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Volunteer in Belize

Live the island life on International Volunteer HQ’s magical Belize volunteer abroad program. Join our special Marine Conservation volunteer project based on a private island 16 miles off the coast of Placencia in Southern Belize. Help preserve a fragile reef ecosystem by diving and collecting data on spectacular marine life. With affordable Program Fees and top rated volunteer projects trusted by over 151,000 travelers, IVHQ is the best volunteer organization in Belize.

Highlights:
  • Marine Conservation project available year-round
  • Program Fees from $1060 for 1 week
  • Includes orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support

  • One-of-a-kind accommodation on a private island off the coast of mainland Belize

  • PADI Open Water dive certification courses offered on the island

Apply For Free

Key information

Fully hosted experience from $1060
Volunteer from 1 - 8 weeks
Ages 16+ and families
Based on a private island in Belize
Projects align with UN Sustainable Development Goals
Impact driven projects run by locals
B Corporation certified organization
Dive with turtles, sharks & more

Volunteer opportunities in Belize

Marine Conservation in Belize
Marine Conservation volunteer project in Belize with IVHQ

Protects animals

3-5 hours volunteering per day

Program Fees from $1060

  • Duration: 1 - 8 weeks
  • Programs start every Monday
  • Based on a private island
  • Volunteers aged 16+, or 12+ accompanied

Based on a stunning small island in the Caribbean, help local scientists with a range of scuba diving tasks to conserve the environment and protect marine life.

View project Apply

What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

JH
Jonathan Hansford

I feel like I got to step out of my comfort zone, made an environmental impact, and develop my resume all while getting to take an affordable trip. I would highly recommend this program to others and I look forward to possibly coming back in the near future.

...
Profile: American, 19 Volunteer trip: Marine Conservation in Belize
NM
Nicholas Moissoglu

I feel that I gained a lot of knowledge and was able to be immersed in the local culture. I feel that I had a large positive environmental and ecological impact as well.

...
Profile: American, 16 Volunteer trip: Marine Conservation in Belize
ER
Eric Rosenberg

IVHQ did a wonderful job keeping us informed every step of the way. Our Program Manager, in particular, was timely and complete in answering an array of our questions. I would recommend IVHQ as a starting point for anybody looking for worldwide volunteer opportunities.

Local team was OUTSTANDING. Competent, friendly and made us feel part of a team. Dive masters ran a tight and safe operation and turned us into legitimate lion fish hunters! Food was some of the best we had anywhere in Belize, both a quality and diversity perspective, and the support staff was always there to help out, answer questions and make our experience simply incredible!

We expected very rustic accommodations (which they were), but they actually exceeded our expectations. Beds were comfortable and the natural island breeze maintained a nice temperature and we did not miss AC at all.

Choose a program that sounds interesting to you and don't look back! The experience will enrich your soul, be fantastically fun and the people you will meet (at least from our experience) could become long term friends and travel buddies!

...
Profile: American, 59 Volunteer trip: Marine Conservation in Belize
LC
Laurent Charles

I gained more knowledge about invasive species in the Carribean, but more importantly some sort of awakening of how much one can pollute the ocean with plastics and will push me to be cautious about my environmental footprint.

Situated on a small island, it’s the perfect getaway, to be remote, cut from civilization and immersed with fellow divers in something that can have an impact on local marine life.

...
Profile: Canadian, 30 Volunteer trip: Marine Conservation in Belize

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Popular add-ons & experiences in Belize

Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular add-ons and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Belize program.

PADI Open Water Certification (3 days)
PADI Open Water Certification (3 days)

Your first scuba diving certification, which opens the door to a lifetime of underwater adventures!

$305

PADI Open Water Certification (3 days)

PADI Open Water Certification (3 days)
If you’ve always wanted to take scuba diving lessons, experience unparalleled adventure and see the world beneath the waves, this is where it starts! Get your scuba diving certification with the PADI Open Water Diver course – the world’s most popular and widely recognized scuba course. 

PADI Open Water Divers gain basic knowledge of skills, equipment use, and theory for diving to a recommended depth of 18 meters/60 feet. 

The PADI Open Water Diver course covers three main areas: Knowledge Development, Confined Water Dives, and Open Water Dives. 

Once certified, PADI will send you your personal Open Water license card via mail. This certification card allows you to dive with every PADI dive shop around the world!

To get the certification, you need to complete two parts:

1) Theory - through PADI eLearning system
You can get started immediately with the classroom portion of your certification course and work at your own pace using the PADI eLearning system at home. PADI charges around $195 USD for the eLearning and you'll need to pay this to PADI via their website, and it's not included in this add-on. You must click here to register for PADI eLearning and complete it before your arrival. By clicking on this link, you will be automatically affiliated to our Local Team in Belize and they will be notified that you are registered for the course. At the end of the eLearning program, you must print out your eRecord and bring a copy of it with you to the island.  

2) Practice - once you arrive to the island
Once on the island, we will finish off the appropriate in-water diver portion of the course. During the Confined Water Dives, you learn and practice scuba skills in pool-like conditions. You'll enjoy making one or more minidives, which take you through the same steps you follow when you make open water dives. To complete training you practice, apply and demonstrate what you learn during four Open Water Dives.

As a PADI Open Water Diver, you'll be trained to a maximum depth of 18 metres/60 feet, and are qualified to dive in conditions as good as, or better than, those in which you trained. It's just the beginning of a lifetime filled with dive adventures. 
...
$305
  • USD
    • United States Dollars - $
    • Australian Dollars - AU$
    • Brazilian Reals - R$
    • British Pound Sterling - £
    • Canadian Dollars - CA$
    • Chinese Yuan - CN¥
    • Euros - €
    • Hong Kong Dollars - HK$
    • Mexican Pesos - MX$
    • New Zealand Dollars - NZ$
    • Singapore Dollars - SG$
    • Swiss Francs - CHF
    • UAE Dirhams - AED
What's included
  • The practical part of the course, which includes mini dives in confined water and open water
  • Guided by a qualified PADI dive instructor in Belize
How to book?
  1. Apply and register for an IVHQ volunteer program.
  2. Once you have paid your Registration Fee to secure your place on your chosen IVHQ volunteer program, you'll be able to book your add-ons, experiences, and tours in your MyIVHQ account.
Apply to volunteer Log in
PADI Specialty Course: Invasive Lionfish (2 days)
PADI Specialty Course: Invasive Lionfish (2 days)

Learn to control lionfish populations and how to safely and humanely capture and euthanize these fish.

$195

PADI Specialty Course: Invasive Lionfish (2 days)

PADI Specialty Course: Invasive Lionfish (2 days)
Native to the Pacific Ocean, lionfish are progressively invading the north-western Atlantic and the Caribbean, where they have no natural predators. Here they threaten the very survival and sustainability of coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean and Atlantic Oceans.

On the PADI Invasive Lionfish course you will learn what action is needed to control the lionfish population and practical ways to safely and humanely capture and euthanize these fish.

Prerequisites and requirements: 

Age requirement: 15 years or older

Prerequisites: PADI Open Water certified 

...
$195
  • USD
    • United States Dollars - $
    • Australian Dollars - AU$
    • Brazilian Reals - R$
    • British Pound Sterling - £
    • Canadian Dollars - CA$
    • Chinese Yuan - CN¥
    • Euros - €
    • Hong Kong Dollars - HK$
    • Mexican Pesos - MX$
    • New Zealand Dollars - NZ$
    • Singapore Dollars - SG$
    • Swiss Francs - CHF
    • UAE Dirhams - AED
What's included
  • Practical lessons on how to safely and humanely capture and euthanize lionfish
  • Guided by a qualified PADI dive instructor in Belize
How to book?
  1. Apply and register for an IVHQ volunteer program.
  2. Once you have paid your Registration Fee to secure your place on your chosen IVHQ volunteer program, you'll be able to book your add-ons, experiences, and tours in your MyIVHQ account.
Apply to volunteer Log in
PADI Advanced Open Water Certification (3 days)
PADI Advanced Open Water Certification (3 days)

Advance your scuba diving by learning navigation and buoyancy skills in this advanced open water certification.

$305

PADI Advanced Open Water Certification (3 days)

PADI Advanced Open Water Certification (3 days)
Designed to advance your diving knowledge and skills, this course allows you to enroll immediately after earning your PADI Open Water Diver certification regardless of your skill level. The Advanced Open Water Certification helps you build confidence in navigation, fine-tune buoyancy skills and introduces you to different diving activities.

To get the certification, you need to complete two parts:

1) Theory - through the PADI eLearning system
You can get started immediately with the classroom portion of your certification course and work at your own pace using the PADI eLearning system at home. PADI charges around $150 USD for the eLearning and you'll need to pay this to PADI via their website, and is not included in this add-on. You must click here to register for PADI eLearning and complete it before your arrival. By clicking on this link, you will be automatically affiliated to our Local Team in Belize and they will be notified that you are registered for the course. At the end of the eLearning program, you must print out your eRecord and bring a copy of it with you to the island.  

2) Practice - once you arrive to the island
Once on the island, we will finish off the appropriate in-water diver portion of the course. You’ll make five adventure dives: a deep dive (maximum depth 30m/100ft), a night dive, peak performance buoyancy dive, underwater navigation dive and fish identification dive. 

Prerequisites and requirements:
  • Age requirement: 12 years or older 
  • Prerequisites: Must be PADI Open Water certified



...
$305
  • USD
    • United States Dollars - $
    • Australian Dollars - AU$
    • Brazilian Reals - R$
    • British Pound Sterling - £
    • Canadian Dollars - CA$
    • Chinese Yuan - CN¥
    • Euros - €
    • Hong Kong Dollars - HK$
    • Mexican Pesos - MX$
    • New Zealand Dollars - NZ$
    • Singapore Dollars - SG$
    • Swiss Francs - CHF
    • UAE Dirhams - AED
What's included
  • The practical part of the course, which includes 5 adventure dives
  • Guided by a qualified PADI dive instructor in Belize
How to book?
  1. Apply and register for an IVHQ volunteer program.
  2. Once you have paid your Registration Fee to secure your place on your chosen IVHQ volunteer program, you'll be able to book your add-ons, experiences, and tours in your MyIVHQ account.
Apply to volunteer Log in
PADI Open Water Certification (3 days)
PADI Open Water Certification (3 days)

Your first scuba diving certification, which opens the door to a lifetime of underwater adventures!

$305

PADI Open Water Certification (3 days)

PADI Open Water Certification (3 days)
If you’ve always wanted to take scuba diving lessons, experience unparalleled adventure and see the world beneath the waves, this is where it starts! Get your scuba diving certification with the PADI Open Water Diver course – the world’s most popular and widely recognized scuba course. 

PADI Open Water Divers gain basic knowledge of skills, equipment use, and theory for diving to a recommended depth of 18 meters/60 feet. 

The PADI Open Water Diver course covers three main areas: Knowledge Development, Confined Water Dives, and Open Water Dives. 

Once certified, PADI will send you your personal Open Water license card via mail. This certification card allows you to dive with every PADI dive shop around the world!

To get the certification, you need to complete two parts:

1) Theory - through PADI eLearning system
You can get started immediately with the classroom portion of your certification course and work at your own pace using the PADI eLearning system at home. PADI charges around $195 USD for the eLearning and you'll need to pay this to PADI via their website, and it's not included in this add-on. You must click here to register for PADI eLearning and complete it before your arrival. By clicking on this link, you will be automatically affiliated to our Local Team in Belize and they will be notified that you are registered for the course. At the end of the eLearning program, you must print out your eRecord and bring a copy of it with you to the island.  

2) Practice - once you arrive to the island
Once on the island, we will finish off the appropriate in-water diver portion of the course. During the Confined Water Dives, you learn and practice scuba skills in pool-like conditions. You'll enjoy making one or more minidives, which take you through the same steps you follow when you make open water dives. To complete training you practice, apply and demonstrate what you learn during four Open Water Dives.

As a PADI Open Water Diver, you'll be trained to a maximum depth of 18 metres/60 feet, and are qualified to dive in conditions as good as, or better than, those in which you trained. It's just the beginning of a lifetime filled with dive adventures. 
...
$305
  • USD
    • United States Dollars - $
    • Australian Dollars - AU$
    • Brazilian Reals - R$
    • British Pound Sterling - £
    • Canadian Dollars - CA$
    • Chinese Yuan - CN¥
    • Euros - €
    • Hong Kong Dollars - HK$
    • Mexican Pesos - MX$
    • New Zealand Dollars - NZ$
    • Singapore Dollars - SG$
    • Swiss Francs - CHF
    • UAE Dirhams - AED
What's included
  • The practical part of the course, which includes mini dives in confined water and open water
  • Guided by a qualified PADI dive instructor in Belize
How to book?
  1. Apply and register for an IVHQ volunteer program.
  2. Once you have paid your Registration Fee to secure your place on your chosen IVHQ volunteer program, you'll be able to book your add-ons, experiences, and tours in your MyIVHQ account.
Apply to volunteer Log in
PADI Specialty Course: Invasive Lionfish (2 days)
PADI Specialty Course: Invasive Lionfish (2 days)

Learn to control lionfish populations and how to safely and humanely capture and euthanize these fish.

$195

PADI Specialty Course: Invasive Lionfish (2 days)

PADI Specialty Course: Invasive Lionfish (2 days)
Native to the Pacific Ocean, lionfish are progressively invading the north-western Atlantic and the Caribbean, where they have no natural predators. Here they threaten the very survival and sustainability of coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean and Atlantic Oceans.

On the PADI Invasive Lionfish course you will learn what action is needed to control the lionfish population and practical ways to safely and humanely capture and euthanize these fish.

Prerequisites and requirements: 

Age requirement: 15 years or older

Prerequisites: PADI Open Water certified 

...
$195
  • USD
    • United States Dollars - $
    • Australian Dollars - AU$
    • Brazilian Reals - R$
    • British Pound Sterling - £
    • Canadian Dollars - CA$
    • Chinese Yuan - CN¥
    • Euros - €
    • Hong Kong Dollars - HK$
    • Mexican Pesos - MX$
    • New Zealand Dollars - NZ$
    • Singapore Dollars - SG$
    • Swiss Francs - CHF
    • UAE Dirhams - AED
What's included
  • Practical lessons on how to safely and humanely capture and euthanize lionfish
  • Guided by a qualified PADI dive instructor in Belize
How to book?
  1. Apply and register for an IVHQ volunteer program.
  2. Once you have paid your Registration Fee to secure your place on your chosen IVHQ volunteer program, you'll be able to book your add-ons, experiences, and tours in your MyIVHQ account.
Apply to volunteer Log in
PADI Advanced Open Water Certification (3 days)
PADI Advanced Open Water Certification (3 days)

Advance your scuba diving by learning navigation and buoyancy skills in this advanced open water certification.

$305

PADI Advanced Open Water Certification (3 days)

PADI Advanced Open Water Certification (3 days)
Designed to advance your diving knowledge and skills, this course allows you to enroll immediately after earning your PADI Open Water Diver certification regardless of your skill level. The Advanced Open Water Certification helps you build confidence in navigation, fine-tune buoyancy skills and introduces you to different diving activities.

To get the certification, you need to complete two parts:

1) Theory - through the PADI eLearning system
You can get started immediately with the classroom portion of your certification course and work at your own pace using the PADI eLearning system at home. PADI charges around $150 USD for the eLearning and you'll need to pay this to PADI via their website, and is not included in this add-on. You must click here to register for PADI eLearning and complete it before your arrival. By clicking on this link, you will be automatically affiliated to our Local Team in Belize and they will be notified that you are registered for the course. At the end of the eLearning program, you must print out your eRecord and bring a copy of it with you to the island.  

2) Practice - once you arrive to the island
Once on the island, we will finish off the appropriate in-water diver portion of the course. You’ll make five adventure dives: a deep dive (maximum depth 30m/100ft), a night dive, peak performance buoyancy dive, underwater navigation dive and fish identification dive. 

Prerequisites and requirements:
  • Age requirement: 12 years or older 
  • Prerequisites: Must be PADI Open Water certified



...
$305
  • USD
    • United States Dollars - $
    • Australian Dollars - AU$
    • Brazilian Reals - R$
    • British Pound Sterling - £
    • Canadian Dollars - CA$
    • Chinese Yuan - CN¥
    • Euros - €
    • Hong Kong Dollars - HK$
    • Mexican Pesos - MX$
    • New Zealand Dollars - NZ$
    • Singapore Dollars - SG$
    • Swiss Francs - CHF
    • UAE Dirhams - AED
What's included
  • The practical part of the course, which includes 5 adventure dives
  • Guided by a qualified PADI dive instructor in Belize
How to book?
  1. Apply and register for an IVHQ volunteer program.
  2. Once you have paid your Registration Fee to secure your place on your chosen IVHQ volunteer program, you'll be able to book your add-ons, experiences, and tours in your MyIVHQ account.
Apply to volunteer Log in
View all add-ons & experiences

Check what's required to visit Belize

Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important you monitor this right up until you depart for your trip.

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Pay the Registration Fee to secure your place and upgrade your MyIVHQ account
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