Caribbean Marine Conservation Summer Program

Anyone who has been to Saba can tell you why this trip is so popular. This magical island is home to the Caribbean's best and most extraordinary diving, from coral encrusted walls to breathtaking pinnacles that tower out of the ocean depths. Academic Treks has teamed up with the world-renowned Saba Marine Park (SMP) to offer a one-of-a-kind program focusing on marine resource management and marine reserves, designed to safeguard marine environments while allowing for their sustainable use. Our studies are intertwined with world-class diving and adventure. Students live in funky eco-lodges nestled in mountain rainforests and aboard 50-foot yachts. Island hopping between St. Barts, Statia and Saba, we explore, compare and contrast three very different marine reserves and their unique approaches to conservation, tourism, research and resource management. Learn Reef Check survey protocols used by marine scientists worldwide and discover pristine reefs, huge wrecks and amazing biodiversity.

Itinerary & Country Map
Day 1–3
We begin our adventure at Broadreach's base in Anse Marcel on the French Side of St. Martin. Settle into your yacht, get to know your crewmates and get accustomed to the pace of life aboard. Whether you are already certified or it's your first time scuba diving, you'll be blowing bubbles and checking out amazing reefs and colorful fish in no time. Balancing our time between formal instruction, hands-on learning and underwater exploration, we examine the primary challenges in marine resource conservation. Learn about the ecological, social, economic and legal reasons why the oceans need our help, and discuss efforts to conserve these treasured resources.
Day 4–8
Sail to St. Barts to explore their newly formed marine park, established to stop further deterioration of fragile ecosystems due to overuse. Discuss the issues relating to the creation and management of marine reserves. How do they operate? Who are the stakeholders? How do marine parks impact other ecosystems? How do they measure success and failure? On several great dives we see how the park has benefited the island's underwater realm in just a few years. Take a break to explore Gustavia and treat yourself to delicious crepes or mango sorbet.
Day 9–13
On the Dutch island of Statia, we put our newfound underwater skills to the test by participating in community service projects and fun dives on some of the marine park’s most popular dive sites. Learn about and assist the marine reserve with its sea turtle monitoring program and nighttime watches on Zeelandia Beach. Explore Wreck City and the Charles Brown, an impressive 327-foot wreck sunk in 2003, and see how artificial reefs boost dive tourism while providing sanctuary for juvenile reef fish. After morning dives, learn about the park’s policies, successes and failures, then hike through lush rainforest in the crater of Statia’s extinct volcano.
Day 14–17

The island of Saba towers out of the sea and captivates us with its majestic beauty, world-class diving, quaint villages and mountain rainforests. Settle into your home for the next week, the colorful Eco-lodge nestled in the heart of lush elfin rainforest. Dive below to discover an abundance of marine life and a pristine underwater landscape, from limestone based reef systems and fringing reefs to pinnacles and seamounts. Our underwater classrooms are spectacular sites — Man 'o War Shoals, Diamond Rock and Twilight Zone — perfect for undersea adventure and learning! Learn how dive tourism has flourished since the creation of the SMP and how diver impact has been significantly reduced, in contrast to other parts of the Caribbean that are experiencing the erosion of coral and marine life.
Day 18–22
Research, monitoring and maintenance are critical to the ongoing management and continued success of the SMP. Conduct research using Reef Check protocols to assess coral diseases, bleaching, algae coverage and biodiversity in Saba's awesome underwater realm. Discuss different types of outreach and education, and learn about the methods used worldwide to instruct stakeholders and others how to protect fragile environments. Then make your own lesson plans to teach locals and visiting Broadreach boats about the importance of marine parks. Host a dinner with local stakeholders, from shopkeepers to government officials, to discuss their perspectives on the SMP. Saba's conservation efforts extend above the waterline as well, and we explore the island's nature trails, rainforests and park systems. Hike through elfin rainforest to Saba's dramatic 3,000-foot peak. We conclude our time on Saba by presenting our research and findings to the SMP. We travel home with unforgettable memories, new friends, a broader perspective on marine conservation and the knowledge of how we can make a difference.

Round table discussions about the threats that face our marine environment and the conservation methods that are currently in application around the world whetted our curiosity for how these factors played out in real life — in our open classroom. We experienced firsthand the benefits that a marine park could bring to a community and an ecosystem. Jason Crozier, Omokoroa, New Zealand

Day 14–17