The Project
Mayan Explorer

Mexican Marine Expedition in the Caribbean Sea - This ambitious coral reef research and community education expedition takes participants to learn scuba diving and earn an internationally recognised PADI diving qualification. In the turquoise Caribbean waters of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, you can take part in important marine conservation work on the world’s second largest barrier reef by helping with coral reef and fish monitoring, turtle nesting and conducting crocodile surveys. On land you will help community education and sustainable tourism development programmes.

On top of the dive training, expedition members will have the chance to vastly expand their knowledge of this tropical marine environment, learn Spanish and partake in expeditions to the almost innumerable places of interest.

GVI’s base lies within the Sian Kaán Biosphere Reserve. The data GVI obtains here provides an invaluable baseline to assess the health of reefs found in a pristine location. Since the beginning, and with the assistance of our partners, GVI have amassed one of the largest databases in existence on the condition, health and changes of any section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. This data is now being used by GVI and its partners to promote the management of the reserve’s resources in a more sustainable manner. As a result of GVI’s work, a variety of changes have been implemented in the area, including educating local fishermen, increasing development controls and creating signs to educate visitors about the fragile ecosystem.

Volunteer Work in Guatemala - This is one of GVI’s most popular projects, owing to the exceptional volunteer feedback it receives. Volunteers live with a local family in the beautiful bustling colonial town of Antigua, Guatemala, and travel everyday to work with indigenous communities nearby. Education is not free in Guatemala and much of the population lives below the poverty line, so GVI, along with leaders of the indigenous communities, has built schools that are free to attend. By working in these, volunteers will make a real personal difference to the lives of underprivileged children.

A substantial part of the fee goes towards the day-to-day running costs of the projects themselves throughout the year, which includes rent, electricity, local salaries, fruit and other food for the children, educational materials for classes, monthly birthday and other celebrations, painting and maintenance. We currently pay for over 400 children to attend National School, as well as our own schools. Of these, almost 50 children entered Secondary School and 8 entered College. Included in your fee is one scholarship per child, per year.