Volunteer travel guide
Volunteering abroad used to be a long term commitment for a highly qualified few but that has since changed.
What wildlife can I help?
The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish![]()
- Jacques Cousteau, oceanoghrapher
Whale sharks
Whale Sharks are the largest fish in the ocean; they grow up to 19m in length and can weigh up to 15 tonnes living for between 100-150 years. They eat plankton and small fish and are harmless to people, but their gentle nature makes them an easy target for hunters after their meat and fins, and they also die from boat collisions and entrapment in fishing nets. Diving with whale sharks is a thrilling, rewarding experience, but their very presence is dependent on the health of spawning fish aggregations. Like many of their shark relatives, whale sharks are in decline and they are classified as endangered.
Coral reefs
Coral reefs are diverse ecosystems, housing tens of thousands of marine species including octocoral, sea turtles, hundreds of species of fish, molluscs and sponges. About one-third of all marine fish species live part of their lives on coral reefs and despite their importance to marine life, the world's total adds up to less than one percent of the sea floor - an area about the size of France. They have a very slow growth rate, developing from 10cm to as little as 0.3cm per year and, shockingly, one quarter of all coral reefs worldwide are damaged beyond repair. The remaining healthy reefs are incredibly vulnerable to temperature change, pollution and human touch.Sea turtles
Sea turtles are one of the most ancient creatures in existence and the seven species that can be found today have been around for 110 million years. The sea turtle's shell, or 'carapace' is streamlined for swimming through the water and unlike tortoises, they can't retract their legs and head into their shells. Slaughtered for their meat, skin and shells, sea turtles also suffer from egg theft and nearly all species are now classified as endangered.
Maldives whale shark conservation snorkelling cruise
Maldives whale shark conservation cruise with local experts
From
US $2349 to US $2699
8 days
ex flights
Lionfish spearing marine conservation in Belize
Help us protect reef ecosystems by hunting invasive species
From
US $995
5 days
ex flights
Whale conservation vacation in the Azores
Help assist in integral whale and dolphin conservation
From
£695 to £4195
7 days
ex flights
Maldives Manta ray snorkelling and Island hopping tour
Island hop Baa Atoll Maldives supporting manta-ray research
From
US $1999
8 days
ex flights
Maldives Whale Shark Conservation Research Expedition
Join the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme
From
£2189
11 days
ex flights
Contact Us
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What can you see and where?
Polly Alford, from our supplier, ReefCI, shares her knowledge of marine life in Belize:
"Belize is on the migratory path for the whale sharks, which are the biggest fish in the sea. You can see more whale sharks in Punta Gorda than anywhere else in Belize and you can see them at any time of year. There are lots of other species of shark in Belize including nurse sharks and silky sharks, but that doesn't mean you'll see lots of sharks all the time and it's always an incredible reward when you do. You can also expect to see sting rays, moray eels, turtles, big snappers and big groupers."
"Belize is on the migratory path for the whale sharks, which are the biggest fish in the sea. You can see more whale sharks in Punta Gorda than anywhere else in Belize and you can see them at any time of year. There are lots of other species of shark in Belize including nurse sharks and silky sharks, but that doesn't mean you'll see lots of sharks all the time and it's always an incredible reward when you do. You can also expect to see sting rays, moray eels, turtles, big snappers and big groupers."
More Marine conservation articles
Marine conservation might be a serious matter, but it doesn't mean that a vacation has to be.
Will you choose a land-based project, will you go diving, or will you go on a research vessel?
Some of the best places in the world for spotting cetaceans and helping wildlife.
Lionfish spearing in Belize is one exciting exception to the usual rules about saving wildlife.
Combine a vacation in paradise with an award winning effort to restore its ecosystems.
Marine conservation is all about raising community awareness and getting the locals on board.
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