Belize Scuba & Service Trip Overview
Enjoy spending your summer on your very own private island in Belize! The Belize Barrier Reef is the second-largest reef system in the world, and home to a wide variety of plants and animals, making it one of the best spots in the world for scuba diving! On this service program, we will partner with a leading NGO/Nonprofit marine conservation organization on a private island. Help protect the Belize Barrier Reef and if you aren’t already scuba certified, earn your scuba diving certification at the same time!* We will also participate in research projects with professional marine biologists to learn about threats to the reef and ways to protect it before diving (literally!) into hands-on volunteer projects to help with the conservation mission.
Throughout your time on this tiny island, you will have a huge impact! Help remove invasive lionfish, assist with marine health checks, and play a part in coral reef restoration. There is no end to the ways you can help.
While giving back to the local community and underwater world enjoy the peacefulness of relaxing on your very own private island away from it all! Grab a kayak or paddleboard and enjoy the turquoise water or simply relax on a hammock and enjoy the fresh island breeze. This program is truly the opportunity to unplug while volunteering for a meaningful cause.
This program is perfect for teens interested in marine conservation and exploring the spectacular world of scuba diving while meeting like-minded peers.
Our Ultimate Belize Scuba and Service trip is a longer two-week version of our Belize Scuba and Service trip and will provide further programming with new topics during the second week to keep the volunteer work fresh and exciting.
*Divers who are already certified will be able to sign up for advanced certificates listed in the trip itinerary section below or jump right into diving and volunteer work during the time other participants are earning their certification.
During this program, you will…
- Earn up to 40 hours of service with a leading NGO/Nonprofit focused on marine conservation
- Earn your PADI Scuba Certification on a private island*
- Learn to safely help eradicate invasive lionfish
- Survey coral reefs and complete marine wildlife surveys
- Enjoy some of the best scuba diving in the world
- Spot a variety of marine life, including colorful reef fish, manta rays, and more!
- Go on a night dive to discover how the ocean transforms when the sun goes down
- Kayak and paddleboard in turquoise waters
*PADI certification is optional. Divers who are already certified will be able to sign up for advanced certificates listed in the trip itinerary section below or jump right into diving and volunteer work during the time other participants are earning their certification.
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrive in Belize
After flying into Belize City, hop over with your Travel For Teens group on a short flight to the tiny region of Placencia where your island home is waiting just off the coast!
DAYS 2-7: OUR OWN PRIVATE ISLAND
We’ll head to the port and cruise over to our very own private island home for the next week. Meet the team for this marine conservation organization and take a tour of the island.
Those who are not scuba certified will jump right into earning their PADI Certification, while certified divers will be able to dive right into assisting the marine biologists with the volunteer projects. Each day will be filled with presentations and thoughtful group discussions with professionals on a variety of subjects including invasive lionfish mitigation strategies and plastic pollution in the ocean.
One of the main projects over the course of the two weeks will be controlling invasive lionfish populations. Lionfish lack natural predators and are harmful to native fish and coral reefs. They are able to reproduce quickly and are rapidly creating an issue for marine habitats. Learn to safely spearfish lionfish, then assist the island’s marine biologists with dissecting to collect important data to monitor this species.
Participants will also learn coral reef and fish identification skills and how to monitor other fascinating species. Each day will include several dives during the day and you will have the opportunity to dive at night when the ocean transforms into a completely different and fascinating world.
In addition to the marine conservation work you and your fellow travelers will enjoy fun group activities and games, movie nights, and relaxing by the ocean.
DAYS 7-9
Head off the island for a weekend of discovering some of Belize’s hidden gems! Hike to hidden waterfalls and hop in for a refreshing swim. Float on a tube down a peaceful jungle river and admire the beautiful scenery. Take a wildlife boat cruise down Monkey River and look for monkeys, crocodiles, manatees, and flocks of colorful birds. After a full weekend on land get ready to head back to the island dive back into your marine conservation work!
DAYS 9-13
After a fun weekend on the mainland get ready to continue your volunteer work (Although can you really call it work when you are having this much fun?). Now that you have already had one full week on the island you will be a pro when it comes to diving and the conservation projects! Take your skills to the next level and tackle more advanced projects with your peers. After two weeks on the island, it will start to feel like home!
DAY 14: RETURN HOME
After experiencing some of the best diving in the world, volunteering with an important marine conservation project, and bonding with your fellow travelers it’s time to say goodbye to paradise. The memories and friendships you made will last a lifetime!
PADI ADVANCED CERTIFICATION COURSES
PADI Certification Courses offered on the island:
Open Water Certification*
Advanced Open Water Certification*
Rescue Diver Certification*
*Please Note: The PADI Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Rescue Diver courses require the PADI eLearning prior to arrival.
PADI ADVANCED CERTIFICATES
PADI Specialty Certification Courses offered on the island (one must be open water certified before taking any PADI specialty courses)
PADI Specialties with a Marine Conservation Focus
Coral Reef Conservation
Fish Identification
Invasive Lionfish
Shark Conservation
Underwater Naturalist
*Please Note: The courses above do NOT require the PADI eLearning prior to arrival.
PADI Specialties with a Diving Skills Focus
Deep Diver*
Emergency First Response*
ReActivate Scuba Refresher Course*
Underwater Navigator*
Underwater Photographer*
*Please Note: The courses above DO require the PADI eLearning prior to arrival. You must be a fully certified open water diver before taking any PADI specialty courses.
Authenticity is engrained in everything we do. Eat, stay, and travel like a local.
Check out what past travelers have to say about Travel For Teens and discover why we are consistently awarded “Top Youth Travel Organization” year after year.
Check out other Travel For Teens programs similar to this one!
Travel with us and discover why we are consistently winning awards for Top Youth Travel Organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is unique about the Belize Ultimate Scuba & Service trip?
Where else can you go spend the week on your very own private island giving back to a great cause with a small group of like-minded peers?! Belize Ultimate Scuba & Service travelers love the adventurous nature of this program that allows them to volunteer with the local community. They also love that the island nature of the program allows for close group bonding where everyone gets to know each other and they leave the trip feeling like family.
Where else can you go spend the week on your very own private island giving back to a great cause with a small group of like-minded peers?! Belize Ultimate Scuba & Service travelers love the adventurous nature of this program that allows them to volunteer with the local community. They also love that the island nature of the program allows for close group bonding where everyone gets to know each other and they leave the trip feeling like family.
Do I need to be scuba certified?
No! If you are not certified you will receive course work to complete before joining the program, and finish your certification directly on the island. Instead of learning to dive in a pool, you will learn to dive directly in the warm Caribbean sea!
No! If you are not certified you will receive course work to complete before joining the program, and finish your certification directly on the island. Instead of learning to dive in a pool, you will learn to dive directly in the warm Caribbean sea!
What if I am already scuba certified?
Great! If you already have your certification you will be able to dive right into our volunteer projects. As soon as our non-certified divers have their certification (by day two on the island) they will be able to dive right in with you!
Great! If you already have your certification you will be able to dive right into our volunteer projects. As soon as our non-certified divers have their certification (by day two on the island) they will be able to dive right in with you!
Where do we stay on the Belize Ultimate Scuba & Service trip?
For this program, we stay isolated on a tiny private island off the coast of Belize. Accommodations on the island are clean, safe, and comfortable.
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for a program.
For this program, we stay isolated on a tiny private island off the coast of Belize. Accommodations on the island are clean, safe, and comfortable.
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for a program.
What is included on Belize Ultimate Scuba & Service?
Tuition cost includes ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Not included in cost (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; If not certified: $225 Open Water certification fee + $230 PADI eLearning course paid directly to PADI; beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
Please note, all participants will need to provide their own wetsuit, fins, and mask. all other scuba gear will be provided.
Tuition cost includes ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Not included in cost (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; If not certified: $225 Open Water certification fee + $230 PADI eLearning course paid directly to PADI; beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
Please note, all participants will need to provide their own wetsuit, fins, and mask. all other scuba gear will be provided.
What is the food like on this program?
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
All of your meals will be cooked by the island’s chefs and highlight Belizean culture using fresh ingredients and local flavors.
Of course, we are always willing and able to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, gluten allergies, and other dietary restrictions.
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
All of your meals will be cooked by the island’s chefs and highlight Belizean culture using fresh ingredients and local flavors.
Of course, we are always willing and able to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, gluten allergies, and other dietary restrictions.