Castro Valley High School
June 28th - July 9th, 2025
The Mission: Networked Open SciencE & Coral Restoration
Bonaire, an island municipality of the Netherlands, lies off Venezuela’s coast in the southern Caribbean. Its reef-lined coast is protected by Bonaire National Marine Park. Beyond its rich marine life, the island shelters lizards, donkeys and birds within its immense Washington Slagbaai National Park, marked by beaches, lagoons, caverns and desert-like hills.
Our experienced team has been leading expeditions to Bonaire for High-School students since 2014.
The MISSION: Coral Reef Restoration
Students on this expedition learn the techniques needed to work in a coral nursery and how to out-plant coral on a restored reef. Students who complete the training will earn a coral reef restoration certification allowing them to work on restoration projects around the world.
The Conservation Media Team will produce a micro-documentary about environmental projects, and the students working on solutions.
This video is an example of the type of final project the conservation media students will produce under the direction of the WHALEFALL creative director, Jim Wojtowicz.
The MISSION: Networked Open Science
Students on this expedition will be trained as research divers, completing multiple surveys during the trip. One of these surveys will be at a smart data buoy deployed to advance ocean sampling. Students will assist with the updates to the hardware, and pair indicator species data to the site.
WHALEFALL is a nonprofit organization that connects a global student network to leaders in climate action, advancing real solutions and real impact through project-based learning.
At WHALEFALL, we believe in a world where students from across the globe come together as a unified force, harnessing their collective knowledge and passion to tackle real environmental challenges. Our mission is to inspire the next generation to lead purposeful lives dedicated to preserving and enhancing our planet's ecosystems. Just as a whalefall enriches the deep-sea environment, our network empowers students to collaborate on impactful solutions that sustainably nurture and protect the natural world for generations to come.
Training & Certifications
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Open Water Diver Track
Students who are not yet scuba certified divers will be on the Open Water Diver track. Open Water Certification will be issued as a pre-requisite to the coral restoration training.
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Advanced Diver Track
Previously scuba certified students will be on the Advanced Diver track. These students will complete additional training in night diving, nitrox, and filming underwater videos.
Optional Nitrox Diver Course
Diving nitrox is highly recommended on all expeditions. The higher percentage of oxygen means less nitrogen in your gas mixes. Less micro bubbles of nitrogen is always going to be be a positive thing. Typically the only downside of diving nitrox is the added gas fill cost, however all nitrox fills are no additional charge on this trip. Advanced divers are pre-enrolled in the nitrox course. Open water students have the option to enroll in the Nitrox course for an additional certification.
Local Students from Jong Bonaire
In partnership with the Murphy Henar Foundation, WHALEFALL has been training local students from Jong Bonaire to become research divers and dive masters, allowing the local community to monitor the health of their own reef, restore their own coral, and develop new career opportunities. A WHALEFALL nonprofit campaign for the students in Bonaire is currently raising funds so students from Nueva school and Bonaire can train together on the trip.
Pre-Trip Training
Marine ID Online Training
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The Bonaire fish ID eLearning will be available on the Area9 Platform. The online training will take approx. 4 hours. If you would like to learn even more fish, please reach out for bonus material.
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Your instructional staff has access to your eLearning progress. You do not need to submit the final exam for this part of the training.
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Set-up a free account on REEF https://www.reef.org/user/register
This is where you will upload your survey data. Please make not of your REEF member number as you will need it on the boat in Bonaire.
Scuba eLearning & Review
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Students will be assigned a unique code to redeem on the SDI website page: www.tdisdi.com/elearning.
Open Water Track students will receive 1 online code. (Two if enrolled in the optional nitrox course)
Advanced Track students will receive a nitrox, deep and night diving codes.
The online training will take approx. 8 hours. All online training is due by TBD
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Please upload a signed copy of your final exam for each online training here.
Please upload the final exam you sign and not the certificate from SDI. Example
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Enter your unique elearning code at: http://www.tdisdi.com/elearning
OPEN WATER TRACK CODES:
Coming soon…
ADVANCED TRACK CODES:
Coming soon…
Dive Equipment
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Rental scuba gear
The following equipment is included in the price of the expedition: Research Diving Equipment, Underwater Camera for teams, 3mm Wetsuit, BCD, Regulator, Dive Computer, Safety Equipment, Essential Dive Gear, and Underwater Lights for advanced track students. Tanks and Weights will be available on location. Students & families are responsible for the replacement value if lost or damaged.
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ESSENTIAL GEAR FOR PURCHASE
Students prefer to have their own essential basic dive equipment. Gear is available through partner dive centers for students at a discounted rate.
Essential dive gear includes a mask, snorkel, fins, boots, mesh bag, and surface marker buoy.
Trip Details
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The team at WHALEFALL has been working diligently to reduce the cost of the Summer Immersion program for all students. Through community support the cost has been lowered from $6,900 to the current price of $5,900 for all students. If you require additional financial support please complete the application below to start the process.
The cost of the Summer Immersion is based on two students per room. A single room is available for an extra cost.
A $3000 deposit is due to reserve a space in the summer immersion.
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WHALEFALL offers sliding scale tuition assistance for the summer immersion program based on financial need.
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WHALEFALL Educational Curriculum
4-1 Instructor Ratios for In-Water Training
Resort Accommodations & Airport Transportation
3 meals daily
Boat Dives
Equipment Rental
Complimentary wireless internet access
Donkey Sanctuary Tour
Mangrove Kayak
Dive Training & Certifications
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Airfare to Bonaire (BON) We will assist in booking a group flight.
Local gratuity
Marine Park Fee (Approx. $75)
Island Entrance Tax (Approx. $100)
DAN Diver Medical Insurance (Approx. $85)
Travel Insurance (Highly Recommended) We work with a preferred vender, Wanderwell
LOCAL INFO
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POWER: The Resort has 110V US compatible plugs
INTERNET: the resort has wireless internet access in rooms and common areas
CURRENCY: USD
FRESH WATER: All the water on the island is reverse osmosis and safe to drink.
Don’t Forget
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Passport (Expiration date more than six months from trip)
Reef Safe Sunscreen
Ear Spray
A Dive Log System
Certification Card - Advanced Divers
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Please submit your paperwork by TBD
DECOMPRESSION DAY
Diving requires a 24 hour surface interval before flying home. Students will visit a local donkey sanctuary for rescued animals in Bonaire (Student Bonus Question: Why is this important for the coral reefs?)
The group will also kayak through mangroves to snorkel in a fish nursery.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT
Reserve your space in the experience below with a deposit. Space is limited. If we do not meet the minimum number of students required to run this experience as described 100% of deposits will be returned promptly.
Proposed Flight from SFO to Bonaire
American Airlines June 28th - July 9th, 2025
Current Group Price: Approx. $800/person. Prices range from $750 - $2,000 for this flight.