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.

Science & Service

1) conduct R.E.E.F. fish surveys to as citizen scientists to assist with monitoring fish populations (service)

2) learn about the Roatan Institute of Marine Sciences Coral Restoration Program and assist with cleaning/ repairing the coral “trees” (service)

3) learn about the RIMS Dolphin Research Project and the importance of their current research initiatives

4) learn how to identify species of coral and other invertebrates found in the Caribbean

5) participate in community outreach with the SOL Community Center for impoverished children (service)

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 

This trip is being organized by:

TRIP LEADER 

email

phone

Package Price: 

Estimated $3565 per person with 14 students 

Estimated $3365 per person with 22 students 

Deposit: $650 due by January 15, 2023

Installment plans from February 15-November 15, 2023

The package price includes a generous estimated $950 per person 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. 

 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. 

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. 

Travel insurance can be found at www.greenedventures.com/travel-insurance

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/