Dive in Philippines, Pacific Ocean, Asia

Marine Conservation Philippines

Last updated: October 23, 2026

Problem they are trying to solve: Coral reefs across the Philippines are collapsing due to destructive fishing, pollution and climate-driven bleaching. We monitor reef health and biodiversity across 50+ km of coastline so local authorities have the data they need to enforce protection before it's too late.

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Conservation focus: Coral Reef Conservation | Education & Community Outreach | Marine Research & Monitoring

Gallery

Aerial view of fishing boats anchored along a tropical shoreline with palm trees and clear blue water.

Five scuba divers smiling together in clear blue water near a tropical shoreline with palm trees and a sunny sky.

Scuba divers in wetsuits and gear stand on a sandy beach, preparing for a marine conservation dive.

Aerial view of rocky coastline with dense green vegetation and a small boat floating in clear turquoise water offshore

Thatched-roof hut with a hammock on the porch, surrounded by dense tropical plants and trees in a forest setting.

Volunteers walking on a wooden boardwalk through dense mangrove forest for conservation work

When can I volunteer?

Year-round

Quick Facts

Minimum stay:
6

Price per week:
460

Minimum age
18

Maximum age:
65

Max capacity: 30 volunteers

Staff to volunteer ratio: 1:4

No airport pickup ✘

Accommodation type: Dorms, Shared

WiFi available ✔

Diving

Scubadiving

No cert needed

Dives per week: 12

Full gear provided

Offers Divemaster training ✔

Volunteer duties

Conduct twice-daily survey dives to record fish abundance, substrate cover, invertebrates, and reef damage
Monitor coral reefs and Marine Protected Areas, including Crown-of-thorns starfish control
Build artificial reefs and remove ghost nets, lost fish traps, and other marine debris through reef and beach cleanups
Plant mangroves and help reforest abandoned fishponds with local partners
Support community outreach and ocean education in local schools with government partners
Complete evening data entry and analysis, and study for scientific diving and PADI courses

Highlights

Genuine non-profit — authentic conservation, not voluntourism
Tight-knit international community volunteers repeatedly call a "second home"
Free PADI training up to Divemaster and Tec diving included
Twice-daily survey dives beside world-class sites in Dauin and Apo Island
Fully all-inclusive: meals, full gear, accommodation and marine fees

Things to consider

Six-week minimum stay (two months for Divemaster) — not suited to short trips or quick visits
Remote rural location roughly 1.5 hours from Dumaguete airport
Structured, scientific diving — not a leisure or wildlife holiday
Shared dorm accommodation and communal living throughout
Survey diving is reef-focused; fewer large animals than some Philippine sites

What People Are Saying

The program earns consistently outstanding reviews from volunteers, who describe it as a genuine, well-run non-profit rather than a repackaged for-profit "voluntourism" operation — a distinction reviewers raise again and again. Founded in 2015 by Danish divers Søren Knudsen and Helle Larsen, the NGO works alongside Philippine government agencies (BFAR, DENR), local communities and European universities on reef monitoring, mangrove planting, beach cleanups and marine education. Volunteers repeatedly praise the close-knit, international community at base, the genuinely skilled and patient dive instructors, and the chance to earn PADI certifications up to Divemaster and Tec while doing survey work that experienced volunteers confirm is actually useful. Twice-daily diving, three home-cooked meals, comfortable dorm-style accommodation and a botanical-garden setting beside the world-class dive sites of Dauin and Apo Island round out an experience many call a "second home".

Sources

Volunteer World (4.9/5, 32 reviews) [source], Tripadvisor reviews [source], Facebook (100% recommend, 27 reviews) [source], Go Abroad provider reviews [source], Surface Interval diver reviews [source], First-hand volunteer write-ups: spendlifetraveling.com and diverbliss.com

Organisation