ActionQuest: Summer Adventure Program in British Virgin Islands

If you're on the fence about doing this, just commit. I was fortunate enough to join these summer programs back in 1994, 1995 and 1996. Yes, I learned to sail and scuba dive. But what I think had the biggest impact was seeing and learning from adults who modeled respect and kindness. That wouldn't have been the answer that I would have given you when I was 14. Then, I loved these summers because they were so fun, starting the minute I connected with fellow travelers in the airport. I couldn't wait to go back. I still count these are some of my fondest memories.

This is the second summer my daughter has taken one of your trips and both were amazing experiences in so many ways. My daughter absolutely loved everything about her time spent in the BVI’s on the boat, under water, and on shore. She made great friends, learned so many new things, and got to adventure out into the world on her own for a few weeks! Thank you for such a great program that you run!

Getting pictures and journals daily was wonderful and the few times my daughter got her phone and called us was such a pleasure! The hurricane scare was handled perfectly.
My daughter loved getting scuba certified and all that goes along with that, she loved learning about boating and boat life, she loved learning all the terminology and etiquette, and she loved waterskiing and kneeboarding and taking the dingy, the caves, etc., but what she talks most about are the friendships she built with so many different people from so many different places.

Kids get to experience and learn so many different and amazing things while learning how to live together in a small space. They get to step out of their worlds for a few weeks and live a completely different way, all without parents, coaches and school teachers around.

Matthew had the best 3 weeks in the British Virgin Islands! He met awesome people from all over the world. He learned new things like sleeping in a hammock and bathing techniques in salt and fresh water. He experienced the most incredible dives. He has now done ActionQuest 2 summers in a row and he cannot wait for his 3rd trip next summer. The leaders/captains/divemasters are the perfect mix of knowledgeable and FUN! We are hoping Matthew continues with ActionQuest and becomes a Divemaster himself!

Our son, Ari, absolutely loved the trip and now has a plan to return next summer to get his advanced open water. Thank you!!

The entire process was very organized and professional. Any question we had was promptly answered, and we felt extremely comfortable during each step.

Our son has found a passion for diving that he didn’t have before. He loved being on the boat with a small group of people who shared the same interests, and he’s looking forward to more adventures with Action Quest in the future. It was an opportunity to get Ari out of his comfort zone, learn new things, and grow into a young man. Everything was great!

Action Quest provided me with a second home and family. Currently, my favorite people on the entire planet are the ones that were on my boat this past session. Scuba diving and sailing are the most amazing activities ever, and I cannot believe I was able to breathe underwater and see many creatures you never get to see on a regular basis. Sailing is so calming and it helped me to forget everything stressful in my life and just focus on the waves and horizon. I seriously cannot say enough about how close I got to my shipmates and the impact they've had on me as a person. I hope that everyone can experience something like this once in their life, and I am so grateful to have done so myself. The best thing about Action Quest is the people that you meet; there are no connections like the ones you make living on a boat with someone."

Action Quest has been one of, if not the best, opportunities of my life and I wish that everyone could have the opportunity to experience it, because everything is truly amazing. Everything. But seriously, the diving, sailing, marine biology, etc are great but you can’t beat the people. The people you meet are what really make the program special. I have been lucky enough to participate in Action Quest’s programs for two summers now, and they have both been great. Some of my best memories are of the times we shared on the boat, making dinner, playing cards, studying for our certifications, and enjoying the beautiful sunsets! I can’t wait for next summer!

It was the best three weeks of my life! the food exceeded standards for food that was served on a boat. Some of our groups most meaningful conversations came out of life works. I loved all of them. The environment is incredible. I got to spend everyday scuba diving and spending time in paradise while hanging out with all these incredible people. Even though some things were out of my comfort zone it pushed me to grow so much as a person, and made some of the most valuable friendships. I really hope to return for an internship next summer!

100% the best experience of my life and I will tell you exactly why:

The vulnerability that was shared on this trip is truly something I will never forget and never get over. I went into the trip thinking that it would only be centered around marine biology, but I was proved wrong in the best possible way. By having reflective conversations with my crew, feeling safe enough to cry when talking about difficult things in my life, and having the support throughout it all, is such a gift and I am forever grateful to ActionQuest for providing me with that experience. I have recommended it to everyone I know, all my parent’s friends, and everyone can see the joy I have after being there. I have not been that happy in a really long time so once again thank you to everyone who made those three weeks possible, and the best three weeks of my entire life. The food was great for being on a boat for three weeks. There were rarely any meals that I had a serious dislike for.

Everything was more than I could ever dream of.
Please understand that it is not one thing that makes ActionQuest so amazing. Everything about it, the people, the crew, and the activities made this experience the most amazing three weeks of my life. I couldn’t pick just one. Thank you so much for letting me have the opportunity to come out. This trip has made me want to come back time and time again, even as a counselor one day. I am forever grateful. This is just the beginning of my adventure, and I couldn’t have asked for a better start than ActionQuest.