SeaSmart Summer 2026 Student Program:
(Parents are welcome based on availability)
If you are certified or wish to learn to SCUBA,
join SeaSmart this summer!
Saturday, July 11th - Saturday, July 18th, 2026
Puerto Morelos, Mexico
This July 2026, we will venture to Puerto Morelos, an authentic fishing village that is home to the Reef National Park and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, an incredible underwater world. The Mesoamerican Reef is the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere (second largest behind the Great Barrier Reef), stretching over 600 miles along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. It is a biodiverse ecosystem facing threats from climate change, pollution, and overfishing, but also offering amazing exploration and learning opportunities. Our adventure will take us to this beautiful area, with clear water and vibrant marine life. With dive sites located as close as 300 feet off the shoreline, we will enjoy short boat rides to incredible diving.
To get a sense of our “Student Week,” visit our memories by clicking here!
This program promises to offer exciting and exceptional experiences. We choose locations where developing today’s students with marine conservation skills will be best nurtured and where participants can have a high impact on the endangered marine ecosystem. Puerto Morelos is an optimal destination with limitless marine life to study and many marine conservation research and activities taking place. The program also incorporates becoming Open Water SCUBA certified, obtaining advanced diving certifications or can just be enjoyed by those already certified to dive.
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Partnering with an incredible team of local conservationists, scientists and dive professionals, our participants will gain exposure to experiences unique to the Yucatan region. Mornings include diving and/or dive training, followed by afternoons and evenings filled with expert-led activities, research, adventures and workshops by scientists and conservation professionals actively working to restore the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Sites here are known for many fascinating sightings.
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In addition to excellent diving, participants will have the opportunity to learn about local marine life, issues facing the ocean’s inhabitants, what is being done to address them and experience first hand conservation activities. Our week will kick off with a workshop focussed on an introduction to coastal ecosystems, a discussion around plastic pollution, wastewater and coastal development. During our program, students will be introduced to the importance of seagrass as it provides a critical habitat for many marine species, acts as a natural water filter that improves water clarity, and stabilizes coastlines by preventing erosion. It also contributes to climate change mitigation by storing large amounts of carbon. Workshops will include seagrass, benthic and crustacean identification. Students will perform important in-water scientific monitoring techniques capturing data about the seagrass conditions and its inhabitants for contribution to the Raices Marinas project. Additionally, students will learn the AGGRA coral monitoring methodology. AGGRA has developed a comprehensive set of visual training tools to help partners learn identification of key reef organisms, their role in reef health, and how to scientifically monitor, track and understand these systems. Our coral identification, monitoring and scientific data collection dives will contribute to one of the largest open-access public databases of coral reef conditions. We will also learn about the recent sargassum challenges and what has been learned about the related threats and challenges.
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We will learn about the history of this region and explore jungle cenotes, which are natural sinkholes formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater, creating natural wells, pools, and caves. Beach cleanups are always conducted, so we can leave our destination just a little better than when we arrived.
Trip & Program Details and FAQ’s:
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How many participants can attend per program?
Due to the custom nature of this particular program and the unique activities which have built-in limits regarding participants, we will limit each program to 12 students/participants. However, for a large group traveling together, alternative dates can be arranged for the program.
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What are the prerequisites for the program?
You do not need to be SCUBA certified to attend this program, as scuba training and potential certification is included. Participants for this program must be at least 15 years old when the program begins to be eligible for PADI Open Water certification. Students aged 10-14 years old, will be junior certification candidates.
What will our days be like?
Each day will bring a completely different breathtaking experience! The first several days will revolve around the scuba certification course, working in a confined water setting on skills necessary for scuba certification. Then you will move to open water; where you will do your final testing for certification. After certifications are completed, new divers will join with those already certified for recreational diving.
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The region has no shortage of amazing marine life. Those already certified will enjoy recreational dives while students are undergoing training.
Later in the day, our adventures will have us performing conservation and science activities, conducting underwater surveys and monitoring, and attending workshops to prepare us for the next morning’s dive and hands-on learning.
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A sample day may look like:
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7:00 am Breakfast
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8:00 am SCUBA training/diving
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12:15 pm Lunch
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1:00 pm Coral ID, Monitoring and Data Collection
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6:30 pm Dinner
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8:00 pm Workshop on Coastal Ecosystems & Pollution Impacts​
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*Schedules are always flexible based on weather and marine life behavior/sightings
Who do you partner with?
​ Partnering with an incredible team of local conservationists, scientists and dive professionals, our participants will gain exposure to experiences unique to Puerto Morelos. Mornings include diving and/or dive training. Afternoons and evenings will be filled with expert-led activities, citizen science research & adventures and workshops by scientists.
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Where will we stay? Where will we eat and sleep? How will we get there?
We will be staying together as a large group in accommodations with air conditioning, in-room bathrooms, a pool, dive instruction and a dining area. Participants will be grouped by gender in rooms.
You will be met at the Cancun International Airport (CUN) by SeaSmart leaders, and will travel approximately 25 minutes via van to the nearby resort. Fresh meals prepared in both the onsite and at local restaurants will be shared as a group. Most allergies/dietary restrictions can be accommodated with advance notice.
How does the SCUBA certification work?
The Open Water Diver Course will potentially lead participants to a certification that allows them to dive with a buddy all around the world! Over the course of our days, your instructor will teach the basics of SCUBA – encompassing the theory behind safe diving practices, skill mastery and finally becoming an Open Water Diver.
Once students have formed the base of dive skills, we will hop onto one of the dive boats and build on what has been learned by exploring and navigating some of Puerto Morelos’s many beautiful dive sites. Because there is a limit to the class sizes, you will have the most possible one-on-one time with your dive instructor as well as SeaSmart leaders. This will allow you to really understand why they love scuba diving so much and what you can do to become the best scuba diver you can be!
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What if I am already certified to SCUBA dive?
If you are already a certified diver, you can enjoy beautiful recreational dives (along with a SeaSmart leader, as well as a local dive guide) while those getting trained work toward their certification. Those in training will eventually join together for recreational and educational dives with those already certified. The week will begin with checkout/warmup dives on Day 1 of diving.
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What needs to be completed for an Ocean Advocate Certificate?
There will be opportunities throughout the program to attend workshops, participate in research activities, and perform underwater observation and work. These activities and contributions are integral to maximizing your experience and value from the program and are required for the certificate. Service hour opportunities will also be earned pending your participation.
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How many counselors will be with the student group?
A minimum of one counselor remains with every 6 students. This gives you peace of mind knowing that we know where your student is at all times.
Do the students have to participate in diving?
No. While students can participate in the land-based activities only, we strongly encourage experiencing SCUBA training.
Can the participants get certified to scuba dive during the program?
Yes, we have incorporated it into the program. In most cases, students will finish with their Open Water certification.
How well supervised are the students?
The students are supervised at all times.
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Can parents attend?
Yes. Parents are welcome, based on availability, but space is limited.
How much spending money do students need to bring?
If students want soft drinks or snacks, they will be responsible for those. Other possible expenses include airport snacks, souvenirs, t-shirts.
Is it safe to travel to Puerto Morelos?
Puerto Morelos is generally considered a safe destination for tourists, with a close-knit community and low rates of violent crime, especially in tourist areas and resorts. We will always travel as a group, and students will not be allowed to leave the resort campus without a SeaSmart chaperone.
What kind of communications will there be?
The resort has WiFi, though in remote areas there are often disruptions in service. SeaSmart will post pictures of our adventures on social media, whenever possible, during our trip. You will have the leaders’ direct cell phone numbers. We do not take phones from students for the duration of the program, however we encourage the students to “unplug” when they are topside, to fully experience the nature and beauty around them.
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Is there a medical facility available to the students?
In the unlikely case a student needs medical attention, a SeaSmart leader will stay with them at all times. There is a nearby doctor. Additionally, there is a hyperbaric chamber in Cancun and one in Playa del Carmen. Students who stay hydrated and apply sunscreen typically have no issues.
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Do we need special insurance?
Yes. SeaSmart requires that all divers have DAN (Divers Alert Network) or a comparable dive accident insurance for their trip. You can sign up online at https://www.diversalertnetwork.org. It is not expensive and covers extensively for dive-specific trips. Your primary medical insurance may exclude scuba diving and/or may not provide coverage when you are traveling out of the country. You may or may not also opt for trip interruption travel insurance, if you do not already have that coverage. You may also wish to confirm your health insurance will cover you out of the country. If not, there are short term travel policies available for that.
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How much does it cost?
The $2950 all inclusive fee for the entire program includes:
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Lodging
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3 Meals Daily
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SCUBA Open Water training, and potentially, certification
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Fun Dives
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Gear Rental
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Transportation from the Cancun airport, to all program locations and return
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Topside activities, workshops and classes
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Marine Park Fees
(Airfare, a Quintana Roo (currently $68) traveller tax and eLearning for certifications are not included)
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The fee is $2750 if you are already certified, inclusive of recreational dives during the open water candidates’ training days.
We offer a $25 returning participant discount, as well as a $50 per participant discount for siblings, family members or members of a scout troop or other group when registering together the first time you attend a SeaSmart program. There is a $100 discount per participant for payment in full on or before March 15th.
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What do I have to do before going?
In preparation for SCUBA training, you must complete an online eLearning session (separate fee) for a certification course, and submit a printout of your completion.
How do I get there?
You are responsible for your own airfare costs. We can help guide you regarding air travel arrangements. We will have SeaSmart chaperones available to meet students at the Cancun airport, and will coordinate our arrivals to travel together from the airport to our accommodations. Ground transportation, once in Mexico, is included.
What’s Next?
Complete the online registration form (link below) or email lisa.mcintyre@seasmartocean.org for a registration form which must accompany your deposit. A fully refundable (until May 1st) $500 deposit is due to secure your spot. A second $500 deposit is due by March 15th. Final payment is required by May 1st, after which deposits/payments can no longer be refunded unless we can fill your spot. A $100 discount is offered for complete payments made in full on or before March 15th. If you wish to schedule a telephone or zoom call with SeaSmart to discuss further, please do not hesitate to reach out - we would be happy to answer any questions.
Additional instructions, forms and waivers for completion, and a recommended packing list will be provided upon payment. We will also hold an information session closer to departure to review travel details and program specifics.
“We still have a really good chance to make things better than they are. They won't get better unless we take action and inspire others to do the same thing. No one is without power. Everybody has the capacity to do something.”
- Sylvia Earle
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Join us on the adventure of a lifetime and gain your SCUBA certification, too!
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