BELIZE

We are one of the few organizations that run marine conservation-focused summer programs for teenagers in Belize. This trip is perfect for students who want to spend a summer learning about marine biology while contributing to important conservation efforts and earning a dive certification, or improve existing dive skills. You’ll also work closely with experts and organizations in the marine science field.

While there is a large amount of scuba diving on this program, you do not need to be previously certified in order to participate. Students have the option to complete either their PADI Open Water or Advanced Open Water Certification on the island. Students who are new to diving will complete the PADI online eLearning portion of the certification prior to the program, and will then complete the practical skills section on the island. If you’re already certified, you can either earn your Advanced Open Water* (AOW) certification on the island, or jump directly into the marine conservation projects.

* There is a small additional fee of $50 for students taking the Advanced Open Water course

Absolutely! The research techniques are simple and straight-forward and you will learn all you need to know to help the researchers collect data. You will have a unique opportunity to learn about and help conserve the marine environment while also having a fun experience. This trip is for both experienced and non-experienced divers, scientists and non-scientists alike — everyone makes a contribution regardless of their background and experience.

Each program has a specific packing list that has been designed to fit the program’s activities, length, climate, and cultural differences. 

During this program we sleep in a variety of accommodations: small bungalows, private lodges and hotels.

Belizean cuisine showcases a mixture of many regional traditions and food habits, with major influences from Mexican, Caribbean, and Mayan culinary methods. We will have the opportunity to sample traditional local cuisine such as beans, rice, chicken and tropical fruit.

Vegetarians and medical dietary requirements (i.e., allergies) are catered for. It does help if we are informed of this prior to departure date.

We will be using a variety of transportation methods, including shuttles, vans and boats. Our partner organization will provide a private boat to take the group to and from the private island.

Yes, all students traveling to Belize need to have a valid passport. Please make sure the passport expiration date is at least six months after your program start date.

Be sure to make a photocopy of your passport and keep it in a separate place. If you lose your passport and you have a photocopy, it is much easier to replace.

No. US and Canadian Citizens do not need a visa for this program.

Belize is in the Central Standard Time (CST) zone and is six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (UTC-6:00). There is no daylight savings in Belize, so during daylight saving in the U.S., the time in Belize is the same as Mountain Time (MT).

The weather is a lot like Florida in the summer. During the day it can be hot, sunny, and humid. The average daily high temperature is in the high 80s with lows in the high 70s. Late afternoons often bring showers, which help cool us off.

Students will have limited opportunities to take showers on the island, due to water conservation. There will be opportunities for more regular showers on the mainland. There will not be an opportunity to do machine laundry on the program, but students are welcome to handwash and airdry their personal clothing. For ease of travel, quick dry clothes are recommended on the packing list.

Belize is a relatively clean and safe place to travel. However, ARCC does recommend that you take some health precautions before your program. When you enroll in the program, you will receive more detailed information on pertinent travel vaccinations and immunizations. We base all health precautions on recommendations of the U.S. Center for Disease Control; you can find more information in the Traveler’s Health section of the CDC website. Our leaders carry a full first-aid kit and are all certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR).

Although you will not be doing traditional backpacking on this trip, it is important that you bring a backpack or duffel as your main piece of luggage. During the trip the group will be navigating through airports, getting on and off boats, and taking short walks. The group will be able to move much more efficiently if everyone is able to carry their luggage.

No. English is the official language in Belize. Spanish is the second most popular language, and many Belizians are bilingual.

We suggest you bring about $75 per week on your program. This is for airline baggage fees, personal souvenirs, laundry, and other incidentals. ARCC pays for all meals, lodging, transportation and activities. There is some time to shop for souvenirs in Placencia. We recommend you bring about half your money in cash and the other half on a credit card.

In Belize the official currency is the Belize Dollar. US dollars are interchangeable with Belize dollars, but US coins are not accepted (they will also not accept US bills with any marks or tears, so check bills closely). We suggest that you carry about $50 of your money in small denominations ($1, $5, and $10 USD).

Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, and ATMs are available in Placencia. We do not recommend debit cards, prepaid credit cards, or traveler’s checks. As with any international program, we strongly recommend talking to your bank about its international withdrawal policies to avoid any surprise fees or card cancellations.