How to Study Abroad in Bahamas

A Marine Paradise: Study In The Bahamas

There are two main reasons why students want to study abroad in the Bahamas, and both pretty much have to do with the beach.

The Bahamas, after all, are home to a wide variety of marine life (including the huge sea snail known as the Queen Conch) that thrive in waters surrounding its more than 3,000 islands, islets and cays. Located between the shores of Florida in the U.S. to the north and Cuba to the south, this is a tropical island paradise teeming with wildlife that makes up the rich and diverse ecology of the Atlantic Ocean’s western reaches.

Studying the ecology of marine fishes in great detail. Photo courtesy NOAA, Ocean Explorer on Flickr

Studying abroad in the Bahamas? Most courses offered there mandate that participants must know how to swim. Even if your study programs do not require you to pack a swimsuit, let’s face it — you’re choosing to study abroad in the Bahamas because its beaches are nothing less than perfection. Whether you’re going to islands to learn about underwater formations, tidal caves and reefs, get up close and personal with marine wildlife, study the ocean, or simply bask on the pristine sands next to it — your study abroad trip to the Bahamas promises to be an enviable experience filled with the best beaches in the world.

Study Abroad Programs In The Bahamas. For the budding marine biologist, zoologist, oceanographer, or similar naturalist, study abroad in the Bahamas makes perfect academic sense. The State University of New York Colleges at Brockport offers field studies in marine biology in San Salvador, where participants learn all about marine organisms and their environments.

Georgia Southern University has an intensive two-week Tropical Marine Biology field course at the Caribbean Marine Research Center on Lee Stocking Island. Students on this course have the opportunity to go scuba diving daily. It’s no surprise this program earned high praise from its participants, who loved its real-world learning components, saying it convinced them to pursue careers in marine science.

Another summer course, in Bimini, revolves around the study of cetaceans, or marine mammals, which include whales and dolphins. Dubbed the "Dolphin Communication Project," the Sacred Heart University-led program focuses studying Atlantic spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins in the wild, observing their behavior in their natural environment. (Just a tad more in-depth than a visit to SeaWorld!)

Another interesting study program in the Bahamas is Miami University’s Caribbean Archaeology course. Before signing up for this, you may want to read up on Christopher Columbus’ four voyages to what is now known as Central America and the Caribbean. Participants visit 15th and 16th century relics excavated from the Long Bay site in San Salvador.

Things To See And Do In The Bahamas. Predictably, most activities are centered around the water. The Bahamas are a real-world playground for anyone who’s into sea kayaking, boating, diving and snorkeling, fishing, or parasailing. Time spent on land can be devoted to biking, birding, or visiting fascinating museums such as the Pirates of Nassau Museum, the Museum of Slavery and Emancipation, and the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas.

About the Author

GoAbroad Writing Team The GoAbroad Writing Team is a collection of international travel writers with decades of experience teaching, volunteering, studying, and working abroad. The team consists of passionate writers with diverse educational and travel backgrounds collaborating to create essential travel tips and articles for individuals from all over the world.