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Underwater Conservation in Barcelona
Underwater Conservation in Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain

Underwater Conservation in Barcelona

Trip 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!

Overview

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.


Program Requirements

Program Requirements

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.


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!


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.


Living

Living

Your volunteering adventure in Spain will only get better with Volunteering Solutions. Like we keep saying, just pack your bags and arrive.

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

Volunteers are provided comfortable housing in the program. There are 3 apartments with shared bedrooms. One apartment for 10 girls in the center of the city about 20min of metro from the NGO. One apartment for 6 volunteers right 2 min by walking from the NGO with 3 little rooms with bunkbeds, this one is generally gender mixed. One apartment for 5-6 ppl about 20 min by bus from the NGO with 2 rooms : 1 room of 2 people in bunkbeds and another one with 2 bunkbeds for 4 people. This one is generally gender mixed. 

There is a possibility to have a private bedroom for an extra price as well.

There are shared kitchens and bathrooms in all the accommodations. All food is included but has to be ordered by volunteers for 2 laboral days by volunteers. The food is mostly vegetarian. Lunch is communitary and cooked by the volunteers. Breakfast, Dinner and Snack times are the responsibilities of each volunteer with the food provided by the project. The project pays for basic non-transformed healthy and nutritive aliments. The project is managing a foodbank which is also contributing food for volunteers.  

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

2024

2025

January

07

14

21

28

February

04

11

18

25

March

03

10

17

24

31

April

07

14

21

28

May

05

12

19

26

June

02

09

16

23

30

July

07

14

21

28

August

04

11

18

25

September

01

08

15

22

29

October

06

13

20

27

November

03

10

17

24

December

01

08

January

05

12

19

26

February

02

09

16

23

March

02

09

16

23

30

April

06

13

20

27

May

04

11

18

25

June

01

08

15

22

29

July

06

13

20

27

August

03

10

17

24

31

September

07

14

21

28

October

05

12

19

26

November

02

09

16

23

30

December

07

14

Past Date

Available

Unavailable

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Costs

Costs

1 Week $950
Extra Week $950

Please Note: -An application fee of $249 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 5% international banking fee is charged at the time of 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
  • Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)

What's NOT included?

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

Reviews

Reviews

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Frequently asked questions

FAQ's Application and Program Details

Flights and Visa

Health and Safety

Connect with Past Volunteers

Accommodation and Living

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