Marine Conservation Philippines (MCP) is not a typical dive centre. We are a non-profit marine conservation NGO and PADI Five Star Conservation Facility based in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental, in the heart of the Coral Triangle — one of the most biodiverse marine regions on Earth.
Our program is designed for divers who want to do more than simply visit the reef. At MCP, diving is used as a tool for real-world marine conservation, scientific research, and community-based environmental work. Volunteers and trainees actively participate in coral reef monitoring, fish surveys, marine protected area assessments, ghost net recovery, coral restoration, and other ongoing conservation initiatives in partnership with local communities and government agencies.
We welcome both experienced divers and complete beginners. Non-divers can start with PADI Open Water training, while certified divers can quickly progress into scientific diver training and conservation fieldwork. Unlike many recreational dive centres, our training philosophy focuses heavily on competency, buoyancy control, situational awareness, and safe scientific diving practices. Courses are intentionally more thorough and intensive because our divers participate directly in conservation operations underwater.
MCP is particularly well suited to divers looking for a meaningful long-term experience rather than a short vacation. Our programs are built around extended stays, with most volunteers committing to a minimum of six weeks. This allows participants to properly integrate into the conservation team, build dive proficiency, and contribute meaningfully to ongoing projects. Many participants stay significantly longer, progressing through advanced training, Divemaster internships, or technical diving programs while becoming deeply involved in marine conservation work.
Life at MCP combines intensive diving with life in a close-knit international conservation community. Volunteers typically dive 10–12 times per week while living and working alongside marine biologists, conservationists, instructors, and students from around the world. The atmosphere is collaborative, educational, and purpose-driven, attracting people who are serious about ocean conservation, marine science, and developing their diving skills in a meaningful context.
Our location also provides access to some of the Philippines’ most celebrated dive environments, including Dauin and Apo Island, renowned for exceptional biodiversity, macro life, healthy reefs, and world-class marine ecosystems.
MCP is ideal for divers seeking a genuine conservation experience, career development in the marine sector, or simply the opportunity to spend an extended period contributing to something larger than themselves. If you are looking for fast certification courses or a conventional dive holiday, we may not be the right fit. But if you want to dive with purpose, contribute to marine conservation, and immerse yourself in life at an active NGO, we would love to welcome you to the team.
