Contact our programming office to create a customized itinerary of your own!
Reef Snorkeling
Activity Description: Dive into the beautiful Caribbean Sea to discover the rich and diverse marine ecosystem of the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere, the Belize Barrier Reef!
Duration: 2 - 3 hours
Difficulty Level: Easy
Equipment Needed: Swimsuit, Rashguard, Reef Safe Sunscreen (Body Belize Apothecary Sunscreen can be purchased at Tobacco Caye for US$15 per unit). Snorkel, Mask and Fins available at Tobacco Caye Marine Station.
Expected Learning Outcomes: Learn to identify the invasive red lionfish, survey signs of bleaching and disease in the numerous species of coral and navigate your way between diverse biomes whilst living on a remote palm dotted island. Be surrounded by the turquoise waters full of charismatic species such as sting rays, moray eels and countless species of fish.
Full Day and Half Day Boat Excursions
Activity Description: Visit many different islands along the second largest barrier reef in the world! Take a boat to see all the beautiful marine life for a full or half day adventure. The excursions are to South Water Caye, Carrie Bow Caye, Mangroves, Seagrass Beds, and more. Full day excursion to Glover’s Atoll is available upon request.
Duration: Half Day (9am - 12pm) or Full Day (9am - 4pm)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Equipment Needed: Swimsuit, Rashguard, Reef Safe Sunscreen (Body Belize Apothecary Sunscreen can be purchased at Tobacco Caye for US$15 per unit). Snorkel, Mask and Fins available at Tobacco Caye Marine Station.
Expected Learning Outcomes: Take a boat to discover the diversity of the Caribbean Sea from Mangrove to Reef. Mangroves and seagrass are of major ecological importance in tropical waters with their strong trunks and extensive system of prop roots they stabilize shorelines. Their roots provide essential habitat for the juveniles of many species of fish, shrimp and other marine life. Mangroves and seagrass are vital components to the carbon cycle in the tropics. You may even see a manatee or dolphin!
Night Snorkel
Activity Description: Join the Tobacco Caye Marine Station Managers in a thrilling night snorkel to see the marine world in a totally different perspective. When the fish during the day go into hiding, other marine creatures like lobsters, octopus, eels, and squid make their debut at night!
Duration: 1 - 2 hours
Difficulty Level: Easy
Equipment Needed: Swimsuit, Rashguard, Reef Safe Sunscreen (Body Belize Apothecary Sunscreen can be purchased at Tobacco Caye for US$15 per unit). Waterproof Flashlight, Snorkel, Mask and Fins available at Tobacco Caye Marine Station.
Expected Learning Outcomes: At night, many of marine life that go into hiding during the day come out to play, mate, explore and feed. You will be enthralled to see lobsters, octopus, squid, eels, Spanish dancers, toad fishes, frog fishes, sea slugs, blue tangs, tarpon, barracuda and many more multi-color reef fishes. With a dive light, expect to see the marine life at the height of their existence!
Reef Clean Up
Activity Description: Did you know that 14 million tons of plastic debris end up in the ocean every year? At Tobacco Caye Marine Station, you can help do your part to protect that marine animals from ingesting the trash by cleaning up the reef.
Duration: 2 - 3 hours
Difficulty Level: Easy
Equipment Needed: Trash bags, Gloves, Swimsuit, Rashguard, Reef Safe Sunscreen (Body Belize Apothecary Sunscreen can be purchased at Tobacco Caye for US$15 per unit). Snorkel, Mask and Fins available at Tobacco Caye Marine Station.
Expected Learning Outcomes: Learn about the impacts of plastic pollution in the oceans and the importance of reducing single use plastic in everyday lives.
Marine Lectures
Activity Description: Tobacco Caye Marine Station Managers are able to present a multitude of lecture topics to student groups to learn more about the Belize Barrier Reef.
Duration: 1 - 1.5 hours
Topics:
~ Intro to the marine environment of Belize
~ Corals of the Belize Barrier Reef
~ Marine ecology of Belize – mangroves, sea grass and coral reefs
~ United Nation’s SDG 14 – Life below the water
~ Climate change and coral reefs
~ Fish identification
~ Ocean Plastic and Pollution
~ Tourism and the marine environment of Belize
~ Symbiosis in the marine environment of Belize
~ The invasive red lionfish