Your adventure begins with an exciting introduction to the vibrant underwater world of Roatán. The day starts with a shallow snorkeling or dive session, allowing you to get comfortable with your gear in the calm, clear waters surrounding the resort. As you glide through the warm Caribbean Sea, you'll feel the thrill of exploring a new realm.

Next, take a boat ride out to a nearby shallow snorkel (or deeper dive for SCUBA divers). As you swim above the intricate coral formations, you'll be mesmerized by the underwater cities that house a dazzling array of marine life. The corals, with their vivid colors and unique shapes, are living sculptures that showcase the incredible biodiversity of this pristine ecosystem. This is just the beginning of your unforgettable journey beneath the waves.

Evening: Fish ID class

Meals: BLD

Your day begins with an early morning snorkeling or diving adventure at the resort. The first stop is a vibrant reef where you'll encounter a dazzling array of marine life, from parrotfish and French angelfish to a rare seahorse and a friendly group of reef squid. As you explore the underwater world, keep an eye out for a majestic hawksbill sea turtle, often seen calmly swimming alongside divers and snorkelers. 

SCUBA divers, enjoy a deeper dive, offering a stunning view of the reef wall where the ocean floor drops dramatically.

After your morning in the water, the adventure continues at Maya Key, a private island paradise. Here, you'll enjoy a delicious BBQ picnic with plenty of time for relaxation and exploration. Whether you choose to take a refreshing dip in the pool, join a quick reef snorkel, or simply soak in the sun, Maya Key offers something for everyone. The island is also home to fascinating Mayan artifacts and a sanctuary for animals rescued from the pet trade, adding a cultural and educational twist to your day.

In the afternoon, you’ll return to the resort to unwind with tropical drinks at the open-air bar. The day concludes with a captivating presentation about the resident dolphins, offering insights into these intelligent creatures and their behavior in their natural habitat.

Meals: BLD

Participants start their day with an enlightening presentation at the Roatan Institute of Marine Sciences, learning about coral restoration efforts in Roatán and the Caribbean, focusing on the severe threats corals face from global warming and human activities. Despite these challenges, there is hope as science and technology enable the regeneration of coral reefs by planting fragments to enhance their survival. After the presentation, participants engage in a hands-on experience at Tomcat Channel, where they assist in preparing elkhorn coral fragments for restoration. This meaningful activity allows them to contribute directly to the preservation of coral species, supporting efforts to protect ocean biodiversity.

In the afternoon, participants will embark on a private island tour to explore the rich history and diverse cultures of Roatán. Guided by a knowledgeable local, they’ll learn about the island’s blend of English, Nigerian, Mayan, and Spanish influences and how these communities harmoniously coexist. The excursion includes visits to two animal sanctuaries, where participants will meet rescued iguanas, capuchin monkeys, and three-toed sloths, all saved from the pet trade. The journey continues through Punta Gorda, home to the Garifuna people, and ends in Oakridge, a seaside town known as "Little Venice," where houses are built on stilts, and transportation is by boat through scenic canals and mangrove canopies. The day concludes with a timely return to the resort for dinner, with a chance to capture a stunning sunset.

Meals: BLD

Participate in an interactive training session with charming bottlenose dolphins. During the session, you'll learn and use hand signals to guide the dolphins through their training routines. Take turns at the training platform, rewarding the dolphins with praise and fish for their correct behaviors. This session offers an exciting  opportunity to connect with these intelligent creatures and witness their enthusiasm for learning.

Experience the thrill of our zip line adventure and canopy walk as part of your tour. Feel the exhilaration as you soar through the lush Roatán rainforest on 11 exhilarating zip lines. Highlights include the unique opportunity to fly upside down, giving you a liberating view of the vibrant canopy and sparkling sea below. As you zip along, enjoy the fun of watching your friends glide by on parallel lines, and take in breathtaking vistas from an elevated perspective.

After your adrenaline-pumping zip line ride, embark on a serene suspension bridge eco walk. Led by a knowledgeable naturalist, this guided tour offers fascinating insights into the local flora and bush medicine, providing a deeper connection to the natural world around you.

Experience the vibrant Island Fiesta organized by the resort on our private Key, starting with a lively Happy Hour and a sumptuous buffet dinner. Enjoy a captivating performance by the Garifuna people, showcasing their traditional dance and music. Participate in fun contests, including the hermit crab race, limbo, and dance competition. 

Meals: BLD

Morning:

Snorkelers will discover the beauty of a coral patch reef where individual coral mounds rise from sandy bottoms in a shallow, clear-water setting. encounter vibrant fish, colorful corals, and possibly even spot a resting nurse shark or a giant lobster hiding in the nooks. 

SCUBA Divers dive into history with a visit to The Odyssey, a 300-foot freighter intentionally sunk in 2002, now resting at a depth of 115 feet. As you descend along the mooring line, you'll explore the ship's eerie, multi-story compartments on the stern, partially open and teeming with marine life. Large schools of fish can be observed from the surface, adding to the surreal experience of navigating this underwater giant. 

Lunch at the resort and then out for another snorkel, dive, or relax at the resort.

Evening

Slip into a mesmerizing night snorkeling and diving experience as you journey from blue to black beneath the waves. As the sky darkens from vibrant hues of blue to deep black, you'll explore a shallow reef where daytime creatures retreat and nocturnal life awakens. Guided by your flashlight, encounter eels hunting in the inky depths, octopuses emerging from their hiding spots, and parrotfish cloaked in their protective nighttime cocoons. This sensory immersion reveals the hidden world of the reef after dark, offering an unforgettable glimpse into the ocean’s mysterious transformation from day to night.

Meals BLD

Swim with the pod.

Start your day with an unforgettable experience—a free swim with the resident dolphins at Anthony’s Key. These dolphins are part of a research program and, yes, they are in human care. For those concerned, rest assured, these dolphins often participate in open water dive training and always return home, even when they have the option to leave. Some even return after leaving, and there’s a touching story of an older male dolphin who, of his own free will, chose to live with the resident pod and fathered several calves.

Before diving into the water, you’ll attend a fascinating classroom session led by one of the RIMS biologist, where you'll learn about dolphin physiology and behavior. When it’s time to meet the dolphins, you’ll feel prepared and excited. The real fun begins when you don your mask and fins and snorkel alongside the pod. With around 6-8 dolphins, including a playful baby, this is no ordinary swim—it's like joining a lively conversation, only with dolphins! You’ll hear and even feel their clicks as they use sonar to explore the world around them, including you.

After about an hour and a half of swimming with the dolphins, we’ll transfer back to the resort for lunch and time to recharge. 

SOL Community Center

In the time between the morning water activities and lunch, participants can visit the SOL Community Center, where they'll be greeted by giggling children eager to connect through play and showcase their creativity. The center, adorned with art made from repurposed materials, provides tutoring, counseling, and scholarship opportunities to help students excel beyond middle school. This visit offers a heartwarming glimpse into the impactful work SOL does for the local community. Our participants often bring donations of clothes, school supplies, and sports equipment for the kids.

Snorkeling & Diving 

In the afternoon, at 2:30 pm, SCUBA divers will head out for another dive, while snorkelers can enjoy exploring the shallows right off the key. Highlights of the dive might include spotting rare species like the frogfish and toadfish, as well as encounters with groupers, snapper, angelfish, southern stingrays, and scrawled filefish. 

Meals: BLD

At breakfast, reflect on the incredible moments and experiences shared with each other. From diving into the vibrant Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and swimming with playful dolphins to soaring through the rainforest canopy and relaxing on tranquil waters, each adventure will leave a lasting impression. You’ll treasure the laughter, the excitement of every new activity, and the new friendships formed along the way. As you bid farewell, you'll carry with you cherished memories and a deep sense of connection and fulfillment from this extraordinary journey.

Airport transfer from the resort included,

Meals: B

Dive into the heart of the ocean at Cara-a-Cara Marco’s Place, where you’ll encounter the majestic Caribbean Reef sharks in their natural habitat. Guided by the calm and experienced dive master Sergio, you’ll descend into crystal-clear waters, surrounded by these awe-inspiring creatures. As you witness the sharks circling, their powerful presence and the electric atmosphere will leave you in awe. The experience culminates in a thrilling shark feeding, where the energy in the water is palpable. It’s a humbling and deeply spiritual experience, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of these incredible animals.

This dive is exclusively for experienced SCUBA divers and costs extra. Sign up at the resort and consult with the dive master to determine if this 80-100 foot dive, which may have strong currents, is right for you. It’s not recommended for new divers.

Kelly has 20+ years of experience teaching outdoor education and trip guiding. Kelly has worked with the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program since 1997 teaching a wide variety of hands-on outdoor skills classes and guiding trips locally and internationally. Kelly has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wisconsin Stevens-Point in Natural Resource Management with an emphasis in Environmental Education / Interpretation. She has a passion for making outdoor recreation accessible to all skill levels and physical abilities and looking forward to sharing Costa Rica with you. 

You can read more about Kelly here: Meet Trip Leader Kelly VanLaanen