Broadreach Summer Adventures Reviews

I had such a good time on this trip! I really loved the people I was with and getting to scuba dive and sail. However - and this may have been my fault - I was the only one on the boat who already had my advanced certification. There were seven of us, and two others had their Open Water Certifications, but it was a little frustrating not being able to dive super deep, at least for the first two weeks! The living situation was a bit rough: it was too hot to sleep inside, but it rained when we slept outside. Eventually, most of us ended up sleeping in the eating/living area, but there wasn't much room, and for larger groups of people it would have been terrible. I didn't know this when I initially signed up, but you're only allowed 10 seconds of fresh water when you shower, which sucks. I had a bunch of rashes once I got home. My counselors were super fun and took great care of us, but I didn't necessarily feel comfortable going to one of them and saying I had a rash, and I wasn't really able to access any of the people on the support boat. There were a lot of really great things, though! Going into town was so fun, and we really got to explore so much of the ocean and the islands. When we were anchored, we could just swim around the boat, which was relaxing and a nice break from the heat. The food was pretty good, and we never ran out. However, the recipes don't really give you enough for everyone; we were eating small portions of chicken out of a can every day.

This was my first ever scuba voyage and I had no previous experience, but it was definitely the best one I could possibly have. I earned more than 5 certificates and met underwater creatures that I didn't even know about.

The creates and instructors were amazing (especially the ones that knew how to cook :) and I will never forget the time we spent together during these 21 days of pure happiness.

I really want to go again on a different course, not because I didn't like the last one, but because I want to meet more people.

Thank you Broadreach!!!

Broadreach was the experience of a lifetime. From start to finish, it was an unforgettable exposure to the beauty of the underwater world and taught me about diving. The program was well-organized, with a perfect balance of diving time and spending time with a wonderful group of people. Each dive was completely different, and I found myself falling more in love with the ocean every time. Although the sailing and scuba diving were beyond amazing, the lifelong friends I made along the way were the most important part.

I attended the Costa Rica Broadreach veterinary adventure. Those three weeks were some of the most rewarding, exhilarating, and eventful weeks of my life. By the end of our trip, the counselors became both role models and friends, and the group of students formed close, unbreakable bonds. Broadreach constructed a wonderful balance of veterinary lectures, field exercises, and fun activities. The food provided was always accommodating to everyone's personal needs, and delicious (I am a very picky eater and this was one of my main concerns, but it was very yummy!). The Costa Rica veterinary experience takes place in many locations in the country, so our sleeping arrangements changed every couple of days. With that being said, our sleeping accommodations were clean and spacious.

I have been on 3 Broadreach trips now, and all of them have been incredible. There are so many incredible counselors who help with the trips and really do make it fun. I have done both the land-based trips and live aboard trips and in both cases, the team makes it really easy to get accustomed to the different places. It may seem scary, especially as a first-time trip, but I promise you will make lifelong friends on the trip and more than that, have incredible once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Every Broadreach trip has inspired me to learn to see the world with even more wonder and has given me a renewed respect for our planet.

I touched down in Costa Rica after a 12 hour flight from Germany, and was instantly blown away by my surroundings. I had grown up in a Middle Eastern city and so was in awe of the sheer amount of vegetation that surrounded me. It is not only a vegetated country, but one teeming with wildlife, and it wasn't difficult to spot a family of white faced monkeys or a crocodile in a river wherever you went. Unfortunately, this did mean very few of us left with less than 20 insect bites, and it made nights a war between man and bug.
Even so, that awe and excitement I had initially felt never left me once, and every day of the programme became my new favourite. I started the program wondering if I wanted to become a veterinarian, and left with an unshakable motive to pursue this career. The way the trip was put together completely sold the profession for me, and gave me the perception of Costa Rica as my home.
Whether it was cows, horses, dogs, cats, primates, or a wide variety of wildlife such as two toed sloths, the program allowed us to investigate them all, shadowing surgeries, acting as anaesthesiologists, practicing sutures and saving the animals we cared about so much. At one of the wildlife sanctuaries we were at, I had the opportunity to hear the heartbeat of a sloth, which completely changed my perfection of what life was.
Not only was there a large variety of wildlife, but we also visited 5/7 regions in Costa Rica over 3 weeks, and saw sights we would never forget. Rivers, dense jungle, waterfalls, rapids, lush fields, fiery sunsets, national parks, rolling ocean waves, and even volcanoes!
As you probably do, I had my doubts as to if this program is too good to be true. In all honesty, I expected something to go wrong at any moment, but it never did. The only issue is who your group is, because your trip-mates can make or break the trip, as you continuously share close quarters which can be uncomfortable at times. If you're not good at communicating with people, this aspect of the trip may pose as a struggle. Another prime issue is petty crime in Costa Rica. Thankfully we had no incidents, but it's important to be aware and keep your belongings close at all times.
To wrap up, if you're a high school student, aspiring veterinarian, and someone who loves nature, this is the summer program for you!

I am a thirteen year old boy, and dispute the many camps I have been to, broadreach really blew it out of the water. It was by far the most amazing experience I have ever done. Everything about it was fantastic, from the learning to the views and sails. The scuba dives were amazing too, and I came back home open water certified. The night dive was phenomenal, and we saw an octopus swimming along on the sea floor. I would recommend this to anyone, and hope I can do another broadreach program in the future.

was a little nervous going into but ended up having the most amazing time ever learning so much and meeting so many new people. i learned so much about so many things that i never would have thought i would learned while i was there. we went to coolest places and get to experience the coolest things ever. i was so sad to leave all of my new friends that had been like family for the past few weeks. The councilors were also the kindest and most supportive people ever and were always there to talk about things.

This was an amazing trip I would go on again. In fact, I have already signed up for the advanced trip. The people were great and you learn so much just by having fun. The experience is one of a kind and the scenery is like no other. I put my hammock up and was chilling most nights (unless it rained). Scuba certifications were so much fun because I get to complete everything with my friends I’ve made on the boat. You make long time friends on this trip. I have one person coming from Arizona to Tennessee to spend fall break together. Really a once in a lifetime trip.

My personal group of people on my Broadreach trip was really fun and interesting! Wouldn't trade the experience for the world. I got to live on board a SAILBOAT! HOW COOL IS THAT?!? But seriously, you get to become really close friends with everyone on board and get fully emersed in the experience. Boat life becomes you and your scuba course work becomes actual useful information. The wildlife, the people, the setting and the overall vibe all factor in to come out as the perfect experience. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!