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Panama

SCUBA Diving & Community Education
see info below

Program Details

DATES
July 12-21, 2026

10DAYS

SERVICE HOURS
60
TUITION
$4890 (Plus airfare)

*SEE DETAILS

AVAILABILITY
Available

Alongside our partner, Give and Surf, you will learn about sustainable community development, marine conservation, and education while obtaining your Open Water SCUBA certification in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This program will take you to the archipelago of Bocas del Toro, where you will complete your PADI Open Water SCUBA certification and learn how Give and Surf is providing educational opportunities to over 1,000 youth in remote island communities. Your mornings will be dedicated to SCUBA training at a PADI-certified dive school, including classroom sessions and practice dives, while your afternoons will be spent volunteering at Give and Surf’s after-school centers. Through these activities, you will discover how diving skills can enhance your understanding of marine ecosystems and how education empowers island communities.

While based in Bocas del Toro, you will have the opportunity to complete multiple practice dives as part of your certification while exploring the unique marine environment of the archipelago. You will dive at a coral regeneration site and learn from guest speakers about coral restoration efforts and reef-building initiatives. Additionally, you will work alongside local teachers at after-school programs, engaging children ages 5 to 12 in play-based learning activities including arts and crafts, sports, English classes, music, and STEM.

Outside of diving and after-school programming, you will explore the biodiversity of Bocas del Toro through a full-day boat tour to the Zapatilla Islands, snorkeling at Coral Key, touring an organic cacao farm on San Cristóbal, and hiking to Wizards Beach. You will practice speaking Spanish with local residents and community leaders while staying at locally-owned hostels. Through these experiences, you will see firsthand how tourism impacts coral reef health and how organizations like Give and Surf create opportunities for local youth.

This program is designed to help you understand the connections between marine conservation, coral reef health, and community education while gaining your SCUBA certification. You will leave Panama with an Open Water certification, hands-on teaching experience, and a new perspective on how locally-embedded organizations can create sustainable change by respecting local culture and empowering communities.

*Please note that programs are subject to change based on the health and safety of participants and our partners.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Obtain your Open Water SCUBA certification. No prior SCUBA experience required.

Practice speaking Spanish while meeting with residents and nonprofit leaders.

Support after-school centers by leading play-based activities, including arts, sports, and English classes.

Dive at a coral regeneration site and learn about coral reef restoration efforts.

Course Elements

1 is the least rigorous, 5 is the most rigorous

5
LEARNING SERVICE
You will learn about marine biology, conservation, and sustainable community development and deliver enrichment activities at local community centers.
5
CURRICULUM
Prior to your travels, you will complete an online curriculum to gain background knowledge for your experience. While traveling, you will learn through engaging articles, cultural experiences, and group reflections.
2
TREKKING
In Bocas, you will primarily walk or take boats to local sites. You will participate in several easy to intermediate level hikes.
3
LIVING CONDITIONS
In Panama City, the group will stay in a hostel. In Bocas, you will stay in simple dorm rooms at a local hostel in Bastimentos.
3
ON THE MOVE
After arriving in Panama City, you will take a short flight to the islands of Bocas del Toro. Once in Bocas, you will be based on the island of Bastimentos.
3
REMOTENESS
You will spend most of your program on Bastimentos Island, a small island without cars, that is a 10-minute boat ride from the main town of Bocas del Toro.

Itinerary

1

Depart from Miami, begin group orientation in Panama City.

2

Morning flight to Bocas. Give and Surf orientation. SCUBA Certification Course (classroom portion)

3

SCUBA practice dives. Lesson planning and guest speaker. Volunteer at community centers.

4

San Cristobal Cacao Farm Tour. Volunteer at community centers.

5

SCUBA classroom. Volunteer at community centers.

6

SCUBA practice dives. Volunteer at community centers.

7

Field day with students on Cristobal. Volunteer at community centers.

8

Guest speaker about coral restoration & SCUBA diving at coral building site. Volunteer at community centers.

9

Boat tour to Zapatilla Islands & snorkeling at Coral Key. Flight to Panama City. Evening in Panama City

10

Flight back to the U.S.

NOTE

Itineraries are subject to change based on the health and safety of participants and our partners.

Panama : In Three Phases

1

PRE-TRAVEL CURRICULUM

Prior to your departure, you will be guided by your course instructors through a series of interactive, online lessons designed to help you engage with other members of your group while gaining important context for your experience.

2

FIELD STUDY

The majority of the days at each site are spent learning from our local partners and serving alongside them shoulder-to-shoulder. You will learn through service and experiences designed to help you understand the local context, culture, and history.

3

LIFELONG NETWORK

Ethical leadership is a lifelong journey. After your experience, you will become a part of the Shoulder-to-Shoulder network. This network of past alumni and partners is designed to inspire and support your journey in ethical leadership.

Travel Journal

During the travel phase of each SStS course, you will spend time reflecting and processing your experience. The posts below are from past programs.

How Do You Say, "I Have A Gift For You?"

Everyday that we have been in Bocas Del Toro, two of my group members and I have spent an hour at a local restaurant in Cristobol teaching the moms who own the restaurant English. We spent our time teaching them common restaurant phrases such as what would you like to eat, my name is, and how are yo...

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Pure Joy

Today was our last day at San Cristóbal. Two of our leaders let us have a last hurrah with the kids. They provided us with a piñata. The second we got off the boat with the piñata all of the kids started rushing to the community center. It was a really special moment being able to see how happy all...

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A Different Perspective

Working in the community center for the past couple of days has definitely been a change from the active soccer games, piggy back rides and tag that were ever present in the first week of working with the kids. It has taken some getting used to, but having my leg contained in a cast has enabled me t...

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Polo Beach

The past few days we've had the chance to explore the local sites on Bocas. In the midst of our journey we came upon a man by the name of Polo. An eccentric man, Polo has lived on “Polo beach” for 55 years, aptly named after him. Once a millionaire, he blew all his money very quickly and now is supp...

Read More

Important Details

TUITION*

Tuition (students from partner schools): $4690
Tuition (students from non-partner schools): $4890

*Students attending a partner school receive a tuition discount. Click HERE to see partner schools. Please note that tuition does not include airfare.

AIRFARE*

Estimated Flight Cost: $1000

*All students travel to their program destination on a group flight booked by Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder. Participants are responsible for any increase in airfares imposed by the airlines. All participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to the departure city. SStS will confirm airfare and connecting travel information approximately 60 days before travel.  

FINANCIAL AID

SStS is in search of curious, compassionate, globally-minded students from all backgrounds. We will do everything possible to provide financial support to students who require assistance. If you would like to be considered for financial assistance, please indicate this on the application.  Resources are limited and tend to be less than 50% of tuition.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

For a full description of our Terms and Conditions, please CLICK HERE.

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