-shaped limestone islands, and pristine aqua-blue waters, Palau is one of the nicest snorkeling destinations in the world. The tiny island nation made headlines in 2015 when they designated almost their entire ocean territory, 193,000 square miles, as a marine protected area.
Researchers in Palau are now studying the linkage between shark abundance and coral reef health. In partnership with the Micronesian Shark Foundation, participants on this snorkel and scuba flexible trip will learn to identify and survey sharks, corals, and reef fish in order to compare reef health in areas of varying shark abundance.
Why we love it: Palau has more than 1,500 species of fish, 300+ species of soft coral, and 400+ species of hard coral—it is stunning! Seeing and studying healthy populations of sharks in the wild is a once in a lifetime experience!
How we give back: The data collected on this trip helps researchers to see if there are any patterns between shark abundance and overall reef health and reef fish behaviors.
5. Volunteer Whale and Dolphin Research in Pacific Mexico
Study humpback whales and dolphins on Mexico’s beautiful Pacific coast. © Katherina Audley
Many people think of Baja California when looking to venture to the Pacific side of Mexico, but few know about the equally impressive beauty and natural wonders found in the southern state of Guerrero. Often cited for its charming seaside villages, 17th century architecture, festivals, artwork, and delicious food, Guerrero, Mexico is also rich in marine and terrestrial biodiversity and a hotspot for seeing wildlife.
Volunteers on this trip help scientists with the Whales of Guerrero Research Project collect key ecosystem data, and will also come away with a wealth of knowledge, including how to identify whale flukes, and how to use drones and hydro-acoustic equipment to conduct field research.
Why we love it: The area is teeming with diverse wildlife including humpback whales, dolphins, sea turtles, fish, and birds. It’s an incredible experience being out on the water monitoring whale behavior. There will also be plenty of opportunities to explore Guerrero by visiting villages, attending village art shows, eating tasty food, touring a cloud forest coffee farm, and exploring a wildlife and mangrove-filled lagoon by boat.
How we give back: Our research will help scientists with the Whales of Guerrero Research Project better understand the population of dolphins and whales that reside in the area. Moreover, by collaborating with fishermen and local villagers, we are fostering a sense of pride in the incredible natural wealth of this region and supporting local stewardship.
