Day 1–3
The starting point for our adventure is Broadreach's base in
Anse Marcel on the French side of St. Martin. Settle into the yacht
and meet your fellow crewmates and trip leaders. Our 46-foot specially
equipped catamaran provides an ideal platform for diving and adventure.
Our maiden voyage to Grand Case gives us the chance to learn about
sailing and the language of the sea...sheet in, head up, ready about,
jibe ho. Let's go diving! Maybe it's been a while since the last
time you "blew bubbles," but after a safety and skills review and
a good orientation dive, the knack for scuba will come back to you
in no time.
Day 4–6
Adapting quickly to life aboard, your crew shares all of the
responsibilities from pumping tanks to navigating to keeping
the yacht "ship shape". We learn that conserving fresh water is a must
and cooking for 12 in a yacht galley can be a challenge. St. Barts is
a diver's dream. Dive sites are abundant and loaded with tons of schooling
fish, lobster hiding in the coral, sleek barracuda and a wealth of turtles.
Head ashore to find fantastic beaches and the town of Gustavia,
just as imagined...cool shops, a scenic harbor, mopeds racing about
and classic French bakeries. Don't miss the ice cream shop and its delicious
homemade sorbet.
Day 7–9
The eleven miles of beautiful white sand beaches on Nevis provide
the perfect spot to begin our PADI Rescue Diver course, perhaps
the most important and rewarding dive certification offered.
There's a lot to learn and our days are filled with rescue role plays,
training and earning our Emergency First Responder CPR and Basic First
Aid certifications. With the completion of our last search pattern and
rescue scenario, we're ready to take a break from the hard work… The
flat glassy water is ideal for mastering wakeboarding or a fun-filled
tubing session. With the completion of our last search pattern and rescue
scenario, we're ready for an all-out reggae bash, dancing the night
away with other Broadreachers at a festive beach party.
Day 10–13
Raise the main and set sail to St. Kitts, home to mysterious
wrecks, huge spur and groove formations and massive coral heads. The
island has lots of undiscovered dive sites and what we find rivals Saba.
Head ashore and step back into a time of pirates, colonialism and the
rum trade as you explore the Fort of Brimstone Hill. The imposing stone
walls and 18th century cannons have been completely restored and hint
at the rich history of the fortress. After dinner, discover an abundance
of lobsters, crabs and other invertebrates on a night dive on Moonshadow
Reef.
Day 14–16
You won't find many tourists on Statia, but you will find lots
of great diving and hiking. Hike up the steep trail of The
Quill, Statia's towering volcano. At the rim of the crater,
you're rewarded with a vast expanse of lush rainforest to explore. Golden
Rock Divers assists us with our Nitrox course, then we complete our
Wreck Specialties by exploring the largest wreck in the Caribbean, the
impressive 327-foot C/V Charles L. Brown. Assist the marine park and
other local organizations by spending an afternoon working on a community
service project. There is still time for an all-out reggae bash, dancing
the night away with other Broadreachers at a festive beach party.
Day 17–21
Saba awaits! A three hour broad reach sail brings us to an
island which literally towers out of the sea like a 16th century castle.
Sheer cliffs and a striking peak hint at her volcanic past, now home
to dense tropical jungles and possibly the best diving in the Caribbean.
Third Encounter, Twilight Zone and Man-O-War Shoals are as cool as their
names. Discover extraordinary pinnacles, mounts and volcanic formations.
Exploring inland, we take the "Road that Couldn't Be Built" up to the
Windwardside, a quaint village of tiny Dutch cottages, seemingly forgotten
by time. Our final sail to our home port is bittersweet. We are ready
for a hot shower, but definitely not ready to go home.