Our mission

Reef Buddy Philippines empowers communities and drives national impact through science-based marine conservation. By combining cutting-edge research, education, and grassroots engagement, we build local capacity to understand and adapt to the pressures facing our coral reefs. Our mission is to protect these vital ecosystems for future generations and secure a sustainable future for the Filipino people and environment.

Conservation

Protecting and restoring coral reef ecosystems through scientific research and community-based conservation initiatives.

Education

Community

Providing hands-on marine ecology education to students, divers, and local communities to foster ocean stewardship.

Establishing robust collaborations with local communities, dive operators, and conservation groups throughout the region.

Why Dauin, Negros Oriental?

We selected Dauin for its exceptional biodiversity and conservation potential. Apo Island, a short 20-minute bangka ride away, stands as one of the Philippines’ oldest community-managed marine protected areas, boasting over 650 fish species and 400 coral types. Closer to shore, the Dauin Marine Sanctuary network protects macro hotspots where pygmy seahorses, frogfish, and nudibranchs thrive—ideal for citizen science surveys and coral restoration projects that volunteers can reach without leaving the coastline.

Dauin’s unique combination of accessible shore sites and proven local stewardship creates a scalable model for reef recovery. With established no-take zones, active fisherfolk partnerships, and minimal bleaching impact compared to northern reefs, every dive here directly contributes to measurable conservation outcomes. This is where global expertise meets Philippine resilience—turning volunteers into lifelong reef guardians.

Ocean Conservation

The Trinity Of

To achieve our Mission, Reef Buddy employs a Trinity Model to frame all the work that we do. These three core components ensure successful delivery of our vision

Our Trinity Focus

The Three Components for Effective Conservation Activity

Research:

Transform:

Develop:

Conducting research, using established protocols to understand the fine-scale changes in reef community assemblage.

Coastal Resilience In Dauin

In order to achieve this, our mission is to:

In collaboration with local policy makers and stakeholders, create sustainable conservation solutions suitable to our environments needs and our capabilities.

Share our knowledge of best practice and captured data with volunteers, whilst facilitating local and international collaboration to maintain up-to-date management and conservation strategies in a changing environment.

Use the research to Define the drivers that endanger coastal ecosystem around the Dauin and Bacong coastline.

Leading to the publishing of peer reviewed papers, with our academic partners, in respected journals.

Build Resilient support for community-based activity whilst inspiring future leaders in the field of marine conservation through our Research Buddy and Assistant programs.
Aiming to provide education through elementary education, and community outreach activities