Ecological & Environmental Community Service

Through hands-on research and service work, you'll help restore and protect beaches, wetlands, marine and land habitats, often working with local youth groups. Together, your participation will have a lasting effect on preserving the land, and in turn, the livelihood of the people who inhabit these beautiful islands.

Reef Health Check-ups

Sail Caribbean works under the guidance of Coral Watch, an Australian research project that uses simple, non-invasive methods to monitor coral bleaching, and assessment of coral health. and REEF, a grass-roots organization that seeks to conserve marine ecosystems by educating, enlisting and enabling divers to scientifically monitor, restore and maintain coral reefs. Using scientific protocols from these two organizations, we'll show you how to perform a coral reef "health check-up". You'll document fish counts and record data on three endangered reefs in the British Virgin Islands.
Available on Sierra, Bravo, Charlie, Foxtrot and Tango programs

Mangrove Restoration

Mangroves, the trees and shrubs that grow in coastal habitats, provide a complex environment for sea-life. You'll lend a hand in preserving this critical ecosystem by planting new mangroves, as well as monitoring and researching existing sites.
Available on Sierra and Foxtrot programs

Sandwatch

Under the guidance of marine biologists, you'll take part in the UNESCO Sandwatch program. This initiative helps students and communities monitor coastal areas and marine life to protect them from erosion and negative human impact. You'll measure beach characteristics on erosion, sand composition, fauna and flora and coastal debris. The data you collect will be provided to government agencies for the protection of these fragile ecosystems.
Available on Foxtrot, Tango, Sierra and Echo programs

Turtle-Tagging

Only 1 in 1,500 hatchlings reaches egg-laying maturity. As a result, the sea turtle population has plummeted 90% worldwide in the last 10 years. On Foxtrot and Sierra programs, you'll learn techniques from the BVI Department of Conservation and Fisheries to safely tag sea turtles as a means of monitoring their population and movements.
Available on Foxtrot and Sierra programs

Trail & Beach Maintenance

On all of Sail Caribbean programs, you'll do your part to restore coastal areas and parklands to pristine condition through our beach and trail sweeps. On the Delta program, you'll help create and maintain ecological and historically significant trails in the rainforest on Saba.
Available on all Sail Caribbean programs