Lionfish spearing marine conservation in Belize

Description of Lionfish spearing marine conservation in Belize

There’s an invasive predator lurking in the dark depths of the Caribbean that’s making a meal of the indigenous species that have no natural means of defending themselves. This is where you come in. Grab a spear and dive into the warm waters surrounding a remote island in Belize as you go in search of lionfish and help to protect the marine ecology that’s vital for maintaining the health of the southern Belize barrier reef.

Lionfish spearing is a form of marine conservation that readdresses the natural order of things and gives native species a fighting chance of survival.

Although this is not a job for the faint-hearted it is an amazing experience and places you in a position to help save the reef.

Hunting, spearing, dissecting and eventually eating lionfish, you'll ajoin a small group of volunteers that offers you an opportunity to make new friends, take part in a dedicated marine conservation programme and learn more about this beautifully remote region of Belize.

If you’re prepared to eat a fish then you should also be prepared to catch and kill it. Lionfish are not only aggressive predators they’re also rather tasty so nothing goes to waste.

In their own environment, the Pacific, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, lionfish are part of a healthy marine ecology; in the Atlantic and Caribbean, however, they’re not. In fact, the very indigenous species in Belize that lionfish eat are the very ones who are vital for keeping the reef alive and well.

Aside from lionfish spearing you’ll also be invited to keep track of lobsters, conch and whale sharks as well as taking part in coral reef and commercial fish research which is also an important part of marine conservation in Belize.

Come and stay for a week, a fortnight or a month where you’ll join a volunteer team committed to saving the world’s second largest barrier reef whilst staying on a remote coral caye as well as having an absolutely amazing experience along the way.

This tailor made holiday gives you the opportunity to live in a stunning tropical environment and join a team of volunteers who are making a massive difference to eradicating lionfish from Belize for once and for all.

PADI Dive Courses Offered on the Island

Our volunteer trips are for both non-experienced and experienced divers. Not certified? No worries, many of our volunteers come to the island to learn to dive. Looking to further your dive credentials? Many of our volunteers come to our island to further their diving certification status. Regardless of your diving level, our island is a wonderful place to learn with calm, clear waters and little current. We swap the cold swimming pool and boring classroom at your local dive shop with the warm Caribbean Sea and a classroom under a palm tree!
We have many dive courses available to help you develop your scuba skills and marine conservation knowledge while on the island volunteering with us. Below is the price our program charges for each PADI certification course and approximately how long it will take you to complete the certification course on the island. Approximate time to complete the course is based on your aptitude, understanding, and your ability to complete the PADI requirements for the course.

PADI Certification Courses Offered on the Island
• Open Water Certification – $225 USD (3 days)*
• Advanced Open Water Certification – $275 USD (3 days)*
• Rescue Diver Certification – $325 USD (1 week)*
• Divemaster Certification – $750 USD (4 week minimum stay)*

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 – $175 USD (1 day)
• Fish Identification – $175 USD (2 days)
• Invasive Lionfish – $175 USD (2 days)
• Shark Conservation – $175 USD (2 days)
• Underwater Naturalist – $175 USD (2 days)

PADI Specialties with a Diving Skills Focus
• Deep Diver – $175 USD (3 days)*
• Emergency First Response – $175 USD (1 day)*
• Underwater Navigator – $175 USD (3 days)*
• Underwater Photographer – $250 USD (2 days)*

*Please Note: The PADI Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, Divemaster, Deep Diver, Emergency First Response, Underwater Navigator, and Underwater Photographer courses require the PADI eLearning prior to arrival. All other courses do NOT require the PADI eLearning prior to arrival. You must be a fully certified open water diver before taking any PADI specialty courses.

Departure information