Why did you choose this program?
Through pure luck, I was able to try scuba diving a few years ago and was instantly hooked. I'd spend hours online (happily) looking at the programs available. I prefer long-term travel where I can live with the locals and feel a sense of community, which Blue Ventures places an importance on.
While there are many similar programs out there that do good work, Blue Ventures had a variety of locations to choose from, extensive information on their operations and safety precautions, and many volunteer blogs to give a sense of what they're about.
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
The staff was extremely friendly, courteous, and quick with responses. All communication was done by email, and many of the staff were once volunteers themselves so we were encouraged to ask them anything.
Volunteers receive a booklet with information on the community, their projects, items to bring, and how to get there. We were responsible for getting to the town ourselves, but BV staff always kept in touch to ensure our safety. Most of the scuba equipment was provided, but volunteers had to bring personal items (like mask/fins/snorkel).
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
I'm actually going to give two! My first would be to get in touch with the people you'll be traveling/volunteering with, if possible. Before the trip, all of the volunteers formed a Facebook group to share ideas about what to bring, talk about how excited we were, and just get to know each other. We were all able to travel to the town in groups, which eased a lot of anxiety about navigating a foreign place on our own.
My second piece of advice: embrace challenges. I guarantee the most memorable parts of your trip will be when you overcame a challenge, whether it's eating a strange food or overcoming a cultural difference. Don't take things too seriously and just enjoy yourself!
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
We stayed in a small town in the north of Belize for about a week and a half. That's where we did most of our science training, and also got to spend time with our host families, hanging out at local spots, and engaging with different community groups (like making anklets with Belize Lionfish Jewelry).
The rest of the trip was spent at the camp. We dived 1-3 times a day, starting at 5:30 am. After lunch, if the early morning tuckered you out, there was ample time for siestas in your hammock, reading, or sharing coconuts over a card game with the other volunteers. Chores and responsibilities rotated, and didn't take too long. We'd also take turns filling the tanks (possibly the best time to get some reading in).
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
Before meeting up with the other volunteers I had to travel alone for a bit, so there was some fear about being alone. It's definitely a good thing to experience in terms of becoming independent. It was a really profound experience, at the end of the program, to stay in a hotel room by myself and realize how comfortable I had become. Belize is a wonderful place with the kindest people! That being said, I still aim to be cautious wherever I go.
What was your biggest accomplishment on the trip?
I remember a lot of victories (and challenges) from the trip, but one of my fondest memories is when we completed our first deep dive to around 30 meters. It was something many of us had never imagined we'd accomplish, and it was so cool to see some of the volunteers who hadn't dived before this trip tackle this feat with such grace. It was a really wonderful group of people.
