CanGap

Innovative New Program Study Abroad 2020 Finalist

Exploring Marine Science and Diving

Marine Science Gap Year: Andros, Bahamas

Join our 6-week program on Andros Island in the Bahamas and stay on a beachfront property with a stunning view of crystal-clear Caribbean waters. Here, you’ll earn PADI Scuba certifications while gaining lifetime friendships. 

Become more passionate about marine science and propel your future career with international experience. Take marine-based science classes, earn internationally recognized certifications, and volunteer with local Bahamian organizations.

International Field Studies has spent the past 20 years refining the Forfar Marine Science Program in collaboration with partner universities. This ensures we can provide the best experience possible on Andros Island, impressing universities and employers. Plus, you gain life skills that are applicable for the rest of your life!

Interested in this amazing program? We encourage you to contact us today as spots fill up fast.

Live on a beachfront property, study on the crystal clear Caribbean waters, and earn your PADI Open Water SCUBA certification during our two-week immersive marine science program at Forfar Field Station. Students partake in lecture-based activities and land/sea excursions throughout the island as they explore the wonders of Andros, home to the highest concentration of blue holes in the world and bordering the 3rd largest fringing barrier reef.

Our two-week program is perfect for those interested in learning more about marine ecosystems, biology, conservation, and SCUBA diving. It is open to students ages 18-24, and you do not need to be affiliated with a school group to join. Solo and small-group travelers are welcome! Space is limited, so register today!

Complete six online marine ecosystem lectures at your own pace (before arriving in The Bahamas).

Program date: July 2028

Study Abroad

Gap Year

International Field Studies

Sales Wolves

Most educators agree, immersion experiences are among the most lasting, meaningful types of education. Since our founding in 1970, we stand by our mission: “International Field Studies is a non-profit organization providing environmental education, scientific research, and cultural awareness through experiential learning.”

The station is named after its former owner and builder, Archie Forfar. Archie is best known as a Canadian architect and valiant deep sea diver that broke many diving world records, and was a memorable part of the international diving community. Together Archie, Dick Birch, and local Bahamians built the station by hand with native limestone and Caribbean pine in the 1960's as a dive resort called the Andros Reef Inn. IFS acquired the property in the 1970's and has bee...

Most educators agree, immersion experiences are among the most lasting, meaningful types of education. Since our founding in 1970, we stand by our mission: “International Field Studies is a non-profit organization providing environmental education, scientific research, and cultural awareness through experiential learning.”

The station is named after its former owner and builder, Archie Forfar. Archie is best known as a Canadian architect and valiant deep sea diver that broke many diving world records, and was a memorable part of the international diving community. Together Archie, Dick Birch, and local Bahamians built the station by hand with native limestone and Caribbean pine in the 1960's as a dive resort called the Andros Reef Inn. IFS acquired the property in the 1970's and has been running field study experiences there ever since.

For over 50 years, IFS has been dedicated to providing exceptional travel and educational experiences. We strive to ensure that our trips and programs promote responsible tourism, environmental education, and cultural awareness. We would love to have you join us on one of our upcoming adventures!

Awards & Achievements:
North America Association of Environmental Education
PADI Dive Resort
Organization of Biological Field Stations
Reef Rescue Network
Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project
Andros Community Based Tourism Cluster Initiative 
The Bahamas C-Coral Initiative
Andros Sustainable Tourism Destination Stewardship Council

Most educators agree, immersion experiences are among the most lasting, meaningful types of education. Since our founding in 1970, we stand by our mission: “International Field Studies is a non-profit organization providing environmental education, scientific research, and cultural awareness through experiential learning.”

The station is named after its former owner and builder, Archie Forfar. ...

Best summer opportunity

Forfar has it all!!!

Best 6 weeks

Bahamas

The Forfar Field Station Experience

Most amazing experience! 6-weeks immersed in Andros culture where education and environmentalism is incorporated. Get scuba certified and have the opportunity to live on the beach with amazing people your age who have similar interests in the ocean and marine science. Get to see many animals in their natural habitat while snorkeling and scuba diving. Apply you won't regret!!!

The six-week Marine Science Program at Forfar Field Station in absolutely amazing! International Field Studies has been operating outstanding programs at the field station on Andros Island for over 50 years. A cohort of like-minded college students are engaged in coursework, field lectures, hands-on learning and research, experiential labs, interviews with conservationists, service projects, and tons of snorkeling and diving in pristine reefs. Topics range from coral biology and conservation, marine invertebrates, reef fish identification, sustainable fisheries, bonefishing, ecotourism, botany, and island geology with many opportunities to engage with local islanders. Certifications include wilderness first aid, leave no trace, kayaking and PADI basic and advanced diving. Last, but not least, life-long friends are made while having tons of fun. Cleary, Forfar has it all! 

The instructors and staff are extremely knowledgeable, dedicated and absolutely love what they do! The upfront planning and communication with families well in advance of the trip was extremely well organized and thorough. The home office staff in Columbus, Ohio were always available for any questions that arose throughout the process. The accommodations are historic and rustic, providing the setting for a truly authentic experience. 

My son attended the program in 2021 and absolutely loved everything about it! Definitely one of the best experiences of his life!  Be prepared to be totally immersed in a life where priorities are different, life is meaningful, bonds form seamlessly among peers, staff and locals and life is lived to its fullest.

This place is incredible and it was life-changing. I highly recommend this course. I was there for 40 days and I never had a single bad day. I was pushed to new limits and the staff was very encouraging. It was incredible and I wish I could go back every day I'm in the states. Take every opportunity or you will regret it. Jump off Bills, go to Lauries (no matter how tired you are), night snorkel, and go birding. Just be free, and do this trip. You will not regret it.

6 weeks on Andros

I first came to Andros and Forfar with Hocking college as part of the Eco-tourism and Adventure Travel program. I had been studying and working as a naturalist already but the experience here showed me things I never would have considered. I gained a love and appreciation for the ocean that I never would have had coming from Ohio. I learned so much about marine biology as well as bush medicine and geology all of which I am now passionate about. This new experience helped me further understand the directions I wanted to go down later in life.

On top of the amazing book knowledge I gained many social skills and understandings from living in close quarters with a group of peers. The experience taught me about how I manage myself in social situations and led to a large personal growth.

This experience, along with a few others, eventually led me back down to Andros where I was hired as part of the Educational Staff at Forfar!

Hocking college Andros

I went to Forfar Field Station in January/February of 2014 through the Ecotourism and Adventure Travel major with Hocking College. The experience definitely had a lasting impact on my life and inspired me to pursue a career in SCUBA diving. During my 6 week stay at Forfar we learned about geology, biology, icthyology (fish ID), dendrology (tree ID), coral identification, sea kayaking, windsurfing, sailing & got my Open Water and Advanced Open Water SCUBA certifications. The staff at the field station has always been super friendly and helpful, from the directors to the interns to the local Bahamian staff that cooks and works on the facilities or Daddy Cool who works as as security guard- everyone makes you feel welcome. 

Andros has the third largest barrier reef in the world, so you can imagine that the diving is pretty good! We saw all sorts of critters in the ocean. Some of what we saw were sharks, rays, parrot fish, crabs, octopus, squids, BIG fish, etc. I enjoyed this program and specifically the diving so much that I kept taking diving courses when I returned home and am now a SCUBA instructor and manage a dive shop. 

I still keep in touch with the members of my group and maintain good friendships with a few of them. When you spend 6 weeks on an island with a group of people you form some really solid bonds. 

All in all I think this program is a great way for people who are taking a gap year to be introduced to a new culture, a scientific way of thinking, and put out of their comfort zone enough to experience some real growth.

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