Immerse yourself in the Ankay Conservation Experience. Each stay is carefully personalized and fully inclusive—accommodation, meals, transportation, training, and extensive diving—so you can arrive, settle in, and focus entirely on learning, exploring, and enjoying the journey.

Whether you are an experienced diver or completely new to diving, our diving and ecological monitoring program will transform the way you see and understand the underwater world.

Join us in our mission to protect and restore the ocean.

About the Organization

Ankay Conservation is a marine conservation center, PADI 5-Star Dive Resort, and the first PADI Eco Center in Panama. We are also active members of the Bocas Hope Spot Alliance.

Our mission is to empower people through hands-on citizen science and education, building meaningful awareness of coral reef health while contributing reliable monitoring data. Through collaboration and community engagement, we support long-term reef conservation across the region.

About the Program

Ankay Conservation’s ecological monitoring program is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of reef health and coral abundance at a regional scale, while also creating long-term datasets for individual dive sites across multiple depths.

Participants are trained by a PADI Instructor, progressing to at least PADI Open Water certification, with a strong emphasis on the skills essential for scientific diving—particularly buoyancy control and environmental awareness.

What Can Volunteers Expect?

During your stay, you will be trained by a Conservation Instructor in coral monitoring techniques. You will gain access to in-depth theoretical content covering reef ecology and our data collection methodologies, while quickly transitioning into the water to develop practical skills and begin contributing meaningful data.

In practical terms, your role as a volunteer is to survey coral abundance and health, directly supporting ongoing conservation and monitoring efforts.

What Do We Expect from Volunteers?

Volunteers are expected to:

• Attend all theoretical training sessions

• Study independently when needed to strengthen their understanding

• Complete reef surveys once training is completed

• Rinse, store, and care for dive equipment each afternoon

• Accurately enter survey data into our monitoring database

Do Volunteers Need Special Equipment?

If you have your own dive equipment, you are welcome to bring it. However, all required dive equipment is available on-site.

Location

Our center is located on Solarte Island, part of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago in Panama. Nestled in lush jungle surroundings and just 80 meters from the ocean, Ankay offers a unique blend of nature and comfort.

We are only a 10-minute boat ride from the main island (Isla Colón), where you’ll find a wide selection of restaurants, supermarkets, and nightlife. This balance allows you to enjoy the tranquility of a remote setting while remaining close to town amenities.

In December 2019, Bocas del Toro was designated a Hope Spot by Mission Blue. The region hosts exceptional marine biodiversity, including sharks, sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, over 120 sponge species, three species of mangroves, and a rich variety of Caribbean corals.

Duration

• Certified divers (Open Water or higher): minimum stay of 2 weeks

• Non-certified divers: a 3-week program is recommended to allow time for training, experience-building, and meaningful contribution

With prior coordination, 2-week customized programs can be arranged for non-certified divers.

Benefits

• Gain a deep understanding of the ecological importance of coral reefs

• Refine your diving skills in a delicate and dynamic ecosystem

• Learn why long-term coral monitoring is essential for conservation

• Enjoy up to 12 dives per week exploring the Bocas del Toro reef system

What You Will Learn

• Reef substrates, including corals, sponges, and algae

• Coral anatomy, feeding strategies, and reproduction

• Coral reef geomorphology

• Identification of coral growth forms

• Common coral diseases and health indicators

• Our monitoring protocols and data entry procedures

Dive Sites & Conditions

Bocas del Toro offers ideal diving conditions year-round:

• Average water temperature: 28–30°C

• Located outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

Marine life sightings throughout the year include sharks, rays, octopus, squid, crabs, shrimp, nudibranchs, and a wide variety of Caribbean reef fish.