Reviews + ADD REVIEW

Our trips are one-of-a-kind, life changing adventures. But don’t just take our word for it.

Broadreach was the most amazing experience I ever had. The people on ...: “Broadreach was the most amazing experience I ever had. The people on my boat were incredible and will be my lifelong friends. There was no awkwardness and even the first night we all felt completely at home and stayed up half the night talking and telling jokes. My trip leaders were awesome as well. They were so open to let us choose what we wanted to do. Before I went on this trip some people had said that living in such a confined space was going to be challenging but I loved the bonds that formed that came from living on top of each other. There were no conflicts between people on my boat. I had never scuba dived before and my first dive was incredible and from then on I was hooked. This trip helped me realize what I want to do with my life and the lifestyle I want to live. It was worth every penny because its changed me as a person so much and really opened my eyes to the world. I only hope that everyone can have such an amazing experience as broadreach gave to me. ”— Nina (age 16) from New York, NY
I’ve never been more grateful.: “This was my first real life adventure. I will never be the same. For a while I will be classifying my life experiences as ‘before Broadreach’ and ‘after Broadreach’. Because of Broadreach I am more aware that there is a bigger world out there with more than enough resources to support everyone and everyone’s dreams. I love Broadreach and the view you give your students. Thank you! I’ve never been more grateful.”— Sophia L from Corona, CA
My Broadreach experience was life changing. You have extremely fun filled ...: “My Broadreach experience was life changing. You have extremely fun filled and action packed days. I loved being secluded away from the world and sailing on private boats. I learned that there is so much to see in this world and people's ways of life are diverse. Broadreach was the start of travelling for me. The experience shows me so much. I have made new friends and will be coming back next year for sure!”— Kristin P (age 17)
best experience of my life!!!: “This was seriously the best experience of my life! I really learned that stepping out of my comfort zone to do something like this can lead to amazing things. I even wrote my college application essay about it! I made so many amazing friends who I still keep in touch with six months later, I've visited some of them and I'm even planning to do a trip with one this coming summer! Diving is my new passion since the trip and I'm so glad I had this experience. Our divemasters were fun and patient, and our skipper was a blast! Learning to sail was great too. Getting to experience the different islands, both from hiking in nature and exploring the towns, was incredible. I can't recommend this highly enough! ”— Julia T (age 17)
It was the best summer experience our daughter has ever had: “When we first considered sending our daughter to a Broadreach scuba program, we were a bit apprehensive. After all, we would be sending our child to another country, where she would spend three weeks scuba diving with people we didn't know. Now that we've gone through the experience, we can unequivocally say that it was the best summer experience our daughter has ever had. The program was educational and amazingly fun. She learned to sail and she earned a slew of advanced scuba certifications. She also loved the instructors and made great new friends. The program not only taught her diving and sailing skills, but the other valuable lessons like teamwork, shared responsibility and discipline. We already are making plans to sign her up for next summer. Broadreach earned an A+!”— Christine H from New York, NY
The program you are running is absolutely phenomenal.: “The program you are running is absolutely phenomenal. The instructors are great... They taught the material very well and made every part of my adventure fantastic. The diving and sailing were my favorite parts. I had so much fun diving on the reefs and seeing all the animals in their natural environment. We would go on these long sails and see nothing but blue water and the island we were headed to in the distance. Thank you so much for an amazing adventure!”— Garnett S from Waynesboro, VA
This journey has certainly expanded my hoizons through its veiled teachings. ...: “This journey has certainly expanded my hoizons through its veiled teachings. I have learned how to operate a sailboat and know all of its proper names. I have learned all of the proper procedures that take place in a diving rescue situation. I have learned how to classify fish. Yet what made this venture different from pedantic courses is the ability to make the trip one's own. The chance to navigate for weeks in the open sea with out phones, internet, Facebook and feel ok. Better than ok, feeling superb overcoming those lesser things. I remember my shirt drenched in sweat as we hiked up Brimstone Hill Fort, then once at the summit we felt invincible, powereed by the view, by the soothing winds. Waking up at four in the morning for a sail, gliding in the wind, riding the waves, the sun slowly rising. Geared up at dusk to night dive at 'Bird Poop Rock' then submerged in an alien environment with creatures cautiously swimming by. This trip gave me plenty of amazing opportunities but I was ultimately responsible for taking advantage of them. And for this reason, this adventure is one I will never forget.”— Carlos C (age 17)
Video: Hear what Eli said about learning to dive and sail
Video: Hear what Stuart said about his staff & being in the Caribbean
This trip was an amazing experience. It was an eye opener in so many ...: “This trip was an amazing experience. It was an eye opener in so many ways. You meet kids your age from different places and backgrounds and learn to interact with them. It gets difficult at times because when you are on a boat it is hard to get your alone time. Apart from the social aspect, the places aer just beautiful. We do so much in one day and everything is absolutely gorgeous. My best piece of advice would be to push yourself to the max; that way you can get the most possible out of your trip.”— Cecilia Z (age 17)
Over the course of my trip I have gained skills that will help me in ...: “Over the course of my trip I have gained skills that will help me in every aspect of life. Working, playing and learning with other members of my group has created an increadibly strong bond between us. Even though I have never met any of the people on my boat until three weeks ago, I feel like we are a close knit family. I will always remember my Broadreach experience and the bonds I have cultivated on my trip.”— Eli S (age 18)
This has been the best summer program I have ever done. The dives were ...: “This has been the best summer program I have ever done. The dives were incredible. The kids were fantastic and so were the instructors. The islands were beautiful. There was nothing I would change.”— Matthew S (age 14)
As her trip winds down I just wanted to thank you for all you do in the ...: “As her trip winds down I just wanted to thank you for all you do in the NC office to make this possible. The details and professionalism of your staff from the first contact has been world class. Although our contacts with her have been few and limited (best for her, hard for us) I can tell you this has been a life changing experience for Sarah. You all are making it possible for these kids to go on to better and richer lives. Thank you.”— Michael B from North, VA
Ecstatic about his summer!: “James was ecstatic about his summer and several weeks later is still talking about his experiences. Learning to scuba and more about the sea-world has really broadened his interests... I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to pursue studies about marine life and activities.”— Anne B from Boulder, CO
She came home filled with stories ...: “Liliana had a wonderful time on her 17-day adventure. She came home filled with stories of the fun times she had with her new friends on board the boat and she is thrilled that we have decided to register her for another trip next summer. Liliana came back with much more self-confidence and a stronger sense that she is capable of doing just about anything she puts her mind to. Thank you!”— Beth C from Honolulu, HI

Have a question or a memory to share?

Enroll Now

What are my next steps?

Share This Trip

Journals

Check out
alumni journals
and college essays
from this program!

Kimberly Oparil

At first I was filled with misgivings and doubts about my decision to come to a land foreign to me, to learn to scuba dive. Was I crazy? All the dangers; having to befriend new people, and the ...

At first I was filled with misgivings and doubts about my decision to come to a land foreign to me, to learn to scuba dive. Was I crazy? All the dangers; having to befriend new people, and the extensive learning that I would have to undergo. It all seemed so scary and so unlike me. But boy was I wrong. Yeah when I first arrived I was nervous about meeting new people and afraid that they wouldn’t like me. Not to mention having to learn something new; I was afraid I wouldn’t end up enjoying myself. But some of the best memories of my life now come from those 3 weeks I spent aboard the boat Bulloo on my UWD13 trip in the Caribbean.

I learned so much, not only about scuba diving but also about myself and the amazing beauty of the world, our world. I learned to love the ocean, the amazing ecosystems that survive within it, its vastness and its power over human beings. I learned to love myself better than ever. I learned that I can do things that were unimaginable to me before, that my dreams are closer within my reach than I ever believed possible.

All this and more I gained in just three short weeks spent in an amazing place with some very amazing people (students and instructors). I have so many unforgettable memories; from helping rescue a hatchling turtle and watching it swim free out into the big ocean to face the world, to jumping into the water for the first time in my scuba gear and feeling the exhilarating rush as I descended to the ocean floor for the first time, to spending time at the helm with the wind in the sails and nothing but beautiful ocean expanse for miles. Moreover, the trip allowed me to build special bonds with my instructors and new friends. These bonds will forever bring us together, no matter how many miles are physically between us.

Life on Bulloo became a ritual, a normalcy to me over the weeks. All too soon it came to an end. As I lay under the beautiful stars on our last night, I reflected on my friends, the amazing diving, and the small things; like the rocking of the boat at night which gently put me to sleep, the gestures of kindness between people that so much helped make a bad day good again, sitting on the deck of the boat watching a beautiful sunset, or a dinner together with the 15 other people aboard my boat sharing the glums and glows of the day.

Everything about Bulloo became special to me. I will never forget this amazing trip; the beautiful islands we visited and explored, the wonderful people, the amazing ocean, reefs, and marine life, and the changes it brought about in me. I love you Bulloo, I love you UWD13, and I will never forget you!

Kate Matheis

My adventure began on June 18th as I boarded a plan to San Juan from Chicago. Little did I know then that such an experience awaited me that would change my perspectives, challenge my beliefs, ...

My adventure began on June 18th as I boarded a plan to San Juan from Chicago. Little did I know then that such an experience awaited me that would change my perspectives, challenge my beliefs, and open up a world to me which before I could only imagine. This adventure was Underwater Discoveries 14 aboard the noble vessel Le Galion, lovingly called El Grande.

The apprehension of the first day soon faded into excitement as I attempted to sleep before our first sail to Columbier the next day under a foreign sky that seemed so far away from home. I’ll never forget the first sail, as I was one of the few who remained untouched by seasickness. The unexplored islands and the never-ending sea brought a sense of adventure that still remains with me.

My first attempts at diving in confined open water seemed childish and awkward, feelings that were soon overcome by an amazing sense of floating in a world which I now belonged. As my diving skills increased, so did my relationships with my fellow crewmembers. The six other girls, five boys, and two awesome counselors that made up our crew began to form a community in which we all belonged, no matter where we were from, or what we looked like. I looked forward to dinner as the leader shared their quote and toast, and as we all shared “the squeeze”, and our glums and glows. We became a part of each other, not only because of our confined living space, but because we shared the same challenges, feelings, and adventures day in and day out.

Each day seemed to bring a new challenge, whether it was a hike, dive, or group conflict. Along with these challenges came the rewards of making lifelong friends, exploring the underwater world, and seeing the rainforest for the first time. The dives were amazing, my personal favorite being the wreck dive. A huge sea turtle, a giant eel, nurse sharks, black tipped reef sharks, and an octopus include only a few of the amazing underwater creatures that I came in contact with. Each day presented a chance to do something totally new with a group of people who you came to know as your family. I loved being there, and appreciate the way it has shaped who I have become. This once in a lifetime change will stay with me always, and I sincerely thank all those who have made this adventure possible.

Gratefully yours,
Katie Matheis

Hugo Uvegi

With nothing but stars and ocean in sight I jumped—splash!—and down I went. Where’s the bottom? Wow! I’m actually breathing underwater. That is a mere fraction ...

With nothing but stars and ocean in sight I jumped—splash!—and down I went.

Where’s the bottom?

Wow! I’m actually breathing underwater.

That is a mere fraction of what entered my mind in the first fifteen feet down, more than an hour after sunset. I had spent the last three weeks sailing across the Caribbean Sea, living on a fifty-foot catamaran, and scuba diving day and night alongside the twelve other sunburned teenagers who had signed up for the same program. From my very first dive, I had fallen in love with the sport. It was not just about the corals, fish, and wrecks I saw eighty feet below the surface; it was about what went through my mind. No matter the time or place of the dive, I was left alone with my thoughts, which came into my consciousness and left as swiftly as the fish passed before my eyes, and with the same lack of order.

Where’s my dive buddy?

Tossing away the planarity with which I normally live my life, I did a full flip and noticed his neon orange necklace hovering above me. Growing up in a large city has made complete awareness of my surroundings a necessity—primarily around eye level. At times I might shift my gaze to snap a picture or admire an airplane passing overhead, but otherwise, my eyes stay glued to the faces and backs before me. As the ocean floor slowly appeared sixty feet down, my mind jolted back to the present.

Glup, glup, glup.

Bubbles rose from someone passing below me, quieting my brain just long enough for me to appreciate the silence of the ocean and the introspection it granted me. On land, I rarely allowed an hour to pass without conversation, and living in Manhattan afforded me no silence, even in the dead of night. Underwater I found the peace that permitted me to examine my life under a new light—the light refracted through the surface of the ocean and absorbed by the water, making certain colors more difficult to perceive.

Nice! I have something to bring up in optics class first semester.

Concentrating on a turtle resting in the coral before me, I felt my body being twirled by the current while my left foot remained in place. I seemed to be pirouetting. My thoughts shifted, for just an instant, to my sister, a gymnast and ballerina. I realized the amount of skill necessary for her to dance, moving enthusiastically then keeping her body steady for minutes at a time.

If only she could see me now…

As we came to a clearing of sand, we settled, extinguished our flashlights and began flailing like lunatics. Blue light engulfed us as the bioluminescent plankton of the Caribbean Sea came to life. Unsure of the exact scientific process by which this occurred, I made a mental note to find out. As we became still, the water calmed, allowing the plankton to deactivate their glow.

Complete and utter darkness. So terrifying underwater.

I waited to see how long I could last in the eerie blackness of the ocean. One..two…three. I felt something whoosh past me and quickly flipped on my flashlight. A stingray materialized to our left; a nurse shark jolted to our right. Yet, instead of fear, I was struck with utter admiration for the ocean. Although I knew it already, that instant proved to me just how powerless we are over nature. While we like to bask in our supposed power, life around us goes on whether we like it or not.

How much air do I have left?

Sadly, we got the thumbs up from the instructors. It was time to return to the boat. We rose to the surface, my ears popping as usual. I climbed up the ladder, reached out my hand, and was pulled aboard the cat by our skipper. Waddling to the front of the boat, I quickly de-geared, packed up, and readied everything for our dive the next morning.

By Hugo Uvegi

Click here to read more Alumni Journals & College Essays from this trip!

In the News

Sport Diver Magazine

Broadreach takes you to a world you never even dreamed of, not only in your mind but also in your heart. You experience it firsthand and it changes you.

View Article (PDF)

Sail Magazine

Often the traits of a good crew—teamwork, communication, responsibility, mutual respect—don’t top the list of traits associated with an average teenager.

View Article (PDF)