The students of Caribbean Scuba & Service got off to a quick start early Sunday morning heading out on their excursion to Panama to begin their training for scuba diving. The group of 9 had a smooth transition into Panama where they then loaded boats and prepared for their stay on the private small island of Solarte in Bocas Del Toro. Before the group packed their belongings into the boat they made a spur of the moment stop in an Afro-Caribbean village during an indigenous festival of locals dancing and celebrating where one student was able to try on traditional Panama clothing. Students spent the remainder of the night assembling tents and unloading their food as they prepared for the next four days of training for their certifications. In order to receive their official National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) beginners dive certification, students were required to review workbooks and videos, alongside practical day to day water trainings. During the in water sessions, Executive Director Jim Rowe taught the group different breathing methods, proper gear set-up, and many other important safety precautions to take into consideration while diving. Besides only technical and educational skills, the group also experienced a 50 feet dive to a rusted ship wreck and an underwater tour at night where they were able to see the electric bioluminescence of the sea.

Throughout the next few days students split their time between work and play, also being able to participate in water sport activities during free time. Alternate water activities included wake boarding, knee boarding, stand up paddling, and also enjoying the sandy beaches of the Caribbean. Students took advantage of being able to snorkel and view the diverse marine life and coral reefs just a few feet from their beach-inspired wooden house. Each day the group took on new leadership roles assisting in various assigned duties that all played a vital role in the successful completion of everyday activities. The group also engaged in daily group discussions based on the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. On Wednesday they practiced new skill sets for their upcoming sea kayak expedition . They will take on the Caribbean Sea today traveling to another part of the island to explore more land of the Afro-Caribbean people and completing a service project!