Program Reviews

I cannot even begin to tell you how awesome Broadreach is. I have spent my last three summers with Broadreach and each one has been equally amazing in their own ways. I have done the Caribbean Advanced scuba and Grenadines Advanced scuba. This summer i did Belize dolphin studies and i had the most amazing time, from watching dolphins in the open water to seeing the aquatic life the lives in the reef of the blue hole. The entire three weeks was wonderful. With Broadreach, i have come to learn that you grow so close to the people on your trip, regardless of their age or where they are from. You try new foods, new activities, and maybe even conquer a few fears. I still stay in touch with kids from all three of my trips, they are some of the best friends. I know that if i spend a summer with broadreach, no matter where i go, i will have so many amazing stories to tell when i get home.

I have been going on Broadreach for three summers now, and for a reason. Each trip I go on is a completely different experience, and I learn more useful, fun and extrordinary things about the world, different people, and even myself each time. The Costa Rica, Belize and Panama Adventure included all the amazing experiences I was expecting, and I would go back to the three countries in a nano-second. The group of kids brought together was unique, and we got along like we had known each other for at least three years, not three weeks. The instructors had it all together and were obviously very experienced, and besides them being the funniest, coolest and most relatable people to be lead by, they made the trip serious enough so that we learned new things every day. The amount of traveling on this trip is definitely substantial, but it's definitely a great experience to travel abroad and have to go through customs a lot. Besides, the traveling portions don't matter when you get to spend time side by side with barracudas, rays, reef sharks and turtles, sleep in a natural cavern, rappel down a 90 foot waterfall, swim across white water, launch into class four rapids in the Pacuare River, and learn to stand up on the waves of Panama. In three weeks, you learn tons about the ocean, the rainforest, the river, and the people that live in those environments. The Costa Rica, Belize, and Panama Adventure is full of incomparable and unique experiences that I doubt you can find anywhere else.

This was my second Broadreach trip and I personally chose this one to see if I really wanted to study photography in college. Going into the trip, I sort of had a feeling for how small the group was going to be, but I didn't fully realize it was 5 students with 2 staff members. The size of the group instantly made a family feel that lasted for the entire time. I've loved photography for a long time but personally, I was not very great with understanding everything about my camera. The coursework provided the perfect information and assignments that made me feel, by the end, that I really would know how to take those great shots. The classes were not very boring for a lot of them we would help with critiquing each other and focus on what we would work on for our next shots. The trip itself was absolutely amazing. We did a lot of hiking, but they would lead to breathtaking waterfalls, or amazing landscape scenes. The community service that we did took place in a little village and the group got to do hands on work with helping make a boardwalk that would help with connecting the village to the rest of the local area. We turned the long moments of sawing wood into a game to see who was able to saw through the logs the fastest. We also got to put our photography skills to the test during another community service project that involved taking pictures that would go along with directions leading visitors to this beautiful, but tucked away, waterfall. Not everything was work and we did have some times to play ninja on the beach or in some cases; get some sun. By the time it was our last dinner together, everyone had grown so close and it sure was sad to leave. After going on my second Broadreach trip, I do hope to continue these life changing experiences during my years in college. My only regret is not discovering these programs sooner and going on even more.

This is hands down one of the best experiences I've ever had. Not only was I able to see underwater canyons and beautiful rain forests, I was also able to join a select group known as Team Hard Body. The Team raced up dormant volcanoes, became certified Emergency First Responders and rescue divers, dove ship wrecks, and had some pretty intense games of ultimate frisbee. All the while our bodies hardened and our skin tanned. Team Hard Body was more than just one summer trip. It created some of my favorite memories that will stay with me and will bring a smile to my face many years later. I highly recommend this trip for anyone.

Awesome experience... Had the time of my life. I loved the food. All of the instructors were great. They really helped us out and made the difficult to learn diving really easy and fun. I hope to go again next year.

My experience on the Caribbean Grenadines Advanced Scuba Voyage of 2011 was nothing short of incredible. The entire boat bonded immediately due to the relaxed and comfortable environment set forth by our three wonderful instructors. At first, living on a boat proved challenging due to the many daily chores that are required to keep it in peak condition, however before long, it just became another part of the daily routine. In fact, many aspects of the trip followed that format- complicated processes soon became second nature and were executed with ease. Setting up dive gear, for example, is something that I guarantee every single person on the boat can still do with their eyes closed. The staff on my trip had cavernous knowledge about both diving and sailing. Any questions I asked were always answered in detail using simple metaphors or memory tricks. We learned how to navigate on the sea, the many rules of oceanic right of way, and how to safely take on a voyage independently. Beneath the water, the instructors taught us the correct techniques and scuba practices to be worthy of the Padi Rescue Diver Certification that is earned at the end of the program. I never felt unsafe or in danger during a dive because we stuck to a strictly enforced buddy system. Actually, on the contrary, especially towards the last week, I felt assured in my new abilities to help a diver in an emergency situation.
Along with the diving and sailing experience, traveling between the Grenadine Islands highlighted the trip. Each island has its own individual style, and the amount of Caribbean culture we were exposed to both astounded and humbled me. Coming from New York City, I was shocked to see how differently, but yet, no less joyously people lived in other parts of the world. When we made port, there were opportunities to explore the towns, and buy lunch or souvenirs. Everything is relatively cheap, and not much extra cash is necessary to have a good time off the boat. I spent less than $100 during the entirety of the three weeks because Broadreach covers the best and most memorable experiences. Overall, Broadreach provided me with unforgettable diving in some of the most beautiful water in the world, and helped build my confidence to travel the world.

I loved this trip. It was the best thing I have ever done. This trip changed me in the best ways possible, making me a better person. The people and instructors were amazing and we all grew to love each other as if we were truly a family. I loved the scuba diving, it was terrifying in the beginning but our instructors talked us through everything, making me feel much better. The things we saw while we were diving were beautiful. It was something I've never experienced before, and I loved it. The academic lessons were what every typical teenager would say, boring. Our instructors made it as fun as they could, and they were great at talking us through the things we struggled with, such as the dive tables. I also loved the sailing! I was worried I'd get sea sick, but our skipper was great and she knew tons of tricks to prevent it. She was great at showing us how everything worked, and great at helping us study for our test. Overall, this trip was amazing, going on it was the best decision of my life.

Going on the Caribbean underwater voyage was by far one of the greatest learning experiences I have ever had. I grew in self confidence, became more adaptable, as well as much more independent. These traits can be thanks to the instructors(not the typical camp counselors). We would wake up early, go on an early morning dive, make breakfast, clean the boat, go sailing, and so on. A great thing that Broadreach does is that they have the instructors designate a leader of the day, which is one of your fellow students that are to help organize the day. All in all, there were so many more great things (far to many to type).

Broadreach offers more than just a summer camp journey, the trips they offer are truly 'Once In a Lifetime Journies'. What more could a person ask for than being able to travel the islands of the Caribbean on a forty foot catamaran while at the same time learning to sail, scuba dive, climb mountains, help communities, wakeboard, waterski, etc. After looking back at my journey in the Caribbean and thinking of all the life long friends I made, I would be happy to do it all over again.

The Caribbean Grenadines Advanced Scuba Voyage was an over all amazing, life-changing, and thrilling summer trip. A regular day on the boat would include waking up for a dawn dive, making breakfast by yourself for the whole boat, going on another dive, having fun and swimming around the boat, having lunch prepared by another student, going on another dive, then another, then dinner, then another dive. You will receive around four dive specialties and a sailing specialty per trip, with possibly getting an Emergency First Responder certification along with a Rescue Diver certification. The amazing thing is is that you won't just come away from the trip with new knowledge on diving and sailing, you will come home with new life long friends from around the country, and memories that can never be repeated. I am still seeing myself apply things I learned on the catamaran to things at school or at home. All in all, the Caribbean Grenadines Advanced Scuba Voyage is the way to go. Take it from somebody who has gone, and loved it!