Snorkeling Programs in Panama

Seamester is the educational adventure of a lifetime! For more than 40 years, we have offered unparalleled educational voyages where students spend a semester at sea sailing between islands, countries, and even continents. We design our programs to provide engaging learning experiences with real outcomes in ways that are impossible to replicate in the traditional classroom. Living as part of a close-knit team on an ocean-going vessel, our students learn fundamental lessons beyond academics: teamwork, leadership, and personal responsibility. They receive academic credit from the University of South Florida, along with PADI scuba certifications and IYT sailing certifications. Our programs are designed to inspire students to realize that it’s the journey, not the destination, that matters the most.

Venture to some of the world’s most exotic and intriguing regions, ranging from the turquoise waters of Panama, the lush jungles of Costa Rica, and the white-sand beaches of Belize. Shadowing doctors in the Bocas del Toro islands off the coast of Panama, we understand the barriers to medical access for remote indigenous communities. Engaging with a local organization, we participate in an exchange program, learning more about the lives of local Panamanians and sharing our own culture. Visiting a locally run coffee farm in the Costa Rican highlands, we learn the process behind the production of coffee. Rafting on Costa Rica’s exhilarating Pacuare River, the vibrancy of life in the jungle beckons us in the calls of toucans and howler monkeys. Partnering with local biologists on the Pacific Coast, we learn about the current issues facing conservation efforts Basking in the crystal clear waters of improbably white sand beaches, we take in the beauty of the Caribbean. Exploring the underwater life of the reefs of Belize, we gain insights into a world rarely witnessed earning our SCUBA certification and participating in a lionfish eradication project.

Choose any one of our four summer courses or combine them to craft your ideal two-week to eight-week summer adventure rainforest trekking, whitewater rafting, surfing, sea kayaking, scuba diving, volunteering, and more in Costa Rica and Panama! Our summer courses aren’t for vacationers. They’re for students who want to become more knowledgeable about themselves and the world around them – maybe even to build your résumé or material for your college essay application. All courses include opportunities to volunteer, build life and leadership skills, learn from local cultures, and gain a new level of self-awareness and appreciation for the world around you. Course Options: - Tropical Trek, Raft & Waves - Scuba, Sea Turtles, Spanish & Sloths - Pacific Surf & Saving Lives - Pacific Surf Extension * Please note that, for the health and safety of our participants, OBCR has made program adjustments to these courses. Please contact us to learn about our COVID-19 considerations.*