Optional Courses on Sail Caribbean
Sail Caribbean summer adventure camps offer lots of optional courses.
Our range of optional courses is designed to meet your unique interests, skills, and goals. While many students feel our regular program activities offer plenty to do, others choose electives to get even more from their stay in the Caribbean. These courses require commitment; some involve prerequisites. Some have additional fees, have limited enrollment and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Marine Biology for Academic Credit
Available on Sierra programs
The clear blue water, coral reefs, and rock formations of the Caribbean Islands are an expansive habitat for extraordinary sea creatures and plant life. Using our own curriculum, Fringing Reefs of the British Virgin Islands and Guide to Marine Sciences of the Caribbean, our experienced staff lead in-depth marine biology seminars with practical hands-on lessons on all our programs.
On our Sierra programs, you can participate and learn just for the enjoyment or go a step further and study Marine Biology for academic credit through your school's independent study program (a faculty sponsor must review and approve our curriculum in advance). Whether for credit or not, this is serious fun. More on Marine Biology
Basic Keelboat Certification
Available on Alpha & Bravo programs, and is part of regular curriculum on Echo
If you're arriving at Sail Caribbean with prior sailing experience, why not take this opportunity to gain a nationally recognized certification from the American Sailing Association? You'll participate in seminars, then demonstrate your sailing and seamanship skills during two intensive days on Rhodes 19s or IC-24s. A written exam fulfills the requirements and you’ll have an official lifelong certification. More on Basic Keelboat Certification
Scuba Optional Courses
Discover Scuba
Available on all programs except Charlie
Want to dip your toe into the world of scuba diving without plunging into a full certification program? Our Discover Scuba course is the perfect place to take your first underwater breaths. You'll learn diving safely and slowly as our expert staff demonstrates safety essentials and equipment use. Once you're comfortable with the basics, you'll take two or three dives, starting in waist-deep water off the beach, then gliding gradually into 20-30 feet of crystal-clear tropical water. Learn more about Discover Scuba
Open Water Scuba
Available on all programs except Charlie & Delta
Become a certified diver with the most widely recognized rating in the world. The PADI Open Water Diver (OW) certification requires 25 to 30 hours of class instruction, work in shallow water, exams, and open-water dives. You'll complete the PADI Open Water online portion at home before your program begins through PADI's e-learning course. This way you'll complete the required knowledge prior to arrival so you can have a quick review and jump right in at the program start. After earning your OW certification, you can continue your dive education to earn your Adavnced Open Water Diver (AOW) certification and dive specialties, or use your skills to enjoy recreational dives during the remainder of your program. Learn more about the Open Water certification
Advanced Open Water Scuba
Available on all programs except Delta
Open Water Divers can go to the next level to earn their Advanced Open Water (AOW) Diver certification and then can continue on to specialty certifications and enjoy recreational diving. During the course you will complete interesting and informative knowledge reviews along with navigation, night and deep dives, plus two other dives of your choice in assorted specialty areas for a total of five dives. Learn more about the Advanced Open Water certification
Recreational Diving
Available on all Sail Caribbean programs except for Charlie Pro Dive Instructor
Ever imagine diving on a Coral Garden or drifting through a Rainbow Canyon? Certified divers can enjoy recreational diving in the BVI with our own Sail Caribbean Divers, and outside the BVI with trusted local dive companies. You must bring proof of certification from a recognized agency, such as PADI, NAUI, YMCA, NASDS.
To learn more about Scuba Diving visit our Dive Education page.