Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School :: CUSTOM COURSE INFO


5:55 pm, Thursday, May 15th

Where better to learn how to sail and SCUBA dive than the Caribbean coast of Panamá? Calvin College has organized a fifteen day winter trip with Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound School for you to do just that and more. This December, you could be in the warm island chain of Bocas del Toro having an unbelievable adventure. In addition to sailing and SCUBA diving you will also sea kayak, snorkel, surf, explore caves, mountain bike through the islands, and interact with the native populations and missionaries.

Location:

Bocas del Toro, Panamá is considered to be the most geologically diverse region in the Caribbean. The chain boasts sixty-eight islands that protect the surrounding shallow reef that hosts an overabundance of coral, sponges, and tropical fish. The local population is as diverse as it gets with Mestizos, Afro-Caribbeans, the indigenous Guami tribes, and European and American missionaries speaking four different languages. It is a culturally rich and unique environment.

Itinerary
Days: 20

Sailing phase

Students spend three days and two nights out at sea aboard a forty-two foot catamaran, learning all aspects of sailing including navigation, capt.aining, rigging, upkeep, emergency systems and even deep-sea fishing. Students will also spend a day during this phase doing a service project for indigenous village that hosts the group.
*Should the weather not permit open-sea sailing, we have a contingency plan of bay-sailing on smaller vessels.

SCUBA phase

Students are able to earn full certification through the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI).

This is probably your only chance to get your NAUI SCUBA certification in the warm waters and coral reefs of Panamá’s Caribbean coast. While doing your required dives, you will see countless species of coral and tropical fish and other things you can’t see anywhere else. To become fully certified students need to complete one contained dive and at least four open-water dives. There is also an optional shipwreck dive and night-time dive.

Multi-adventure phase

After receiving your SCUBA certification, you have the opportunity to go sea-kayaking and snorkeling around the islands, surfing, explore caves, mountain bike through the rainforests on the islands and interact with the island communities. Students will also go dolphin spotting and have the Outward Bound Solo Experience.

We reserve the right to alter our itineraries due to unusual water conditions, weather, other acts of God, or other cause. In all cases we will make every effort to substitute an activity or location with something comparable.

E-mail Ryan Brooks at rmw3@calvin.edu to request more information about this course.