Identifying reef refugia: Monitoring and defending the Caribbean reef systems in the Bocas del Toro archipelago, Panamá

EXPEDITION SUMMARY

This SCUBA diving / coral reef marine volunteer expedition will take you to the archipelago of Bocas del Toro, on the Caribbean coast of Panamá, where you will assist with surveying and studying the region’s coral reefs and associated marine life. The Bocas del Toro archipelago is recognised as one of the Caribbean’s biodiversity hotspots, supporting extensive coral reef systems, mangroves, seagrass ecosystems and a rich diversity of reef fish and invertebrates. However, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change, coral disease, pollution, overfishing and coastal development, creating an urgent need for long-term monitoring and conservation action. Reef data collection follows an internationally recognised citizen science and coral reef monitoring methodology called Reef Check. Data collected during the expedition contributes to ongoing local conservation initiatives aimed at informing management decisions and supporting the protection of Bocas del Toro’s marine ecosystems. In line with the Manifesto for a Troubled Planet, Biosphere Expeditions will also identify resilient reefs that are likely to survive the coming climate and other upheavals. We will also build local capacity by hosting and training local people and early career conservationists on the expedition. The expedition includes training as a Reef Check EcoDiver. Please note that you need to be a fully qualified diver to take part in this expedition (minimum PADI Open Water or equivalent). Join us on this Panamá marine biology volunteering project!

“The knowledge and experience I gained on this expedition was invaluable. I consider this to be my best trip ever.” more testimonials

Expedition contribution

€2990 (ca. £2569 | US$3473 | AU$4834)

The above excludes flights and is per dates as shown. A €300 deposit is required and the balance is due about 100 days before the first expedition group starts (or within two weeks of signing up if that deadline has already passed). Base currency is Euro. Other currencies as per ECB FX reference rates.

More about this contribution and where the money goes is in the FAQ section.

Dates

1 - 8 Oct 2027 | 10 - 17 Oct 2027 (8 days)

You can join for multiple slots as shown and there are no other dates available apart from the above. Participants have to organise their own travel to the in-country assembly point (see "Key Details" below for where this is).

More details on all this can be found in the expedition briefing.

Availability

Status: Amber

Expeditions of status amber have few spaces avaiable (or are currently in the field). To join them you need to decide soon.

1 - 8 October 2027 (3 places left)
10 - 17 October 2027 (>5 places left)

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Expedition Photos

Reef life

Reef with survey line

Barracuda

Nurse shark

Sea horse

Surveying the reef

Solarte island, where the expedition is based

Expedition base

Sloth hanging about in the forest around base

One of the many tropical beaches nearby

Dive boat above the reef

Relaxing after a day's work

See more photos on

Panamá Key details

Terrain
Coral atolls of sea, sun, jungle and sand.

Weather expected during expedition
Tropical and maritime climate with average day air temperature 28-31°C, water temperature 28-30°C and a mixture of sunshine, tropical cloud cover and occasional rain showers.

Expedition base for our Panamá volunteers
You will live in and dive from a beautiful wooden research station set in lush tropical rainforest. The station has all modern amenities, communal social and dining areas, classroom and briefing spaces, dive facilities and direct access to nearby reef systems and field sites throughout the archipelago. You will stay in shared rooms with a maximum occupancy of two and all meals are provided during the expedition.

Team size
Up to 8 team members + 1 local scientist + 1 expedition leader/divemaster. What kind of people will be on this volunteer SCUBA diving expedition?

Skills & prerequisites required for marine volunteering
You don't need to be a scientist, but you do need to be a qualified diver (minimum PADI Open Water or equivalent).

Team assembly point
Bocas del Toro, a regional center in Panamá. Full details on this volunteer SCUBA diving expedition in the briefing

Fitness level required for this coral reef conservation expedition
A SCUBA diving qualification is required for this coral reef volunteering expedition to Panamá. As a qualified diver, you will already have a reasonable level of fitness.

Details

Host country & expedition safety

Panamá is considered one of the safest countries in Central America,

Biosphere Expeditions, as a professional organisation, has full emergency and medical evacuation procedures in place and the expedition leader is a trained wilderness first aider. In all the years since starting operations in 1999, Biosphere Expeditions participants have never suffered any serious injuries (the worst was a broken wrist due to a slip in the mud in the jungle), let alone deaths. We will treat you like capable, responsible adults, though, and not mollycoddle or mother you.

Aims & objectives

The aims of this coral reef and marine biology volunteering project to Panamá are:

(1) To monitor the health of coral reef ecosystems in Bocas del Toro, including coral communities, reef fish populations, mobile invertebrates and associated habitats, so that resilient reef refugia can be identified and informed management, education and conservation decisions made.
(2) To collect long-term ecological data that contributes to understanding reef resilience, coral health, biodiversity trends and the impacts of environmental stressors such as climate change, coral bleaching, disease, sedimentation and human activity.
(3) To support ongoing marine conservation and restoration initiatives through citizen science, reef monitoring and environmental awareness, while training participants and local people in internationally recognised reef survey methodologies and marine conservation techniques in order to build local capacity and stewardship.

Background

The archipelago of Bocas del Toro contains some of the most diverse and ecologically important coastal marine habitats in the Caribbean. Coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass exist in close connectivity throughout the islands, creating productive ecosystems that support a wide range of marine life. The reefs of Bocas del Toro are characterised by fringing reefs and coral communities dominated by growth forms such as brain corals, lettuce corals, finger corals and branching corals, alongside abundant sponges and other invertebrates typical of Caribbean reef systems.

However, lagoonal reefs are under severe pressure from warming waters, pollution, overfishing, nutrient-runoff and overtourism. They are undergoing a phase shift away from habitats dominated by corals to those dominated by sponges. Those reefs are unlikely to survive the next 10-20 years. Reefs fringing the Atlantic, where they are exposed to colder and cleaner waters, have a much better chance to survive – indeed of adapting to the coming climate upheavals and as such acting as reef refugia for the future.

The region supports a rich diversity of reef fish and mobile invertebrates, including parrotfish, angelfish, snappers, grunts, lobsters, sea stars, sea urchins and a variety of cryptic reef organisms. The surrounding mangroves and seagrass beds serve as essential nursery habitats for juvenile fish and invertebrates, making the ecological connectivity between habitats especially important for the overall health of the marine ecosystem. Encounters with charismatic marine species such as nurse sharks, southern stingrays are also possible during expedition dives.

Survey work during the expedition follows the internationally recognised reef monitoring methodology, Reef Check. Participants will assist with underwater surveys focused on benthic composition, coral condition, reef fish abundance, indicator invertebrates and environmental observations. Most survey dives are conducted within shallow reef environments, generally between 5 and 12 metres depth, where coral growth, biodiversity and monitoring accessibility are highest.

The expedition will spend the majority of its time conducting coral reef and marine biodiversity surveys. Opportunistic observations of larger marine fauna, such as sea turtles, rays and sharks, will also be recorded when encountered. Where appropriate, photographic documentation may contribute to local species sighting databases and long-term monitoring efforts, helping researchers better understand species presence, habitat use and ecosystem health throughout the archipelago.

Study species

A coral reef is composed of a myriad of species and it is impossible to name them all here. However, during our Reef Check surveys, we will be concentrating on a number of indicator organisms such as:

Groupers (Serranidae)
Snappers (Lutjanidae)
Parrotfish (Scaridae)
Butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae)
Lobsters (Palinuridae)
Sea whips (Gorgonacea)
Hard and soft corals
Sea urchins

Other landmark species present: Nurse shark, Caribbean octopus, long-snout seahorse, southern stingray.

Typical day as a scuba diving volunteer in Panamá

The expedition leader and the local scientist will prepare you for your fieldwork tasks and explain the research methods and goals. Talks are organised to make you familiar with safety, the equipment, the research (and your part in it) and the area in which it will happen. Open water dives are organised so that everyone can get comfortable in the water again and put into action the fish, invertebrate and other ID skills, as well as photography procedures taught before the actual survey work begins.

Once you are trained up, your tasks will be predominantly Reef Check dive-based and consist of several distinct underwater activities with the team split into buddy pairs. Depending on what your assignment is on the day, you and your buddy will, for example, be recording fish or invertebrates along the transect, or recording what kind of substrate (hard or soft coral, sand, rock, etc.) covers the bottom along the transect. Covering a transect will take you about one hour and you will dive up to three transects per day. During the course of this marine volunteer expedition, you will be laying transects in different locations all over the reef.

Research area

Panamá is a country located at the southern end of Central America. Before the arrival of Spanish colonists in the 16th century, Panamá was inhabited by a number of different indigenous peoples. It broke away from Spain in 1821 and seceded from Colombia in 1903, allowing the construction of the Panamá Canal to be completed by the United States Army between 1904 and 1914. The 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties agreed to transfer the canal from the United States to Panamá in 2000. Revenue from canal tolls has continued to represent a significant portion of Panamá's GDP, especially after the Panamá Canal expansion project (finished in 2016) doubled its capacity. Commerce, banking and tourism are major sectors. Panamá is regarded as having a high-income economy, ranking 57th in the world on the Human Development Index.

The dominant feature of Panamá's geography is the central spine of mountains and hills that form the continental divide. The highest point in the country is the Volcán Barú, which rises to 3,474 meters.

Panamá has a tropical climate. Temperatures are uniformly high, as is the relative humidity, and there is little seasonal variation - early morning minimum may be 24 °C and the afternoon maximum 30 °C.

Panamá's tropical environment supports an abundance of plants. Forests dominate, interrupted in places by grasslands, scrub and crops. Although nearly 40% of Panamá is still wooded, deforestation is a continuing threat to the rain-drenched woodlands. Panamá has 16 national parks.

In terms of reefs, the Caribbean side boasts extensive, continuous reef networks spanning roughly 754 square kilometres, all in warm, salty and often highly impacted waters. In sharp contrast, the Pacific side features fragmented patch reefs covering only about 16 square kilometres, as the environment is heavily impacted by strong currents and seasonal upwellings of cold, nutrient-rich water. While the calm Caribbean reefs support massive, highly complex frameworks and colourful reef-dependent fish, the harsher Pacific conditions favour resilient, slower-growing corals and larger migratory marine life. Ultimately, both systems face modern ecological threats, with Caribbean corals suffering from coastal development and disease, while Pacific corals are frequently stressed by dramatic temperature swings from El Niño events.

Partners

On this project, Biosphere Expeditions partners with the Reef Check Foundation and Ankay Conservation. Data will be shared with these partners and also with the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.

And finally (almost)

Our expeditions are not about playing the primitive, neither are we a military style 'boot-camp'. Our expedition leader and the local scientist will be by your side and we believe strongly that we get the best out of our expedition teams by making them comfortable, safe and well fed. You won’t be living in the lap of luxury (this is a citizen science volunteer scuba diving expedition after all), but we will do our best to make you feel comfortable and at home in your working environment, as this is the key to a well-balanced and successful expedition.

And finally (briefing)

Even more details, including instructions on how to get to the assembly point, are in the briefing for this Panamá volunteer project below.

Briefing

Briefings (in PDF format) contain additional information such as activities, staff, the assembly point and how to get there, visa and vaccinations, proximity to medical care and personal equipment.

Please access the expedition briefing by providing your full name and e-mail. Biosphere Expeditions will never share these details with anyone.

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Paying your deposit 300€ per person, per slot*. International exchange rates via www.xe.com
*NOTE that you must fill in one sign-up form for each person, so you cannot sign up two or more persons using this form. Please complete one form for each person separately.

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If you would like to join more than one group, make sure you specify the first group dates in the start date above and then select number of groups here. The total deposit amount will adjust automatically. NOTE THAT THIS IS ONLY FOR NUMBER OF GROUPS, NOT PEOPLE. If more than one person wants to join, then each person must fill in a joining form.

Deposit payment can only be made by card. For this, you will be redirected to our payment partner Stripe on the next page, where you will enter your card details.

Any problems or questions?

Please just contact us via [email protected] or one of our offices.

Terms and Conditions

0. Introduction, philosophy and risk management
0.1. We strive to make participating with Biosphere Expeditions (an Unincorporated Association based in Ireland) a unique experience. Before completing an application to join an expedition, please read this information carefully. Much of it is already contained in our information materials, but we are summarising it here in an effort to convey to everyone in a clear, understandable and honest way the terms and conditions under which our mutual undertakings operate: what you can expect from us, what we can expect from you, what your rights are, and what our rights are. Before applying, you should fully understand the nature of the shared arrangements and facilities we provide. To do this you should read the information below in conjunction with any other material pertaining to the expedition you wish to join. If at any time you have any questions at all, please just ask.
0.2. Many of our expeditions visit distant and challenging parts of the world, often in remote regions of developing countries. Everything we do involves a certain degree of risk, which varies from expedition to expedition. Where we work, the unexpected is often the norm and it is important to realise that the most carefully laid plans can go wrong. Unlike many holiday services calling themselves ‘expeditions’, true expedition work is by its very nature unpredictable. Emergency and health services, local infrastructure and services, transport and accommodation on our expeditions are often very unlikely to be of the ‘western’ standard to which you are accustomed. Flights and other transportation can be delayed or cancelled, local helpers may be unreliable, the behaviour and movements of wildlife will be hard to predict, and the weather and research work may cause you some discomfort.
0.3. It is therefore essential that those who apply to join our expeditions do so with a positive frame of mind and a sense of humour. The published itineraries of our expeditions, the research work and the wildlife we are likely to encounter should be seen as statements of intent, rather than contractual obligations, and we reserve the right to vary the itineraries. Our aim is to offer enjoyable and challenging experiences whilst making the safety and welfare of participants our highest priority.
0.4. Our designated leaders and staff are responsible for the safe and efficient coordination of our expeditions, and the supervision of safety, health and hygiene. Achieving research aims is one of our highest priorities, but no expedition can be considered successful unless it is also conducted responsibly, safely and harmoniously, and with regard for the environment. We aim to assist expeditioners to realise their individual ambitions within the limits of these conditions and acceptable risk. Safety of expeditioners and protection of the environment is paramount. Achieving research aims is desirable. We advise you to read carefully the description of the expedition before applying to join. If you are unsure about anything, you can contact our offices and/or you can download a detailed briefing prior to applying.
0.5. By signing the application form or submitting it online, you agree to participate in the expedition’s activities at your own risk and to ensure that you have adequate travel and medical insurance to cover all normal travel risks and any additional risks mentioned in our information materials, including these Terms and Conditions. You agree that you have read and understood our Terms and Conditions and agree to abide by them.
1. Terms used and legal status
1.1. These Terms and Conditions govern your participation in the shared activities organised by Biosphere Expeditions. "Biosphere Expeditions", "the Association", "we", "us" and "our" refers to Biosphere Expeditions, an unincorporated association established under the laws of Ireland, acting through its duly authorised officers or committee. “Expeditions” refers to any and all activities organised by Biosphere Expeditions, including, but not limited to expeditions, taster days or weekends, information events, meetings, presentations etc. “Expeditioners” refers to participants in all such events, as mentioned in the preceding sentence. 
1.2 "Leaders" refers to designated expeditions leaders appointed by Biosphere Expeditions, and "staff" to assistant leaders, helpers and other people in a position of authority appointed by Biosphere Expeditions, whether casual, paid or unpaid, and also including office and administrative workers, as well as other Biosphere Expeditions representatives, including the CEO and other senior and junior officers, committee members, trustees and decision-makers within Biosphere Expeditions.
1.3. "You" and "yours" means all the persons named on any application form, or any one of them as the context requires (including anyone added or substituted at a later date). The "lead name" is the person who submitted the application form on behalf of everyone participating.
1.4. "Force Majeure" means any event or circumstances which we could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include (but are not limited to) actual or threatened war, riot, civil strife or political upheaval, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear or health disasters or crises, including pandemics, adverse weather or road conditions, fire, bureaucratic obstacles, changes in schedules or mode of transport by ferry companies, airlines, bus or train operators and all similar events outside our control.
1.5. "Dossier" or "Briefing" means the expedition-specific information materials (whether provided in writing, online or verbally) issued by us to Expeditioners describing the itinerary, requirements, inclusions and other details of a particular expedition, as referred to elsewhere in these Terms and Conditions. 
1.6. As an unincorporated association Biosphere Expeditions does not possess a separate legal personality, does not operate for profit, and is not a commercial tour operator or travel agent. By submitting an application form and paying the required contribution, you are applying for Temporary Associate Membership, which means you become a temporary member of the Association for the duration of the expedition, starting on the first day of the expedition and ending on the last.
1.7. As a Temporary Associate Member, you acknowledge that you are entering into a private, mutual undertaking with fellow members / expeditioners. You expressly agree that no consumer-trader relationship exists between you and the Association, its leaders and staff.
1.8. As described more fully below, because the Association is a collective of its members, you acknowledge that you cannot bring a claim against the Association, its leaders or staff for matters arising out of this shared undertaking. Each person participating takes full responsibility for their actions and indemnifies Biosphere Expeditions and its leaders and staff.
2. Applying for Temporary Associate Membership
2.1. Please read these Terms and Conditions below carefully. When you sign an application form or submit one online, you (and any other person on whose behalf you complete the form) agree to accept all of these conditions and you acknowledge that you have read these and the relevant information materials, and agree to the matters set out in the Assumption of Risk and Formal Release below. You also warrant that the information provided by you on the application form is complete and true. When you complete an application form and send it to us with a deposit or full payment of the contribution amount, and we accept your application, a legally binding mutual agreement is formed between you and us, on the terms of these Terms and Conditions. This mutual agreement will exist, and you will be a Temporary Associate Member for the duration of the expedition, as soon as we issue our confirmation of receipt of your application and the contribution deposit. After receipt of your application form, we will send you a confirmation and information, which will help you prepare for the expedition.
2.2. You or the person signing you up for the expedition must be 18 years old at the time of completing the application form and possess the legal capacity and authority to join and travel on an expedition with us. Any application form for a person under 18 must be completed and signed by their parent or legal guardian and a ccompanied by a parent consent form.
2.3. Please check any documentation, which you receive carefully as soon as you receive it. Contact us immediately if any information which appears on the invoice, confirmation or any other document, appears to be incorrect or incomplete.
2.4. Temporary Associate Membership of the Association is granted solely for the purpose of, and for the duration of, the relevant expedition. It does not confer on you any of the wider rights of membership that may be available under the Association's constitution, including (without limitation) the right to attend or vote at general meetings, to stand for election to the committee, or to inspect the Association's books and records. Your rights and obligations as a Temporary Associate Member are limited to those set out in these Terms and Conditions.
2.5. If you are unable to participate in an expedition you have signed up for, you may ask us to transfer your place to another person who satisfies all the conditions applicable to the expedition. Such requests must be made in writing at least 21 days before departure, or as soon as reasonably possible if your circumstances arise closer to departure. We will confirm whether the transfer can be accommodated, having regard to matters such as visa, permit, transport and accommodation arrangements, and may charge a reasonable administration fee to cover our costs in making the change. You and the new participant remain jointly responsible for payment of the balance of the contribution and any additional costs arising from the transfer.
3. Subscriptions and shared cost contributions
3.1. The financial contribution amounts applicable for each expedition represent your Temporary Membership Subscription and your calculated contribution to the shared logistical costs of the expedition. This is not a fee paid in exchange for commercial services. These contributions, alongside the relevant currency and payment methods, are described on our website. Contribution deposits are always non-refundable.
3.2. If you are joining an expedition, a non-refundable deposit payment is due on completing the application form and a balance payment is due subsequently. With your confirmation notice we will send you a final invoice for the balance of your contribution payment with the due date, which will be roughly 100 days before the expedition commences, or within a week of the invoice date, if you join fewer than 100 days before the expedition commences. The sum shown on the invoice must be paid by the due date shown on the invoice.
3.3. If any balance is not paid by the due date, your Temporary Associate Membership and expedition place will be revoked to prevent financial detriment to the other members of the undertaking, and we reserve the right to apply cancellation charges and interest as described below, unless a payment delay has been agreed with Biosphere Expeditions in writing. Deposit payments can be made by credit or debit card only. Balance and other payments can be made by bank transfer or credit or debit card. By submitting your card details, you are agreeing to have your card charged to settle any outstanding balance by or at any time after the due date given on your invoice.
4. Withdrawal by you
4.1. If you want to withdraw from participating in an expedition, you must do so in writing (an e-mail is acceptable). Your cancellation will take effect from the date we receive this. Cancellation charges will apply as follows: If you cancel before the payment due date shown on your invoice (which is roughly 100 days before the first group of the expedition commences or within one week of signing up if that deadline has already passed), then there are no cancellation charges and only your non-refundable deposit is forfeit. If you cancel after the payment due date shown on your invoice, then the whole amount shown on your invoice is due as a cancellation charge. Note that deferring expedition places to another time or expedition is classed as withdrawal.
4.2. Cancellation charges will always be applied, irrespective of the circumstances of the withdrawal. Please note that it is your responsibility to protect yourself against such charges by taking out adequate travel insurance.
4.3. If you fail to arrive at the assembly point in time and as a result miss taking part in the expedition, no refund or compensation will be given. No refunds will be made in respect of your contribution (or compensation in respect of any independent travel arrangements) if you leave an expedition for any reason after the expedition has begun. Once an expedition has departed, no refund or compensation will be given for any unused accommodation, travel or any other feature referred to in the itinerary.
5. Change to expedition or cancellation by us
5.1. We plan our expeditions many months in advance and may have to make changes to our itineraries. We reserve the right to do so at any time. It is in the nature of an expedition of this kind that arrangements and participants have to be flexible and it is a necessary condition of your joining any of our expeditions that you accept this flexibility. In the case of changes other than significant ones, you will have no entitlement to cancel without penalty.
5.2. If a significant change becomes necessary prior to departure, we will advise you of the change as soon as possible. Whether a change is ‘significant’ depends on the nature of the expedition and may include alteration to the scheduled start or end date of the expedition by more than 12 hours (but not a flight delay). When a significant change occurs, you will have the choice of either accepting the change, or cancelling your expedition, in which case we shall refund you in full. If the significant change is due to Force Majeure and if an identical or similar expedition is offered within 30 months, then you will only have the option to defer or apply payments already made to this identical or similar expedition. In all such cases, no compensation will be payable.
5.3. We reserve the right to cancel an expedition at any time and for any reason, either for individual participants, groups or whole expeditions. In particular, if the minimum number of participants required is not reached, we may have to cancel (see section 6 below). In the unlikely event of a cancellation, you will be notified as soon as possible and (subject to clause 5.4 below) all monies you have paid to us will be refunded. An expedition is not considered cancelled if an identical or similar expedition is offered within 30 months, in which case you will only have the option to defer payments already made to this identical or similar expedition. In all such cases, no compensation will be payable.
5.4. We do not accept liability for any loss arising from our cancellation or from your withdrawal, including non-refundable or penalty-carrying airline tickets or other travel costs, special clothing and equipment, visa, passport and vaccination fees, or other expenses related to the expedition which you have incurred. Please note that it is your responsibility to protect yourself against airline and travel agency cancellation to and from the assembly point by taking out adequate travel and cancellation insurance.
5.5. Our published itineraries and any statements about our planned research work and the wildlife we are likely to encounter should be seen as statements of intent, rather than contractual obligations. During the expedition, a variety of factors including (but not limited to) political instability, war, transport difficulties, strikes, sickness, quarantine, local regulations, weather conditions, natural disasters, wildlife behaviour and movements, and other Force Majeure events may cause us to alter the stated itinerary, and/or incur additional expenses, and/or prevent you from seeing the species and habitats under investigation. If the expedition is affected by these unforeseen events, the leader will consult the participants where appropriate and make any necessary changes, but you will be responsible for any additional expenses incurred, which, depending on the circumstances, may be recoverable on your travel insurance. We will endeavour to keep changes to a minimum, but if they are necessary, they will always be made with the aims of the expedition, as well as the enjoyment and welfare of the participants in mind. We will not be liable for any losses arising from changes or delays caused by any of the above factors. If, for reasons of Force Majeure, we have to cut short the expedition, no refund or compensation will be made for any unused service or feature of the expedition or your trip to the assembly point.
5.6. If we have to cancel an expedition due to Force Majeure, we will endeavour to offer an identical or similar expedition within 30 months. In all such cases, no compensation will be payable.
6. Insufficient numbers, small teams and surcharge policy
6.1. We aim to operate every expedition within the shared cost contribution advertised. In order to keep our contributions low and research teams small, we operate with very small margins and are thus unable to absorb large cost and/or currency fluctuations. On the rare occasion of a significant increase in the costs of products (e.g. fuel & equipment prices), services (e.g. research & access permits, helicopter airlifts), or exchange rates, we may consider it necessary to pass a proportion of this increase to participants. Any such increase will be notified to you as soon as we have the information. If this surcharge exceeds 10% of the contribution advertised, you may withdraw from the expedition within 7 days of receiving notification and receive a full refund.
6.2. In order to minimise environmental impact and maximise research efficiency, Biosphere Expeditions only operates small teams with a dedicated leader. If the minimum team size is not reached or if there are exceptional circumstances that make the expedition more expensive to run than originally envisaged, we reserve the right to add up to a 10% surcharge to the contribution. We reserve the right to cancel any expedition for which we do not have a large enough team (even with an additional surcharge) to make the expedition economically viable.
6.3. If there are any problems of the sort described above, we will consult with all participants. Such issues occur very rarely and most problems are apparent before the balance of the expedition contribution is due, so there is usually plenty of time for participants to consider changed circumstances.
 
7. Inclusions and exclusions
7.1. Biosphere Expeditions will coordinate all the arrangements and facilities as detailed below and in the Expedition Dossier from and to the assembly point in the host country. The published shared cost contribution does not include travel to and away from the assembly point. It is the responsibility of each participant to make their own way to the assembly point in time for the advertised meeting date and time. We insist on punctuality and do not accept liability for any loss arising from failure to arrive at the assembly point on time.
7.2. The published shared cost contribution for your expedition includes all of the below, where applicable: Travel between the assembly point and the expedition base camp, all accommodation and base camp facilities, all meals, access to specialist research equipment, all research permit and access fees, the services of local researchers and helpers, the coordination of the leader, any other facilities or goods specifically mentioned in the Expedition Dossier.
7.3. The published shared cost contribution does not include the following: visa and vaccination costs, personal travel & medical insurance, personal (alcoholic) drinks, telephone calls and internet access, airport taxes, private trips and excursions, anything else not specifically included.
8. Experience and fitness required
8.1. Our expeditions are for everyone and there are usually no special skills (biological or otherwise) required other than the ability to communicate in English. If there are special skills required (e.g. a diving qualification), this will be clearly stated in the relevant information materials and on our website. If you are disabled, please contact us to find out about the suitability of the expedition of your choice. We ask everyone to tell us what they think they can bring to the expedition so that we can make the best use of the team's skills and experience. Some degree of fitness is required, but if you are healthy and enjoy the outdoors, your fitness level should normally be sufficient. Some expeditions require a higher level of fitness, and if so, this will be clearly stated.
9. Medical and first aid exemptions
9.1. It is the responsibility of each participant to seek professional medical and if appropriate dental advice prior to departure and to be aware of and take all necessary health precautions. In particular you must comply with all advice from the relevant authorities and health professionals regarding vaccinations, inoculations and other medical and dental precautions. Health requirements and recommendations may change and you must check the up-to-date position in good time prior to departure.
9.2. If you have an existing or previous illness/disability, which could affect your mental or physical condition during the expedition, you must consult your doctor about your suitability to join the expedition. You must also inform Biosphere Expeditions of any such pre-existing condition. We reserve the right at any time prior to departure to insist that you provide a medical certificate confirming your suitability to join the expedition.
9.3. If you are found to have an undeclared or understated medical condition (whether physical or mental) after departure, the leader may require you to seek medical advice. If you refuse to do so, or refuse to follow such advice, the leader may require you to leave the expedition. If in the opinion of the leader your health is at risk, or you are putting the health of any other participant at risk, the leader is entitled to require you to leave the expedition, or to require that you not undertake specified activities, or to authorise your immediate evacuation and repatriation. In such circumstances, there will be no refund of the expedition cost, and we (and the leader) will accept no liability for any losses or expenses you incur. We reserve the right to recover any costs we incur, for example in connection with your evacuation and repatriation.
9.4. Medical Immunity: You expressly acknowledge that leaders and staff are not licensed medical professionals. You waive any right to bring a claim and fully indemnify the leaders and staff, against any liability for first aid, emergency medical care, or evacuation decisions administered, coordinated, or authorised in good faith during the expedition, save in respect of wilful misconduct or gross negligence, where liability cannot lawfully be excluded under Irish law.
10. Paperwork and tickets
10.1. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of all necessary documents for the expedition, including (but not limited to) valid visas, valid vaccination certificates, travel tickets to take you to the assembly point on time, and a passport with at least six months validity beyond the date of your return travel (as some countries now insist on this). If you expect to have to renew your passport and your vaccinations before departure, you should allow plenty of time to do so.
10.2. In some cases, we must notify the authorities of the host country of the whole team's passport and vaccination details. Discrepancies may result in delays to the team, fines to the individuals involved, or in the worst case cancellation of all research and access permits. In such cases we reserve the right to recover costs from the individuals involved. Your expedition dossier or briefing will contain details of visa and vaccination requirements, but this information is provided without responsibility and as set out above you are responsible for ensuring you have the correct travel and vaccination documentation, if applicable.
11. Leaders, staff, conduct, and disciplinary immunity
11.1. Our expeditions operate in remote and potentially hazardous environments. The designated "leader" and all other staff are fellow members appointed to coordinate logistics, safety protocols, and research schedules on behalf of the collective group.
11.2. You acknowledge that no part of your financial contribution is paid in exchange for professional guiding, instructing, or guarding services. The leader acts strictly as a peer-facilitator for the mutual benefit of the team. You retain absolute personal responsibility for your own welfare, safety and decision-making at all times. You agree to indemnify the leader and staff against any claims, losses, or harm that may befall you during the shared undertaking.
11.3. Our leaders and staff will seek to ensure that any problems are solved in the best interests of the team. You accept the leader's and staff’s authority to make decisions affecting the safe conduct of the expedition and individual participants. You agree to comply with the leader’s instructions and with the laws and regulations of the host country. If you disregard these instructions and laws (in particular unlawful possession of drugs or firearms), you will be removed from the expedition.
11.4. The decision of the leader and staff as to the conduct, itinerary, and objectives of the expedition and its members, and in respect of any disputes within the team, is final. The leader may require an individual to leave the expedition or to be confined to camp if in the leader's judgement the actions of that individual puts their own health and safety at risk, or jeopardises the safety, enjoyment or welfare of the team, or jeopardises the expedition's research aims and objectives, or puts the welfare of wildlife or habitats at risk.
11.5. Disciplinary Immunity: Where you are asked to leave an expedition, or are confined to camp, in the circumstances described above, there will be no refund of the expedition cost. You expressly waive any right to claim damages against the leader, staff or the Association for distress, defamation, breach of contract, or financial loss resulting from your removal, save where the decision was made through wilful misconduct or gross negligence, where liability cannot lawfully be excluded under Irish law. Subject to that, we (and the leader and staff) will accept no liability for any losses or expenses you incur as a result. We reserve the right to recover any costs we incur as a result of your breach of this clause 11.
12. Insurance
12.1. Once you join an expedition, it is compulsory that you purchase a suitable travel and cancellation insurance policy, which covers you fully for the activities detailed in the expedition information materials, and provides cover for medical expenses, emergency medical repatriation, and loss and damage to your personal effects. You should ensure that your policy covers you for adventurous activities and/or light manual work. You are required to carry proof of insurance with you and produce it if requested by our leaders or suppliers. We reserve the right to remove you from the team at any time if you fail to provide us with evidence of adequate travel insurance cover when asked to do so.
12.2. We also strongly advise you to obtain, immediately upon joining an expedition, insurance that will cover you for any withdrawal charges (as per clause 4.1) that may be due in case you have to withdraw from the expedition.
 
12.3. You must make sure that you obtain the following minimum cover limits: Emergency Medical Expenses: € 5,000,000 minimum (many specialist policies offer up to € 10,000,000). Medical treatment abroad, especially in remote regions requiring private transport or field hospitals, mounts up rapidly. Emergency Repatriation & Evacuation: € 5,000,000 to unlimited. This covers medevac flights, trained medical escorts and long-distance transport back to your home country. Search and Rescue (SAR): At least € 50,000 specifically dedicated to search, rescue and air ambulance extraction (e.g. helicopter recovery in remote terrain). Cancellation and Curtailment: Equal to 100% of your total non-refundable outlay. This should cover the full cost of the expedition, pre-booked transport, flights and accommodation (typically between € 3,000 and € 7,000, depending on the expedition). Personal Belongings and Baggage: € 1,500 to € 3,000. Pay close attention to the single-item limit (usually € 250–€ 500) and total valuables limit if you are travelling with expensive gear, such as laptops or camera or diving equipment. Personal Liability: € 2,000,000. Covers legal costs and damages if you accidentally injure someone or damage third-party property during the expedition. Personal Accident: € 25,000 to € 50,000 lump-sum benefit for permanent disability or loss of sight/limb.
12.3. Beyond monetary limits, your policy document must explicitly confirm coverage for the following conditions mentioned in your Expedition Dossier: Light Manual Work Endorsement: Standard policies automatically void claims arising from manual work. Ensure your policy certificate explicitly lists "light manual work", "volunteering" or "community conservation work" without heavy machinery or work above 2 metres in height. Activity Grading and Altitude: Insurance policies classify risk by activity tiers. Ensure your specific activity (e.g. trekking, diving) and maximum altitude (e.g. up to 4,000 metres) as described in the Expedition Dossier are explicitly listed as covered.
13. Equipment
13.1. All communal and group equipment such as research tools, GPSs, tents, cooking equipment, medical kit, etc. will be provided by Biosphere Expeditions. You will receive full training on any specialised equipment you are asked to use. You will need to provide your own clothing and personal equipment. A detailed list of personal clothing and equipment required will be sent to you as part of the Expedition Dossier.
13.2. If you cause damage or loss to any equipment belonging to Biosphere Expeditions by your carelessness, negligence or improper use, we may recover that damage or loss from you if we consider it reasonable to do so. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover this loss from your insurance, as described above.
14. Transport
14.1. Our expeditions typically involve transport of some sort (vehicles, boats, helicopters and other aircraft, etc.). By signing the application form or submitting it online, you accept that the standards of safety on such vehicles and, for example, on local roads, may not be as high as those required in your home country. Please also see section 15 below in relation to the matters for which we do and do not accept liability.
14.2. We may also ask you to drive vehicles and/or support the expedition by using your own vehicle to transport yourself and other participants. You are not required to drive any vehicle but, if you do so, then you agree that you will: Drive any vehicle in a safe and responsible manner, as if it was your own, and not engage in any race or unsafe driving, not operate the vehicle in an unsafe and negligent manner, comply with all applicable speed limits and obey all rules and regulations with respect to the operation of a motor vehicle, be responsible for all costs incurred due to traffic offences while the vehicle is under your control, not allow passengers to ride anywhere other than in the interior or loading platform of the vehicle, not use the vehicle for any illegal purpose, not permit the vehicle to be operated by any other person not authorised to drive by Biosphere Expeditions, at no time operate the vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
14.3. You also agree to fully indemnify Biosphere Expeditions for any and all loss of or damage we suffer arising out of any breach by you of clause 14.2 above.
15. Allocation of liability and indemnity
15.1. The Association coordinates the logistics of the expedition on a mutual, cost-sharing basis. These arrangements are strictly non-profit and non-commercial. We operate in regions where standards of accommodation, transport, safety, hygiene, medical facilities and other infrastructure are almost always lower than those you normally expect in your home country.
15.2. Voluntary Assumption of Risk: Your application for Temporary Associate Membership is accepted strictly on the condition that you recognise and voluntarily assume all risks and hazards inherent to this private undertaking. This includes, but is not limited to, the risk of severe personal injury, disease, psychological trauma, death, property loss, inconvenience and discomfort.
15.3. Waiver of Liability: To the maximum extent permitted by Irish law, all liability of the Association, its leaders and staff to you is excluded, save only for liability arising from wilful, criminal misconduct or gross negligence, which cannot lawfully be excluded under Irish law. Subject to that, you agree that the cause of any loss, injury, or death you may suffer is an assumed risk of your participation, and you waive any right to seek damages from the Association, its leaders or staff, or your fellow Members.
15.4. Comprehensive Indemnity: As a Temporary Associate Member, you and your estate agree to fully indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Association's leaders, and staff against any legal costs, claims, or damages initiated by you, your family, or third parties arising from your actions, negligence, or participation in the expedition.
15.5. International Conventions: Without prejudice to the above waivers, in the highly unlikely event that any liability is legally established against the Association or its leaders despite its unincorporated status, it will be strictly limited in accordance with and/or in an identical manner to any relevant international convention which applies to any of the arrangements included in your expedition. International Conventions which may apply include, without limitation: in respect of international air travel, the Warsaw Convention 1929 (as amended) or the Montreal Convention 1999; in respect of rail travel, the Berne Convention 1961; in respect of carriage by sea, the Athens Convention 1974; in respect of carriage by road, the Geneva Convention 1973; and, in respect of hotels, the Paris Convention 1962.
15.6. If you purchase any optional activities that are not part of your itinerary, the contract for the provision of that activity will be between you and the activity provider. The decision to partake in any such activity is entirely at your own discretion and risk.
16. Single facilities
16.1. Our shared costs are based on two or more people sharing. We can sometimes provide single facilities, but there may be an extra cost involved. This will become apparent as the expedition team recruits itself. Please notify us of your requirements when applying to join.
17. Complaints and dispute resolution
17.1. It is our sincere hope that the expedition you join will live up to your expectations. However, if you have cause for complaint during the expedition you must bring it to the attention of the leader who will do his/her best to rectify the situation. We cannot take action and try to make your expedition more enjoyable if you take no action during the expedition, but only write a letter of complaint upon your return.
17.2. If a problem is brought to the attention of the leader, but remains unsolved, you should write a letter of complaint within 28 days of your return, as this allows us to investigate matters while they are fresh and to respond effectively. If you do not do so, this may affect our ability to investigate and fairly resolve your complaint, and we will take this into account in responding to it, but it does not by itself extinguish any statutory right you may otherwise have.
17.3. Remember that our expeditions are real scientific research expeditions, not tours. Biosphere Expeditions makes every effort to describe accurately field conditions in its publications and verbally, but field work in what are often remote and challenging places is a delicate business, and prone to last-minute changes. By applying for membership, you accept this as part of what makes joining Biosphere Expeditions a unique experience. We are not in the package holiday business, nor are we a profit-driven limited company or other such corporation, so if that is what you want, best look elsewhere.
18. Jurisdiction and choice of law; severability 
18.1. This agreement shall be subject to and governed by Irish law and any disputes arising out of or in connection with it shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish Courts.
18.2. If any provision of this agreement is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be severed from this agreement. The remainder of this agreement will then be construed as though the unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
 
19. Variation
19.1. These terms and conditions are subject to reasonable change without prior notice. The terms and conditions displayed at www.biosphere-expeditions.org/terms shall at all times be considered the binding terms and conditions irrespective of other terms and conditions in circulation.
20. Use of images and data protection
20.1. Any likeness or image of you taken on any of our expeditions may, with your consent, be used by us without charge in all media for promotional, marketing or illustrative purposes, including without limitation promotional materials such as brochures, slides or video shows, and on our internet site or social media profiles, and as an illustration in scientific publications. You may withdraw this consent at any time by writing to us at info@biosphere-expeditions.org, after which we will not make further new use of your image, save where continued use is necessary to complete a publication already in production or to comply with a legal obligation. Any written feedback supplied to the Association may also be used for promotional purposes in such materials, subject to the same right of withdrawal.
20.2. Data Protection: We process personal data you provide (including passport, medical, vaccination and emergency contact details) in order to organise, run and ensure the safety of the expedition, and to comply with our legal obligations, including those owed to host-country authorities as described in Section 10. We process this data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, and as further described in our privacy notice as per our website. You have the rights available to you under applicable data protection law, including rights of access, correction and erasure, subject to the exceptions provided by that law.
21. Pre-Departure right of refusal and cancellation
21.1. Absolute Discretion: Biosphere Expeditions reserves the right, at its absolute and sole discretion, to decline any initial application or to cancel any confirmed place on an expedition prior to the commencement of the expedition. This right may be exercised if Biosphere Expeditions determines that a person’s inclusion may compromise the safety, team dynamics, operational efficiency or overall success of the expedition.
21.2. Refund of Contributions: In the event that Biosphere Expeditions exercises this right of cancellation prior to departure, and provided the participant is not otherwise in material breach of these Terms and Conditions, the participant will receive a full and prompt refund of all financial contributions paid directly to Biosphere Expeditions for the expedition.
21.3. Limitation of Consequential Liability: Upon processing the aforementioned refund, Biosphere Expeditions shall have no further liability to the participant. Biosphere Expeditions will not be held responsible for, nor will it refund, any consequential expenses or third-party costs incurred by the participant in preparation for the expedition. This includes, but is not limited to, non-refundable flight tickets, travel insurance premiums, visa fees, medical vaccinations or equipment purchases.
22. Assumption of risk and formal release
22.1. Third-Party Rights: For the purposes of Irish law, you agree that this agreement is entered into for the explicit benefit of all Biosphere Expeditions leaders and staff (collectively, the ‘‘Released Parties’’), who may independently rely upon and enforce these waivers and indemnities as if they were direct signatories to this agreement.
22.2. You understand and legally bind myself to the agreement that neither Biosphere Expeditions, nor any of the Released Parties shall be held liable for any injury, illness, death, or financial damage to you, your family, estate, or heirs arising from this undertaking, save as set out in clause 22.3 below and clause 15.7 above.
22.3. You hereby release, exempt, and hold harmless the Released Parties from any claim or lawsuit. You expressly agree not to initiate any legal proceedings against the Released Parties. You acknowledge that you are agreeing to this release not as a consumer, but as a consenting member of a private unincorporated association voluntarily undertaking shared risks. This release applies to all acts or omissions, save only for acts of wilful, criminal misconduct or gross negligence where liability cannot be legally excluded under Irish statutory law.
22.4. You also understand that the expedition may (if so specified in the expedition information materials) involve physically strenuous activities and that you may be exerting yourself during the expedition, and that if you are injured as a result of a heart attack, panic, hyperventilation, drowning or any other cause, that you expressly assume the risk of said injuries and that you will not hold the Released Parties responsible for the same, save as set out in clause 21.3 above.
22.5. You further state that you are of lawful age and legally competent to accept this liability release, or that you have acquired the written consent of your parent or guardian. You understand the terms herein are contractual and not a mere recital, and that you have agreed to this document of your own free act and with the knowledge that you hereby agree to this waiver of liability.
22.6. You acknowledge that you have fully informed yourself of the contents of this liability release and assumption of risk agreement by reading it before you accepted. You accept that completing an application form for the expedition, either online or as a hard copy, is regarded as signing and accepting this liability release and assumption of risk agreement.

© Biosphere Expeditions
Version 27 July 2026

I accept the terms & conditions above, a copy of which is also available on www.biosphere-expeditions.org/terms

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Results & achievements

This expedition

Since its inception in 2022, Ankay Conservation has trained over 120 participants in citizen science reef monitoring techniques and marine conservation methodologies. Since July 2023, Ankay has established a long-term reef monitoring programme in Bocas del Toro covering six reef sites across the archipelago. To date more than 650 survey dives have been completed, generating over 440 substrate and coral health records, 168 reef fish surveys and 44 invertebrate surveys. These datasets provide important baseline information for understanding coral reef condition and ecological trends in the region.

Data gathered through Ankay's programmes have contributed to regional coral reef assessments coordinated through the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN). Current scientific outputs include two case studies and a manuscript presently undergoing peer review focused on citizen science reef monitoring in Bocas del Toro. To our knowledge, the programme represents one of the first long-term citizen science-based coral reef monitoring datasets developed specifically for the Bocas del Toro region.

Beyond ecological monitoring, Ankay also contributes to local conservation awareness and community engagement initiatives. Activities have included marine conservation education programmes with local schools focusing on ecologically important species such as sharks and sea turtles, community outreach relating to maritime safety and sustainable tourism, and environmental initiatives including mangrove and underwater clean-up activities.

Additional conservation initiatives include the establishment of restoration efforts for Acropora cervicornis through coral nurseries and artificial reef structures. Ankay also contributes to broader regional conservation efforts through participation in the implementation committee of Panamá's Ley 304, representing the tourism sector in marine

Biosphere Expeditions in general

Since 1999 Biosphere Expeditions has delivered tangible, lasting conservation achievements across four continents – from protected areas established and species safeguarded to local communities empowered. However, with the planet slipping deeper into crisis despite the conservation efforts of many, we have taken decisive further steps outlined in our Manifesto for a Troubled Planet and the book Musings on the Brink. Grounded in this vision, Biosphere Expeditions nowadays stands entirely alone in the volunteering world on many levels: We have purged all commercialism from our operations, organising our expeditions as a non-commercial covenant between consenting adults. We reject "save the planet" hopewashing as well as corporate sponsorship and do not engage in flight offset fig-leaving. We have a mandatory vegetarian expedition policy, a one-expedition-one-report rule, focus strictly on ecological triage and maintain a defined exit strategy for when an expedition reaches its goals or international air travel contracts.

The overarching purpose of all this is to create, extend and empower resilient local biome conservation networks so that they can build and protect refugia wherever possible. Far from being a gloomy exercise, this provides profound meaning and integrity to our conservation work going forward. It grants executive leaders, professional and citizen scientists, as well as our partners the confidence that their hard work is not merely a symbolic gesture in a losing battle against planetary decline, but a targeted intervention that gives functional ecosystems a fighting chance to make it through the global transition period we have entered.

Awards & accolades

Biosphere Expeditions was named on the Travel with a Mate's "Best Volunteer Dive Organisations" list.

Biosphere Expeditions as an organisation has won the "Best Volunteering Organisation" category of the First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards.

Biosphere Expeditions as an organisation has also won multiple Travel+Leisure awards and accolades such as the "Conservation Award" category of Travel+Leisure's "Global Vision Awards" or "Best Adventure Outfitter" and "Best Save-the-Earth Trip" accolades.

more awards & accolades

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