Belize

I had the best time of my life on this trip. Meeting new people, visiting a new country and spending time with nature all while doing work to help sustain the natural environment. Staying on a private Island in the middle if the Caribbean Sea, hunting lion fish and learning about their anatomy, playing volleyball (it gets very competitive) and then also being able to learn about the environment through the presentations that we have daily, some of which I got to present. I highly recommend this program and don't worry about going alone, because I did this alone and I felt comfortable from the first day, I've made some lifelong friends and experiences from this trip and you will to.

After our original marine conservation program in Madagascar was cancelled due to the pandemic, IVHQ continued their excellent program management and helped us transfer our fees to a new program in Belize. Our contact with our IVHQ Program Manager Molly was infrequent but when we needed her, she was a short email away. IVHQ's partner in Belize - ReefCI - provided an awesome experience. We learned about lionfish - an invasive fish species around the Caribbean Barrier Reef - and we spend most of our dives hunting and spearing them. What a great experience, and they're tasty too! We also performed beach cleanup and were informed and educated about other relevant environmental topics in the region, specifically plastic pollution in the ocean. Thanks to IVHQ and ReefCI for running first rate operations.

I spent three weeks in the Belize orphanage as part of the A Broader View volunteer program. I helped in the preschool making costumes for a parade. It was a wonderful time. The kids and adults had a blast. I also worked in the yards with raking and cleaning. Some days I helped with homework as well and painting a mural. My accommodations were perfect. I had my own house and it was bug free and cool at night. The wifi in the office worked great. Sarah at ABV was very responsive and supportive throughout my entire program and Meghan at the chat online answered many of my first questions.

As a world traveler and Sustainability professional, passionate about protecting our environment, I have been looking for a way to start incorporating volunteer work with my travel. Volunteering with Reef CI at Tom Owens Caye, Belize was the perfect way to start! I researched many programs, but this one was perfect for me as Reef CI allowed me to volunteer for only a week (many volunteer programs require at least a 2-3-week minimum time commitment) and use and expand upon my diving skills. I enlisted through IVHQ, as I found they had the best price. Grace, my IVHQ contact, was extremely helpful before the trip to help me prepare. Her correspondence was always timely and IVHQ's enlisting process was very thorough - IVHQ wants to help you prepare for your best volunteer experience possible. In addition to Grace, I also worked with Anthony, my U.S. Reef CI contact, who also helped answer my many questions and sign me up for the Coral Reef Conservation and Fish Identification PADI Specialty courses I was wanting to take in order to get my SSI Advanced Diver certification while in Belize.

In Placencia, Belize I knew exactly what to expect and where to meet the Reef CI group for the boat ride to Tom Owens Caye. Upon arriving to the island on the first day, all volunteers pitched in to help carry supplies up to the main house. Sleeping assignments were then made. Assuming I would be much older than most in my group, I had requested in advance that I have a bungalow on the island to allow for some quiet time, and they completely accommodated me. Next there was a review for the new people while returning volunteers were diving, and all dive equipment was assigned for the week. Later, the new volunteers did an introductory dive followed by a delicious meal - just one of the many you'll have on the island. You'll eat very fresh food every day, including the lion fish you kill. The cooking staff also worked within my dietary restrictions by providing me gluten free meals!

You're given the daily island schedule prior to arriving in Belize, but the schedule is also posted in the main house, and the highly organized Reef CI staff follow it to a tee! I was so impressed with how they ran the program on the island, especially juggling with new and returning volunteers, volunteers just learning to dive and getting certified, to those who were working on their Advanced Diver certifications and/or taking PADI Specialty courses. This, of course, is on top of providing daily coral reef and Belizean marine life presentations and getting the volunteers in the water to partake in lion fish spearfishing, conch and lobster surveys, and coral reef and fish identifications. There was a lot to juggle and Willie, Luis, and Peter, and rest of the Reef CI staff, handled it very smoothly. And did I say friendly? The entire Reef CI staff were a pleasure to be with and fun to hang out with playing cards or backgammon.

The diving certainly did not disappoint. There was opportunity to see amazing marine biodiversity. If you’re not an experience diver, do not let this dissuade you from trying this trip. Where else can you get certified in such a coral reef setting, not to mention for a very reasonable price?

The island itself is well maintained. The palm trees were cleared out just enough to allow sun and plenty of shade. In down times, you could take a nap in a hammock or play volleyball. Or just keep your course work and dive log up to date. Unfortunately, there was no internet for the entire week. However, it was nice to be off the grid – it made it more relaxing. If you're looking for fancy accommodations, then this is not for you. However, if you're looking for comfortable lodgings, in a very relaxed, minimal setting (yes, you have to get used to minimal water shower usage since you are on an island), and a place to meet great people and make new friends while making a positive, environmental impact, then this IS the place for you. I would definitely recommend taking an eco-volunteer trip to Belize and do it through Reef CI. All in all, I was very impressed. I would go back for sure!

We would get up eat breakfast, then usually play with the children. If not we would start painting in the girl's room (our big project) at nights we would go out.
The community on site was very safe and friendly everyone was so sweet and welcoming. Meals were basic but good. It was very hot but we were provided with fans.
The children being extremely curious. There were some questions I couldn’t completely answer and it was hard when they were persistent in knowing. Bring lots of bugs spray. Stay open minded and get the most out of it. Our group of 13 loved this orphanage program in Belize. We will be back next year.

Having the Opportunity to volunteer with Reef CI was a great privilege for me for so many reasons. It helped grow me as a young man, gave me appreciation for a new culture and also for God's creation. The staff were friendly and great help in me achieving my open water certification and then also achieving my advanced open water certification.

Futhermore, it was great to have the opportunity to do marine conservation through hunting for lionfish, as well as performing population counts for lobsters and conch. Another great aspect of Reef CI is it opened me up to meeting a ton of new people from all over the world! Not only did I become a certified scuba diver and perform marine conservation, but I also made a ton of new friends.
Thank you Reef CI for the positive experience!

I have been to Peru and Belize with IVHQ. It is an awesome program to meet and make many friends. Most people I met who went through IVHQ went alone. For the cost, it is great that it covers everything from food, lodging, transportation, etc. making it super easy to just hop on the flight and go!

It was an incredible experience within Belize, living off-the-grid for a little while on a warm, tropical paradise. Hammocks, a tightrope for walking, some books, a volleyball court, and cards are available for the volunteers.The staff was so personable and knowledgeable. The work was super fun, though I felt that the staff would have been able to make more of an environmental impact on their own (they are way more skilled in taking measurements and spearing), however the program helps with awareness. New people come and go each week. Just know, it is not resort living, be prepared for cold showers and finicky Wi-Fi, you are there to work! The food was delicious (you even eat lionfish) and the staff holds a barbecue every Thursday night. Thank you!!

I really enjoyed my time on the beach conservation project in Belize, we mainly did snorkelling in the reefs and surveys of algae, coral and sea grass. It was such an amazing experience, the reef is beautiful and so abundant in different species. The staff were amazing and I felt so welcome and comfortable on camp! The food was actually really great, we cooked something different every night, it wasn’t just rice and beans. I grew to really love the ocean and the way of life out here, it was so refreshing to have limited internet access as it meant we spent more time together as a team. I am so sad to be leaving as its so amazing out here! I definitely want to come back.

Volunteering through IVHQ was an awesome experience. Everything needed was provided by an extremely helpful and professional staff that offered guidance throughout the entire process. Diving in Belize was an incredible experience and one that can definitely make an impact in the conservation of the barrier reef. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I highly recommend it to anyone that has the chance to do so!