Day 1–3
Our yacht's home port is Anse Marcel on the French side of
St. Martin. These first days are busy as you meet the crew, are
assigned your dive gear for the trip and make last minute preparations
for the voyage. Settle into your yacht and get accustomed to the
pace of life aboard. Days start early, around 7am! We share all
of the responsibilities, from sailing to keeping our home "ship-shape".
Over the next three weeks you will be the skipper, first mate, navigator,
dive safety officer and chef for this journey. Learn the language of the
sea as our yacht slices through wind and wave on our first sail
to Grand Case. As we begin our scuba course, you realize diving
is easier than you thought and how fun it will be to blow bubbles
and check out cool fish.
Day 4–7
St. Barts feels like the French Riviera, très français. Perfect
beaches, turquoise waters and shallow reefs teeming with
life. A short hike takes us to the bodysurfing beach at Anse Flamands
on the windward side of the island. Spend an afternoon practicing small
boat handling, feeling the wind and trimming the sails
as we learn to sail lasers at the St. Barts Yacht Club. The town of
Gustavia is perhaps the nicest in the entire Caribbean with cool shops,
yummy burgers and homemade mango ice cream. After a day
in town experience the thrill of your first wreck dive.
Day 8–13
The picture postcard island of Nevis boasts 11 miles of magnificent
beaches and calm coves perfect for water skiing, wake boarding
and fun on the water. Get a taste of the local culture and
cuisine when an islander comes aboard to prepare Caribbean
dishes. Put your sailing skills and teamwork to the test as
you compete head-to-head with other Broadreach boats on Broadreach
Race Day! Set sail to St. Kitts, which boasts rolling hills,
beautiful coastlines and reef walls that drop off into the
abyss. Dive the Wreck of the River Taw, then step back into colonial
history by hiking up to Brimstone Hill Fort. Cannons, pirates and the
rum trade are just part of the story here.
Day 14–15
Raise the main and sail to Statia, also known as St. Eustatius.
There are almost no hotels or tourism here and that's part
of what makes it so special and unspoiled. The Statia Marine
Park works to preserve the island's thriving reefs, and we dive its
awe-inspiring jewel, the 327-foot C/V Charles L. Brown, one of the best
and largest wreck dives in the Caribbean. After a morning of community
service for the Marine Park, we trade our fins for hiking boots and
trek up over the crater rim of the Quill and into the mountain jungle
inside. Huge trees, long vines and lush rainforest reside under a canopy
above. We end our stay here with a blowout reggae party with other Broadreach
boats.
Day 16–19
Saba is a magical place that will capture your imagination…
The island majestically rises out of the ocean and disappears into the
clouds. Its world-famous marine park protects some of the best diving
in the Caribbean. The sheer walls and towering pinnacles of Babylon,
Tent Wall and Twilight Zone are phenomenal and perfect for finishing
your PADI Advanced Open Water course. Spend a day ashore, making your
way up to a town called "The Bottom" to explore the picturesque
village of tiny cottages and artisan shops. Then hike into the mist
of the elfin rainforest to the top of Mt. Scenery.
Day 20–21
Still time for more diving, exploring and water skiing! Sitting
on the bow, you reflect on your three week adventure. Twelve people
who were strangers have become a team; working together, learning from
each other and building lifelong friendships.