FAQs

What activities will I do on this trip?

You’ll be doing lots of hands-on activities while you study marine resource management and marine reserves. The first two weeks you’ll be sailing to St. Barts and Statia on our well-equipped 50-foot yacht to explore their marine parks, participate in dive training and learn underwater survey techniques. For the last week of the program you’ll live on the beautiful island of Saba, where you’ll balance your time between lectures at the Eco-lodge and underwater exploration and service work at the Saba Marine Park. You’ll also hike through Saba’s amazing rainforests. Because Caribbean Marine Reserves is a program for college credit, you can expect to spend a significant amount of time participating in a variety of academic components. Other activities on this trip include scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking and Reef Check survey work.

Who is the staff on this program?

You will have two primary staff members on this program... The lead academic instructor will be a marine biologist with a graduate degree in marine conservation or coastal ecology. The other staff member will be a PADI dive instructor with a strong background in marine biology. At least one of the staff members will be a certified Wilderness First Responder or Emergency Medical Technician.

How am I evaluated on this course?

Two exams, quizzes, a paper and a journal.

Can I earn credit for school or college?

Our academic programs offer high school students the chance to earn high school and/or college credit as well as community service credit, while also participating in a hands-on adventure. After the course, you will receive a transcript, as well as a letter detailing the course curriculum for your high school administrator. Most schools accept the credit after reviewing this course packet. Each academic institution has its own requirements, however, so we can't guarantee your school will accept the credit. We recommend asking for approval from your school administrator prior to program. You can also earn college credit for some courses through Lesley University for an additional fee. To learn more about the school credit options, call us at 888-833-1907.

Why don't you sail with a big fleet of boats?

To accommodate a big fleet of boats, Broadreach would have to sacrifice the flexibility that allows us to do so much more diving, sailing and exploring than seemingly comparable programs or camps. Participants would have less of a say in how their trip would unfold and we would have a tougher time working with individuals' goals and needs. Furthermore, sailing in a fleet encourages cliques to form, making it more difficult to form the close bonds that naturally occur in a small group.

Is this a teen tour cruise through the Caribbean?

No way! This is an experiential adventure! Unlike teen tours with set schedules and activities, Broadreach programs are flexible and involve you in all aspects of the experience. You are asked to take responsibility and few things are done for you. We have specific goals, but how the adventure unfolds depends on you and your group. We need everyone's participation, cooperation and leadership to make it happen.

Are there bathrooms and showers on the yachts?

Of course! Each yacht has either four or five "heads", as bathrooms are called on boats. You are in the ocean all the time, so most of your showers will be quick "boat showers" off the back of the yacht to conserve our limited supply of fresh water.

What will I eat?

You and your mates share the cooking duties. A general menu is set before the trip, but each cooking crew adds their flair to the meals. Breakfast and lunch are usually simple with cereal and sandwiches and an occasional hot meal. Dinner is bigger and always hot with menus ranging from veggie stir-fry to pasta to Mexican night. The boat is loaded with dried goods before the trip and you'll stock up on fresh fruits, vegetables and breads along the voyage.

Where will I sleep?

Under the stars! There are four to six cabins on the yacht, but everyone prefers to sleep out on deck each night to enjoy the cool tradewinds under brilliant Caribbean skies. There's lots of deck space and plenty of room up top for everyone.

Do I have to wear a life jacket?

Broadreach requires participants to wear personal flotation devices (PFDs) while on any vessel in motion, whether it’s a sailing vessel, motorized dinghy or ski boat. Doing so could save a life in the unlikely event of an accident or emergency. These extra precautions are just part of our comprehensive approach to safety and risk management.

How do I get high school or college credit for this program?

In the fall after program, Broadreach will provide you with a transcript, as well as a letter detailing the course curriculum for your high school administrator. Most schools accept the credit after reviewing this course packet. Each academic institution has its own requirements, however, so we can't guarantee your school will accept the credit. We recommend asking for approval from your school administrator prior to program. You can also earn college credit for this course through Lesley University for an additional fee. To learn more about the school credit options, call us at 888-833-1907.

I am prone to seasickness. Is that a problem?

Even if you are prone to seasickness, you shouldn't have any problems. You'll get your "sea legs" within the first 24-48 hours and after that you'll feel fine. The trade winds are mild in the summer, giving us ideal sailing conditions for smooth sails. As we island hop around the Caribbean, our sails are usually short, typically no more than a couple of hours. When we arrive at a new island, we anchor in calm protected coves for our activities and the night. In the unlikely event that you do get seasick, our First Aid kit has appropriate medication.

How are your Caribbean trips for younger and older teens different from each other?

Clearly, 13-year-olds and 18-year-olds have different needs, wants, concerns and ways of doing things. Because we don't sail as a flotilla, rather as independent trips of just 10-12 participants, we can group teens by age and make our trips more age-appropriate. Each boat has their own schedule, group dynamic and abilities, and our staff can cater the trips to their group. 13-14 year olds may need a little extra help with cooking, scuba and sail training, so we may have extra staff on board and can set the pace accordingly. 17-18 year olds typically want to fit in as much activity as possible (as well as listen to louder music) and we can do that too.

How deep will I dive?

Most of our dives will be shallow, between 35 and 55 feet, because that's where we'll find the right combination of best dive sites, plentiful marine life and brightest light. You will do a few supervised deeper dives to around 85 to 100 feet when you are ready for students 15 and older. For students under 15, your maximum depth will be 70ft.

What is the weather like?

The Caribbean weather in the summer is usually beautiful. Daytime highs are usually in the upper 80s and nighttime lows are in the 70s. A cool breeze keeps us very comfortable onboard the boats.

How do your programs compare to other Caribbean diving and sailing programs?

Put simply, no other program can boast the same combination of small groups, program flexibility, culturally diverse islands, incredible diving, training and adventurous activities. Understanding the differences and picking the right program is important! Please call so we can better explain our program design.

Will my yacht see other Broadreach boats?

The yachts leave port on different days so that each group can be on its own flexible schedule. You will, however, meet up with other boats throughout the program for beach bonfires, parties in the evenings or to see friends made on other yachts.

What if I've never been diving before?

No problem. Our Caribbean Underwater Discoveries Voyage program is designed for teens that have never tried SCUBA diving. Your instructor will teach you one step at a time, at your own pace. Diving is easy and fun!

How much diving will I do? What if I want to do fewer or more dives?

On the 21-day Caribbean Underwater Discoveries Voyage trips you'll do around 18 dives and on the Advanced program you'll do around 28. On the Caribbean Underwater Discoveries 14-day Voyage trips you'll do around 13 dives. If you'd like to do fewer dives, that's ok, because several are optional. On the other hand, if you and your group are really into diving, you can fit in even more dives. It's up to you!

Do I get to sail the yacht?

You bet! We'll teach you how. You'll steer the yacht, learn to navigate, trim the sails, drop the hook and more.

Will I have fun on this program if I already know how to sail?

Absolutely! There is always more to learn from our experienced sailing masters, and you'll be sailing in beautiful waters on a new yacht with new mates. Your experience will be an asset. Learn GPS navigation, small boat handling and yacht systems!

Other than SCUBA and sailing, what other activities do we do on this trip?

Waterskiing, wake boarding, knee boarding, community service and rainforest hiking. We explore islands, visit Caribbean carnivals, do community service work, have beach bonfires and toga parties...whatever you and your group can think up!

What is a typical day like?

There are no "typical" days on Broadreach trip! But we'll always start the day early so we can have a full day of adventure. Maybe we'll begin with a wreck dive and then set sail for the next island. We might do a rainforest hike in the afternoon or an early evening water-ski. There's a lot to do and our days are flexible. If you and your mates want to dive more than hike, or do a late full-moon night dive, no problem. After all, this is your adventure.

Do we ever get to go on land?

Absolutely! Although diving, sailing and water sports are the focus of our adventure, there is still time to check out the islands. On land we'll explore Caribbean villages, hike lush rainforests with local naturalist guides and give something back through a day of community service. We may go on island for a Broadreach reggae-style beach party or bonfire in the evening. We even hit a couple of local restaurants on our voyage.

What equipment is on the yachts?

Each yacht is independent and totally outfitted for adventure with high-quality equipment. You'll find a complete set of scuba gear for each participant, tanks, dive lights, scuba and sailing reference libraries, an air compressor, a 14-foot dive and ski boat, a VHF radio, cellular communications, GPS, a wake board, and water skis. There's no sharing of dive gear on Broadreach programs and each yacht is entirely self-sufficient, so you'll never find yourself waiting for your turn to have fun or try something new.

Can I call home?

Of course! Depending on the itinerary of the program, most participants have the opportunity to call home about once a week. Most families also follow our trip journal updates which are short group updates written by teens or staff.

Do most participants come with friends? What if I don't know anyone?

Actually, most participants come alone, so there is no need to be concerned! It's normal to be apprehensive about not knowing anyone, but within a day of starting your program you'll be laughing and sharing exciting adventures with new friends.

I'm nervous about traveling alone! Is travel day difficult?

Travel day is generally easy and problem-free. After years of practice we have discovered ways to make this day run smoothly for everyone. The questions and answers in this section should put to rest most of your concerns about traveling to your Broadreach program.

What if I've never done this kind of thing before?

No worries. Many of our participants are 'first-timers' who have never been scuba diving or slept in the wilderness for more than a weekend. All we ask is that you come with an open mind, a desire to try new things and be ready to have lots of fun.

What is the male/female ratio?

Our ideal ratio for every program is 50/50 and we try to come close to just that. Some courses tend to attract more males than females, or vice versa, but typically the balance is close to even and not a concern. In our experience, the gender ratio plays a small role in the success of each program.

Do I need trip, travel or medical insurance ?

All participants on Broadreach programs are required medical insurance including coverage for international medical care. Since many personal medical policies do not cover international medical care and evacuations or have exclusions for certain sports, we have partnered with Trip Mate to offer a choice of travel insurance plans for our participants.
The minimum required policy includes coverage for medical care, emergency evacuation, lost or damaged luggage, travel delay, etc.
Most families also take advantage of our recommended tuition protection coverage , which offers 75% tuition refund FOR ANY REASON up to 72 hours before your trip departure and 100% tuition refund if you cancel for a covered reason.

Do you have any family discounts?

We do. We will give a 5% discount on the second (and any subsequent) enrollment in one summer. This offer is available to an individual student, or siblings. This 5% discount will be applied to the program of lesser cost, and cannot be combined with any other discounts.

Does your staff have emergency medical training?

At least one of the two lead instructors on each trip has completed training in either Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) courses. They are trained in managing emergency situations and field care and can handle most minor medical problems. In the unlikely event that your instructors can't handle your problem with their First Aid kit, they will take you to a local doctor for medical attention. We do our best to work with local medical personnel that we know and trust. However, it's important to understand that medical care can sometimes be delayed or inaccessible from our program locations. Note that the modernity of medical facilities and the number of medical services they provide will vary by country and location.

Can you give me the names of other families in my area that have done Broadreach?

Absolutely. Just call the office and we can put you in touch with past participants who have done the trips that interest you. Broadreachers past and present are part of a strong community that’s always there for one another. No need to be shy either, people will be glad to hear from you.

Where does everyone come from?

Broadreachers are a diverse group comprised of teenagers from across the country and all over the world. Very few participants know each other before the program begins, but everyone walks away with life-long friends at the end of the trip.

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Please feel free to call the Broadreach office if you have any questions or would like to discuss our adventures. We’d love to talk to you! You can also email us at questions@gobroadreach.com

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• Broadreach
• 806 McCulloch Street, Suite 102
• Raleigh, NC 27603
• USA

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• main: 919-256-8200
• toll free: 888-833-1907
• fax: 919-833-2129

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