|
|
| ©2010 Sea Trek BVI. Designed by San Jose Graphics |
Sailing | Scuba Diving | Marine Science Projects | Turtle Tagging (PDF) | Application | Travel Info | Yachts & Equipment | Sample Itinerary | Map | Check Out Our 14 Day Voyage
Scholarships Available - E-mail for more information
All voyages include: sail training, marine science, well-equipped yachts, and water sports.
Our adventure summer programs explore above and below the waters of the British Virgin Islands from our base aboard 45 foot live aboard sailing yachts. Our safe, stable catamarans provide the perfect platform for our sailing summer programs.
Unlike other sailing summer camps, not only are these yachts our home, they are our primary means of transportation between islands. SeaTrekers learn by doing as they take full control of their yachts including sail trimming, navigating and taking the helm as skipper of the day.
The British Virgin Islands are the perfect backdrop for our sailing camps for teens. Each of the thirty-six tropical islands outlining the Sir Francis Drake Channel provide the protected waters of our outdoor classroom. Add the consistent easterly trade winds and the British Virgin Islands are truly sailing heaven.
We now offer an optional ASA Basic Keelboat Certification!
SeaTrek offers the most comprehensive dive-training program in the summer-sailing-adventure industry. We are the only experiential education children's summer camp program offering scuba certification from introductory level for the novice adventurer to instructor level for our most experienced DiveTrekers.
Students earn internationally recognized certifications from our professional instructors who are members of NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors), SDI (Scuba Divers International), DAN (Divers Alert Network) and PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors). Beginning scuba camps are held in the calm, clear waters of sheltered bays in the British Virgin Islands. Trekers have ample time to practice new skills under the patient guidance of our instructors. After perfecting these skills, our adventurers are ready to start exploring the awesome dive sites of the British Virgin Islands!
Coral pinnacles and walls rise up five and six stories from the deep, sheltering a myriad of sea life. Fish with colors so bright they seem plugged-in dart playfully over the reef, while larger, darker predators patiently wait a fin stroke away. Turtles are also frequent visitors as they glide serenely above the reef searching for a meal or heading to the surface for a breath of air. Eagle rays hunt in the sand, and if you look closely you might see shrimp, crabs, urchins, sea slugs, star fish, even sea horses hiding in the reef. The list seems endless, and we're just getting started... we haven't even done a night dive yet!
During our scuba camp for the Advanced Scuba Certification, students refine basic scuba skills while widening their breadth of experience through supervised dives including night, navigation, deep, wreck and u/w naturalist. SeaTrekers also have the opportunity to earn several diving specialties, for example, deep, wreck, research, u/w naturalist, nitrox, boat, photography, and more.
Whether a novice or pursueing professional level training...
SeaTrek BVI has the program for you!
Student Hours Log | BVI Marine Awareness Guide | Science Project Outline
The adventure begins… whether you have a burning desire to be a marine biologist or just want to know the names of the fish and corals you'll see while scuba diving, our staff of marine scientists and certified naturalists will assist you in learning everything you ever wanted to know about the environment of the Caribbean through our marine science camp.
Our Marine Science Programs are available on each trek and each voyage to anyone who is interested in them. Simply follow the Instructions on Getting Started below and forward to science project@seatrekbvi.com.
Above the surface… you'll be introduced to the physics of sailing and learn the forces behind the weather and winds that make the British Virgin Islands and the Sir Francis Drake Channel such an ideal and world-renowned place to sail and dive. You will also explore the geological processes that contributed to the formation of the islands and our favorite local dive spots.
Down below… the opportunities for exploring diverse underwater landscapes and observing fascinating creatures are limitless. Whether participating in a deep or night dive or just taking a leisurely snorkel, you are sure to encounter organisms and behaviors that will astonish you and provide countless stories to take back home. From docile gray nurse sharks and the protected grouper and sea turtles to enormous thousand-year-old coral formations and fifty-pound lobsters, there's plenty to amaze and excite you.
Having fun and learning... about the marine environment is what SeaTrek is all about. In addition to our exceptional scuba diving summer camp, our professional marine biologists and naturalists use their vast and diverse experiences to help all participants attain a proficient level of knowledge and appreciation of the underwater world around Islands. For those of you who want to do more than identify a few types of fish or sea turtles, the opportunities for developing a deeper understanding of this tropical paradise and the exciting and challenging field of marine science are many—and limited only by your imagination and enthusiasm. Along with the expertise of the SeaTrek staff and local marine science professionals, a range of scientific equipment—including laptop computers with internet access, cameras, microscopes, sampling devices, field guides and a variety of lab equipment—will be available to assist you in conducting your research and participating in a variety of community service opportunities.
As a participant with SeaTrek BVI, students are exposed to a wide range of marine science topics and hands-on field experiences. The Marine Science Courses that all students participate in include the following classroom and lab exercises (lab hours are the minimum earned):
Along with the standard science classes and lab exercises (listed above), many students select a focus research project to earn additional community service and/or academic credits. Students interested in pursuing these additional options should follow the links provided below to examine the five main areas of study (Coral Ecology, Fish Identification, Turtle Tagging & Monitoring, Environmental Conservation, Water Quality & Plankton Analysis) to learn more about the projects we offer, and send us their Required Student Information as soon as possible so that we can add them to our official participant list. Then we will follow up via e-mail and facilitate them in focusing their research interests and goals. Questions can be addressed by contacting Angie Cowan.
Accept the invitation to participate and begin this exciting chance-of-a-lifetime journey into the wondrous marine environment of the British Virgin Islands.
To dive even deeper into the unique marine environments around the British Virgin Islands while earning community service and/or academic credit on your voyage. Interested students will contact the lead marine biologist with the Required Student Information at which point we will answer any questions and get you started on your way. You will need to keep track of any hours you spend working on your project, doing research, etc on the Student Hours Log. The hours you spend on your project before you arrive for your voyage will count towards your community service or academic credit. Students seeking academic credit may be asked to use a formal workbook to help guide their projects and if that is the case we will provide that to you via email. PLEASE be sure to bring a paper copy of your filled-out Student Hours Log with you to your voyage. We need that log in order to count all your hours at home towards your credit.
The following information must be sent to the lead marine biologist as soon as possible. Students will not receive important instructions and communication without submitting this information:
Each topic can be used to receive community service and/or science research credit: Coral Reef Ecology, Reef Fish Identification, Sea Turtle Tagging & Monitoring, Water Quality & Plankton Analysis, and Environmental Conservation. In addition to or instead of these options, students can design and complete a related/alternative project upon receiving approval from the lead marine biologist. Some students choose to do more than one project or modify one of the projects to better meet their needs/interests or even work with another student to complete a project. These are acceptable options as well, as long as students clearly discuss their goals and objectives with the lead marine biologist. The following descriptions will give you an idea of the information and activities involved in each topic:
Prior to the voyage, students will research coral reef ecology, types of corals, and the natural and human-related threats to their survival. During the voyage, they will participate in the coral reef ecology presentation, work with the staff biologists, and use SCUBA and free-diving to complete a series of coral reef surveys for the Coral Watch program. This program works to involve divers and snorkelers in a simple, non-invasive monitoring program that will help to raise awareness about coral reef health and conservation. Students will also have the opportunity to use hand-held computers and real-time data logging sensors (http://www.vernier.com/labquest/) to examine water quality parameters pertinent to coral health and to draw connections between qualitative and quantitative observations.
Prior to the voyage, students will research the common reef fish species of the Caribbean and begin learning to identify them and recognize key features and behaviors. They will also research the natural and human-related threats to their survival. During the voyage, they will participate in the reef fish identification and Seafood Watch presentations, work with the staff biologists, explore ways that various fish species are being sustainably harvested throughout the world, and use SCUBA to complete a series of reef fish surveys for REEF's Volunteer Survey Project.
Prior to the voyage, students will research the common sea turtle species of the Caribbean—mainly Green, Hawksbill and Leatherback—and the natural and human-related threats to their survival. During the voyage, they will participate in the sea turtle ecology and identification presentation, work with the staff biologists, undergo turtle tagging and monitoring training, and assist in all aspects of the Turtle Tagging and Monitoring Project being conducted by the BVI's Department of Environment and Fisheries. Along with training in identification and data entry, students will be taught how to catch, tag and examine turtles to make important measurements and observations that will be used in the CFD's long-term turtle monitoring and conservation programs, which are interested in determining the size and health of various turtle species, as well as turtle population dynamics, nesting locations, migration patterns, and natural and human-related events that threaten their survival. More information can be obtained from the Marine Turtle Research Group's TUKOT Project in the BVI.
This project focuses on the chemical, physical and biological parameters important in monitoring water quality. Students will use hand-held computers and real-time data logging sensors (http://www.vernier.com/labquest/) to examine ocean temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and conductivity. Students will also investigate the role of plankton in the marine food web and how some species of phytoplankton (plant-like plankton) can also be water quality indicators. During the voyage, students will work with staff biologists to collect plankton samples and classify different plankton populations.
Humans have a strong impact on the natural world wherever they go. This is especially true throughout the Caribbean and more recently the British Virgin Islands. As more and more tourists come to enjoy the tropical climate, clear waters and beautiful landscape of the BVI, there is pressure being placed upon the natural resources of the area. More than ever, locals and governmental organizations are attempting to balance the positive aspects of such growth with the negative impacts of non-sustainable development. The issues are many and complex. Communication, monitoring, research and compromise are essential if that balance will be achieved. This is probably the most versatile and general of the projects, which allows students the opportunity to select and research environmental conservation/sustainable development issues of their own choosing. There are several internet resources provided throughout this website, and the BVI Marine Awareness Guide will help students begin selecting a topic of interest. This project will require students to communicate directly and consistently with the lead marine biologist so that they can be guided in developing their research.
Students who decide to complete a community service project have the option of participating in one of five projects. Most students who select this option, either have a strong interest in helping others or caring for the environment or want to use the experience to earn community service credits/hours for school. While the amount of service hours earned depends on the students' goals and level of participation before and during the voyage, a minimum of fifteen hours can be awarded. More hours can be acquired based on the amount of background research completed by the participant, as well as how much time s/he spends researching,logging data, and participating throughout the voyage. If interested, students may earn additional community service hours by volunteering to conduct additional fish/turtle research, presenting information to peers, and/or providing assistance to the marine biologists. No matter which project students participate in, they will be required to keep a student hour log and give a short (informal)presentation at the end of the voyage.
Students who decide to complete a research project have the option of participating in one of the five projects listed above (Coral Reef Ecology, Reef Fish Identification, Environmental Conservation, Sea Turtle Tagging & Monitoring, Water Quality & Plankton Analysis) or in developing their own, individualized project. Most students who select this option, either have a strong interest in science or want to use the experience to earn academic/science credit through their schools. Marine science research projects can be completed in addition to or instead of the community service option discussed above. With approval from their schools, students can earn both academic and community service credit for the same project topic. To encourage flexibility, alternative research topics may be investigated after being approved by the lead marine biologist. While the amount of academic credit hours earned depends on the students' goals and level of participation before and during the voyage, a minimum of fifteen hours can be awarded. More hours can be acquired based on the amount of background research completed by the participant, as well as how much time s/he spends researching, logging data, writing up a project outline or report, and participating throughout the voyage. If interested, students may earn additional academic credit hours by completing a student project workbook that documents their research. No matter which project students participate in, they will be required to keep a student hour log, write a brief outline about their experience, and give a short (informal) presentation at the end of the voyage
After deciding to do a community service and/or research project,students should take the following steps:
Once on voyage, students will work with the marine biologists to collect and analyze their data and discuss their findings. They will also be required to discuss their project with other program participants during an informal presentation at the end of the voyage. ***To obtain "formal"community service project credits and/or academic science project credits,students must make such arrangements with their schools and teachers prior to the voyage.*** Students must first approach their school/academic counselor/teacher and ask about extra curricular credit that may be obtained by doing an independent study/research project. Students can use the Science Project Outline and SeaTrek website, as well as communication from the lead biologist to support their justification for receiving credit. Please keep in mind that all schools and states are different, and SeaTrek cannot guarantee that credit will be rewarded unless students and parents make arrangements with their schools before the voyage begins. Students must also communicate their intentions to have formal credit hours to the SeaTrek staff, including the lead marine biologist. In addition to any required school forms, SeaTrek will send confirmation letters to each student upon completion of the program. These letters are mailed out in the fall and will include a list of the credit hours and project components completed by the student.
In addition to the web sites listed above, students will find many of the following resources helpful in researching, developing and preparing for their projects. Note—This is not an exhaustive list. Students will greatly benefit from finding additional sources of information, including books, professionals, videos, images, magazines, current events, etc.
SeaTrek will send you immediate reservation confirmation, pertinent forms, important travel, communication, medical and other information, and contact you by phone to answer any further questions you may have. Final acceptance in the program is contingent upon SeaTrek's receipt and review of all forms.
Full program tuition is due March 15th. If enrolling after March 15th, full tuition is due and payable at time of enrollment.
Make a Deposit or Payment Online
TravMark Trip Cancellation Insurance
SeaTrek does not discriminate in its employment or admissions policies on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age or disability.
Information provided to SeaTrek will remain private. We will never sell or provide this information to any other companies.
We recommend that all SeaTrekers make their travel arrangements with Vacation Travel at 877-860-1850 or email. The travel staff at Vacation Travel are familiar with our program ensuring smooth and coordinated travel. They also have access to group rates, which are consistently the lowest fares. Flights should be booked into Beef Island International Airport, Tortola (Code EIS). We recommend you book the earliest flight possible that day to ensure that any flight delays can be re-booked on the same day. This applies to the flights home as well; book an early flight that day to avoid any overnight delays. You may use frequent flier miles for you travel, but be sure to check if they are valid for international flight.
No Visas are required for U.S. citizens traveling in the British Virgin Islands
(BVIs). If you are not a U.S. citizen, contact Vacation Travel or our office for more information. Beginning December 31, 2005, valid passports will be required for U.S. citizens to enter the BVIs and for re-entry into the U.S. Passport applications are normally available at the post office. Expect six to eight weeks for processing before you receive your passport. More information is available at the U.S. Department of State's travel site.
SeaTrekers travel on the first and last day of their program. You should arrive on the first day of your program, and will depart on the last day. For example, if your Trek dates are June 14th to July 4th, you will fly to the program on June 14th and home on July 4th.
In addition to Vacation Travel, travel can also be booked through The Moorings Travel Service at 800-535-7289
TravMark Trip Cancellation Insurance
The Moorings 4600 catamaran is a true blue-water cruiser featuring a self-stacking mainsail with integral sail cover, roller-furling genoa, and twin 55 hp diesel engines. An electric windlass with handheld remote makes anchoring easy. The raised helm station is at the forward end of the spacious cockpit and above the cockpit's hardtop roof, providing 360 degrees of visibility. A hardtop bimini shades the helm. The cockpit has walk-through access to the swim platforms, a full electronics package that includes a color chart plotter and autopilot, stereo/CD player speakers, a large table, and lots of seating. A wide door opens to the luxurious saloon.
The saloon features a plush U-shaped settee and a large dining table with seating for eight that converts to a double berth. There's also a flat screen TV/DVD player! The galley has all amenities and plenty of counter space. There is ample storage space throughout. Three separate air-conditioning units keep the cabins cool and comfortable, and numerous opening ports and hatches provide superior ventilation.
The 4600 is sleek and efficient with four cabins and four heads. Cabins have ample room to stow clothing and other supplies as well as lamps for reading and a double size bed. While you will be sharing a cabin with 2-4 other Trekers, most of your time is spent above deck. We use multi-hull yachts that allow for ample sleeping area from shared cabins to waterproof hammocks you may used to sleep out under the stars. Because of its design the yacht can easily support up to 15 passengers. It is 26 feet wide and 45 feet long with a mast height of over 70 feet. There is a spacious lounge and galley where you and the staff prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is also an outdoor shaded sitting area called the cockpit where the helm is located. Every SeaTrek yacht is easy to sail, has abundant space, and is a perfect platform for diving.
SeaTrek uses all of the 4600's strengths to create a safe and educational atmosphere. All yachts are equipped with their own air compressors and scuba cylinders. This allows for an intensive diving schedule with the ease of a live-aboard dive vessel. SeaTrek also uses high-speed skiffs for water sports and transportation. After a quick course in the handling and safety of our smaller skiffs you may be allowed to visit friends on other boats, head to shore for some beach time, or just cruise around and enjoy the beauty of the islands.. SeaTrek helps you make the most of your free time in the islands.
SeaTrek offers you only the highest quality dive, sail, and scientific equipment for the best possible experience. All diving equipment is purchased at the beginning of each summer and all tanks and compressors are serviced regularly to insure peak performance. If you enjoy using your dive gear during your voyage, it will be available for purchase at the end of the summer. We require that you purchase your own mask, fins, snorkel, and optional dive boots before you sail with us to ensure proper fitting and satisfaction. Water sports equipment including wake boards, water skis, knee boards, sea-kayaks, etc. are brand new. Even the rigid bottom inflatable boats that are the workhorses of our water sports activities are of the highest caliber. Our scientific equipment is second to none and greatly aids you in understanding the underwater environment. Instruments such as microscopes, dissection trays, and quadrants show you life on the coral reef like you have never seen it before.
The British Virgin Islands are the perfect backdrop for our sail training. Each of the thirty-six tropical islands outlining the Sir Francis Drake Channel provide the protected waters of our outdoor classroom. Add the consistent easterly trade winds and the British Virgin Islands are truly sailing heaven.
For more information about "Nature's Little Secrets" visit the British Virgin Islands official home page.
Scholarships Available - E-mail for more information
We are offering 14-Day Voyages for $4050. These Voyages are designed to get you involved! You must call us at 877 – GO SAILING (877-467-2454) in Michigan call 810-487-1616 to check availability, a $1000 deposit reserves your spot!
SeaTrek wants you to experience the best that live-aboard sailing, marine biology studies and diving have to offer.
There is limited space available for 14-Day Voyages!
Prices are all-inclusive, none include airfare. What's the catch? The catch is we want your business because we believe that if you sign up with SeaTrek you will come back year after year for the absolute best adventure programs in the world today.
Call us with any questions or concerns you may have and see why SeaTrek is the best choice but don't miss out on a truly wonderful opportunity for you or your child.
Sincerely,
Captains Monk and Kat
Youth Sailing Lessons |
Youth Sailing Courses |
Youth Sailing Courses British Virgin Islands
