Enrichment Voyages
Enrichment Voyages are travel and learn opportunities on Semester at Sea's state-of-the-art floating campus that are open to participants of all ages. We invite you to experience the history, culture, and arts of destinations such as Central America and the Caribbean as well as The Amazon River Basin with subject matter experts, while enjoying field excursions and service opportunities that are unlike any other.
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If you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to be a fish, this video taken from inside a school of snappers in Cabo San Lucas will give you a taste of the underwater life.
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Once the MV Explorer anchored off the coast of Cabo San Lucas yesterday, 11 divers from the Enrichment Voyage opted to get their fins wet and explore Mexico’s underwater landscape.
On the first dive, the group headed out to Pelican Rock, a popular spot for snorkelers and divers. The neighboring shoreline, Playa del Amor ( Lover’s Beach), is always crowded with sunbathers and is only accessible by kayak or boat.
While the visibility below the surface was rather low due to strong currents, the divers still were able to see an impressive array of marine life, from the camouflaged rockfish to countless rays—and even a seahorse, an animal that is very rare to find while diving.
The group also found the sand falls, a magical underwater place where sand continuously cascades down a canyon of rocks.
But the highlight of the dive was when the voyagers were swept away in a school of thousands of snappers who remained impervious to the divers’ presence. Good things snappers don’t live up to their name!
For the second dive, the group headed out to Land’s End, where a friendly local welcomed everybody to the area. As the divers descended, his sea lion pals frolicked in the water around them.
Puffers were many at this dive site, as were guitarfish and trumpetfish, to which the dive master proclaimed: “We found a whole band!”
It was a great day for diving and for exploring Cabo San Lucas in general. We can’t wait to come back here on our December 2012 Voyage: Origins & Empires.
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At today’s pre-port lecture, programs director Nathan Blessing and ship doctor Milton Waldron touched upon some key tips for staying safe and healthy while traveling abroad in preparation for tomorrow’s first port, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
- Leave your passport on the ship, but always carry a copy with you.
- When withdrawing money from an ATM, do so from reputable banks and only in enclosed spaces.
- Don’t take all of your money and credit cards to shore; just carry what you need and leave the rest behind in your cabin.
- There issafety in numbers: Travel in a group.
- Don’t ever go barefoot; always wear close-toed shoes to prevent injuries.
- Wear sunscreen and a hat to protect your skin from the sun’s strong rays.
- Beware of currents and rip tides, and don’t ever swim alone.
- Make sure you’re using licensed taxis; don’t get in an unmarked vehicle.
- When tendering, keep your hands free and use the crew for assistance.
- Be a compulsive hand washer. Spend at least 15 seconds several times a day washing your hands with warm soap and water to ward off germs and sickness.
- Use bottled water while on land; never drink from the tap.
- If you want to drink something other than water, make sure you purchase sealed drinks that are preferably carbonated.
- Avoid street vendor food, which easily can be contaminated.
- Take Pepto Bismol tablets before meals (as long as you’re not on blood thinners) to help prevent food-bourn illnesses.
- Stay hydrated and avoid excessive alcohol use.
- Wear long sleeves in the evenings and use insect repellent to safeguard against bug bites.
