Roatan 2022: Mr. Collins' Marine Biology Trip

      Roatán, Honduras

      GE
      125 reviews
      Jul 30 - Aug 6, 2022
      Group size: 11 - 16
      Roatan 2022: Mr. Collins' Marine Biology Trip
      Roatán, Honduras

      125 reviews

      $NaN
      Jul 30 - Aug 6, 2022
      Group size: 11 - 16

      About this trip

      Our home for the week is The Roatán Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS) adjacent to Anthony's Key Dive Resort. This field station is ideally located on the northwest coast of Roatán where over 30 miles of fringing and barrier reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and shoreline are home to an astounding profusion of life. These diverse ecosystems provide a living laboratory for students to explore classroom concepts in the wild!


      Students will see one of the most beautiful diving/snorkeling destinations in the world and travel with a purpose. This week-long trip is a combination of adventure, hands-on-research and investigation, student-centered learning, and participation in conservation programs within the RIMS program. 


      Trip Highlights:

      -2 dives (or snorkels for non-divers) per day in a variety of biologically diverse marine habitats.

      -1 night dive (or snorkel for non-divers)

      -Meet and swim with RIMS dolphins and learn about their unique marine mammal training program.

      -Participate in the onsite coral restoration program.

      -Explore Roatán from the treetops with a fun and educational zip-line tour.

      -Meet sloths, iguanas, and monkeys at two different animal sanctuaries.

      -Explore seaside towns and meet locals to learn more abut the culture of Roatán.

      -Do the limbo to reggae at an island fiesta on Anthony's Key with the Garifuna Dancers.

      -Take a day trip to Maya Key for a BBQ on the beach and visit the cultural museum to learn about the history of Roatán.


      General Inclusions:

      2 boat dives/snorkels per day & one night dive 

      One dolphin swim per student 

      A 42-foot dive boat with captain, divemaster and UW naturalist 

      Use of tanks, weights and belts 

      Two half-day cultural or science related bus trips

      Admittance to the Roatán Museum 

      Use of kayaks and paddleboards 

      Use of recreational services and facilities offered at Anthony’s Key Resort 

      Lectures offered by RIMS staff on a variety of marine topics 

      Use of dry and wet laboratories 

      A large air-conditioned classroom with audio/video equipment 

      Use of specimen collections and reference library

      Waterproof marine identification guides 

      Onsite clinic & decompression chamber with doctors on call 24-hours 

      Escorted round-trip transfer from airport to RIMS 

      Group Leader

      This trip is being organized by:

      Mr. Scott Collins

      sgcollins80@gmail.com


      Package Price

      Package Price: $3365


      Deposit: $650

      Installment plans from January 6-June 6, 2022.


      The package price includes a generous estimated amount for roundtrip airfare from Chicago. Once tickets are reserved, the package price will be updated to reflect actual ticket price.  


      Airline tickets are reserved by Ridgebrook Travel Agency in Deerfield, IL. Once ticketed, airline tickets are the property of the ticket holder. Tickets are non-refundable. Any changes or cancellations must be made with the airline directly. 

      Room & Board

       Where do we stay?


      Participants will stay at the Anthony's Key Dive Resort in Key Superior bungalows. These bungalows are perched right over the water and offer spectacular ocean views with the beach just outside your backdoor. Each bungalow has a deck over the water with hammocks, a private bathroom, air conditioning, and beds for 2-4 participants (2 queen beds, or 1 queen bed and 1 bunk bed, or 2 bunk beds).

      What do we eat?

      Participants will have a choice from a selection of American meals served from the Anthony's Key restaurant each day.  Three meals a day are provided during the program week. 

      Travel & Dive Accident Insurance

      All Participants:

      Travel insurance, emergency medical insurance, and quarantine costs are not included in the package price. 


      All participants must show proof of international medical travel insurance benefits to participate. It is a good idea to have quarantine benefits included in the unlikely event that a participant tests positive for COVID-19 before traveling back to the USA, and must quarantine, test negative or have a doctor's note to travel. 


      Anthony’s Key Resort has rooms set aside for quarantine if needed. The cost in 2021 was  $120 per day with three meals per day included. Estimate 12-14 days at $1144-$1680. Doctors visits are $60 per visit not including medication. Therefore, It is a good idea to protect yourself and your travel investment. 


      Here are recommendations specific to your trip to Roatan, Honduras.


      You will need the following information to get travel insurance quotes:


      You will need:

      • Total trip cost (airfare, land fee, credit card processing fees)
      • Flight information 
      • Travel dates (day you leave home to through date you return home)

      Travel Guard

      Green Edventures recommends Travel Guard’s Preferred or Deluxe Plan, with Adventure Bundle and Lodging Bundle add-on for our travelers. This insurance provides protection for the trip investment, includes medical travel and emergency evacuation, and $1250 of quarantine lodging benefits.  Purchase within 15-days of your deposit date for pre-existing conditions inclusion and Cancel for Any Reason add on option upgrade. Read Travel Guard’s certificates by state in the education center here.


      We like Travel Guard because if there is an emergency they have a dedicated department to assist our team when navigating a medical emergency for one of our participants, in addition to making it easy for you to submit a claim for travel related issues and cancellation.

      Click here for Travel Guard Insurance Quote


      InsuBuy

      For those of you wanting a more economical plan, and minimum travel and medical coverage then we recommend InsuBuy’s Travel Explorer or Travel Voyager. This plan is about $60 USD and includes $2000 in quarantine lodging benefits. 

      Click here for InsuBuy Insurance Quote


      SCUBA Divers

      Dive accident insurance is required and purchased separately. You will first purchase a DAN membership for $40 per year, then select your dive accident coverage.

      DAN’s website does offer Travel Guard. If you book your Travel Guard insurance via the link above at our website, I will automatically get a copy of your Travel Guard policy. This will assist us in helping you should you need to make a claim.

      https://dan.org/membership-insurance/dive-insurance/

      What’s included

      • Airfare
        from Chicago O'hare
      • Room & Board
        Key Superior Bungalows with AC, 2-4 participants per room in their own beds.
      • Meals
        All meals are included from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day
      • Travel Insurance
        International Health Insurance Required a comprehensive plan is recommended.
      • DAN Insurance
        Required Insurance for SCUBA Divers
      • Personal Spending Money
      • Gratuity
        $150
      • Snorkeling/Diving Gear
        Available for rent onsite
      • COVID PCR or Rapid Tests
        If required.
      • Baggage Fees

      Available Packages

      Certified SCUBA Diver Package

      You must be a certified SCUBA diver. Price Includes tanks & weights.


      Does not include additional gear. You may bring your own gear or pay for rental gear onsite.


      Prices for rental gear are in US Dollars and includes 15% tax. 

      • Mask, Fins & Snorkel: Weekly $57.50
      • BC Jacket: Weekly $92.00
      • Regulator w/Console and Alternate Air Source:  Weekly $92.00
      • Dive Computer: Weekly $69
      • Wet Suit (Full): Weekly $69
      • Wet Suit (Shorty): Weekly $57.50

         

      $3,365
      Deposit: $650
      Snorkeling Package (Not SCUBA Diving)

      Package price for snorkeling. 


       Does not include gear. You may bring your own gear or pay for rental gear onsite.

       Prices for rental gear are in US Dollars and includes 15% tax.

      • Mask, Fins & Snorkel: Weekly $57.50
      • Wet Suit (Full): Weekly $69
      • Wet  Suit (Shorty): Weekly $57.50
      $3,315
      Deposit: $650


      Itinerary

      Day 1
      Welcome to Anthony's Key

      Afternoon arrival

      Check in to Anthony's Key Resort

      Unpack and settle in

      Enjoy kayaks or paddle boards from the beach of your Key

      Dinner

      Meet to assign daily trip report groups & discuss student research projects

      Your Organizer


      GE
      Green Edventures Eco Tours & Safaris
      125 reviews
      Fun, active, and educational nature-based group eco-adventures for people to connect with wild places and animals in extraordinary environments. Specializing in women's adventure travel groups, and teacher-led student groups. Inquire about custom and co-ed trips.

      Reviews

      This trip has SO many bucket list experiences! From swimming with dolphins, to meeting sloths, and snorkeling among some of the most beautiful coral reefs imaginable! The underwater biodiversity is like no other place I’ve snorkeled. Learning about and understanding the importance of protecting this magical underwater city was so inspiring! And the fact that you’re experiencing all of this with like minded, adventure loving women, who will soon become friends, is such a great opportunity if you’re looking into solo traveling safely. I could easily do this trip all over again! A trip I will never forget!
      By Amanda Cole for Roatan 2023: Women's Snorkeling & SCUBA Eco Tour on Jun 01, 2023
      Great sights. Well planned. Great accommodations. Great trip leader. The people were very friendly and helpful. The drivers were excellent and very knowledgeable about the animals, birds, locations, etc. excellent trip!
      By Kristine Burgarino for 2023: Tanzania Women's Adventure Safari Best of Northern Circuit on May 29, 2023
      If you have any interest in seeing chimpanzees and gorillas, do it! It is an extraordinary experience. I was especially delighted to do it through an ecotourism company that partners with top-notch guides and lodges in Uganda. This trip left me inspired and encouraged about our future. Truly life changing.
      By Elaine Franklin for 2023: Uganda Safari Mountain Gorilla Trekking Women's Travel Group on May 19, 2023
      The Uganda safari was unique and wonderful experience. Each day was filled with breathtaking views, encounters with wildlife and remarkable people. We saw over 250 bird species, lions. leopards, hippo, elephants, giraffes, cape buffalo to name a few. It seemed like a miracle to meet the chimpanzees and the mountain gorillas in their own environments, there were tears of wonder on more than one face after these moments. I cannot say enough about the experience of this safari. One simply does not understand the magic of a place from stories or television. To see different light in the sky, to smell the unique scents of a place and to hear the sounds that are only in this environment, and to meet the people that live differently and have a vastly different life experience are all a part of the gift of travel. This tour had all of these gifts offered in abundance. Green Eduventures delivered a trip package that touched on as many of the special parts of Uganda. I can say without hesitation that this is a life changing tour. If you are on the fence, sign up now, take hold of this opportunity with a full heart, you will not regret it!
      By Amy Grace for 2023: Uganda Safari Mountain Gorilla Trekking Women's Travel Group on May 10, 2023
      The trip was AMAZING! Itinerary, accommodation, & organization was perfect. Can't wait for my next trip!
      By Lora Birkby for Roatan 2023: Women's Snorkeling & SCUBA Eco Tour on May 01, 2023
      Show More Reviews

      References

      I went on an amazing trip with Tara to Baja, Mexico in 2020. This was a dream trip for me being a wildlife lover. It was incredible to be able to swim with whale sharks and sea lions and get up close with gray whales. Camping on the beach was amazing. We had a great group of women and everyone vibed well and all of the tour guides including Tara, Alex and Chabello were so fun, friendly and helpful every step of the way. The food was great at the campsite and at the restaurants we got to try. When our trip plans initially got derailed waiting on a negative Covid test and we had to get a different flight, Tara did everything in her power to accommodate us and make sure we got to enjoy every part of the trip, including setting us up with another whale shark swimming tour after we had missed the initial one with the group, and she spent time waiting for us to finish before leaving for the airport. I definitely recommend Green Edventures, especially the Baja Mexico trip!
      By Katie M on 14 Feb, 2022
      I just returned from the Wisconsin Women's Tour and couldn't have asked for a better trip! For me, the amount and type of activity were perfect. Who know there was so much to discover practically in my own backyard?
      By Cynthia Casey W on 22 Oct, 2020