Sea Turtle Conservation Volunteering

  Costa Rica

• Central Pacific Coast: 
Osa Peninsula
• Eastern Lowlands: 
Barra de Parismina,  Gandoca,  Puerto Viejo

  Guatemala

Hawaii

  Mexico

• Yucatan Peninsula: 
Cancun

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: year round

Description: Each project is different, but volunteering on a sea turtle conservation project usually involves patrolling the nesting beach with a group of researchers and other volunteers. When the group finds a turtle, volunteers will help collect data and tag the turtle, and either hide the nest by moving it to a safe location or marking its location. Researchers collect data such as length and width of the shell, where it nested, its tag number, and the physical condition of the turtle.

Patrols generally last 4 hours and run from 8 pm to midnight or midnight to 4 am. Many projects also have shifts in an egg hatchery, where the eggs are protected from poachers and animals. Other jobs can include maintaining the equipment, cleaning the beach of driftwood, debris, and trash, and participating in educational programs. At projects where most of the work is doing night patrols, volunteers generally have the daytime free to swim, explore the rainforest, visit local towns, or get to know the other volunteers and researchers.

While volunteering for a week or two can seem like a romantic getaway, it involves hard work and long hours. If that doesn't appeal to you, you might be better suited for a group or customized tour. Volunteers are a huge boost to conservation efforts, but also involve a lot of time and effort for the local organizations in training. Patrols happen every night, regardless of weather, and the projects need people who are committed to working their shifts regardless of conditions.

Highlights: When volunteering with sea turtles, you can:
- learn to tag turtles
- collect eggs for protecting in a hatchery
- measure six feet long turtles
- release newly born hatchlings
- stay with local families
- visit remote beaches
- make friends from around the world

Qualifications: To volunteer with turtles, you need:
- Reasonable physical condition
- Ability to tolerate basic living conditions and food
- To be able to pay a small amount for expenses and registration
- A good attitude and open mind
- To be able to get yourself to the site
- To dedicate at least a week to the work

Cost in US$: USD 15/day and up

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Active, healthy adults with a desire to contribute to the conservation of sea turtles.

Age Range: 18 and up

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

SEE Turtles's Mission Statement: SEE Turtles is an Ocean Revolution conservation tourism project that links people with sea turtle sites in ways that directly support efforts to protect sea turtles, while increasing resources in communities to help residents thrive and value sea turtles in their environment. Ocean Revolution is a project of The Ocean Foundation.

Year Founded: 2005