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Underwater Conservation in Barcelona

Join a group of local and international volunteers in Spain to scuba dive in order to explore and act on all things that can be done to protect underwater environments

Highlights

  • Discover Barcelona underwater by helping to conserve the diverse ecosystem of the coast of the city from your home based in the community apartment of the NGO!
  • Live and volunteer with the Catalan federation of scuba diving and scientific programs in various marine preservation tasks in mediterranean waters.
  • Explore Barcelona on afternoons and weekends in an authentic and engaged way, outside of the traditional tourist circuits
  • Meet other volunteers and make lifelong friends with the same ideas and goals!
Unterhaltserhaltung in Barcelona

Overview

Join a group of local and international volunteers to scuba dive in order to explore and act on all things that can be done to protect underwater environments.Divers volunteers have the opportunity to join a non-profit diving initiative in a variety of projects with social and environmental impact in order to provide support to underwater conservation efforts and to help to tackle and reduce ocean pollution.

As an ocean conservation volunteer, you’ll be using and improving your scuba diving skills while being actively involved in restoring the natural state of the marine ecosystem of Catalonia and the wider Mediterranean Sea.

Volunteers daily tasks can vary depending on the time of the year but can include: clean-up the  seabed to reduce the marine debris – equipped with diving equipment and nets; logging information on items and trash collected; remove the marine living organisms from the trash collected and put it back in the sea; document and collect information of fauna – fish and invertebrate species – in a monitored biodiverse area as part of a scientific research project; learning more about the marine ecosystem and how to protect it and collect and register information of the biodiversity in an ecosystem created with the natural colonization of a former dismantled thermal power plant.

If you volunteer in the summer, you might also have the opportunity to help in the summer camps for kids with fewer opportunities through developing workshops about the sea and the environment.


Volunteer Work Schedule

Volunteer Work Schedule

Day 1, Sunday: Arrive at Barcelona Airport (El Prat) on Sunday. Volunteers are accommodated in the apartment
of the NGO.

Day 2, Monday: Volunteers will begin each morning at 7:30am by preparing and eating on their own (Mum
said…) a morning snack of coffee and fruit in the NGO accommodations. On Monday 8:30 am, volunteers will go by metro and walk to the Scuba Diving Center, where the journey starts at 9:30 with the training and preparation of the dive. They will settle in and have an orientation before the first dive at 10:30am. Non-divers will begin their PADI Open Water training.

Day 3, Tuesday: Volunteers will begin as usual at 7:30am by preparing and eating on their own a morning breakfast in the NGO accommodations. The journey starts at 9:30 with the training and preparation of the dive. The dive will be at 10:30 AM observing local underwater biodiversity
followed at 11:30 by a training regarding material organization and maintenance. 

Lunch can be made on site at 12:30 or at home at 13:30. Then Volunteers come back by Metro to the NGO for the Afternoon briefing. Then during 2 hours they will give a hand to community work that needs to be done before ending the shift at 16hs.

Day 4, Wednesday: Starting from 7:30am by morning breakfast and going to the scuba diving club as everyday. The journey starts at 9:30 with the training and preparation of the dive. The dive will be at 10:30 AM observing local underwater biodiversity followed at 11:30 by a training regarding material organization and maintenance. Then they will receive training dedicated to the local ecosystem balance and resilience. Lunch can be made on site at 12:30 or at home at 13:30. Then Volunteers come back by Metro to the NGO for the Afternoon briefing. Then during 2 hours they will give a hand to community work that needs to be done before ending the shift at 16hs. 

Day 5, Thursday: Starting from 7:30am by morning routine. The journey starts at 9:30 with the training and preparation of the dive. The dive will be at 10:30 AM by the mission to clean the sea without disturbing it; followed at 11:30 by a training regarding material organization and maintenance.
Then they will receive last guidelines to remember for the certification they shall pass on friday. Then Volunteers come back by Metro to the NGO. From 14hs to 16hs they will give a hand to community work that needs to be done before ending their shift.

Day 6,Friday: Starting from 7:30am by morning routine. The journey starts at 9:30 with the training and preparation of the dive. The dive and the exam will be at 10:30 am Student-divers will end with their training and complete their certification. Newly scuba certified volunteers will take part in all conservation dives in the following weeks. Then they will receive their certification and come back by Metro to the NGO. From 14hs to 16hs they will redact an article about the mission they worked on.

Day 7, Saturday: Free time to explore Barcelona with other volunteers.

Day 8, Sunday: Free time to explore Barcelona with other volunteers.


Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

The Barcelona coast provides various marine animals with food, protection and shelter, but because of various factors, these delicate ecosystems are under threat. Volunteers will use their diving skills to contribute to the protection and conservation of these ecosystems and will gain experience and knowledge that they can pass on to others. In this way, volunteers continue to leave a positive impact, even after they have left the project. As a volunteer on this project, you will engage in various marine preservation tasks. These range from survey dives to identification dives and may include photography of fish and various forms of life. Volunteers will take part in the eradication of the trash, the data collection of various native species and the assessment of the local biodiversity in relation with.

Volunteers will work 35 hours a week, from Monday to Friday. Weekends will be free to enjoy the city of Barcelona!


Project Requirement

Project Requirement

The  minimum age requirement to participate in the program is 18 years. (teenagers aged 16-17 can join with parental authorization).Basic level of Spanish or English is required.
For minors we also plan an interview with their parents before and after the volunteership.This program can welcome families with kids aged 14+.The program includes all dive equipment except computers. Anyone with an Advanced certification who plans to take part in our optional night or deep dives MUST bring their own dive light/torch.We recommend Non-certified divers to sign up for a minimum duration of two weeks so they can take part in conservation dives.

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Living

Living

Airport Transfer
The project site is in Barcelona, Spain. When you land in Barcelona, a local representative will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign that says your name and will take you directly to your accommodation. Airport pickup is provided between 9am – 8pm on the program arrival date, which has to be Sunday.

Orientation
Participants are given an induction on arrival and welcome interview in the next few days to be able to plan the volunteering and the program.

Accommodation and Meals
Participants in the program can book their own accommodation at a hotel, hostel or apartment in Barcelona. Accommodation is not provided in the program. We can give suggestions and recommendations for accommodation options close to the project but participants need to book them on their own. Barcelona is one of the most visited cities by tourists from around the world and there are many accommodation options to choose from. Lunch is provided from Monday to Friday at the project location.

During your Free Time
Barcelona is one of the most visited places from tourists and travellers around the world. There is plenty to see and do. The local team offers the services of a tourist guide with recommendations of local places to eat and to visit. Some outdoors trips and activities can be self-organised so the volunteers can enjoy Barcelona and other nearby areas.


Dates

Dates

November

17

24

December

01

08

Available

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Booked Out


Costs

Duration
Program Fee
Choose your currency
1 Week $800
2 Weeks $1450
3 Weeks $1950
4 Weeks $2450
5 Weeks $3050
6 Weeks $3550
7 Weeks $4050
8 Weeks $4650
Extra Week $600

Please Note: An application fee of is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment.

What are you Paying for ?

  • Pre departure Information and Support
  • Airport pickup in Barcelona during scheduled hours
  • Orientation/Induction on arrival
  • Workshops
  • Accommodation in the community
  • Food (3 meals per day)
  • Full induction and orientation on arrival
  • Dive Equipment
  • Laundry
  • In-country support 
  • Project equipment and resources

What is not Included ?

  • Flights
  • Visa if required
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses

FAQ's

Application and Program Details

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