Biol 394 HN Caribbean Marine Biology field trip takes place on the island of Roatan, at the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS) at Anthony’s Key Resort. Roatan, the largest of the Bay Islands is located about 80 miles off the north coast of Honduras. The course is specifically designed to provide our students with a unique marine biology field experience with extensive diving and snorkeling activities in a variety of marine habitats. The seminar portion of the course involves lectures on coral reef ecology, marine invertebrates and fish, marine mammals, health considerations while traveling abroad, Honduran culture and history, coastal marine policy.

The island of Roatan is on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, stretching over 1,000 km from the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula down to the Bay Islands of Honduras. RIMS is ideally located in a marine preserve on the northwest coast of Roatan where over 30 miles of fringing barrier reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and shoreline are home to an astonishing diversity of life. Roatan was recently (2013) recognized by SCUBA Diving magazine as having the “Best Marine Environment” in the Caribbean and Atlantic.

This semester Professors Don Sakaguchi (GDCB) and Jeanne Serb (EEOB) will be taking a group of 12 students to RIMS during spring break.