ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

This course combines biology and geology, history and anthropology in a study of coral reefs, cave ecology, and historic and contemporary Caribbean culture. These island’s variety of habitats (mangrove and tropical dry forests, salt flats, marshes, desert, and coral reefs) and diversity of people brought willingly or not, are the foundation for the fascinating culture that has emerged on these islands. On January 5, 2026 we will fly to the island of Curacao (there January 6-12) to delve into the history of this once center of the Atlantic slave trade. We will also visit a large cave on Curacao (and later a unique cave on Bonaire) and understand their relationship with coral reefs. Then we fly to Bonaire (January 13 to 22) to explore the best coral reefs, some of the most fascinating habitats and contemporary culture in the Caribbean. We will return to Curacao the evening of Jan. 22 and return to San Francisco on Jan 23. Arriving on Curacao students, who are not SCUBA certified before the trip, will complete the in-water portion of their open water training course and become fully certified SCUBA divers. On Bonaire’s reefs we will develop an understanding of reef development, how biogeochemical cycles impact that development, threats to coral reefs, and how the diverse biota of reefs effect each other. Because of the restrictions on Bonaire, students will need to be SCUBA certified before we get there or finalize their certification when we first arrive in Bonaire. I will work with students to support them in this. Certification costs will be on top of the course costs.

• Pre-departure: Introduction and Doing online portion of PADI Scuba Certification

Week 1

• Monday, Jan. 5: Depart from SFO
• Tuesday, Jan. 6: Arrive in Curaçao
• Wednesday, Jan. 7: Curaçao
  Tour Curaçao Museum (art /history) info@thecuracaomuseum.com; Van Leeuwenhoekstraat z/n in Otrabanda and visit Fort Amsterdam.
  Class topics: Local, native, and colonial art
• Thursday, Jan. 8: Curaçao
  Kura Hulanda  Museum—anthropology and history of Slave trade in Curaçao; Afternoon Curaçaoish Museum of Colonial Period
  Class topics: Slavery and colonial period in Curaçao
• Friday, Jan. 9: Curaçao
  Curaçao Plantation and factory KaGrootst and Chobolobo distillery tour. Go hear island music in the evening.
• Saturday, Jan. 10: CHRISTOFFEL NATIONAL PARK ()
• Sunday, Jan. 11: Curaçao
  Morning tour of Hato Hato Cave
  Afternoon flight to Bonaire

Week 2

• Monday, Jan. 12: Bonaire
  Rent vans and check in to Captain Don’s habitat
• Tuesday, Jan. 13: Bonaire
  Students getting water portion of certification all day; Those already certified have boat Dive am; shore dive afternoon.
  Class topics: Coral reefs and geology
• Wednesday, Jan. 14: Bonaire
  Students getting water portion of certification already certified have Boat Dive am; Shore dive afternoon
• Thursday, Jan. 15: Bonaire
  Morning students finish water portion of certification; Afternoon all have boat dive; shore dive afternoon.   
  Class topic: Coral reefs
• Friday, Jan. 16: Bonaire
  Morning boat dive; Night dive in the evening
• Saturday, Jan. 17: Bonaire
  Morning and afternoon boat dive; Night dive in the evening
  Class topic: Coral reefs
• Sunday, Jan. 18: Bonaire
  Morning boat dive; Afternoon shore dive; Go hear music in the evening
  Class topics: island history/geology

Week 3

• Monday, Jan. 19: Bonaire
  Morning boat dive; Afternoon: Washington-Slagbaai National Park
  Class topic: coral reefs
• Tuesday, Jan. 20: Bonaire
  Class to Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary, Onima Indian Cave art, Mangrove Center Hike and tour afternoon
• Wednesday, Jan. 21: Bonaire
  Do cave tour morning and afternoon
• Thursday, Jan. 22: Bonaire
  Morning cave tour
  Afternoon flight to Curaçao
• Friday, Jan. 23: Curaçao
  Final exam
  Depart from Curaçao, Arrive at SFO

Course Fee: TBD
Learn about the Jan Term Travel Scholarship for additional funding.

This fee includes:
Airfare, Local Transportation, Lodging, Meals, Excursions (e.g., museums, tours, etc.), Gratuity, Travel Insurance ($35/student - international classes only), Miscellaneous, Diving costs

Estimated cost outside of course fee: 
SCUBA certification costs