Description: Fascinated with the underwater world or interested in becoming a marine biologist? The island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas offers a unique aquatic world for diving and study. Based at the Island School, the reef system and shallow banks of this island are your classrooms. Under the instruction of professional marine biologists, the curriculum is designed to anchor traditional learning with immediate real-world application and hands-on experience.
This accredited program focuses on the intricate ways entire reef systems come together to form beautiful yet fragile environments. Our studies provide a base for our research, which ranges from building, launching and surveying artificial reefs balls for the Bahamian government to conducting conch surveys for an ongoing study. Formal presentations, debates, informal discussions and dinnertime chats get us thinking about a myriad of topics, such as animals in captivity, marine parks and coral bleaching. Participants engage in comprehensive preparation before dives, field studies and lab work. The combination of dive training, field experiments, discussion lectures and marine surveys qualifies this course for high school and/or college credit.
Each day opens a new world of discovery. After an early run, bike, or energizing game of water polo, spend your mornings scuba diving, investigating patch reefs and walls, and observing aquatic creatures in their natural habitat. Analyze and discuss feeding habits, life cycles, symbiotic relationships and ecological concerns of a coral reef system. Afternoons and evenings include lab experiments, field excursions or discussion lectures on biodiversity. Learn about bioluminescence as we explore wondrous reefs at night to uncover a vital portion of the marine world, its nocturnal metamorphosis.
The Island School boasts dive boats, dorm-style facilities, three amazing local cooks who turn out traditional island meals from a full kitchen, computers, kayaks, beach cruiser bikes and endless sand bars waiting to be discovered. With the ocean at our doorstep, participants have immediate access to inter-tidal zones all the way down to bottomless walls patrolled by big pelagic fish, mammals, sharks, rays and turtles. The Island School is unique in its self sufficiency, with solar and wind power running the computers and recycled waste growing fabulous gardens. Conduct genuine research in a facility dedicated to promoting environmental awareness.
The beaches here are beautiful and the locals are incredibly friendly. Explore mangrove habitats, snorkel off of 4th Hole Beach, then build a beach bonfire and share stories from the day. On free afternoons, visit a charming island town and soak up the local culture. Pick fresh, delicious mangos off the trees and jump into cold blue holes. Investigate the ruins of the abandoned resort while you gather coconuts or go conch fishing with local fishermen. A barbeque on picturesque Lighthouse Beach provides the perfect finish to a fantastic three weeks. |
