Nueva School Bonaire Expedition

May 17th-26th, 2024

The Mission Part 1

During this expedition Nueva students will be working with Reef Renewal’s ongoing coral reef restoration program. Nueva divers will be learning coral local restoration techniques while working with diverse coral species. Divers will be trained how to fragment coral, place in coral nurseries, clean and maintain the nurseries, and how to outplant coral on a restoration site.

The Mission Part 2:

The Open Science Network Project

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.

Training & Certifications

  • 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 research diver training. Nitrox is a recommended optional dive specialty. Open Water Diver track students will be limited to 60ft on this expedition.

  • 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 underwater videographer. Advanced certifications will be issued with the completion of four specialty classes and a min. of 25 logged dives. Advanced track students will be limited to 100ft on this expedition.

Open Water Diver Track Students have the option to also enroll in the 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. The only downside of diving nitrox is the added gas fill cost, however at our resort nitrox fills are included in the price! Nitrox training is included for students already certified before the trip. New divers have the option to enroll in the Nitrox course for an additional $200. To enroll simply use the button below.

All Students are trained & certified in coral restoration

Pre-Trip Training

Maire ID Online Training

  • The Bonaire fish ID eLearning will be sent out to students after the Jan. 13th pool session. The program will be 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. All online training is due by the April pool sessions.

  • Your instructional staff has access to your eLearning progress. You do not need to submit the final exam for this part of the training.

Scuba eLearning & Review

  • The SDI scuba eLearning will be sent out to students after the Jan. 13th pool session. The program will be on the SDI Platform. You will activate your unique code on the SDI website page: www.tdisdi.com/elearning.

    Open Water Track students will receive 1 online code. (2 if enrolled in the optional nitrox course)

    Advanced Track students will receive 2 online codes for night diving and nitrox diving.

    The online training will take approx. 8 hours. All online training is due by the April pool sessions.

  • Please upload a signed copy of your final exam for each online training here.

Ocean Simulator (Pool) Training

  • POOL SESSIONS

    Sat. Jan. 13th / 11:15am- 2:30pm / Highlands Recreation District Pool, 1851 Lexington Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402 https://highlandsrec.ca.gov/aquatics

    Sat. & Sun. April 27th & April 28th / Time TBD / Highlands Recreation District Pool, 1851 Lexington Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402 https://highlandsrec.ca.gov/aquatics

PAPERWORK

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Basic or Advanced Scuba Training

  • Coral Reef Restoration Training

  • Sea Turtle Nesting Ground Survey

  • Collecting Underwater Indicator Species Data for Real World Research

  • Updating Oceanic Data Buoys

  • Donkey Sanctuary - (Related to the coral reefs)

  • Working on the Project with Local High School Students.

Trip Details

INCLUDED IN THE TRIP

  • Resort Accommodations & Transportation

    3 meals daily

    Airfare with one check-in bag and carry-on bags. A second bag is available for purchase.

    Local gratuity

    Boat Dives

    Equipment Rental

    Complimentary wireless internet access

    Donkey Sanctuary Tour

    Marine Park Fee

    Sea Turtle Survey

    Dive Training & Certifications

    DAN Diver Medical Insurance

    Island Entrance Tax

LOCAL INFO

  • POWER: The Resort has 110V US compatible plugs

    INTERNET: the resort has wireless internet access in rooms and common areas

    CURRENCY: USD is the official currency of Bonaire

    FRESH WATER: All the water at the resort is reverse osmosis and safe to drink. It is recommended to bring a water bottle you can fill up to avoid plastic bottles.

    LAUNDRY: The resort will do laundry for guests for a fee.

    LOCAL MARKET: We can bring students to the local Dutch supermarket for snacks and personal items.

    The meal plan includes three meals per day. Some students bring extra cash or a credit card to stock up on snacks and drinks for their rooms. All units have a small kitchen.

Don’t Forget

  • Passport

    (Expiration date more than six months from trip)

    Proof of COVID vaccination

    Certification Card - Advanced Divers

    Chargers and/or extra batteries for computers, lights, and cameras

    A lightweight rain jacket for the occasional tropical storm

RECOMMENDED ITEMS

All ordered items will be delivered to Students at the Pool

Non Reef-Safe Sunscreen is not allowed in Bonaire, and may be confiscated at the airport.

Students are required to have a log system in place before the pool session. Smart phone apps are accessible. This is a nice simple way to log dives w/ waterproof paper.

SCUBA EQUIPMENT

The following rental dive equipment is included in the expedition price: Dive Computer, Regulator, BCD, 3m Full Wetsuit, Tanks, Weights, Mask, Snorkel, Fins, Boots, Mesh Bag, and an SMB for advanced track students . Please visit our partner for student discounts if you would like to purchase your own personal equipment: https://www.immersegear.com/studentgear

This video from SCUBAPRO shows how to pack your BCD for the trip in the provided carry-on backpack

Please Reserve Your Equipment Sizes Below

Your Expedition Equipment will be delivered to the pool session in April. You will keep the gear until you return it after the expedition to a post-trip session at Nueva School.

Once delivered to students, if a student fails to bring equipment to a session or on the trip, that student is responsible for additional equipment rental charges. Students are responsible financially for the replacement value of any lost equipment, including GoPro cameras used for filming, and research equipment.