Boomers Abroad

Description

The mission of the reserve is to provide experiential learning education programs for students of all ages and nationalities, training of local community members, public service and the support and conduct of scholarly research in the marine sciences, including documentation and preservation of the Belize Barrier Reef's marine biodiversity and ecosystems.

The reserve is located on a small five acre coral island perched on the Belize Barrier Reef. You can snorkel & dive the western hemisphere's largest barrier reef, or simply swim in the warm waters among dolphins, sharks, whale-sharks, butterfly, snapper, parrot, angel or squirrel fish, to name a few. Volunteers are needed for a variety of jobs here.

The Caye is one of the very few islands that are situated directly on the Belize Barrier Reef. This makes it an ideal location for study and research of the marine environment, as access to the reef and its associated habitats are easily accessible from the shore of the island. More diverse habitats are just a short boat ride away, enabling us to focus on our mission of education, training, public service and scholarly research. The reserve provides support for independent researchers and postgraduate students, and conducts scientific research work, either independently or in collaboration with other researchers or laboratories.

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is a designated World Heritage Site of global environmental importance. The MBRS is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, extending some 280 km along Belize's Caribbean Coast and covers 1,400 Km2. The system encompasses the Reef Complex and associated habitats of extensive sea grass beds, mangrove forests, rich lagoons, more than 1,000 Cayes and three out of the four deep-water offshore atolls in the North Western Caribbean.

Internships and volunteers are most welcome at Tobacco Caye Marine Station. Successful applicants do not necessarily have to have a strictly scientific or marine ecology background, but do need to be eager to learn about the environment in which they will be working, have strong work ethic, and adapt easily to new cultures. We ask potential interns for a commitment of at least one month, and the available funds to cover a reasonable daily rate that supports your room and board expenses while based at Tobacco Caye Marine Station.

Project Details
* Project Duration: Min 2 weeks - Long Term
* Project Costs: USD885
* Project Location: The reserve is situated on a 5 acre caye on the Belize Barrier Reef near Dangriga.
* Arrival Airport: Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE)
* Activities: Assist with marine conservation and education efforts.
* Working Hours: Flexible; Monday to Friday up to 6 hours a day, all other time is free.
* Getting to the project: Volunteers & students live on the grounds of the reserve.
* Requirements: Minimum Age 18 unless accompanied by a guardian. Student Groups are welcome.