Where reef, rainforest meet: Students dive into Belize

Four Heidelberg students are spending their spring break exploring the natural wonders of San Pedro, Belize, alongside their professor, Dr. Amy Berger, and two Heidelberg supporters. The week-long trip is the centerpiece of the course Caribbean Biogeography, offering students an immersive opportunity to study the Northern Hemisphere’s largest barrier reef system while also experiencing Belize’s diverse coastal and jungle ecosystems. Follow along as the students share highlights from their journey—in their own words.

DAY ONE (March 11)

by Cecelia Groth, junior Environmental and Watershed Science and English Writing major

Most of today was spent on various flights to get from Ohio to San Pedro. I hadn't been on a flight since I was a child, so it was all new to me! The last flight was by far the most interesting, as it was a small flight from Belize City to San Pedro. The plane only fit about 12 people, and I had an utterly beautiful view of the coast as we flew over. It looked exactly like pictures of the Caribbean you'd see online, except that it was right in front of me.

After the flight landed, we made our way to our accommodations. Once we got into our rooms, we put on our snorkeling gear to practice in the pool. Having my nose underwater and geing able to breathe was hard to wrap my head (or mouth) around! We'll be snorkeling first thing tomorrow, however, and I got the hang of it soon enough. I can't wait to be snorkeling in the ocean instead of a pool!