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 Coral reefs of the Philippine Islands exhibit some of the highest levels of marine biodiversity on earth. The entire archipelago defines the northern portion of the famed ‘Coral Triangle’. Over the past decades, however, destructive fishing, pollution, intense logging and poor management of resources have damaged many Philippine reefs.
You can help save Philippine reefs!
Reef Check is the world’s largest coral reef monitoring organization and our citizen scientists have been monitoring and helping to protect reefs in over 90 countries and territories since 1997. By engaging the public in reef monitoring, this helps to galvanize actions by government and the private sector to rehabilitate and better protect them. In the Philippines, hundreds of surveys have been conducted in over 35 areas thus far. As part of this expedition you will be trained in the same techniques used by marine biologists and will collect baseline data to monitor the health of Philippine reefs in a new focus area – Puerto Galera. This information will help Reef Check Philippines to develop community awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs. Further, our data will be provided to the Philippines government and will be used for both national and global assessments. Over the years, many communities that have used Reef Check as a means to monitor their reefs have, in combination with their attention to the environment, seen improvements in the health of their reefs and abundance of fish.
Research area
This expedition will focus on evaluating the health and challenges facing fringing reefs of the municipality of Puerto Galera, an important reef area just a few hours drive from Manila. Puerto Galera is located on the northeast end of Mindoro Island, about 140 km southwest of Manila. For over three decades the waters around Puerto Galera and vicinity (including Verde Island group) have been a part of the UNESCO Bio-reserve Program; chosen, in part, for it’s incredibly high biodiversity. Further support for the high diversity was recognized after scientists reported in 2007 that the area is the “center of the center” of global coral reef fish biodiversity. This report, in combination with marine surveys conducted throughout the Philippines has led to estimates of over 1000 fish and 400 coral species that potentially reside in the waters around Puerto Galera.
The diving will take place primarily along fringing reefs, but we will examine a variety of habitats including sand/mud bottoms, shallow reef flats and protected bays. Because we need baseline data on a diversity of habitats and conditions some sites may not be pristine, having been exposed to natural or human influences. Weather permitting; we also plan to survey a few of the reefs around the Verde Islands.
 Schedule of activities
Each day we will have morning and evening briefing / de-briefing sessions. In the evenings, lectures (given by Reef Check staff and guest lecturers) on selected topics in marine biology, conservation, and biodiversity will be conducted. The following schedule may be subject to change due to weather or other issues.
Overall schedule of activities:
- Day 1: Arrival over night in Manila at local hotel
- Day 2: Transfer to Puerto Galera. Begin training sessions in the afternoon (classroom)
- Day 3 - 4: Training session and practice survey
- Day 5: Testing for certification. Afternoon fun dive.
- Day 6 - 7: Morning survey. Afternoon fun dive.
- Day 8: Return to Manila, shopping and airport.
Training sessions will consist of classroom and field work including lectures on the Reef Check survey methods, practice surveys on land (dry-runs) and in-water practice surveys. SCUBA and snorkel teams and tasks will be assigned. Those who desire to become certified Reef Check EcoDivers will be given the opportunity to take the certification test. Those who pass are automatically eligible for a PADI Reef Check Specialty certification. (The PADI certification card is extra and requires the standard PADI payment.)
Reef Check surveys will be performed by both SCUBA and snorkeling teams at sites selected each day based on weather and preference. Most of our sites are within a 15 minute boat ride, although a few, including our potential sites around the Verde Islands, will require longer boat rides. Our daily schedule will be to survey two sites in the morning and two in the afternoon. Between dives we will generally use the time for data input, quality management, discussions about techniques and performance, conditions observed, and of course, use the time to relax with snacks (between first and third surveys) and break for lunch (between morning and afternoon surveys). Our snorkeling team will follow a similar pattern. If weather permits us to survey Verde Islands’ sites, we will spend the entire day at that location; bringing our lunch and snacks with time between surveys spent on some of the magnificent and less visited beaches of these remarkable islands.
 Accommodations
El Galleon Resort will host our expedition; providing accommodations, classrooms, and meals (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner). It islocated on a beautiful piece of property along Small La Laguna Beach. El Galleon Resort has been operating in Puerto Galera for over 20 years, and has 31 rooms, a full service kitchen (including a brand new open-air kitchen) serving a variety of local, national and requested dishes, and a separate bar (located on the property but away from the rooms). All guest rooms are air-conditioned and have private bath / showers.
The in-house PADI 5-star dive center, Asia Divers, will provide logistical support for our diving surveys and equipment rentals. Several of their staff have already been trained by Reef Check are they will be on-hand to not only take care of our divers and diving, but help with the surveys.
Full board meals will be provided and, in most cases, will be served at the resort. Some days may have us packing our lunch as we visit locations farther away from the resort or we will schedule to have lunch on a secluded beach and relax in our private paradise before jumping back in the water.
Experience level
This expedition is designed primarily for snorkelers and divers who already hold a scuba certification, with a minimum of 30 dives. Participants should be able to perform up to two surveys per day (four SCUBA dives or snorkels) and the level of fitness is no more than what is required by SCUBA certifying agencies.
While our dive sites will not require advanced scuba diving skills, some of the areas are subjected to strong currents. We will plan each dive based on weather and diving conditions and conduct surveys only during the optimum conditions. As with any activity in the ocean, however, conditions may change. Prior to the dive/snorkel, detailed briefings including actions to be taken in the case of changing conditions will be conducted at each site.
Research summary
Although Puerto Galera is a well-known dive location, little information on the current health and status of the reef exists. Further, no consistent coral reef monitoring programs are currently supported there. As a result, it is not possible to track whether conservation measures are successful or not.
Our goal will be to survey a minimum of 2 sites using the standard Reef Check protocol (which will be taught prior to our surveys). We will gather both abundance and diversity data on fish and invertebrates such as corals as well as document general reef health and Crown-of-Thorns prevalence. Scuba surveys will be conducted at two (2) different depths within the same area: shallow reef (2 to 5 m), and mid-reef (6 to 12 m). Snorkel surveys will be carried out only in shallow water (1 to 2m). Data will be used to develop a ‘State-of-the-Reef’ report for our study area which will be used for in the development and refinement of conservation initiatives. All data that passes quality control will be contributed to the Reef Check global database and status reports, and will also be submitted to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network for inclusion in Status Reports and to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Team Leaders
Lee Goldman, Executive Director of Reef Check Philippines holds both a B.Sc. and a M. Sc. in marine biology, the latter for his work on coral interactions and reproduction with an emphasis on its applications for reef restoration. In parallel with pursuing his goals as a scientist (he is currently completing his PhD at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute), he spent nearly 15 years working as a naturalist and guide in some of the world’s most remarkable places. Along with conducting research on corals, he owns and operates an expedition tour company in the Philippines, guiding clients all over the archipelago in search of wondrous marine and terrestrial organisms. He guides for WWF and is a consultant for Dreamtime Publications.
Mario Sanchez Marababol is a marine biologist who has been with Reef Check for over ten years and continues to be actively involved with training local participants in Reef Check survey methods and assisting in the development of Marine Protected Areas. He has also played important roles in several reef restoration projects associated with government and university sponsored reef rehabilitation programs. Currently, he is completing his Master's of science in Environmental Studies at the University of the Philippines, Cebu City.
Past volunteer photos
Our expedition will provide you with a real sense of accomplishment and appreciation mixed with fun and opportunities for new friendships. Many of our volunteers continue to contribute actively to our programs
Booking terms and conditions
Payment schedule
Deposit: $150 USD, due at sign-up
Partial payment: $350 USD, due August 1st, 2009
Balance: $499 USD, due 45 days prior to the departure date
Signing up after August 1st, 2009 requires the payment of the deposit plus the partial payment. Signing up within 45 days of the expedition requires full payment.
All payments must be submitted in $US. Checks must be made payable to Reef Check Foundation. For Credit Card payments, please go to: https://my.reefcheck.org/myaccount/make_donation.php
Please include a note in the comment box that states: “Payment for Puerto Galera Expedition”
Trip Inclusions
- Internal transportation; Airport transfers to and from hotel and transfers to and from Puerto Galera
- Accommodations
- Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) from the evening of Day 1 through the evening of Day 8
- Bottled water and snacks
- SCUBA diving activities (including airfills, tanks, weights, boat charters)
- Use of all scientific survey equipment
- Each participant will receive one Reef Check EcoDiver Kit with all training materials needed including an underwater Reef Check Indicator Guide.
- Research permits
- On-site staff
- Resort staff gratuities
Trip Exclusions
- Travel to and from Manila
- Extended tours prior to or after the expedition dates (although we would be happy to arrange additional tours during your visit)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tours & services other than those listed as ‘inclusions’
- SCUBA equipment (full equipment is available for rent)
 Your contribution
Your contribution covers the basic costs for the expedition; transfers, accommodations, meals, SCUBA activities, boat charters, and staff. We are proud to say, however, that through the vision and generosity of Asia Divers / El Galleon Resort, Reef Check Philippines will retain nearly 20% of the contributions which will go directly towards current and future monitoring activities, including the training of new local volunteers and coral reef awareness programs in the Philippines. Please see our website for a complete list of programs RC - Phils are offering or are actively taking part in.
Your contribution also includes:
Your contribution additionally covers your carbon offset for your roundtrip flight (at the time of registration, we will calculate your round trip mileage from your point of origin) and our internal transportation to and from Puerto Galera.
Refund and Cancellation Policy
Once the partial payment is made, any cancellations prior to 90 days of the departure date will result in a 50% refund of the total monies contributed to Reef Check Philippines towards this expedition. Cancelling after 90 days prior to departure date results in a refund of 25% of the total monies contributed towards the expedition. Cancelling after 45 days prior to the departure data will forfeit the entire contribution towards the Reef Check Expedition. Any funds retained due to late cancellation will support the expedition and will be treated as a charitable gift towards Reef Check Philippines.
In the unlikely event that Reef Check Philippines must cancel the expedition, your minimum expedition contribution will be refunded in full. We cannot, however, reimburse airfare or other personal travel expenses associated with a cancelled expedition.
Tax-deductible contributions
For US citizens, payments to Reef Check for this expedition will be accepted by our US head office, the Reef Check Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit. Therefore please check with your tax adviser to determine what portion of the payment will be tax deductible.
Refusal of participation
Reef Check Philippines reserves the right to refuse participation of a volunteer on our expeditions. This is an unusual event and is normally due either to an applicant's failure to meet the health requirements of a particular expedition or in the interest of team compatibility. Reef Check Philippines will support the right of the scientist to send volunteers away from an expedition once in the field should their behavior compromise the safety, research objectives or general performance of the team. Self misrepresentation in any way, including but not limited to age, health, intentions etc. will be grounds for rejection of reservations or dismissal from expeditions. In the case of self misrepresentation, volunteers will not be eligible for a refund.
These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time
PLEASE NOTE: Although we are privileged with an opportunity to stay at El Galleon Resort and have the services of Asia Divers, this expedition is not designed to be a tour. It is a scientific research expedition with specific, performance-based goals. We encourage volunteers to consider this and hope their experience with us exceeds their expectations.
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