Caribbean Reef Buddy Diving Project, Carriacou, West Indies

I had an exceptionally great time on Carriacou! I spent 7 weeks on the small island and I was able to experience 3 different projects: Coral Reef Gardening, Coral Reef Monitoring and Predators Week. All of these different projects are extremely interesting and I definitely learned a lot. We did reef checks, removed tons of algae, collected garbage, planted soft corals, checked whether a bleaching event happened or not, and killed lionfish. All of that while having amazing dives and being able to enjoy seeing turtles, sharks and several other fishes.

The underwater world on Carriacou is definitely outstanding! After my 7 weeks, I could actually see improvements and positive outcomes. It was for example possible to observe that the soft corals which we replanted started to look really healthy again. The team is amazing as well. Gary, Nora and Raquel are extremely friendly and are always there to answer a question. We definitely had a lot of fun on the boat rides and I enjoyed my time there a lot!

This was my fourth project volunteering abroad and the communication and service was the best of all! If you add hurricane Beryl to that fact, it is even more impressive. They managed to keep in touch with me even right after Beryl hit. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable and professional. Their flexibility made for a conservation program with activities like Coral Watch and lionfish hunting, combined with additional activities like cleanup dives (getting galvanise roofs out of the water!) and restoring coral nurseries.

All of this made my holiday even more special and rewarding. We had nice dinners together, I was offered some fantastic fun dives on the side, and I even got an island tour on my no dive day. The guesthouse were I stayed was also very nice with great meals and again, super friendly service. Carriacou is an amazing island that you have to discover! Don’t hesitate – go there!

I was doing 4 weeks of volunteering. First I got the possibility to improve my diving skills in a training week in order to get my advanced open water certification. This was followed by 3 program weeks, in which we worked on coral nurseries, performed reef checks to get data about the health of local reefs and were hunting lionfish. The staff as well as the other volunteers were really nice and at the weekend non project related activities were taking place. I had a great time and can highly recommend the program to everyone who’s up for diving and cares about the ocean.

From the moment I got here, both the other volunteers and the staff have been incredibly welcoming and kind. It’s not often you find people who are extremely knowledgeable and dedicated, but also a lot of fun to be around. I love scuba diving, so having the opportunity to simultaneously help the environment and dive has been so much fun. All the projects running have very tangible results, so the work feels impactful. I’ve had an incredible experience, and I will be coming back the first chance I get.

A very fulfilling week tending to the care of our oceans by collecting data and measuring the health of the corals and marine life. Plenty of time to both work and relax in a beautiful environment. Nora and the team are wonderful and very familiar with all the dive spots. Location is ideal as we were just steps away from the ocean and boat for our dives. The longest boat ride was 10 minutes. Was able to find several fun restaurants with tasty food. The locals a very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend!

The four weeks I spent in Carriacou were life changing. I completed two courses in my time here, advanced open water and open water. I logged 40 dives in four weeks. The team I worked with, the volunteers I met, and the work I did all left a meaningful impact on my life. I learned about how to protect reefs in the Caribbean region. I got to swim with sharks, turtles, and stingrays! I learned to look for the macro species hiding all over the reef. I wouldn’t change one moment of my time here.

I’m very blessed to have chosen the West Indies Buddy Reef project through WorkingAbroad.com. Their instructors are amazing. In 10 total dives, I was able to obtain my Open Water and Advanced Adventurer certifications. Sometimes the stars are aligned and you receive the best of the best. For anyone thinking about taking up scuba diving, I highly recommend WorkingAbroad and this project as the place to start.

We had an absolutely brilliant time together and learnt so much!! It’s made a huge difference to Jake and he loved learning to scuba dive (as did I) Gary and his team at Deefer Diving, especially Nora, were amazing! Jake now has marine conservation as a choice!! Thank you again for a truly wonderful experience.  You and your team are fantastic!

I joined the volunteer program for an 8 week period to go from a rescue diver to a divemaster. Before I arrived there had been 3 volunteers who had already been on the program for a few weeks. I was immediately welcomed into both the group of volunteers and the group of staff.

As I progressed on the program I was supported through the course by the staff and given all the aid I needed to progress through and come out a competent dive professional. Alongside this, I was able to be involved in a great range of conservation work from apex predator monitoring to building coral nurseries. This was a fantastic experience for me as someone who is interested in conservation and our underwater world.

The program as a whole was an amazing experience where I got to develop great friendships, develop myself personally and as a diver and get involved in a large amount of conservation work which actually makes a difference. Definitely, a life-changing experience that I could not recommend the program more to anyone who loves diving and the underwater world.

I have nothing but positive things to say about my time away. The projects were interesting and educational, and the staff at the project were incredible. They created a real family atmosphere and welcomed us into the family with open arms. It was great to do the volunteering alongside earning my divemaster, as it added an extra element to the qualification that you wouldn’t get at other places.

It was the people that really made the experience though. There was only one other volunteer there at the same time as me (I guess not many people travelling right now because of the pandemic), but both he and the dive centre staff were incredible people to be around. The memories will last me forever, and I know I’ll see those fantastic people again somewhere down the line.

We both had a fantastic time, so much that Harry stayed for more.  The team were extremely knowledgeable and made the whole experience more than just a diving holiday. The educational aspect really enhanced the understanding of the Reef Buddy program. Really glad to have been part of a really worthwhile project on such a beautiful island.

The project was great and I stayed an extra 2 weeks because of how well it was going. Everyone was really friendly and the project itself was really fun and overall a great experience.

I had the most amazing time in Carriacou and am hoping to return in the next few years. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, I loved that most of the volunteers stayed at the same hotel; on our first Sunday one of the group, who had already been there for 4 weeks, came and knocked on our door to see if we all wanted to go to the beach which was a lovely thing to do.

The diving was amazing and I learned so many new things and want to continue to do so. I also learned a lot on a personal level too, seeing a huge increase in confidence as a person.  Everyone back at home know how much of a great experience it was because I don’t shut up about it and still talk about it regularly. In short, the best thing I have done so far!

I enjoyed my time with CRB immensely. Everything about it was just spot on. From being met off the ferry by Matt when I arrived a few days early who was friendly, approachable and extremely passionate about diving. CRB offered and included me on the boat to do some snorkelling before my Open Water course commenced. All of the other instructors and divemasters were equally very friendly, approachable and pleasant. Upon meeting the volunteers who were already there I could tell that the atmosphere was a very positive one and that they were all enjoying their time there.

The whole project was organised so well, the learning, making it so enjoyable and fun, the team work and also being appreciated and respected. This is so apparent in the how some of the current volunteers extended their stay whilst I was there and even a couple from last season/year now employed with CRB. I also met a returning volunteer from last year.  If I get the chance I would also love to become a returning diver to Carriacou.

Would I recommend CRB? Most definitely 100%.

The Caribbean Reef Buddy project is more than just a volunteering and conservation team, they make living, working and diving in the Caribbean so fun and accessible. During our time there we learnt so much about marine wildlife and reef environments that the conservation became internalised and now I always think of the environmental impacts of everything I do in daily life. We will be returning for sure!

I had a wonderful time with Caribbean Reef Buddy. Everyone at the dive centre were very friendly and helpful. My instructor Katlynd was an excellent teacher and made me feel very safe. My training was also a really fun and enjoyable experience and I loved every dive. The dive sites were incredible and all the staff were extremely knowledgeable. The conservation project was amazing and I felt like I was making a difference. I really enjoyed being part of it. Again, Katlynd was excellent teacher which helped me feel confident. I couldn’t have asked for a better diving and conservation experience and I would love to return one day.

It was the best experience I have genuinely ever had.  Everyone there was lovely and helped make the experience as good as it was. The accommodation is good and you are certainly well fed. I believe these guys are genuinely interested in marine conservation and these are not just tick box exercises for them.  Great to go away with so much knowledge that I can pass on to others.

All of the teaching be it diving or the various speciality subjects such as Reef watch, underwater photography etc were brilliant. I struggled a bit with diving for the first few days but the instructors were patient and soon I forgot the struggles I had originally had. I may well return there and If I don’t I will certainly be diving more and gaining more PADI certificates.

Thoroughly recommend these guys and would still be there if I didn’t have a job to return to, and mortgage, dogs etc!

I’ve loved it so much here that what started as an 8 week trip has turned into an 18 week trip. Yesterday, I completed the program I came for and my Divemaster training and am now staying on as an intern to continue learning more about the dive industry and to keep working with this amazing team.

I can hardly believe how much I have learned in 8 weeks. Before coming here, my primary goals were to learn more about marine wildlife and conservation efforts, and to become a better diver and get the training needed to be able to work in the industry, so that I can travel as a dive professional. The amazing team at the project have taught me all of that and more. They have instilled in me the same passion that they have for the underwater world, and they are also fantastic dive instructors.

My 8 week Eco Divemaster programme was a memorable experience. 8 week time well spent I was surprised how much I learnt in this time frame. This was going to be my first volunteer work abroad in Coral conservation and Lionfish containment.

My objective during this volunteer programme was to learn and contribute to Coral conservation work and Lionfish containment and to progress in scuba diving, as I wanted to venture in a whole new career in the diving world, to certify in PADI open water, Advanced open water and Divemaster. That’s exactly what I accomplished during this 8 week programme. I gained confidence and valuable diving experience at the Reef buddy project.

The Reef buddy project has an incredible setting to learn various dive courses and to learn and contribute to Coral conservation work and Lionfish containment. The Turquoise and Cobalt blue colours of the Caribbean sea is incredibly beautiful, I was always looking forward to getting in the water when I was there. It made me feel so refreshed. There are various dive sites you can visit, each has its own unique qualities. Reef walls/ volcanic bubble gardens and a wreck with sightings of exotic fishes and wonderful marine life.

The team at the project are full of enthusiasm and inspiring knowledge and will happily make your diving experience an enjoyable one. I also have to add my lovely 8 week stay at John’s Unique resort. Owners are a delightful couple Tim and Mishka with their friendly staff, made my stay so warm and hospitable which I’ll never forget. I had a wonderful time and so should other people out there. It’s absolutely rewarding and gives you a fresh perspective on life. Thank you too WorkingAbroad for giving me the opportunity and to many more people in the future.