• Learn about global marine conservation and how you can help
• Transportation from Placencia to the lionfish hunting island
• 5 Days of lodging and incredible meals that are cooked from scratch
• 12 Dives – 11 of them are hunting lionfish and one is a night dive
• Unlimited snorkeling around the island – as good as the diving!
• Lionfish Training/Hunting and Q&A with the crew
• Lionfish Cleaning – learn how to safely clean and fillet lionfish
• Lionfish Jewelry – learn how to make jewelry from lionfish fins
• Lionfish Cooking – learn some cool lionfish cooking techniques & recipes
• Lionfish Meals – your catch become some of our meals throughout the week
• Lionfish Patrol app – download and learn how to maximize the app to protect our ocean

During the slow season, some places will close for the month and do their renovations. We are working on a list of places to stay and restaurants that will be open. 

Hardcore Hunters – If you are an experiences lionfish hunter you will be going with a group of divers that are great at finding and spearing. If you bring your own gear you will not have to wait your turn and can hunt throughout the dive.

Note – Keep in mind the reefs around the island are hunted 20 days a month to help protect the native fish from the lionfish. There are plenty of lionfish on the reefs still but it can be challenging finding them as they get smarter. Your hunting is helping those reefs stand a chance against the onslaught of juvenile fish being eaten by lionfish. This approach over the last 10 years has removed over 100,000 lionfish and dramatically helped the reefs come back to a healthier environment.

It’s rare that divers come back without a single lionfish after 11 lionfish hunting dives in 5 days. Having said that, mother nature does what she wants and there is always a chance that you could come back empty handed. You could miss the shot and it swims off, or maybe the spots we dive are empty… It’s rare to not catch at least 1 lionfish but nothing in life is guaranteed.

If nothing else you will enjoy some of the most beautiful reefs in the world.

Yes, but keep in mind we will be at depths of 65′ and trying to find lionfish can sometimes be like finding a needle in a haystack. So as long as your expectations of catching lionfish are realistic you can free dive. You cannot free dive after the scuba divers are done. Once the boats are loaded up we all head back to the island.

Lodging & Meals – You will need to book your stay on the mainland in Placencia – we recommend a day or two before and after the 5 day island adventure. Mainland meals while in Placencia are also another expense.

Sapodilla Cayes Marine Park Fee

Reef Conservation International works in the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Park Reserve. The Belize Department of Fisheries charges $35 USD per week for all volunteer visits to the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Park. Belize law requires ReefCI to register each volunteer with the Belize Department of Fisheries and collect and hand over fees associated with marine park visits. The marine park fee provides critical funding for the Belize Department of Fisheries to patrol and enforce no fish zones and other conservation efforts in the marine park. Hence, just by visiting you are supporting marine conservation efforts! The fee is collected by us at the end of your stay by credit card.

In addition, any alcohol, sodas, souvenirs, or optional certification course work while on the island are also extra.

Please Note: Credit card payments will only be accepted for marine park fees, products, and services while on the island. ReefCI does NOT accept cash due to counterfeit and currency exchange issues. Make sure to have your credit card with you when you come to the island.

Keep in mind all the challenges that traveling can create – delayed flights, overbooked flights, busses breaking down, late taxi arrivals, etc. The boat to the island departs at 9am so if you are not there you will miss the 5 day adventure. So…

Arrival – It is recommended you arrive in Placencia at least 1 to 2 days before. So the Saturday or Sunday arrival is your best option. This gives you time to explore Placencia or take an excursion into the jungle or ruins.

Departure – If you want to fly home the last day on the island, keep in mind you will not be able to dive Friday and depending on your flight time maybe even miss some Thursday dives. There have been people who have flown out on the Friday afternoon just after getting off the island. There is no room for error – missed flights, broken down bus, etc. So make sure your connecting flight or bus rides gives you plenty of time to get to Belize City for your flight home.

You should arrive in Placencia on the Saturday or Sunday before your Monday Island departure. Meet others over the weekend and enjoying the beaches, restaurants, shopping, culture, and more.

Rustic – Keep in mind this is an off the grid location which means – minimal power, no hot water, no AC, no pool or jacuzzi…. well, you get the idea. However, You do have a bed and they run a generator at night if you want to use the fan they provide. Being on the edge of the barrier reef, there is always a breeze and makes for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Sunscreen – Belize encourages the use of reef-safe sunscreens, which typically contain only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as active ingredients. These mineral-based options are preferred because they avoid harmful chemicals that can damage coral reefs. Belize doesn’t have a specific ban or regulations banning certain chemical sunscreens but we want to protect the reefs.

Tip the staff – The crew there works very hard and spends days away from their families so we can have a great adventure. We recommend tipping the crew for their hard work and dedication of protecting their reefs. You can leave 1 tip and they can split it amongst them or feel free to make individual tips for those who went above and beyond.

Donate – Many items are hard to get in Belize and very expensive because of shipping and taxes. Reach out to us once you book and we can help you bring extra items for their island if you want to make any donations. They are a nonprofit and could always us some help.

Minimal Alcohol –  This is not a party island and we want to be mindful of the other guests there but there is a small amount of beer on the island for purchase.