Tentative Agenda
Special Topics in Biology: Belize Marine Science
Day 1: Friday, 3/13/15
Meet at 8:00am in Atlanta Airport (International Terminal checkin)
Depart Atlanta 10:30am
Arrive in Belize City, Belize 11:44
Pick up by Ed’s Eco Tours, Lunch Provided in Belize City
Belize Zoo Lodge, Belmopan Belize
Ethnobotany/Birding tour of Tropical Rainforest
Belize Zoo Visit, Dinner Provided
Night Zoo Tour
Day 2: Saturday, 3/14/15
Birding at breakfast (Breakfast Provided)
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (full day experience) (Lunch)
Travel to San Ignacio to Rainforest Havens Inn
Dinner On Your Own
Day 3: Sunday, 3/15/15
Breakfast On Your Own
Tikal, Guatemala (full day experience) – Tropical Rainforest (Lunch)
Return to San Ignacio to Rainforest Havens Inn
Dinner On Your Own
Day 4: Monday, 3/16/15
Breakfast On Your Own
Depart San Ignacio, Belize
Cave’s Branch Outpost (Cave Tubing & Zip Lining) – Tropical Rainforest
Lunch Provided
Catch Water Taxi, Belize City Belize
Arrive San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Belize Marine Tropical Education Center: Water Safety/Gear Check in pool
Dinner Provided
Next Day Briefing, Research Project Discussions
Orientation & Evening Lecture: Dangerous Marine Organisms
Day 5: Tuesday, 3/17/15
Belize Marine Tropical Education Center (TREC)
Snorkel Pillar Coral site – Ocean checkout, document pseudo-nocturnal community
Turtle Grass beds behind back reef
Tres Cocos
Evening Lecture: Fish & Coral Reef Organisms
All Meals Provided
Day 6: Wednesday, 3/18/15
TREC, San Pedro- Ambergris Caye
Snorkel Mexico Rocks – MPA transition research
Free diving training at Mexico Cave
Playa Blanca
Beach ecology/Beach seine
Day 7: Thursday, 3/19/15
TREC, San Pedro-Ambergris Caye
Snorkel & explore Mangrove isles – Invertebrate census & Fish community structure evaluation
Snorkel Coral Gardens & staghorn coral refugia (1 of 3 remaining in the Caribbean)
Night Snorkel
Lecture: Bioluminescence
Day 8: Friday, 3/20/15
TREC, San Pedro-Ambergris Caye
Snorkel Turtle Rock Island
Hol Chan Marine Protected Area – Census comparisons
Shark Ray Alley – shark research efforts
Lecture: Marine Conservation
Afternoon & Evening in San Pedro – Night Out
Day 9: Saturday, 3/21/15
Farewell Breakfast/Packing/Travel Home
Depart San Pedro for Belize City 10:00am
Depart Belize City for USA 2:13pm
Arrive in Atlanta 7:14pm
Lunch & Dinner On Your Own