Question 1

Do I need diving experience to join?

Accepted Answer

No prior experience is required. If you're new to diving, your first week covers PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water training, getting you reef-ready before project work begins. If you're already Advanced Open Water certified with logged dives, you can join the survey team from day one.

Question 2

What is Reef Check and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Reef Check is the world's leading coral reef monitoring programme, used by marine park managers, national governments, and UN agencies to track reef health globally. The surveys we run follow the same standardised protocol used in peer-reviewed research — meaning the data you collect in Dauin goes into a real scientific database, not an internal spreadsheet. It's the same methodology you'll encounter in professional marine conservation work.

Question 3

What does a typical week look like?

Accepted Answer

Days start with breakfast at Sierra Resort before heading to The Dive Hub for morning dive sessions — reef surveys, coral nursery work, or BRUVS deployments depending on the week's project focus. Afternoons are typically used for data entry, species ID work, and analysis. Evenings are your own. The programme runs on a four-week rolling cycle, so longer-stay volunteers cycle through all four research workstreams.

Question 4

Can the programme count toward university credit?

Accepted Answer

We've worked with students from a range of international marine science programmes and can provide a supervisor reference letter and detailed field activity log to support academic credit applications. Requirements vary by institution, so we'd recommend checking with your placement coordinator before you apply — but get in touch and we'll work with you on it.

Question 5

What's included in the programme fee?

Accepted Answer

Accommodation at Sierra Resort (shared single-sex rooms, air conditioning, two pools), all meals, PADI dive equipment, survey dives, park fees, and participation in our Reef Check EcoDiver surveys. International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses, and Saturday evening meals are not included.

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