Trip Itinerary of Broadreach: Underwater Discoveries Advanced

21 Day Itinerary
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.

14 Day Itinerary
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. Our 46-foot specially equipped catamaran provides an ideal platform for diving, sailing and adventure. Days start early, around 7am! We share all of the responsibilities, from sailing to keeping our home "ship-shape". Over the next two weeks you will be the skipper, first mate, navigator, Divemaster 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. Adventure awaits! Whether it's your first time diving, or you are already certified, the knack for scuba will come to you in no time and soon you'll be blowing bubbles and checking out the stunning reefs and cool fish. Try your hand at wakeboarding or waterskiing in the calm waters that surround your yacht.

Day 4–6
St. Barts feels like the French Riviera, très français. Perfect beaches, turquoise waters and shallow reefs teeming with life. Whether you are working on your Open Water or your Advanced certification, the diverse and accessible dive sites in the St. Bart's Marine Reserve are ideal. 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 cools shops, yummy burgers and homemade mango ice cream. Back on the yacht, as you watch the sunset over les Saintes with your new friends and reflect on all you've done, its hard to imagine that you have only been here for a few days.

Day 7–8
Practice your seamanship and navigation skills as we sail to St. Kitts. The island boasts rolling hills, lush rainforests, beautiful coastlines and reef walls that drop off into the abyss. 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. Now that everyone on board is certified, we plunge below to explore Paradise Reef where the spur and groove formations make you feel like you are swimming through an underwater maze. After dinner, discover the abundance of lobsters, crabs, shrimp and eels that emerge from the cracks on your first night dive. 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.

Day 9–12
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, Man-of-War Shoals and Twilight Zone are phenomenal and perfect for finishing your PADI Underwater Naturalist certification. 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 13–14
Still time for more diving, exploring and watersports! Sail on to the picture perfect, deserted island of Tintemarre just off the coast of St Martin. The white sand and crystal clear water provide the ideal setting for your final day in the Caribbean. Do one last dive on the wreck of the Remorquer. After nightfall, head to the beach for a campfire with your shipmates. As you toast marshmallows under the starry sky you reflect on your adventure. Twelve people who were strangers have become a team; working together, learning from each other and building lifelong friendships.