Adventure Tours in Gustavia, St. Barts

Prior to going on my Broadreach trip I was a little nervous going into it, not knowing what I was getting myself into and meeting bunch of “strangers.” Little did I know all the instructors and everyone else were so welcoming and kind spirited, I immediately felt a sense of relief and knew I was gonna have the best time. Learning to scuba dive was my favorite part, I always felt so safe and it was just such an exciting and fun thing to do. Also, living on a boat and learning to sail showed me a new side of myself and the world. It taught me to be so great full for the normal Luxuries like unlimited water and internet but also taught me that you don’t need fancy things to live your best life. Exploring all the islands was so cool, I was immersed so many new cultures I had never experienced, and I loved hiking and exploring. The bond I formed with the people around me, is a bond I will never forget, and by the end of the trip I didn’t wanna leave and was ready to come back as soon as I could.

This trip was really fun, but also a bit stressful. For starters, the living situation was rough. It was too hot to sleep in the cabins, so we had to sleep outside, but it rained every night, and it was difficult for all of us to fit under the covered area. My boat had seven people on it, but some had 12, which must have been really cramped! I loved learning to dive and meeting new people, but I felt a little bit unsupported sometimes. For instance, I got this rash (probably due to the fact that you're only allowed 10 seconds of fresh water to shower with), and I wasn't sure who to go to. I guess I could have gone to my counselors, but I would have rather spoken to someone from the support boat. It was kind of frustrating because, even though they were supposed to be there to support us, we never really had a chance to talk to them. I kind of just wanted to call my mom and ask her what to do. I know that all of our counselors and staff were adults and professionals, but I would have felt more comfortable talking to my mom and having her contact support boat for me. We weren't allowed to wash out hands, we could only use hand sanitizer, and we almost ran out before the trip was over. We washed our dishes in the ocean (although we rinsed them off at the end), and if someone used the bathroom while we were doing dishes, we had to wait for a while. Maybe I'm just not cut out for boat life, but I did have a pretty good time.

This voyage was insane! I had so much fun and new friends that I think I got more memories there than in all of my previous camps. If you will ever go on that trip, get some candy to share with your teammates and counselors (if you do that they might even take you on the unplanned night dive :). I had a lot of fun!!!

I had an amazing experience for 12 night aboard our boat seeing the Carribbean and snorkeling on all the islands. The food was great overall and I had fun cooking and preparing meals with friends and counselors. I loved sleeping outside on the boat and seeing the amazing stars and night skies. I loved being able to disconnect and just be with peers and the amazing counselors. I learned to sail and want to learn more next summer. Our hikes and our adventures on land were great! I highly recommend this trip and hope to return to Broadreach again soon!

Being a student on Sea|Mester was the most incredible experience of my life. I did the South Africa to Antigua voyage on Vela, and it exceeded any and all expectations I could have possibly had. I got to visit places that I never thought I would get to go. I met people that started out as strangers, but quickly became family to me. Prior to Sea|Mester, I had very little sailing experience and no diving experience and I think that that is a common turn off for people that come across this program, but you have no need to be worried if you're in that boat (haha). The staff does an exceptional job teaching you the ropes, making you feel safe, and making you feel like the boat is your home. If you're a hands on learning that thrives on getting outside of your comfort zone, adventure, and travel then this program is for you. I can not effusive enough how much Sea|Mester and my crew changed my life. If you're presented with the privilege to be a student on Sea|Mester... do it. If Sea|Mester taught me anything, it's to say yes even when you're scared. The greatest adventure of your life could be waiting for you.

I did the trip from Palau to Thailand in 21 and it was so much fun. I learnt so much, made so many great friends and got to see and experience some of the coolest stuff I’ve seen to date. The staff are all very cool, approachable and great teachers. I got 12 credits and it didn’t even feel like a semester because it was so fun. If you like adventure, travel and the ocean I couldn’t recommend this program more.

This trip was amazing!! I loved it so much that I did it twice! Seeing all of the amazing life and islands was insane. Being able to learn how to dive in such a cool place was one of my favorite experiences ever.

The whole trip was so amazing, I loved every second! My favorite part was definitely learning to scuba dive and seeing all of the turtles. It was a little disappointing that we were unable to go to Saba because of a storm but we still had a lot of fun. In replacement for the Saba land day we went to st.Martin and all got Shawarma for lunch. We went scuba diving at least once a day and saw stingray, starfish, urchins, Sandollars, small fish, and even a shark! My favorite dive was one of our last, during this dive we didn’t wear our fins and we were blowing ring bubbles and doing back flips. Overall I though this trip was an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend!

Working with Broadreach was a seamless process that clearly comes from experience. From the administration to the actual trip leaders, we always felt connected and that our child was safe. Our 13 year old came home with more confidence and an excitement for travel. Now that he has completed his level 1 scuba certification, he is ready to get his advanced diving so that he can use it to volunteer in the shark tank at the local aquarium. He made friends from around the world and saw parts of the Caribbean only known to the locals. Thank you Broadreach for taking such wonderful care of our child and opening his eyes to the world.

Broadreach responded to this reviewOctober 20, 2022

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! How amazing that your son is hoping to use his skills to volunteer in your community! We loved having him.

I went to broadreach during 2021, during a lot of COVID cases. I felt safe and healthy during the camp, and there were tests when we needed them. I also loved the sailing and scuba combination, and I enjoyed most of my time during the camp. I am going back a year later, and am so grateful for all the amazing experiences I had and friendships I'll have for a long time.

Broadreach responded to this reviewOctober 20, 2022

Thanks for your review, Lyla! We're glad you felt safe and enjoyed your time with us. Can't wait to see you again next summer!

She loved the sailing and learned a lot about scuba diving. It was also a good opportunity for her to be on her own without her parents making all the decisions. Things were well coordinated and ran on time.

Broadreach responded to this reviewOctober 20, 2022

Thank you so much for your review! We're so glad your daughter enjoyed her experience :)

I had such a fun time getting SCUBA certified and learning how to sail. I met people that had became my family for 21 days and that I will remember and talk to for a very long time. I had such a fun time and will never forget this life changing experience.

Broadreach was such a valuable experience for me on numerous levels. For one, I developed great friendships with such interesting, fun people who, even after a year, I still keep in contact with. I learned so much about myself and my ambitions. The group leaders/coordinators were role models, and nothing slight of truly inspiring. This trip allowed me to understand my passion for marine biology and my desire to pursue it as a career. Also, being in the warm climate and clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea wasn’t too bad either :). Visiting the community in Saba was fascinating, unplugging from the virtual world was relaxing, and living a communal lifestyle on the boat was amazing. I truly thank Broadreach for giving me an experience that I will never forget.

Before it was ever presented to me, I never imagined I would live with complete strangers on a boat for 21 days. I absolutely loved the experience. I learned so many things both in and outside the classroom. This is a very unique trip, not just because your in the Caribbean, but because you take what you learn and use it in the “field.” We turned the ocean into our own personal classroom and were able to use what we learned to identify fish, plants, and much more! The scenery makes you take the time to live in the moment and be worry-free, in other words, it’s a great way to disconnect from the outside world. Working with the locals showed me how amazing people really are out there. In the places we visited, everyone was so friendly and living it with friends made it that much better. My favorite part of the trip was diving. Before this trip, I never imagined myself scuba diving, it was an incredible experience! The other students on the trip became some of the closest people I know. Other then when we left, there was never a sad moment about the trip. I enjoyed every second of it!

I was on board Sea|mester's 112 ft schooner Argo for the Spring 2018 voyage from South Africa to Antigua. It was the highlight of my gap year, and certainly one of the best experiences I've ever had. The team of instructors were all knowledgeable and fun to be around throughout the trip and my fellow shipmates became close friends. If you are looking for a challenging, life-changing adventure and love the ocean I would highly recommend Sea|mester.

A very exciting adventure. We faced many things and grew very close as a crew and family. Explored many places and did things that not very many people get to do. From exploring different places, to scuba diving, to sailing across oceans, you can do it all on Seamester.

This trip was the most engaging, eye-opening experience of my life. I came home with so many new friends, memories, perspectives, and lessons. One major lesson I learned was just how rewarding it can be to go outside of your comfort zone. If it weren't for moving past this initial state of nerves, I never would have had the opportunity to scuba dive, sail, wake board, body surf, hike, cliff dive, and snorkel. I also would have missed out on valuable lessons about marine biology, conservation, and collecting research. The marine biology lessons were also very impactful and engaging. Because the information was so relevant to where we were living, and because it was taught in a hands on way, I found the learning to be very fun and interesting. There was never a dull moment! At first, I was a little apprehensive about living on a boat, but after just a few days, I learned to love it. While the living quarters were a little close, this was never an issue because everyone quickly became close friends, and it's impossible to feel confined when surrounded by such a vast and expansive entity like the ocean. Another responsibility of living on a boat is consistent cleaning. While this may sound like a tedious chore, it was actually quite fun, especially when we were all laughing, telling stories, and dancing to the music in the background while doing it. I must admit, though, my all time favorite part about living on the boat was having the opportunity to sleep outside if one pleased. I always chose to sleep on the deck of the boat under the stars, because the view was just so incredible. There is nothing better than gazing at a night sky full of stars after a long day of scuba diving, sailing, and studying with newfound friends.

Thank goodness I chose this program over summer school, even if it meant I had more workload during the school year. I was hesitant at first about BroadReach, and wasn't sure which program to choose on their diverse roster of adventures. After contacting the staff and through some email exchanges, I decided that the Carribean Marine Biology Voyage would be the one for me. The three weeks that I spent with the most amazing group of teenagers and instructors cannot be summed up in just one word. "Incredible" wouldn't do nearly enough justice to how amazing this trip was. Every day, for 21 days, I was pushed to my limits while scuba diving, learning about marine bio, taking care of the boat, sailing, and doing community service in a supportive and tight-knit community. To be able to learn about marine biology and all the wonders of the ocean from textbooks and our very intellectual instructor Melissa, then see it all in real life as we go scuba diving in the clear and diverse waters of the Caribbean is an experience not found anywhere else. I was also able to meet people from all over the world and build strong friendships. Apart from being sunburned, and slightly scraped up here and there, BroadReach did an amazing job taking care of us when we got seasick or had staph infections. This program created some of the best memories of my summer and possibly my life as it opened my eyes up to so many new things and wonders. I will forever cherish the three weeks on Nil.

I cannot recommend this program enough. You get to travel to amazing places on a real sailing vessel, learn interesting subjects taught by fantastic staff, and spend a semester with people that will become your second family. Truly incredible experience!

I stumbled upon Seamester not knowing what to expect as I boarded Argo to sail from Tahiti to Australia. I’m fortunate to have family that signed me up for this trip and pretty much forced me to go. I am not required to write this review but have never had a better experience in my life and therefore feel compelled to. We saw humpback whales swim along our schooner. We dove the Great Barrier Reef. We danced in small island bars across the South Pacific, and best of all we formed a bond as a crew that will never be broken. These memories were etched into our minds to be cherished for a lifetime. These are things I never thought I would do and it brings tears to my eyes to think I almost missed out on these experiences, these people. Don’t hesitate like I did. Sign up now and take the first step towards something you will never regret.