Has anyone gone on a volunteer/eco dive trip?

[RobPNW]

I think I'd be up for a reef renewal trip. No way I could do that 10 week internship but I think it would be cool for like a 1 week trip.

 

[tursiops]

I think I'd be up for a reef renewal trip. No way I could do that 10 week internship but I think it would be cool for like a 1 week trip.

Yeah, you take the class the first couple of days, and plant some coral as part of the class, then you volunteer the rest of the week and clean things, mostly. The coral trees get a lot of algae on them.

 

[Edward3c]

I’ve been with ReefCI a few times. Unlike most they are a holiday company that allows people to do scientific work.

 

[Pressurehead]

If you ever want a trip to Australia there are a few, they feed you well, but you work hard, only about 4 hours a day, a woman I know did one on Lady Elliot Island, work, dive, eat, sleep and repeat.
Here is one:

Restoring Reef Island Habitats

Restoring critical island habitats to protect ecosystems and save vulnerable species.

www.barrierreef.org

 

[covediver]

REEF is a good organiztion. Cocoview is a wonderful location. I really would not classify it as a "resort" as the facilities are very nice but hardly lavish. It is a dive resort, not much activity other than diving unless you take excursions away from the resort. Also, with a short class and dive put on the the Roatan Marine Park authority at CocoView, you can get a license to hunt lionfish, Not sure if that could be combined with the REEF activity. I was to Cocoview for the first time this year and plan on heading back soon.

From your profile, I see that you are from Los Angeles. REEF does surveys in Southern California as well. Other groups do kelp reforestation, etc in Orange County. Not sure how active any of these efforts are anymore.

 

[NothingClever]

Mote Marine Laboratory on both coasts of Florida may have opportunities for coral restoration. Their Key West lab is focused on coral growth.

Volunteer | Mote’s Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration | Mote Field Stations

Volunteer Programs at Mote's Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration (IC2R3) Realize the good you can do by simply giving your time. You can be part of something meaningful and help support one of the world's foremost marine research organizations by becoming...

mote.org

 

[100days-a-year]

You can go kill lionfish almost anywhere warm in the world outside their native range and do some good.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

I personally think this is a really cool program and plan to do it soon.

slave shipwrecks, underwater archaeology, coral restoration

Our special focus is the documentation and protection of African slave trade shipwrecks and the maritime history and culture of African Americans.

divingwithapurpose.org

 

[Doc]

Roatan Marine Park has issued licensing for Coco View’s Dockside Dive Center for teaching and tending Coral growing towers…