BELIZE
SCUBA & EDUCATION ADVENTURE
Earn your PADI Open Water Scuba Diver certification along the world's second-largest barrier reef while partnering with local Belizean educators on meaningful youth literacy initiatives.
Program Overview
Combine meaningful community engagement with an unforgettable underwater journey in Central America! On this 12-day adventure, you’ll split your time between Belize’s lush inland savannas and the vibrant island shores of Caye Caulker. Working alongside local Belizean teachers and community leader Mrs. Emily Martinez Palacio, you’ll contribute 20 certified service hours supporting primary students through reading activities, creative learning workshops, and educational reinforcement.
Inland, explore ancient Maya history at Xunantunich, participate in an interactive Creole & Garifuna dance workshop and learn about rainforest conservation at The Belize Zoo. Then, trade the mainland for the Caribbean Sea to complete your full PADI Open Water Scuba Diver course where you will learn dive theory, master skills in confined waters and logging open-water ocean dives across the protected reefs of the Belize Barrier Reef!
On GLA’s Belize: Scuba & Education Adventure program you will:
- Complete classroom, pool and open-ocean dive training with certified instructors to earn a globally recognized lifelong scuba certification
- Work side-by-side with Belizean educators at Helping Hands Resource Center to support primary students through reading circles and interactive learning
- Explore Xunantunich Mayan archeological site as you learn about ancient Maya history and ascend “El Castillo” for panoramic views over the surrounding landscape
- Connect with Belize’s rich cultural traditions during an interactive dance workshop led by local cultural practitioners
- Set sail across the Caribbean Sea to scuba dive and observe vibrant marine ecosystems along the Belize Barrier Reef
Program Menu
BELIZE
SCUBA & EDUCATION ADVENTURE
Sample Itinerary Coming Soon!
Let’s take a sneak peek at what your program experience might look like this summer! Please note that the order of activities may differ for each program session. The details provided here represent a general outline of what you can anticipate, though community service projects and activities are subject to change based on the needs of our local community partners, cultural celebrations and traditions, weather conditions and the specific requirements of the student group.
BELIZE
SCUBA & EDUCATION ADVENTURE
Program Details
Dates & Tuition
2027 Session Dates
June 28 – July 09, 2027
July 11 – July 22, 2027
What's Included in Tuition
In-country transportation
Lodging
3 meals per day
Professional full-time staff and experts
24/7 parent support hotline during program
Secondary medical and evacuation insurance
Cultural activities, lectures and excursions
Pre-departure materials and support
Educational materials
to hold your spot on-program.
Program at a Glance
Program Location: Belize
Program Type(s): Service Learning, Outdoor Adventure
Every GLA Program is Backed by our 5-Point Safety System™
GLA HOME BASE:
SAFE & SECURE LODGING
CARING SUPERVISION &
EXPERT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
SAFE
TRANSPORTATION
HEALTHY FOOD
& PURE WATER
24/7 SUPPORT &
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Local Partner Spotlight
Helping Hands Resource Center
This program is anchored by a deep partnership with Mrs. Emily Martinez Palacio—a retired educator, revered community leader and founder of the Helping Hands Resource Center in Belmopan. Mrs. Emily has dedicated her life to advancing education, youth empowerment and community advocacy. GLA participants support her established vision, collaborating directly with local Belizean teachers to facilitate engaging, curriculum-aligned educational sessions. Grounded in humility and mutual exchange, this partnership allows students to learn from local leaders while contributing energy and encouragement to Belmopan’s youth.
The Program Experience
Service Learning
Put global citizenship into practice through 20 hours of hands-on, community-led service alongside Belizean primary educators. Volunteering at the Helping Hands Resource Center, you’ll work directly with students (Infant 1 through Standard 6) to foster an encouraging learning environment. Participants support small-group literacy sessions, assist with creative arts workshops, and facilitate English-language exercises tailored to student needs. Grounded in cultural exchange and shared learning, you’ll build genuine connections with local youth while supporting existing educational initiatives in the community.
Outdoor Adventure
Inland exploration meets Caribbean ocean discovery! Your journey begins in the savanna interior, where you’ll explore ancient Maya architecture at Xunantunich, learn traditional Maya chocolate-making from cacao seeds and experience local rhythms during an interactive Creole & Garifuna dance workshop. Mid-week, travel by water taxi to Caye Caulker to begin your PADI Scuba Diver training. Under professional guidance, master dive equipment and buoyancy in confined waters before heading into open water to explore the coral formations of the Belize Barrier Reef capping off your trip with a full-day catamaran sail across the Caribbean Sea!
Country Spotlight
Immerse yourself in a warm, welcoming and English-speaking paradise where Central American rainforest meets Caribbean soul!
Lodging: Contrast the rustic eco-charm in our enclosed compound surrounded by nature for the first half of the program with a cozy, family-owned coastal hotel block right on the shores of Caye Caulker, equipped with air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms and easy beach access.
Meals: Fuel your service and adventure with delicious, freshly cooked Belizean flavor! Enjoy staples like coconut rice and beans, savory stewed chicken, fried plantains, fresh-caught fish, warm fry jacks and an abundance of fresh tropical fruit, balanced daily with familiar Western favorites.
BELIZE
SCUBA & EDUCATION ADVENTURE
Photo Gallery
BELIZE
SCUBA & EDUCATION ADVENTURE
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